Going to check out a 2003 M45 today possibly will get it. NEED ADIVCE!!!

[Kleetz]

Hey guys,

I've been looking greatly into getting a 2003 M45 for quite sometime now. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the way it looks and really would love to be an owner.

I found one thats tickled my fancy!!! It's an 03, Black on Black, with 68K on the clock. $14,500. I dont believe it has the factory warranty. Its fully loaded.

I did research and found that some come with excessive oil consumption, brakes warp and the truck doesn't stay up. I've also saw to listen for rattles during the test drive.

I'm a little concerned about the miles. They aren't too high but no that low either. for the price I think its very decent. An i'm sure I can get it down a little too.

What do you guys think? should i jump on this?

[auditech10]

I think you should never jump on the first of anything you see unless you are 100% confident of it. I also strongly suggest having and extended warranty with any luxury or foreign car. It will pay for itself, usually, the first time you have to use it on a major item like engine or trans.Good luck

[Kleetz]

Sorry for the confusion. I am going to test drive it today. If everything else in great shape with the car then Im highly considering buying it.

Im just looking for advice on thing i should look for.

Thanks though

[Mark Linkous]

Hey guys,

I've been looking greatly into getting a 2003 M45 for quite sometime now. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the way it looks and really would love to be an owner.

I found one thats tickled my fancy!!! It's an 03, Black on Black, with 68K on the clock. $14,500. I dont believe it has the factory warranty. Its fully loaded.

I did research and found that some come with excessive oil consumption, brakes warp and the truck doesn't stay up. I've also saw to listen for rattles during the test drive.

I'm a little concerned about the miles. They aren't too high but no that low either. for the price I think its very decent. An i'm sure I can get it down a little too.

What do you guys think? should i jump on this?

Hello,Welcome to NICO. Given the mileage (68,000), you will be out of the original factory warranty. However, if this is a private listing, the previous owner might have gotten a extended warranty to last through 100,000 miles. I am pretty sure if sold at a dealer, extended warranty's can often not be transferred. Might have something to do with how much profit there is to made selling aftermarket warranty's. It is beyond recommended to purchase one with as many records as possible. This is especially important given how many of these cars were leased. (people who know they are not keeping a car tend not to care, rental car driver mentality if you will). You seem to have been looking at some posts so you should be good. If really tempted, a dealer or qualified shop inspection is always a good idea as well.Good Luck,Mark

[Q45tech]

Buying a used car out of warranty often means the previous owner did't get everything repaired and wear and tear items are often skipped.

Always have an extra $2-3,000 ready to get the car sorted out and be prepared to spend $2,000 plus per year after that on tires, brakes, services, fluid/filter changes.

Usually expensive replacements don't occur until after 100,000 miles [AC and transmissions, electronics.

Wholesale on the car is more like $11.5k. The average MPG will be ~~ 19 if you drive slowly.

[CakeDaddy]

Sorry for the confusion. I am going to test drive it today. If everything else in great shape with the car then Im highly considering buying it.

Im just looking for advice on thing i should look for.

Thanks though

It sounds like you've done your homework. If possible get the vin a pull the service record from your nearest dealer. I think Q45tech was accurate with his statement, so take that serious. Good luck on the purchase if you decide to go that way. And props to you for going with blk on black welcome to the club!

[Kleetz]

Hey guys, so I went up there a few nights ago and gave it a test drive. I CANNOT describe how much i love this car!!!! haha. It HOLDS the road. There was an empty (wet) parking lot that I found and let her rip. I tired very hard lose the *** end but couldn't do it. Like I said it holds the road!!! It's very responsive. Overall, a blast to drive!! I've read many reviews on this car, such as hard to reach seat controls, or ebrake, plus others and none of these things bothered me.

During the drive I was too overwhelmed by the options. Hahaha!! I was def. enjoying the cooled seats and power adjusting steering wheel though!!!

But, onto the few kinks that I found. It seems the front pass. side door was in an accident because it doesn't stay open. The bolt that holds the door hinge to the body is gone so it's almost like it has an auto closing door. I asked him about it and he said that there was "paint work" done to it, so who knows . Paint work btw is flawless on it though.

No rattles or odd noises that I heard. No hesitation from the car either. No sludge on oil cap. No puffs of blue smoke on start up.

Also, when I hit the trunk button of the remote what is supposed to happen?? Should the trunk pop open and lift up automatically or just pop open a little???

All in all, I'm VERY MUCH impressed!!!! I may just end up owning this one!!!!

[Boon]

When you hold down the trunk button it should just pop the trunk up a couple inches. It does not pop up all the way however there is a kit that Jason Burtman sells that will pop it up all the way.

As for the car. Sounds pretty good. I would be a little hesitant about the whole "little paint work". Is this a private seller or a dealership? Tey to find out who did the paint work.

Make sure you get the VIN and do a carfax report on the car. Money well spent. Also when you get the VIN call or go to your local dealer and ask for a maintnence history. They should give it to you with no problems.

Good luck to you, hope all goes well!

[CakeDaddy]

Paint work, Faulty door hinge = Accident

Go look for another car!!!!

[saeedakobiakov]

don't bother, get Toyota Prius. its also sexy in some other way and half the gas money.i know i will be getting one soon, just waiting for 93 octane to hit 5 bucks.
Modified by saeedakobiakov at 5:37 PM 5/24/2008

[Mark Linkous]

don't bother, get Toyota Prius. its also sexy in some other way and half the gas money.i know i will be getting one soon, just waiting for 93 octane to hit 5 bucks.

Modified by saeedakobiakov at 5:37 PM 5/24/2008

That's just what you need, a overhyped, overpriced, ugly, trend wagon. If you said a modern diesel, sure. A Prius, eww.

[saeedakobiakov]

Toyota makes the best hybrids on the market.it's the future.

[xerexabante]

Toyota makes the best hybrids on the market.it's the future.

Not my future.

I will be buying a civic or a corolla before a hybrid. I want to see how much those batteries cost? They built those a s throw away cars.

My friend bought a Camry for $32k V6 hybrid. Wow!

[Mark Linkous]

Toyota makes the best hybrids on the market.it's the future.

Caug, Fight the Future! While I do not have a crystal ball, small displacement, forced induction, direct injection motors seem to make a compelling argument. With the amazing advancements in diesel technology, I really believe diesel makes the most sense. Now that some are now 50 state certified, they really are starting to come into their own. Shame low sulfur diesel goes for 5.00 or so. Also, how is a Prius sexy?Cheers,mark

[Manok]

don't bother, get Toyota Prius. its also sexy in some other way and half the gas money.i know i will be getting one soon, just waiting for 93 octane to hit 5 bucks.

Modified by saeedakobiakov at 5:37 PM 5/24/2008

because an M45 and a toyoto prius are in the same category. OP, go find another M45, there are plenty out there that aren't in bad shape.

[Q45tech]

Diesel what about LPG at least we are almost self sufficient [until people start converting in numbers]. At $2.30 equivalent to a gasoline gallon.

For $3200 you can compress your home nat gas to fill tank and avoid 68 cent per gallon road fuel tax.

Diesel is a world wide shortage already due to 3rd world use and China/India.

The question is which will be higher 10 years from now electricity, gas, or liquid fuels.

I can't wait until plane fare are a function of passenger weight and luggage weight......................pay per pound and ounces count.

[Mark Linkous]

Diesel what about LPG at least we are almost self sufficient [until people start converting in numbers]. At $2.30 equivalent to a gasoline gallon.

For $3200 you can compress your home nat gas to fill tank and avoid 68 cent per gallon road fuel tax.

Diesel is a world wide shortage already due to 3rd world use and China/India.

The question is which will be higher 10 years from now electricity, gas, or liquid fuels.

I can't wait until plane fare are a function of passenger weight and luggage weight......................pay per pound and ounces count.

Hello,LPG is an excellent point. Our coal reserves are quite good. If more of the country was suited to growing sugar cane, Ethanol would not be a complete joke. What Brazil has been able to do is impressive in respect to Ethanol. I am witcha about diesel reserves. It is compounded here by the way petroleum is refined. We are still setup for gasoline primarily.Cheers,mark

[myother45isalesbaer]

Jump...no. I have a 2004 and it has no issues with oil consumption, brakes, etc. I have run it hard and fast. But mine has only 15K on it.

Check it out good. Carfax maybe to see if it was in an accident. Mine has no rattles. Mileage is about right for a 2003.

Question for you. This is a high performance sports sedan that is expensive to run and to keep running right. If you are concerned about the price can you afford high end fuel? This is not a cheap car to run and maintain.

If you have any doubts about fuel and repair costs I would go elsewhere. There are less other cars on the market that maybe don't perform as well but they are not going to bust your bank account either. At $80+ per fill up I am considering dumping mine.

[M45-Zero260]

You would dump your M45 because of the fuel cost??? So the extra .20 cents a gallon between 87 octane and 93 octane is the kicker? I'm sorry, but YOU have chosen the wrong car if it comes down to pennies on the dollar of driving a 340 HP M45 or a Toyota Prius. Heck, you might as well join the Moped Forum if you are going to complain about this. Sure, fuel prices suck, but to tell someone who is looking to purchase his first Infiniti M45 Y34 to look elsewhere because of your opinions and experiences is just wrong.

So far, I have replaced less than $20 of parts in 2 years of this "expensive" running machine.

Speak for yourself. Every car in the world, both foreign and domestic, can have expensive repairs. A quality built Japanese car that is out of warranty will always be in my garage before a 'domestic' brand new Chrysler, GM, or Ford that I'm always having to take in for "warranty repairs, recalls, problems, etc.

I've personally had crappy luck with brand new domestic cars, and have had ZERO problems with pre-owned Foreign cars in the past 9 years, and 5 cars.

Just my opinion, but if I were the OP, I would jump on this car. Look at the worst case...he is getting a car that started out over Fifty Thousand Dollars, for a mere Fourteen-Five. Again, just my opinion, but what looks are you going to get at the stoplight in a Black on Black 2003 Infiniti M45 that no one knows what the heck it is, than some 'brand new' domestic car for twice the price (and there are 4 at that intersection.) I would be laughing all the way to the bank, and grinning all the way home with the fresh smell of hot molten rubber in my garage.

Twenty gallons of gas in an M45 = Twenty gallons of gas in any other car. Do the math, and buy a pink helmet for your next M...the Moped.

[CakeDaddy]

but what looks are you going to get at the stoplight in a Black on Black 2003 Infiniti M45 that no one knows what the heck it is, than some 'brand new' domestic car for twice the price (and there are 4 at that intersection.)

Twenty gallons of gas in an M45 = Twenty gallons of gas in any other car. Do the math, and buy a pink helmet for your next M...the Moped.

[myother45isalesbaer]

All I tried to do was give the guy my best advice. You slammed me because of you do not agree.

The M is not the best car on the road. Its slow, expensive to run and a pig when you try to take some others on. There are a ton of better cars out there. Try BMW for one.

So..........excuse me. Attitude on this site such as from you is just not called for.

For 16K I would walk away from this car. He is going to spend a ton more just keeping it running.

Insurance costs are cheap. Not sure if that's because no one owns one or if they are actually good when you smash them into a brick wall.

[CakeDaddy]

All I tried to do was give the guy my best advice. You slammed me because of you do not agree.

The M is not the best car on the road. Its slow, expensive to run and a pig when you try to take some others on. There are a ton of better cars out there. Try BMW for one.

So..........excuse me. Attitude on this site such as from you is just not called for.

For 16K I would walk away from this car. He is going to spend a ton more just keeping it running.

Insurance costs are cheap. Not sure if that's because no one owns one or if they are actually good when you smash them into a brick wall.

ohhhh no! Not the BMW chatter again. I almost forgot about you until you made the BMW comment. It's nice to see that you still have that "infiniti junk" and not that 5 or 7 series. People here actually enjoy this car, so give us break or trade it in and go get that 7 series and spare us the "BMW is better" talk. I aint mad at'cha, but you struck a nerve...again!zer...age=2
Modified by CakeDaddy at 7:25 PM 5/27/2008

[myother45isalesbaer]

Sorry. I am just pro-the best available. Why are you so upset? If I had the money I'd be buying a jet plane.

The M45 is a great car, but not the "best in the world". I own one and love it. But I still can admit it's not the best of the best.

Can't we have a civil discussion?

[Mark Linkous]

All I tried to do was give the guy my best advice. You slammed me because of you do not agree.

The M is not the best car on the road. Its slow, expensive to run and a pig when you try to take some others on. There are a ton of better cars out there. Try BMW for one.

So..........excuse me. Attitude on this site such as from you is just not called for.

For 16K I would walk away from this car. He is going to spend a ton more just keeping it running.

Insurance costs are cheap. Not sure if that's because no one owns one or if they are actually good when you smash them into a brick wall.

Hello,How in the hell is a car that runs a 5.7 0-60 run considered slow? Also, what do you mean by "a pig when you try to take some others on"? I agree that gas mileage is not good. But, I was certainly aware of this prior to purchase. I do not think anyone here considers this the best car on the road. Perhaps, the best car for the money. Given you have a 2004, $16,000 seems quite doable. I do not mean to "slam" you. Though, you are certainly slamming the car.M.L

[CakeDaddy]

Sorry. I am just pro-the best available. Why are you so upset? If I had the money I'd be buying a jet plane.

The M45 is a great car, but not the "best in the world". I own one and love it. But I still can admit it's not the best of the best.

Can't we have a civil discussion?

Well, some people think this M is the best thing out there, and yes we can be civil. I think all of that "BWM is better" talk can be taken the wrong way, but this is a forum and you are entitled to that but be ready for the repercussions.

[Lotus]

Can't we have a civil discussion?

Sure we can have a civil discussion when you make up your mind if you love or hate the car!

[THT]

Jump...no. I have a 2004 and it has no issues with oil consumption, brakes, etc. I have run it hard and fast. But mine has only 15K on it.

Check it out good. Carfax maybe to see if it was in an accident. Mine has no rattles. Mileage is about right for a 2003.

Question for you. This is a high performance sports sedan that is expensive to run and to keep running right. If you are concerned about the price can you afford high end fuel? This is not a cheap car to run and maintain.

If you have any doubts about fuel and repair costs I would go elsewhere. There are less other cars on the market that maybe don't perform as well but they are not going to bust your bank account either. At $80+ per fill up I am considering dumping mine.

Not to say that Edmunds is the end-all-be-all of car sites but according to their data, the Y34 is one of the cheapest cars to own from a maintenance and repair standpoint. Part of the reason why I bought one was because for the most part, they are worry-free cars (knock on wood). I have found instances of fuel gauge issues, oil burning, and brake pulsation but most, if not all of these problems are covered by an extended warranty (which is pretty cheap, IMO).

Having driving my father's brand new 5356xi 6spd manual, I can say that the BMW is a much better driver's car but for $70K (Canadian car, it's a long story), it damn well better be. He said for the $25K I paid for my 04, it's a much better cruiser than his 535. The cars were built with different purposes and they both excel, again, my opinion, in their respective disciplines. My M45 is a better cruiser, his 535xi (and the 04 5-series) is a better driver's car.

As for gas, unless the OP is looking at a scooter, the fuel economy isn't a huge deal. Honestly, I don't understand how anyone can say that spending $400/month on gas is killing their budget. The difference between the M45 getting 20mpg and the scooter getting 60mpg amounts to $40/200 miles (assuming $4/gallon gas) or $0.20/mile. Anyone concerned about that much money shouldn't be buying a car in the first place.

I'll get off my soap box now.

[antzrus]

All I tried to do was give the guy my best advice. You slammed me because of you do not agree.

The M is not the best car on the road. Its slow, expensive to run and a pig when you try to take some others on. There are a ton of better cars out there. Try BMW for one.

So..........excuse me. Attitude on this site such as from you is just not called for.

For 16K I would walk away from this car. He is going to spend a ton more just keeping it running.

Insurance costs are cheap. Not sure if that's because no one owns one or if they are actually good when you smash them into a brick wall.

All I tried to do was give the guy my best advice. You slammed me because of you do not agree.

The M is not the best car on the road. Its slow, expensive to run and a pig when you try to take some others on. There are a ton of better cars out there. Try BMW for one.

So..........excuse me. Attitude on this site such as from you is just not called for.

For 16K I would walk away from this car. He is going to spend a ton more just keeping it running.

Insurance costs are cheap. Not sure if that's because no one owns one or if they are actually good when you smash them into a brick wall.

Hey, I don't perceive anyone slamming anyone; just differing opinions. And we all know "opinions" are like bungholes; we've all got one.

In my perception Infinitis are luxury machines; no matter their age. And we all know luxuries are not "musts" but we just want'em and we also all know luxuries always cost more. Regardless of selling price, an M will cost you a lot of $$$ in the long run.

If you cannot afford the damn thing, get something less luxurious (i.e. less expensive). You know delay of gratification is a sign of a more healthy personality. Hell, it took me until I was 60 before I could afford my '06 used. Just think how healthy is my personality-and my daily Prozac helps too..!

[myother45isalesbaer]

If I have to choose between love or hating it, I love it. To the person looking to buy one, go for it. Just make sure its been well maintained and not damaged as in a major accident. For the money its a great car and a true sleeper. Very few know what this car is about. I kinda like that.

As for the BMW being better. Not really, just different. Mine spent more time in the shop getting fixed than it did on the road. And that is not too much of an exaggeration. The last fix was $6K paid for by BMW. I immediately drove it to my local Infiniti dealer and traded it for my M. In the 4 years I have had the M one thing broke. The tach stopped working and Infiniti fixed that under warranty. They could not have been nicer to me.

SO......being a "gear head" from birth I guess I can find things about any car that I like or dislike. If I could have found a better all around car for my tastes than the M I would have bought it. So far my M has given me excellent service. My only complaint is I wish it was quicker off the line and had more top end. Oh well........its pretty fast as it, but I am a power addict. So my wish would have been that they kept the car in production and added another 100 horses to it. I'd be driving that one.

I hope I am now allowed back into the M club.

[NightRiderQ45]

To the OP, get another M!! Obviously this car has been in a wreck! You are silly if jump on this car.