Hello all, newbie to the board here --- a seemingly great board it is ! I have been looking off and on at the latest model Q45 and have finally found one that fits my fancy. It is a 2003 Q45 Premium, 18" wheels, 18,000 miles, Intelligent Cruise control, heated/cooled seats, everything --- and I mean everything.

The color is exactly what I want (Pearl White) with the beige interior. One funny thing is that the floor mats (in the trunk) appear VERY USED ---- do you think that is of a major concern ? The 2003 Q is at a dealer in Maryland, I am in DC.

My current 1997 Q45 has 83,000 miles, all dealer serviced since new and is impeccable, garage kept, always "parked smart", i.e., no dings and is flawless. Pearl Ivory with the beige (I'm partial to this).

I've been reading about oil consumption fears with the new Q45 --- should that be of major concern for or simply a TSB matter ? I am in the DC region and have a good relationship with Passport Infiniti (rocky at the start, now "good").

Also, I am going to have to trade my current Q in as I do not have the time (or additional parking space) to keep it. Any recommendations of how to bring the best $$$s ? The asking price is mid - high 30s (sounds good to me) and I hope to get between 9k and 10k for mine.

All comments will be greatly appreciated.

Btw, I am a loyal Infiniti owner since 1992, my old M30 went 260,000 miles before donating her.

Thanks again.

Prinetine:

First off, welcome to our little club!..

Also consider selling your car here first our Infiniti classsified forum:zeroforum?id=172

try to get a trade-in $$ and see if you can sell it here making sure for a loving home and maybe you getting a few hundred more than dealer offered.

pearl white is agreat choice, the mats being very used is kinda weird I doubt a Infiniti dealer would be involved in any kinda rollbacl so no worries there.

Maybe during trade in someone secured nicer looking mats?

Bring it to their attention and make them give you new mats as part of the deal ( or failing this buy a new set from one of our sponsors for low$$) Be sure to take some pics of your old ride in case you wanna post it here FS, link for our free pfotohosting is here: http://nissaninfiniticlub.net/photopost/

Fred..

As for the oil consumption thing:The VK45de has much looser pistons for more power.Like many other modern designs.Take the VIn and ask the service dept for thge service history if there are any excessive consumption issues they will be sure to show.

Private sale is the best way to maximize return.

The oil problem, if it exists, is not fixable unless the car is under warranty and it is well documented.

2003 F50 has some desirable upgrades, including numerically higher rear end for improved acceleration.

Personally, I wouldn't pay over about $31K for a perfect 2003 Premium with 18K. I am frugal. Check out Car.com and Autotrader.com for an idea about who is asking what. Dealers are usually smoking something. Get a 100K Infiniti extended warranty thrown in at that price as a minimum.

The F50 is a nice car, just be willing to keep it for awhile.

The rapid depreciation isn't going to stop, just like it didn't for the G50.

The most significant Depreciation has already happend guys.

If its low miles the price seems fair to me, but yes try to get teh warranty extension thrown in too.

Fred..

Yea that's true for the people who bought it new. Still from this point it's going to depreciate far worse then an LS430, 7 series etc

and just like the G50 you won't be able to give them away. Espically considering the expense of repairing any of the complicated electrical systems when the car reaches high miles.

Of course the ironic thing is the current 7 series with all of its gremlins and problems is still the best selling 7 of all time, and will hold its value far better then a Q, even though the Q will be far less troublesome.

I have researched via cars & autotrader and have not found a better priced premium model with miles as low. This Q is not at an Infiniti dealer so getting the additional warranty is not applicable correct ?

What is the normal new factory warranty ? Is it 5 years or the standard 3 ?

To those asking about me selling my current 97 Q, that is going to be difficult, I am single, travel to NYC & Philly each week and have only one parking spot in my building, the joys of living "urban" !

I think I'm going to approach the dealer with an offer of $28k plus my car --- any thoughts ?

Thanks again everyone --- great forum !

28k plus your car means you giving your car away for what 3.3k?

I'll buy it for that price today if need be,

Ryan: I still diasgree the big depreciationhas already hit .the success G35 and it appears M35/45 will help futher resale of all infiniti models.

I thought "giving" them my Q plus $28k would be fair.

I'm still thinking I might keep looking as I am not in any kind of a rush to buy.

Thanks again all.

I looked at Autotrader and there were none below 33k, so not sure that 35k is that bad of a starting point. First off, I'd wait until the end of the month when the sales reps are most hungry. You know when the RIGHT color comes along that is rare, a big reason I bought my 97' in dark green versus a 96' in black and have not regreted it.

See if you can get a warranty thrown into the mix to 100k, I'd try to give them your car as trade-in, 25-27k and a 100k warranty. To get the color you want that might be a good deal.

I think the last model M is holding its value better then the Q. Still I see Qs going for way under book here all the time.

I can't think of more car then a Q in the 20s or 30s.

Fred probably forgot, but we have an aftermarket warranty sponser here.

Nico members get a 25 dolla discount.

prinetime wrote:I thought "giving" them my Q plus $28k would be fair.

I'm still thinking I might keep looking as I am not in any kind of a rush to buy.

Thanks again all.

Just looked all of this up on http://www.kbb.com and I think you're right... not that I wouldn't start at my car +$24K, but I'm frugal ! (That's what we cheap people like to be called)

Heath