02 Q45 Warranty?

[brymax]

This is my 1st. post.

I just got an 02 Q45 about a month ago.

I picked it up from a broker with only 31,000 miles on it, for $19K.

I mistakenly opted to not get the extended warranty from the broker cuz I just figured I'd shop for my own. Little did I know in CA you can't get anything but the standard power train warranty unless you get it through the dealer/broker you bought it from. No bumper-to-bumper warranties avail. in our state. What's up with that?

Now that I've had the car for a while, wow!

I bought the car cuz my job put me on a 70 mile commute from home through the LA area at the worst time. I fifured a luxury car would ease the pain. I did. I still hate traffic, but love this car!

Dropped $440 the 1st. week on a new starter. Ouch!

Any suggestions on warranties?

Should I just go warranty commando with this car?

I make pretty good money, but it's not like I have thousands laying around to blow on a car without warning.

What should I do? What should I expect?

The car feels solid and pretty much feels brand new.It was originally purchased by some high roller marketing exec. firm in Beverly Hills, and considering how low the miles were I'm thinking it must have just been used to cart high rollers around or LAX pick-ups. Just don't see how anyone in CA can only drive 33K miles in 5 years.

Any advice would help.

ThanksBryan
Modified by brymax at 12:28 PM 9/11/2007

[elwesso]

Bryan... Heres my personal opinion.

Aftermarket warranties are usually a ripoff. You'll spend $500-$1000-$1500 on a warranty, depending on whats going on.

If you spend the money on maintaining fluids and filters, you will greatly prolong the time it takes to wear out hard parts (engine, trans, differential, brake calipers, etc etc)..

With only 30k, you've still got another 30k before you have to do another major service...

Usually even with iffy maintenance you dont see expensive parts fail till 150k, and with exceptional maintenance you can get 250k.

[xerexabante]

I think you got a good deal. I bought my 02 q45 last year w/ 49k on it for $21,500. I got the sport w/o navi. I love the ride! Then I took of the badge and now people really have no ideal what my car is.

One more thing. if the original owner got an extended warranty it can be transfferd to you and it is for free. Call Infiniti they will let you know. It doesn't matter who owns the car now as long as it was an Infiniti Extended warranty. I got my extended for free fromthe old owner free.

Brokers will not let you know because they want to make more money from you. Regarless you might want that extended worth it. Your standard warranty is I bleive 5/50k bumper to bumper and powertrain is 7/70k

[Q45tech]

4 years from 1st registration-retail sale/60k bumper to bumper6 years from 1st registration/70k powertrainThe same as it has been since 1989.

[bullittandy]

Bryan... Heres my personal opinion.

Aftermarket warranties are usually a ripoff. You'll spend $500-$1000-$1500 on a warranty, depending on whats going on.

If you spend the money on maintaining fluids and filters, you will greatly prolong the time it takes to wear out hard parts (engine, trans, differential, brake calipers, etc etc)..

With only 30k, you've still got another 30k before you have to do another major service...

Usually even with iffy maintenance you dont see expensive parts fail till 150k, and with exceptional maintenance you can get 250k.

You're right, aftermarket warranties are usually a poor investment on a reliable car like a Q45. However, on my wife's Volvo V70 I received $6000 worth of warranty work on the $1400 warranty. I'd never buy one on a Honda but I'd pay $5000 for one on a newer BMW.

[cccpman]

The best advice is to stick around on this forum, it will save you thousands.

Keep up on the fluid changes and such and your car is fine for a good while. If your really worried about a sudden repair cost put a little of your checks into a savings account for the car (or other things life throws at you) and you can pull from there to ease repair costs when they come

[bullittandy]

Some of these cars (02+ Q45's) have been oil burners and I've heard of a few engine replacements but other than that I'd expect them to be as reliable as the other years, in other words very reliable. Don't bother with a warranty.

[brymax]

Thanks for the feedback ya'll.

It doesn't look like a real good warranty is available here in CA anyway, so I'll probably just shine it.

1 company said if I used an out of CA address to set up the bumper to bumper warranty, I would be covered here in CA. They said it's the law that they can't sell that warranty in CA so this is their way around it.That totally sounds like a great loophole I want to be a part of, huh

Whatever. I have the money I guess. I bought a new Mercedes and an Infiniti in the same year. I probably sound lame squeakin about money what if's.

Thanks again.

[toekneec]

brymax,

actually, Cali does have some type of extended warranty:Mercury Ins. offers it as "MBI" - mechanical breakdown insurance. it's not expensive and i believe it would've covered your alternator:http://about.mercuryinsurance.com/mechanicalbc.asp

i've been looking at various '03 cars recently and this was brought to my attention.

warrantydirect.com is still not allowed to sell policies in Cali, yet.

[brymax]

brymax,

actually, Cali does have some type of extended warranty:Mercury Ins. offers it as "MBI" - mechanical breakdown insurance. it's not expensive and i believe it would've covered your alternator:http://about.mercuryinsurance.com/mechanicalbc.asp

i've been looking at various '03 cars recently and this was brought to my attention.

warrantydirect.com is still not allowed to sell policies in Cali, yet.

Wow cool!

Thanks, I'll look into it.