Are we insane, or smarter than everyone?

[Jesda]

Infiniti owners are a cheap bunch, and are always looking for practical justifications for their passion. There is nothing "smart" about owning a Q45. There are cleaner, cheaper, roomier, and safer cars out there for the same or less money.

You maintain an old Q because they're beautiful, perform well, and its a fun hobby. Enjoy it! If you keep trying to justify every penny, you'll drive yourself mad for no good reason.

Parts for the 530 and 540 are cheaper than parts for the G50. Spend some time perusing Bimmer.info (bimmerforums is like the 240 General of BMW forums) and check out online sources providing OEM parts. BMW knew how to build a superior sport sedan, and they did. It just wasn't as pretty, as quiet, as exotic, as unique, or as affordable as a G50 was.

Car magazines put the LS400 and 540 ahead of the Q for luxury reasons (LS does it better) or performance reasons (540 does it better). The G50 always got stuck in between depending on who the reviewer was.

I've driven more 90-93 G50s than I can count in varying conditions. Believe me, they just don't handle exceedingly well in stock form and need a little bit of aftermarket support help to catch up to BMW and Cadillac (STS only). The Q is a HUGE step ahead of Lexus and Mercedes, but neither of those brands were going after the sport-luxury crowd to begin with. This isn't to say that G50s handle poorly... but certain cars handle a better in varying situations.

The active suspension system was VERY advanced and its effectiveness has been proven on paper. As Wes said, its still far ahead of its time, but it isn't necessary as it was in the past. You can achieve much of what the active system did with Delphi's Magneride, which has so far found its way into Cadillacs, Ferraris, and Audis. There's a lot of talk about cars getting heavier, but in relative terms (feature content) they're actually much lighter, thanks to computerized design and the increased use of lighter and more exotic materials (aluminum, carbon fiber, etc).

Its a frustrating waste that Nissan didn't put the VH45 into more Nissans and Infinitis. That motor deserved a MUCH longer run and barely had a chance to build the reputation it deserved (chain guides aside, of course). Instead of updating the VH45, Renaulssan decided to beef up the VQ, giving us the worthless VK.

I can understand why many of the 240 fanboys go for GM OHV V8 engines. Packaging inefficiences make most OHC V8s a chore [or impossible] to install, not to mention a lack of aftermarket support for the VH45.

Nissan doesn't build cars like it used to, and probably never will. Keep the good ones on the road.

[MattB]

I have never owned or driven a G50, so I am going to give my objective take on this.

I don't think it's insane at all to try to keep these cars in as-new condition. Who said that only sports cars can be restored? Lots of people restore old Mustangs/Camaros/insert favorite Detroit sports car here. While the G50 may never be the widely-known classic car that a restored Corvette is, it does have some historical significance as the original Infiniti. It's also just a relatively rare car. I feel like the Y34 M45 could end up the same way and 10 years from now there will be a group of people on a site like this trying to keep their VK45s in top shape. While I don't ever see myself owning a G50 (though I'd love to take a fully functional Q45a for a spin), I respect people for being enthusiastic enough about it to try to keep them going.

[ScottJackson]

Since I drive both a 540i and Q45, I'll say that I like the 540i better. It gets less fuel mileage than the Q, but feels substantially more sporty. The doors close like a vault. I simply like the feel of driving the 540i. The exception is longer distance drives. The Q is nice for an everyday driver when I just want to get from one place to another. It has a little power for passing and it turns and brakes ok. Not much thrilling about it. The 540i stops better, feels better turning, and has more bite to it when I push the gas. However, it's lowered with 18s and has KYB struts so it rides a bit rougher than the Q with its 15s and tokico blues. The only thing the Q has better for handling is the rack and pinion steering. The 540i feels a bit heavy and vague in steering. If only the Q would have been like the E39 M5.... manual 6 speed trans, 400-450hp, 14" brakes, etc. Then I would absolutely love the Q. Maybe some day. For now I've got lots of projects (mainly farm trucks I need to get running) and the 540i is going to recieve any bigger mods until I have enough spare $$$ to start really upgrading the Q. And I've still got my Active Q sitting around waiting for me to replace the injectors and see about suspension work. I dunno, if I end up swapping my mustang's 514 with toyota supra 5 speed into the 540i, I may never consider the Q adequite in anything performance related again. But as usual, it's still a dream at this point.

[DrewQ45]

I have never owned or driven a G50, so I am going to give my objective take on this.

I don't think it's insane at all to try to keep these cars in as-new condition. Who said that only sports cars can be restored? Lots of people restore old Mustangs/Camaros/insert favorite Detroit sports car here. While the G50 may never be the widely-known classic car that a restored Corvette is, it does have some historical significance as the original Infiniti. It's also just a relatively rare car. I feel like the Y34 M45 could end up the same way and 10 years from now there will be a group of people on a site like this trying to keep their VK45s in top shape. While I don't ever see myself owning a G50 (though I'd love to take a fully functional Q45a for a spin), I respect people for being enthusiastic enough about it to try to keep them going.

This whole topic kinda reminds of this old thread of mine. "Will the Q45 ever appreciate in value"... zer...age=1

[Peterofdevon]

Since I drive both a 540i and Q45, I'll say that I like the 540i better. .

Well there's no doubt this is apples to oranges I have to pipe up here. I have a 540i 2001 six speed sport suspension with 50K on it. I got it because I was facing frustration with the Qs. One had a bad trans the other bad injectors. I sold the one with the higher mileage and less maintence in it for the cherry black on black 96. This car was nothing until I redid the sus. rubber, tokiko blues, FSTB and then put on a set of 17s and PS2s. Once this was done it became my fav car. There is something unidentifible magic about the feel of a sorted out Q (Scott, perhaps you should sort out a 94+). The more I drove the BlackQ the less I drove the 540i, yes the bimmer is fast, and tight but the Q has a level of big car sophistication the 540 somehow lacks.

Now enter from stage left the Green Q, It got a OEM rebuilt trans from Infiniti, and anything else it needed. It now approaches the BlackQ in quality of ride...

As I go back and forth between the BMW and the Qs---now that they are fully sorted out---I like the Qs better for daily driving and highway. If I want feather touch fast smooth speed, you can't beat the 540I, Plus the bimmer can carve a corner so well. My 540 is a little different than Scot's, perhaps mine is more "lux" oriented, who knows? This I do know---it will be the first to go (I was drooling over a black on black M6 coup the other day--selling the 540, I'm 1/4 way there--just need the other 75 Gs!!! Or another idea I have is to sell the 540 and score an 8 series--- I can pocket some dough doing this move.

Has anyone here driven a maintained 850?

Peter

[ScottJackson]

I haven't ever driven an 8 series, but they're heavy like the 5 series. I don't know how much of an improvement it would be over a 540i. How about an ESS supercharger or similar for the E39 540i? Orrrr, E39 M5 engine (or LS1 as it's already been done) into a 3 series?

[maxnix]

There was an owner here that went from a G50 to an M5 and back to the G50.

The bugaboo with the achter serien is the automatic transimissions are designed so they burn out at 100K - 120K. Not nearly as inxspensive to replace as the G50 Jatco.

[MattB]

There was an owner here that went from a G50 to an M5 and back to the G50.

The bugaboo with the achter serien is the automatic transimissions are designed so they burn out at 100K - 120K. Not nearly as inxspensive to replace as the G50 Jatco.

IIRC they're GM transmissions aren't they?

[Jesda]

The 3-series (not sure about the M3) uses an automatic sourced from GM France. The M5 uses a ZF unit, IIRC.

ZF automatics are reputed for their solid performance but not necessarily their dependability.

[Haitian_King]

No. But I'd love to own one. A couple of years ago, I saw one for sale for like 12,500. Didn't have the money. I still look for them though. I rarely see them on the street. And when I do, it's beautiful. But wouldn't the 840 be more comparable to the Q as opposed to the V12 850?