02-05 Q vs LS430

[NightRiderQ45]

I love the Lexus 430's, especially the 04+ models. It's funny that all of the things that people keep saying is boring is what I want in my vehicle. To compare the Lexus 430 to the G50 and saying the bland interior of the G50 looks better.....IMHO is absurd!

What makes a car fun to drive anyway? I don't drive my car that hard, I don't do jack rabbit starts at red lights, I don't 80mph going into a steep curve...is this what consist of fun? My car is fun to drive because I like to take it slow unless I'm behind a group of fast cars on the interstate...then I'm blowing soot out of the tail pipe.

[maxnix]

If I can't get the Infiniti warranty .....

You are up that famous creek without a paddle. Get the Nissan one from IoS.

There is a post in Infiniti General.

[konatown]

I love the Lexus 430's, especially the 04+ models. It's funny that all of the things that people keep saying is boring is what I want in my vehicle. To compare the Lexus 430 to the G50 and saying the bland interior of the G50 looks better.....IMHO is absurd!

What makes a car fun to drive anyway? I don't drive my car that hard, I don't do jack rabbit starts at red lights, I don't 80mph going into a steep curve...is this what consist of fun? My car is fun to drive because I like to take it slow unless I'm behind a group of fast cars on the interstate...then I'm blowing soot out of the tail pipe.

The fun factor isn't a single tangible factor, and can sometimes be felt in a low quality, poorly designed vehicle. Think Mustang GT's. Terrible cars, terrible handling but they still have that 'cool' factor you will never put your finger on. And that's what keeps them selling in such massive numbers now a days. The G50 is a fun car whether you follow a blue-hair in their Buick (LS430) or delve into more spirited driving; you want to drive it rather than want to get some where in it. That is what the 'fun' factor is.

And the G50 has a great interior. Its open, it flows well and is logically laid out, it isn't too clustered and in general is a design that stands up to the years.. The shifter has a brilliant gate and is always in comfortable, natural reach.

[Peterofdevon]

off topic...

I think the real fun factor is when you can have "it" at around town speeds. Sorry to say but the G50 is the only car in this thread that does that.

Peter

[ddrumman]

If you decide on the F50, this one



along with 3 or 4 more are on ebay w/an average price of 17 to 20K.

Of course, get the 100K Infiniti warranty. I bought my G50 10 years ago when it had 67,500 mi and it came w/the 100K warranty. It came in very handy on a few things like maf, one or two injectors, head gasket etc. Even though mine came with the warranty I would have definitely bought it on the side had it not come with it.

[Bigmike40]

Whichever brand you buy, make sure you can purchase the 7 year [until 2011] /100k oem extended warranty or survey all local junkyards for wrecks of the same model and year.

The electronics are so very expensive mult thousands just for parts.

Heck the 1990Q had $7,000 in electronic modules and new ones may have $14,000 [dealer msrp].

Avoid NAV to lessen potential.

I agree with Q45tech, the extended warranty is top priority if you purchase a F50. I bought my 05 F50 with 17K and backed by Infiniti 100K warranty. I even purchased a warranty from my credit union which goes out to 118K to cover my six.

I have owned the F50 for about a year and I love this car. I started with a 04 Maxima, which was an excellent car put the torque steer was horrible. The Q has better fit and finish to me and the V8 sounds wonderful. The only issues I've had so far is warped brake rotors which were covered under warranty. The dealership is conducting a oil consumption test to see if the engine will have to be replaced. Since I've owned the car it is burning about a half quart of oil between oil changes.

I get about 18MPG around town and 20-21 on the highway. I drove it South on vacation and averaged 23 MPG with chrome 20" rims. I have drove in Lexus and BMW and my friends own them and they have issues just like Infiniti. I think that the F50 is a great car, rare as they are, I would buy another in a minute. My car is my daily driver and I commute about 50 miles a day 5 days a week.

Mike

[maxnix]

If you decide on the F50, this one



along with 3 or 4 more are on ebay w/an average price of 17 to 20K.

If eBay doesn't scare you enough, that picture should!

[MinisterofDOOM]

It'd be okay if the wheels were all silver. But I don't know if I'd trust buying a used Infiniti that had been treated like that.

[ddrumman]

If eBay doesn't scare you enough, that picture should!

Ebay is a tool that I use from time to time depending on my family's needs. I use it to buy and sell things that I know well like musical equipment, also, I get local people to match prices and things like that. I would be coutious buying a used car from anywhere not just ebay.

However a couple of friends of mine have bought cars on ebay without any issues.

It'd be okay if the wheels were all silver. But I don't know if I'd trust buying a used Infiniti that had been treated like that.

True. I was just showing him what he can expect to pay ball park wise for an 05 or 06.

[Skibane]

Oem don't worry about making a profit on warranty. They can suffer losses forever! Aftermarkets must! and remember for every winner there must be a series of losers to stay in business.

19 years of experience with dozens of different aftermarkets insurance companies forces me to say almost all are never worth the $2,000+ they charge.

Yep, buying an aftermarket warranty is like taking a trip to Vegas: Even though someone occasionally wins the jackpot, the odds are heavily stacked in the house's favor.

[maxnix]

However a couple of friends of mine have bought cars on ebay without any issues.

Get them to post here as that would be a first unless all they were expecting is 4 wheels. Every eBay car reported here has had undisclosed issues.

[JBLUE]

I bought a 2002 Q45 in April for 9000.00 on ebay and so far no issues its has the permuim package everything work fine paint work is pretty good consider that is a 2002 the car is worth more than 9000.00 its had 113,000 miles on it but its looks good

[elwesso]

the aftermarket warranties really depend.. For me, Id rather put whatever it costs (maybe 2-3 grand?) and just have that as a savings account for parts.. but I do all my own labor..

If you are planning on taking it to a shop to get fixed whenever it breaks I'd say the aftermarket warranties are good, but if you're going to fix your own stuff then I'd say skip it..

[BadQ45t]

There are good cars on eBay, but you must buy it from someone that has 100's of good feedback blurbs and a dealership where you can call them and they answer the phone.

I live in CA where any good used can be found. There are a reasonable number of F50's here, I have looked a few times.

I don't know if I'm just very lucky but I had one repair under my extended warranty so I wasted $1600 bucks (the repair was the gas door and it cost $280 bucks). In 92k I have no big issues yet on 97' so I have to really wonder where people think that Nissan didn't build a reliable car. Yes the 90-94 had issues (mechanics dream car) but after that pretty equal to Toyota.

As for fun to drive factor, the LS430 is simply a boring car.......it just doesn't do anything that makes you smile, want to take a quick peak back at it after you lock the doors as you walk away, or much you grin a little too much when you zip up on the freeway. But if stately straight ahead driving in a coffin-line quiet is your pleasure, it is sure to please.

Take a look at the LS460, Toyota took big chances with actually putting some style in it and the hp/torque of the newer engine with 8 speed transmission, now that did something for me.

[aces805]

I am looking at buying a used Q or LS. Much higher prices for the LS cars. How do they compare? I have owned a G35 and the wife has an FX so I am partial to Infiniti based on my experiences to date.Is the Q at least comparable in ride and noise quality? What about interior finish?I have checked out a couple of Lexus locally and am extremely impressed, but no big surprise. I will have to go long distance to even find a low mileage Q but for the 5-7k difference in price it would be worth it.Any thoughts on these two competitors? thks

Modified by nuck at 10:46 PM 6/3/2009

My cousin just bought an 03 LS430 about a month ago. His car is very solid and well-built, very nice interior, but it looks like a big Camry and is very common. If you bought a LS430 in great condition, it would be a very practical purchase that will make you feel like a smart consumer. It would not be wrong to get the Lexus.

I have not driven or ridden in an F50...so no comment on them, however...

Took my cousin for a spin in my G50 and stabbed the accelerator when we were cruising along at 65mph on an empty freeway. Felt really good to get the old girl out in the open, so maybe I got carried away and drove at a very high speed. I must've had a little grin because my cousin said, "You like driving this car, don't you?" I replied, "Rear-wheel drive V8 buddy, how can you not?"

He then complained that you could hear the engine in the G50. Well, I kinda like that feature actually. Whatever floats your boat...

[ddrumman]

Get them to post here as that would be a first unless all they were expecting is 4 wheels. Every eBay car reported here has had undisclosed issues.

They (he) has bought 3 Mercedes W210 diesels on ebay. NO PROBLEMS! Do you want his #s?

[BadQ45t]

LS430's are good for Dad's of any age, men over 60 and lady's that like to drive to the country club....they do everything very well but they are lifeless. My brother has an LS400 and thinks that a car is to get you from Point A to Point B. He laughed his head off when he say my nicely and properly lowered Q45 with 19" rims and low pro tires calling it "Mexican". So for him the LS430 used is a perfect next car....I don't know that I would have taken my dad's 430 if he gave it to me.

[NightRiderQ45]

LS430's are good for Dad's of any age, men over 60 and lady's that like to drive to the country club....they do everything very well but they are lifeless. My brother has an LS400 and thinks that a car is to get you from Point A to Point B. He laughed his head off when he say my nicely and properly lowered Q45 with 19" rims and low pro tires calling it "Mexican". So for him the LS430 used is a perfect next car....I don't know that I would have taken my dad's 430 if he gave it to me.

It is a perfect next car. I would drive that "lifeless" car in a heart beat.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I could never be happy driving a car designed specifically to isolate the driver from the driving experience. The LS might be a nice car, but it's not the right car for me.

[maxnix]

LS430 are nice transportation capsules, although they are not as well built as the LS400, nor G50 and FGY33, for that matter.

Either the LS430 or the LS460 is the ultimate Buick Park Avenue, if that is the way your tastes run. And you save on the cost of a coffin when you die!

It's got to be better than a Ferrari with "the seat reclined in a comfortable resting position."

[qship96]

Every single model year LS, from 1990-2009 is better built, and a much better car than any year FGY33......to even try to compare the two is laughable.

[NightRiderQ45]

Every single model year LS, from 1990-2009 is better built, and a much better car than any year FGY33......to even try to compare the two is laughable.

Same can be said about the G50 too. I don't hear about those cars having issues with ethanol gas.

[Denver90Q]

Another thing to consider when traveling is that Infiniti dealerships are few and far between and mechanics certified to work on Q's are even rarer.