Ard's Secret...

[ardvarkus]

Hey Guys-

Long time Q45 owner, thought I’d take the opportunity to explain why I’ve not been active for the last year or so. (I’d been on yahoo groups since day one, and owned the Q since Aug 1990)

Anyway, the new passion is a 2003 BMW M5:

I’d been looking in mid 2004 and thought about the new M5 (the V10)- then I saw it and decided the E39 model was my preference. I really didn’t want to wait another year, and pay through the nose for an ugly car… Picked up a 2003 with 17k miles (and a 100k warranty!) one year ago.

Anyway, I was talking with Greg about how much of a difference the M is compared to the Q,…. Well, the difference from the Q was as dramatic as I remembered the Q was when I upgraded back in 1990.

If you’ve never driven one, you will walk away saying ‘wow’. No matter how well tuned your Q is.

The manual transmission is just a blast- so much more precision in using the engine and chassis- you really cannot drift in the Q. transmission is 6 speeds. Clutch sucks- too small. You really need to be careful and rev match. Suspension is a notch harder and more precise than the q when it is new.

And the engine… really a Beast. Low end torque makes it so easy to drive. Almost no such thing as being in the wrong gear…

When I bought it, the idea was to use the Q for long trips, commutes, airport parking… that lasted two months…

So, I am selling my 90Q with 221k miles. Might get $1000-2000. So is it worth the extra 55k? Yep.

Thanks guys- for the effort over all these years. I’ll be around, maybe an outside chance the daughter gets the car, but doubtful.

Here’s a few picks of the ‘new’ wheels.

Adam

PS And hey, I really did agonize over this purchase for two reasons: one was having to deal with BMW service and two was not wanting to be seen as an A$$hole in a BMW. I got over both!

PPS feel free to move- just wanted to make sure I said hi to the old timers..

[ardvarkus]

the back...

[Rex]

Hawtness .

Sorry to see you move on from the Q, but can't fault anyone for driving an M5.

Hang around, don't have to have a Nis/Inf to be a NICO regular .

[CrimsonQ]

Awesome ride! Id love to hear an exhaust clip, or a launch video? hint hint

[Jeff Williams]

I plan to upgrade from the Q to an M, but a different kind of M...An M45!

Evie wants a 750i, and she really liked the 540i with the M body kit, wheels and interior, but I just can't bring myself to go German, yet.

[nuQ]

no faults from me ard,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, i, not only own a 90Q, but also have been the owner of an 87 3251s manual for the past 5 months and LOVE IT!!!! comparing the two is fruitless since they both have their strengths and weaknesses. on the highway, very few cars compare with the Q. punching it from 55mph is like nothing else. the bmw is just soo sweet with everything else. running through all the gears and throwing it around in the curves is pure fun! the car is just so solid (helps having only 47k miles on it!). all in all, very hard to compare my two,,,,apples to apples,,,,but putting them both together,,,,,i feel like a very lucky individual to have both in the driveway.

[maxnix]

Welcome back and post some more commentary.

Wife's manager has a 2004 540i Sport. Very nice car, when it works. Spends way too much time in the shop for my patience level.

Someone else on the board (EWT?) had one and went back to a G50, and I remember the clutch and transmission in city driving were the great motivators.

One of the performance bench marks, and I think the revised 550 Sport should be a killer car for those who want to spend the bucks.

[ardvarkus]

I was driving down US 50 West above placerville- this is coming down out of the sierras... a pair of halogens came up fast- I was doing 85, when a brand new red porsche Carrera GT flew by.

I jumped on it and caught him really quick at about 110. He looked up and did a triple take- 'whats that 5 series doing there' and he jumped on it. I could hear it when he punched it. I hung with him up to 135. The road was so windy that were were taking all lanes.... at those speeds going across all the lanes I gave him a good 8-10 lengths. We finally came up on traffic. Ultimately stopped in placerville, so we chatted a bit. Brand new car, dealer plates...

I'd never felt that sure with the Q, and no way it could accelerate over 100 mph the way the M does.

A

PS The carrera gt runs $440k at msrp. Freaking awesome car.

[maxnix]

Recently drove down to Houston one night, back the next. Main problem was slowing down as cruising speed was too high. So was comfort and lack of noise, in a ten year old car. I have to agree with Q45tech, the Michelin carcass is the best and truest one being produced.

I love great cars. Good thing the Carrera GT didn't catch anything head on, as that is never wise.

You know, people tend to forget the G50 is just a big ol' luxury car that happens to be capable of some very good performance. Never was intended as a sports sedan. Never will be one either because of weight.

The thing I notice is that a lot of the new faster sedans tend to get the same or even worse fuel mileage. Noted the delicious new V-10 M5 was pulling 13-14 mpg range, not that a $90K car owner would care, but I don't like to stop that often for gas.

[szh]

Hi, Adam.

Have not spoken to you in a long while! I remember that excellent summary file of the Yahoo posts that you sent me years back!

Z

[Falkdesigns]

The Q's weight doesn't stop it from being a great sports sedan, mine sure feels like one and cars are getting faster and faster, and heavier all the time. Upcoming S-class will have an AMG version capable of 0-60 under 5 sec's and over 2 ton's heavy.

I see my Q as a luxury sports sedan, at 95 mph on the 405 last night, it's silent, smooth, and tight. Feels no different than at 65 except the scenery is passing much quicker.

M5 is a killer ride man, congrats on the purchase!

[ardvarkus]

Hey Z-

I've been bouncing in and out. Post once in a while at yahoo, surf here but never really post... That compilation of all the old Q posts was pretty handy!

It is so wierd how I feel about the Q. I am terribly conflicted about selling it....

To address other comments, it is really unfair to compare the two in any kind of 'competitive' comparison... they are difernt cars from different AGES. The Q is a 1980 car, (but WELL andvanced for that) and the M is a post 2000 vehicle.

I bought the Q over the LS400 due to the handling and ride- I still feel the Q is close to a 7 series ride of that vintage... and the LS was more of a MB ride.

Regards

Adam

PS Anybody needs that psot dump, shoot me a PM with an email...