The Infiniti J30 Was A Four-Door Coupe Before It Was Fashionable

"Margin Of Error" (marginoferror) 01/14/2015 at 12:57 • Filed to: FORGOTTEN CLASSICS, FC, ESSAY

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Today is the second regular issue of my new and much anticipated 2015 weekly feature : Forgotten Classics.

As demonstrated in the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and on the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , the goal of this series of essays will be to bring cars that are getting no love back in the limelight. FC is also a thorough analysis of why such cars remained obscure and never got the praise they deserved.

This week's Forgotten Classic is the rebadged Nissan Beauty Leopard Y32, also known as the Infiniti J30 in the country-continent of America.

Introduced in 1992 as a 1993 model, the J30 was meant to compete against the other Japanese Luxury wannabes, namely the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and that !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . However, unlike the competition, Nissan didn't half-assed things. The J30 was a proper RWD sedan with a styling that even inspired the guy that designed the Bugatti EB218, and much later, the the guy that designed Porsche Panameria.

Featuring a droopy rear end and a sloped rear window, the guy that designed the J30 had accidentally created a whole new category of cars, the 4 doors coupe !

On the mechanical side, the J30 was powered by a 300ZX engine producing 210HP, which was a lot at that time. There was also a touring model (j30t) that added a rear spoile, nicer wheels and a 4 directional wheels like on the Prelude, impressive.

Among other features, retractable antenna, powered sunroof that could either slide in on lift and remote lock with a panic button. 1994 models and later came standard with heated front seats.

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Inside, it was all leather and wood and nice carpeting. Integrated analog watch, premium sound system and whatnot.

Production and sales figures are confidential, but I think it's safe to say that the J30 didn't sell well. Just like VHS vs BETA, the Lexus ES became the undeserving winner of the category, while the J30 was quietly phased out in 1997 and replaced with a glorified Maxima, the sleep inducing I30.

So, another great car that failed miserably, what is the root cause behind this debacle ?

The answer is Avant-Garde.

4 door coupes were a not a thing back then, and people didn't care about having the proper wheels sending the power to pavement, and this is what caused its failure. A combination of RWD and being ahead of its time. People are reluctant to change and are fearing things that are ahead of the game.

Nibby > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 12:59

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Dibs on the first-gen facelifted Q45

Your boy, BJR > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 13:00

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hate to break it to ya kid....

......the J30 was never even close to being the first 4 door sedan.

Nibby > Your boy, BJR 01/14/2015 at 13:05

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I thought he meant 4 door coupe. Even still...

RazoE > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 13:05

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turn signals, not fog lights. Threw me off the first time I saw them in action.

E. Julius > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 13:06

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Four door sedan?

HammerheadFistpunch > Your boy, BJR 01/14/2015 at 13:06

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perhaps he meant 4 door coupe? cause um, yeah, 4 door sedans were definitely "in" before the J30

RazoE > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 13:07

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It's saggy-butt did it no favors, to be honest. Kind of like those Cadillacs with the chopped-ass.

RazoE > Your boy, BJR 01/14/2015 at 13:08

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Unless he's using England-land terminology:

Saloon = Sedan

Sedan = Coupe (maybe?)

Estate = wagon

Van = Fullsize van

People carrier = minivan

etc etc etc.

boobytrapsandtreasure > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 13:13

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I think they lost out to their brother, the Nissan Maxima. In GLE trim the Nissan cost less and was plenty nice.

Your boy, BJR > Nibby 01/14/2015 at 13:14

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he clearly did, I just like being a nitpick-y asshole.

Your boy, BJR > RazoE 01/14/2015 at 13:15

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Coupé = Coupe

Margin Of Error > E. Julius 01/14/2015 at 13:16

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Redacted, thanks !

Your boy, BJR > HammerheadFistpunch 01/14/2015 at 13:16

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"ah yes, the famously elusive 4 door sedan bodystyle"

HammerheadFistpunch > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 13:17

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Better with the fixed title. True story time, My grandmother was a caddy fan, always had caddy, but Infiniti was trying to woo her in the 90's and was trying to sell her on the i30, in fact they gave her tons of marketing material that she gave to me including a VHS tape. I still recall much of that tape, including a race with a v8 e-class, and taking a banked corner at 100 mph without hands, and something about laser finishing the cylinder bores. Ah, the formative car years. She bought a new Cadillac.

RallyWrench > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 13:19

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If I recall correctly, an instructor at the Pasadena Art Center College of Design had one of these in a polished metal finish, and fitted a huge sculpted dorsal fin & other cosmetic modifications. The Googles is failing me for images, but it looked, um, interesting.

Your boy, BJR > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 13:20

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missed the last paragraph, champ.

MultiplaOrgasms > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 13:20

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Ignorant americans ignoring the true godfather of all four-door coupés.

RazoE > Your boy, BJR 01/14/2015 at 13:22

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Couldn't make those fancy communist-letters with my American keyboard.

Margin Of Error > Your boy, BJR 01/14/2015 at 13:23

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done and done, thanks

Your boy, BJR > RazoE 01/14/2015 at 13:24

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pretty sure it's French, doesn't make it communist

It makes it the garbleygook of cheese eating surrender monkeys.

RazoE > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 13:24

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Oh, forgot to mention, the Beauty Leopard was made by Geely (don't Google if if you're close to lunch). The "regular" Leopard was from Nissan.

Margin Of Error > HammerheadFistpunch 01/14/2015 at 13:24

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She contributed in the demise of the J30

Margin Of Error > Nibby 01/14/2015 at 13:25

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That was the best Q45

Margin Of Error > RallyWrench 01/14/2015 at 13:25

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I want to see that !

HammerheadFistpunch > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 13:26

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no offensive to its "of the timeiness" but the J30 isn't a car worth pining over today.

Margin Of Error > boobytrapsandtreasure 01/14/2015 at 13:29

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But it was FWD

Margin Of Error > MultiplaOrgasms 01/14/2015 at 13:30

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That is a beautiful car, is it a Bently ?

Margin Of Error > Your boy, BJR 01/14/2015 at 13:33

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It was a mistake, I corrected it, thanks for pointing it out.

MultiplaOrgasms > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 13:34

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Margin Of Error > MultiplaOrgasms 01/14/2015 at 13:35

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Sounds like a great subject for a future Forgotten Classics

boobytrapsandtreasure > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 13:41

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90% of the public does not care.

Margin Of Error > boobytrapsandtreasure 01/14/2015 at 14:01

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Sad but true

Margin Of Error > RazoE 01/14/2015 at 14:02

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It was a lot better in real, especially the touring models with the spoiler.

4play > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:06

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It looks the same coming or going. That's why it didn't sell.

A truly, truly hideous car. One of the ugliest of the 90s, and perhaps of all time.

ShillyDevane > Nibby 01/14/2015 at 14:07

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Looks like something the Transporter would drive, had Audi not been available.

ShillyDevane > RazoE 01/14/2015 at 14:08

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Looks like the classic old man car, the Buick.

Manuél Ferrari > RazoE 01/14/2015 at 14:08

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my mom wanted one. I said no because the saggy ass drove me crazy.

She later thanked me

MK6GTI-now with added Miata > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:08

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You called the I30 a glorified Maxima.

...you do realise this is a glorified RWD Altima, right? At least in appearance...

It's an interesting car, but nowhere near a 4 door coupe. Look at that roofline! The only thing coupe-like about it is the sloping ass, and that doesn't happen until the trunk.

Wave Motion Gun > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:10

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I miss the foam rubber rear spoiler on those things. They were squishy fun.

Classic_k > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:11

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I am in the market for a car, and I literally have been surfing craigslist for this car. Most are crap, so no success yet. funny it should be featured right when I am looking, that's all

Margin Of Error > Classic_k 01/14/2015 at 14:12

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That's a sign ! Good luck to you

skymonk > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:13

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Love the J30!

I've had the opportunity to drive both the standard and t (20 years ago, but still) and they're fantastic cars. The build-quality seemed excellent. And in the MN snow going sideways was easy as pie. I loved the leather and carpets and dash. Small back seat, but for the time it was mildly quick and looked awesome.

Margin Of Error > 4play 01/14/2015 at 14:13

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That's harsh

GrayHays > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:13

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In '94 my dad's girlfriend drove a J30. I was 9 and a bit hesitant of my dad dating but when she showed up in that car I didn't give a shit anymore. The leather was so soft and smelled so nice (on the Infiniti; the woman was on the wrong side of 40). The next cougar he dated had a Lexus SC400 and JetSki's... I was sadder than he was when they broke up.

Margin Of Error > skymonk 01/14/2015 at 14:13

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Thanks for your input !

detailer4u > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:15

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The Altima was a cheaper alternative, and, I would rather have the Maxima. It was a decent car, but the Max was much cooler and more desirable.

daryl bowden > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:15

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IIRC the designer said that it was designed to be very round so as to represent an egg, which apparently represents fertility, so that it would appeal to women.

RazoE > Wave Motion Gun 01/14/2015 at 14:16

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240sx's had them as well. They were horrible and caused all kinds of rust issues.

Foo2rama > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:16

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2 forgettable Infinities as forgotten classics... The Q in first the first and 2nd gen, are way better cars and deserve to be called classics... well at least vs the J and 1st gen M.....

David E. Davis > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:17

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Nissan Beauty Leopard...what a name.

I probably did it > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:17

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the back of these always looked like the back of a (contemporary) Pontiac Bonneville that melted in the sun.

melikecars > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:18

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The silly little rear lip spoiler always looked off to me (only to be beaten by that one model of the Ford Taurus).

It was the Q45, but wussified.

Margin Of Error > Foo2rama 01/14/2015 at 14:18

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Yes, but today we are talking about the J.

I have 49 weeks left to cover.

The Little Engine That Couldnt > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:18

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I'm not seeing a great deal of swoopiness there. 90s interiors were the worst. Also, people still don't care about RWD.

The Jaguar Mark II is swoopy as fuck and Wikipedia calls it a sedan, so I think it's a much better candidate for "prot0-4 door coupe"

and 100 more > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:19

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I dunno... I'm feeling this I30, though...

MK6GTI-now with added Miata > MultiplaOrgasms 01/14/2015 at 14:19

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What exactly determines whether a sedan is considered a "4 door coupe"? Because if all it requires is a sloping rear end, I can do you one better (and older)

UncleWalty > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:20

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Sorry...too much of that Taurus-y suppository look. I prefer this:

Boter > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:20

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Someone tell me how this "4 door coupe" is different from a sedan? Because when I think 4 door coupe I think Mazda RX-8 or Ion Quad Coupe.

4play > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:21

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It's quite an ugly thing. I remember even from a young age (pre-car enthusiast) thinking how bad it looked.

It hasn't aged well AND it wasn't good looking to start with.

Obruni > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:22

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my brother in-law had one, and loved it until the car died after hitting a pothole on the BQE. The resulting problems from that turned the car into a money pit.

As Du Volant > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:22

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Buddy of mine had one of these in college. We took it on a road trip once and it was amazing. Super comfy, awesome ride, great car.

ranwhenparked > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:24

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The J30 was really nicely built too, almost Lexus-level quality. Unfortunately overlooked by its target audience, but I think the styling holds up a lot better 20 years later than a lot of its contemporaries.

TheDudeAbides_(version 2.0) > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:24

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4 door Coupe is not a thing . A coupe has 2 doors. Period. Just because the slope of this car's trunk makes it look like its design was influenced by the Elephant Man, doesn't warrant an entirely new designation. That's what killed this car, btw. The dopey slope of the deck lid being hideous, not because "Avant Garde".

Chatham Harrison dba SPANFELLER DELENDUS EST > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:25

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If my high school friend who owned it is any indication, it didn't sell because it looked like a rebadged Nissan with a saggy ass, which is what it was. In retrospect, I wish I'd bought the car from him, because he hated it and probably would have given it to me for a song.

If they'd really wanted people to take notice, they would have sold it with the 270hp V8 you could get overseas. That would have been a future classic.

Nismogtr600 > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:25

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How things come full circle. The japanese luxury trio wasn't taken seriously by the European badge snobs because they were fwd, or based on their mainstream cousins.

Now we have all these Europeans who are going down market, introducing cars that compete in the price segment of Accords and Camrys and drive the front wheels as well.

alan > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:26

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i equate this as a 90s version of the early 1980s lincoln continental and caddy seville slant backs. the 4 door coupes we know today start sloping behind the drivers head. but these start sloping behind the rear passangers head.

Margin Of Error > Boter 01/14/2015 at 14:26

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It's a more organic form of design, like a regular coupe, but with 4 doors.

Tatanko > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:27

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The J30 was U.G.L.Y. It failed, rightfully so, because it was so hideous. It was basically a 4-door 300ZX with pancake butt and with all the fun taken away.

crankaholic > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:28

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This is elegant and almost Maserati-esque... the production car looks like a slightly melted down Maxima though :/

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:28

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I like that in profile it was trying to imitate Jaaaaag. (At least that is what it always reminded me of, anyway)

Margin Of Error > TheDudeAbides_(version 2.0) 01/14/2015 at 14:29

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'70dime > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:29

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a real sumbitch to work on too

Margin Of Error > crankaholic 01/14/2015 at 14:29

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That's a Bugatti

Autofixation > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:30

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So what is the definition of a coupe?

ghost650 > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:31

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The problem with the J30 is design. It's proportions were even weirder than the concept which was itself kind of odd. The droopy rear end has become the trademark of a couple 4-door coupes, but the elongated greenhouse and slim DLO are much more important to the coupe profile. The J30 just didn't look like a proper coupe.

philaDLJ > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:31

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Like the 929 and RX-7, I think this design has aged remarkably well, and I loved them when they were new, too.

86it > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:32

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I stopped reading at "Panameria".

FCV-8311 > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:32

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I always liked the styling of these things.

PS9 > RazoE 01/14/2015 at 14:33

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Better not let Benjamin Rolland hear you talk about the Classic sag caddy like that...

Ike B > boobytrapsandtreasure 01/14/2015 at 14:33

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If they have a remotely heavy foot they'll certainly care that the front tires wear out like 4 times faster than the rears.

JohnTaurus-3L-AX4N > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:33

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I had one for a short time, it was fun getting sideways everywhere before the advent of electronic nannys who are out to kill fun in the name of safety. Mine was fairly high mileage and it had its issues, but I missed it after I sold it, and vowed to one day own another one, in better condition of course.

I wouldnt touch a Lexus ES for anything. Hell, Id sooner buy an Acura Vigor before that snooze box, aka a Camry with slightly less boring styling but the same boring persona.

Iamopenlyjudgingyou > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:34

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I remember when these came out.

The "styling" was never exactly a strong point. Generally these cars are can full of "meh". Boring, slow meh where the design did not age well. Are they built well? For the most part. Are they better then their competitors at the time? Debatable.

J30's are no more 4dr coupes than Oval themed Ford Taurus from the 90's.

Foo2rama > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:34

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My point is, the J is ugly, not really a 4 door coupe as the roof is too high. The first M is also ugly and not really interesting.... The first 2 Q's are amazing though.

Union of Smog Techs of CA > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:34

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Timing belts and the vacuum hose tentacle monster lurking beneath the intake manifold meant they couldnt live through shithead owners like the MaxI30s. Imagine if they had shoved the VQ30DE in everything instead of the VG30(D)E back then, the world would surely be a better place.

jdl1527 > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:34

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The best part of the J30 was that its VLSD could be swaped into a 240sx

Pancake > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:35

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On a side note, how do you achieve this toy car photoshop look?

Arrivederci > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:35

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Pretty sure that's plastic, bro.

Ike B > TheDudeAbides_(version 2.0) 01/14/2015 at 14:35

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A coupe has a cut roofline compared to a standard sedan. That's almost literally what the word means in French. So yes, there are 4-door coupes.

There are two-door sedans you know.

Ike B > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:37

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Pretty sure they know that already.

Margin Of Error > Pancake 01/14/2015 at 14:37

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Sorry ?

KSEGGFTW > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:38

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I always thought it was a glorified Altima, even back in the day.

PeteRR > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:38

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"a droopy rear end and a sloped rear window,"

By that definition, I present:

Ike B > The Little Engine That Couldnt 01/14/2015 at 14:38

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"90s interiors were the worst."

Most, but not all. Having everything be the same color and gluing fake wood veneer to one surface certainly doesn't shout luxury like so many manufacturers in the 90s thought it did.

theshinobi01 > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:39

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Ain't got nothing in the C33 Nissan Laurel! It was also offered with RB engines and had an option 5 speed manual transmission!

24kt Silver > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:40

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My mother owned one in racing green.

The engine produced enough torque to easily break rear wheel traction. In fact better traction control would've greatly improved the car. And probably stickier tires.

The interior was top notch, better than any competing car, including the Lexus/Acuras of the day.

I always thought of it as a Japanese XJ.

fintail > MK6GTI-now with added Miata 01/14/2015 at 14:40

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That's more of a "fastback", i think.

MrMcQueen21v2 > RazoE 01/14/2015 at 14:42

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Absolutely. I always hated these things, specifically for that droopy rear.

fintail > Margin Of Error 01/14/2015 at 14:42

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Also interesting because the first Altima had carbon copy styling (OK, less droopy butt) for half the price.

4 door coupe? Nah, this isn't one. Just 90s rounded-ness to a high degree.

Ike B > Iamopenlyjudgingyou 01/14/2015 at 14:44

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It might have been meh, but you can't call something "slow" if it was faster than most other cars on the road at the time, and certainly in its near-luxury class and price range. It might be slowish now, but 210hp in a 3,500lb car sure as hell wasn't slow back in 1992. Not that it's the best comparison (other than price) but the same year Cadillac DeVille needed another two liters to put out 10hp less, and it weighed nearly a quarter ton more.

MIATAAAA > Pancake 01/14/2015 at 14:45

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tilt-shift lens or blur top and bottom of image in photoshop or just a large aperture.

Pick one. :)