An apology tp Nico

[Dinkydow]

Nico members, it has been some time since I posted on this forum. The reason is I purchased a VW Touareg in Sept and have been hanging around the VW site since. I have a 94 Q. Now for the apology, a little over a year ago after I purchased my Q, I found your site. As luck would have it I had a problem with my Q after picking it up in Las Vegas and driving it over 2000 miles I was 100 miles from my home when I had a problem where the car went into limp mode, this occured after I had started it and it died and I restarted it. Anyway I was disappointed because i had thought a Q was invincible and it only had 50k on it. Anyway, after finding this site and read all the problems, it seemed, with their Q's I thought I had just thrown 11k away. Well, let me tell you what you guys complain about and I am sure rightfully so is nothing like what goes on the VW site. Iam talking about guys, like me, who have spent 40-54 thousand on a new release VW, only to have tons and tons of complaints, problems and heart break. One guy was telling us that, even though Toyota is known for quality that the 4 runner site is also interesting. I went over to the 4 runner site and it was the same. Different complaints but complaints just the same. I guess I finally realize that if you are thinking about getting an Infiniti but worry about quality after reading the forums, don't because after all Infiniti is the best by far!!!!!! Check other sites and you will see. Sorry for the long post. By the way I had piped off shortly after I had joined this forum saying something stupid like " Lie to me and tell me I bought a good car"" I apologize. Thanks for listening!! Wayne

[Altiman94]

every single car ever made will have complaints by the owners. Yes, Q45's are very high maintainence and if you really want one, be prepared to sink money into it for maintainence sometime down the road. But, what car isn't like that?

[PalmerWMD]

wayne:

Your cool I dont think many of us had negative memories of you..

Welcome back still have the Q?

Fred..

[nuQ]

apology accepted by me, and good to have ya back on board. sometimes pre-conceived notions can lead to undeserved disappointments. for instance, if someone buys a toyota because they think/heard/read that they're "bullet-proof", and have one problem, all the sudden they may feel "these cars aren't so great", even though the problem may be normal. changes their perception. luckily i found this site BEFORE i purchased my Q, and knew what to expect, i.e., repairs and maintainence. i drove the Q to get the guides done before even taking it home!!!! (almost everyone thought i was nuts for spending $4500 for the car, then another $2000 for the upgrades!!!) just depends on what you value, and i LOVE my Q. i've never driven anything that matches it!!!! nothing wrong, wayne, with checking other things out in life but coming back if you realize that "the grass wasn't so green" LOL jeff

[victim_of_a_down]

Newbie here but apology accepted anyway. I've spent the last two days just browsing through posts about maintenance on the G20 and thankfully it's a rather problem-free car. Funny that you mention Volkswagen because I was about this close >---< to buying one until horror-stories about failing transmissions and pricey maintenance steered me clear of German cars. From my experience the Infiniti brand is very reliable amongst the luxury marques. Whether or not a Q is problem-free depends on the previous owner's upkeep and unfortunately, it looks like you bought one of the duds. So anyway just from the wealth of info and positive attitudes I plan on checking in here often and I hope you do the same.

-Madison

[driverdriver]

Before I owned an Infiniti I use to own an Audi/VW product as well. I hear you on your VW disappointment. My previous VW/Audi product had a litany of issues, everything from faulty 02 sensors, collapsed fuel tank, alternator, starter, etc, etc all before 60000 miles. What made me trade up to an Infiniti was a mysterious minor engine fire which the dealership couldn't figure out. Unfortunatly before I met my wife she bought a 2000 VW Golf which has had issues with 02 sensor (replaced 3 times), a slipping transmission and a tons of other issues. VW/Audi service is a joke and ther customer service is atrocious. My wife is at the end of her VW lease and good riddance!!! We will NEVER buy another VW/Audi product ever again. My Infiniti has had some issues lately, but none compared to Audi/VW issues we've had in the past. It has by far turned out to be a better car, but not as good as my '90 Honda Civic H/B-this car except for alternator, battery and few other minor things is still running on original parts with close to 200,000 miles on it.

Welcome back!

[elwesso]

Needless to say, I believe he has seen the light!!! All has now been revealed!!!

I had no grievance toward you wayne... Do you have your Q still or still agonizing through the VW???

[docsmile71]

The Touareg is a nice vehicle but too many little electrical gadgets. Germans are great with their mechanical stuff but they seem to be horrible with electronics. Also since it's a brand new vehicle, the gremlins definitely have to be worked out of the product line.

With that said, forums are usually filled with people who are enthusiasts or people who have problems with their cars and are looking for answers. It is by no means a fair representation of any vehicle. I'll bet that there are thousands of Q owners out there that have no problems with their 100K+ mile Q's who never have even thought about finding a infiniti forum on the internet. People who have problems with their Q's however are more curious and look for sites like this to see if there is a simple fix for their problems.

I love my Q....I just wish the brakes were bigger and lasted longer.

[Jesda]

I find that http://www.carpoint.com, and their thousands of owner comments and surveys serve as the BEST representation of a vehicle's reliability.

Look under the 92 Q45, and the extremely high points given by owners, compared to say... a 96 Chrysler Sebring. Or look at the I30. Magazines have their biases, but carpoint surveys seem to reflect reality best.

On an unrelated note, I continue to be amazed by how well this 11 year old Mazda minivan drives and handles.

-Jesda

[Checkered-Member]

Never EVER buy a bran new model...why...bran new stuff has its share of problems...why...not everything was tested properly...and does work in the real world...does VW builds low quality cars...no...but by the definition of a bran new model...everything is going to go wrong with it…lets look at statistics...in 2003 the largest turn up for warranty issues was the Hummer H2

In 2002 the new Altima had a share of problems…oh boy did it had some problems…like the cat braking and going back into the engine & the biggest number of MAF blown in history.

So when buying a bran new model or a majorly (<-made up word) improved one…wait one year and buy the next model…or buy something else.

[szh]

It all depends on how well the manufacturer has designed their vehicles and is then willing to back it with good service, etc. I have been both fortunate and unfortunate with my Infiniti Q45's. The one that gave me real (i.e., costly) trouble was a used one I bought - lease return at the dealer - and the previous owner must not have looked after it well. I looked at the service records that Infiniti had, but they did not indicate too much, so ...

The current M45 I have is too new to comment on, of course.

My wife's 1997 Acura 2.2CL has been rock-solid! We bought it in August 1996 and it has not given us a spot of trouble! We have just done normal maintenance (oil, filters, tires, brake pads, etc.) and it runs like a charm - reliable all the time. Based on a Honda Accord EX platform as I recall.

Z

[Dinkydow]

Thank you, everyone for comments. I would have gotten back sooner but I had to be out of town for a few days right after I sent the memo. Your all right, a first year vehicle, no matter what, will try your patience!! I don't know if i mentioned it but except for the one problem I had with my Q, just after I purchased it, it has been rock solid, I do have it setting now up on blocks because of where I live, and the fact that my driveway is a 35 degree incline. I guess that is where the Touareg is suppose to come in. Talk to you all later. Wayne

[elwesso]

WEll at least your still an infiniti owner....

I assume youll get rid of the toureg right as soon as the warranty is up......

[Dinkydow]

Yes, It has a 4 year 48,000 and a 5 year 60,00 on power train. I would be much more concerned with the electrical then I ever would be with the power train. Live and learn I guess.

[SOCAL91Q45a]

Wayne ... sorry to hear you had a bummer experience with your first Q. Also sorry to hear about your VW. As a current VW owner - though I disdain the one I have. [My fault .. I knew it was a stop gap car, and didnt want to put hardly any $$$ into a for certain depreciating asset I had no emotional interest in keeping] I got a little 4 cyl turbo wagon. I love VW's but dislike this car. The tiptronic trans is all over the place, and docsmile is right - the damn krauts cant get the electrical systems in their cars to work. [Easy now - Im german!!!]

My sunroof mysteriously opens and closes all by itself whilst rolling the hwy at 70+ [only]. The stereo gets all kinds of static on the radio when cell phone cig adapter gets plugged in. The rear trunk lock has a mind of its own. My best friends BMW 5 series was in the shop [brand new!!!] for 2.5 weeks while they try to figure out why the driver windows and seats would go bezerk while driving. Window still isnt totally fixed.

One of the groomsmen in my wedding is a lifelong highly experienced VW mechanic at a local dealer here in So Cal, his folks immigrated to america in 60's, and he's very very GERMAN. He even admits to the VW electrical quirks in German cars. I likely will always have a VW of some kind - always have. From 3Liter 65 VW calbugs, sand rails, to last years Passat. But never again a 4 cyl turbo :-) My maintenence is always free, and fast :-) Its too good a deal to not own one for me.

Wayne - I can relate to your situation. My q45 is sitting covered in a shop far far away, waiting for me to have the time, and the loose change to put her new motor in. Motor is ready, car is ready, Im almost ready - been drooling.

Take it easy NICO peeps!

FYI - Those Brand New 1994 Q45 factory fresh Heads are still available !!!

[cweberj30t]

My first car was an '86 Jetta. I had to replace everything on that car at least once, but the engine never burned oil. I put close to 200k on it and it started to rust away. The electrical system was a joke. Can't tell you how many batteries I went through. Thank god I had manual door locks and windows. The passenger rear door wouldn't open one day and never did ever again. Even so, I still loved that car (I'm German as well).

[maxnix]

Ich bin nicht ein Deutscher, but I have a friend with a 97 GLX Passat that is on the 3rd new VR6 engine! None have lasted over 35K miles!

Also, failed window regulators seem to cost as much as the Q45.

[cweberj30t]

Also, failed window regulators seem to cost as much as the Q45.

Oh, I replaced plenty of those.

[jtesensky]

My wife and I had a 2000 Jetta. We owned it for 2 years, it had 28 in shop days. We had 16 window regulators replaced, TPS switch, & a bundle of interior components. Oh BTW, VW means no loaner & only a 24k mile/24 mo warranty. Sometimes you don't realize how good we have it, all those poor VW owners...

[PalmerWMD]

Well said Joe.

Fred..:thumbup

[jtesensky]

Sorry Wayne, best of luck to you

[Dinkydow]

Thanks Joe, well I guess the positive way to look at is I do have one good car, the Q.

[hannibal]

Hey enough VW bashing!My first ride (a hand-me-down from Dad) was a 86 VW Vanagon. It went over 200,000 miles before the engine was rebuilt and the original clutch finally replaced. Since then I put over 100,000 HARD miles on it. In Jan 2001, it finally quit on me with about 330k miles (the odometer stopped working). I melted a head on the way home from work.Once my S14 project is finished, the VW will be back!!

[driverdriver]

At least your VW Vanagon was made in Germany (hence quality). Can't say the same for my two VW/Audi products, found out after the fact from the dealer, that both came from Mexico (hence overpriced piece of s***). The shouldn't advertise "German Engineering" if its slapped together in Mexico.

[maxnix]

At least your VW Vanagon was made in Germany (hence quality). Can't say the same for my two VW/Audi products, found out after the fact from the dealer, that both came from Mexico (hence overpriced piece of s***). The shouldn't advertise "German Engineering" if its slapped together in Mexico.

Many components of many cars are built around the world. Even design is not country manufacturer specific anymore. Some of the most troublesome automotive products are originating from the Vaterland.

I mark the beginning of the decline of the superiority of the German automobile industry when the 320 was first built. A friend of mine described it as a car designed to be assembled by Turks. In retrospect, I think he was prescient.__________________Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t & 2000 Q45

Discover the power of the button!

[hannibal]

True, a 86 VW and an 2004 Audi/VW are 2 different cars. They just dont make em like they used to.And like someone said earlier, VW has no problem with the mechanical stuff, but a lot of trial and error going on with their new electrical components. My VW had as much electronics as the Model T!

[driverdriver]

Part of VW's mechanical woes up here in Canada stems from there liberal use of plastic and rubber parts in their vehicles and the fact that there sensors are not really designed for Canadian extremes. It gets friggin cold up here every winter and what happens is that those rubber and plastic parts eventually crack when the VW's operating temperature gets hot. In the case of sensors, they simply stop operating. Their parts are only designed to perform optimally in warm or moderate temperature environments. I hear its the same for other Euro makes too (except for Mercedes Benz-They have a testing facility in Northern Canada).

[PalmerWMD]

Back in the day when cars were desigend for home market and exported unchnaged both japanses andd german brands had problems with temp extremes.Still do a little bit but much less so now.