First Impressions

[smalcom]

Have had my 97 Q45t for almost a week, and thought I would set down my impressios of this car.

Where has Infiniti been? This 11 year old car is unbelievable. I found it using AutoTrader, and was amazed that it had only 75,000 miles (verified by a Carfax check.)

Asked my son, who lives near the dealer, to have the car checked out by the mechanic he uses for his ancient (over 200,000 miles) Maxima. The inspection was AOK, no problems, so I bought it.

Was able to also buy a 37 month/37,000 mile "warranty." I know, I know. I just threw out $1,900, but I am no longer able to crawl around and fix things broken on a car.

Drove it back from Baltimore, MD to Rehoboth Beach, DE, up I-95, and down Del 1. Doing 70 - 75 all the way, this car just floated quietly down the highway. It is a dream vehicle.

I have had Acura, Volvo, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Lexus, and this old vehicle holds its own against the others bought new. Most amazing, the wind noise in my last Lexus RX was louder than in this car.

Why has this car been kept such a secret? Had it detailed today, and you can't tell the age of the car. It's truly one of the best kept secrets in the automobile world.

Just one question. Why did Nissan kill the Q45? With a car this good, they just should have continued to build them.

Will add to this as I live with my baby longer, but I'm sold on Infiniti!

[elwesso]

IF you like the 97, try driving a 90-95...

Definitely people underestimate this car... Nissan didnt kill the Q45, it just took a "break"...

[pabs324]

I'm glad you have found what the rest of the world is still missing out on. The Few, the Proud the Q45 owner

This car won't disappoint and everyday you will fall more in love with it...

[pabs324]

And Wes is right, it only took a little break...

2008 on its way.?.?

[qship96]

Being from Baltimore county myself, I would be interested in knowing what dealer you bought your Q from, and who your son uses for service on his Nissan- always looking for good service providers.

PS- Have you lived in Rehoboth long? I spent the first 16 summers of my life there, as my dad bought a condo in the Edgewater House as soon as it was constructed, many fond memories growing up there as the town grew from a sleepy seaside hideaway to a popular hot spot.

[maxnix]

Well, the RX300 is just a jacked and gilded Camry, not that it is bad.

The 98-99 LS 400 was regarded as better as it had a 5 speed auto.

All that said, the FGY33 is underestimated for quality and competence. I've always maintained that for a daily driver it may in fact be superior to the G50. Last Q45 with the conservatively designed VH type V8 and VLSD.

[smalcom]

Being from Baltimore county myself, I would be interested in knowing what dealer you bought your Q from, and who your son uses for service on his Nissan- always looking for good service providers.

PS- Have you lived in Rehoboth long? I spent the first 16 summers of my life there, as my dad bought a condo in the Edgewater House as soon as it was constructed, many fond memories growing up there as the town grew from a sleepy seaside hideaway to a popular hot spot.

I bought it at Nationwide Used Cars. Was very pleased with the purchase process. They seem to be a reliable, honest operation. In fact, since the closest Infiniti dealer to me is in Newark, I am planning to have the service done at Nationwide.

They will do the oil change free, rotate tires free, provide a loaner, and guarantee tghe engine for life if they do the service. I prefer to use the dealer for service (have done so on all my cars,) and have been happy with them. Will check with my son to see who does his service.

I have been out here ten years (from NYC via WDC.) For the first nine years, I had a house in Lewes, but decided that I didn't want the responsibility anymore, so bought a condo just off Plantations Rd. Great location.

If you haven't been out here in a while, you wouldn't recognize it. We are no longer just a summer resort. The fastest growing segmrnt of the population is the over 65 group. This has become a retirement destination due to its location close to NY, Philly, Baltimore, DC, and Richmond.

If you're ever out here, let me know. Would love to see your Q.

[Q45tech]

If you think the 97 is good, imagine what it will be like returned to brand new with new shocks, michelin tires, and after replacing all the hundreds or so rubber isolators in suspension, body, and drive train.

11 years of exposure is sure to leave things wanting. Things previous owners didn't know to replace.

[rover3l]

What are the "rubber items" that should be replaced in order of priority?

[jimbyjimb]

I hear you man. Last week I took a one-way 200 mile trip in my 92 and was nothing but pleased. I'm used to driving clapped out clunkers from the 60's, but even still I was impressed to have felt rested when I exited the car rather than fatigued. I love the power, the quietness (inside) and the suspension is fantastic. I have less than 4k into it so far, including purchase price, registration, guides, new hood, under-plenum work and all fluids. Hands down the nicest car I've had, or that any of my friends/relatives have ever had. It's pricey to maintain from what I can see, but it also seems well worth it. I averaged 25-26 mpg on my trip also. Impressive for a V-8.

[StarPD]

You're right, probably one of the most underrated (except for NICO members) cars in the business.

If you want to protect your investment, pay the expense of having ALL fluids replaced. Do mechanical flushes on trans and cooling system, replace fluids in brake system, differential and steering system, check wheel alignement and balance.

Use a GOOD synthetic motor oil and premium oil filters, OEM air filter.Expect to have to replace rubber in steering/suspension components and subframe, motor/trans mounts, and exhaust hangers before too long, the car is already 12 years old and probably needs them already. Do these things, and you will have a superb car that wil last a LONG time with good routine maintenance.

You made a wise choice.

Enjoy!

[BadQ45t]

Have a mechanic check the front end carefully..there are torsion bars that have rubber end links that usually fail at 75k or thereabout. I have a 97' and you made a good purchase. we have a large number of 1st gen Q's on the board, they are nice but the 97' will not have you chasing gremlins in your car and the ride quality to performance of htis car is awesome.

Now you're going to start to look for some improvements to the car, this is where the fun begins. The car was not that popular so there are very few aftermarket goodies available. I have replaced my springs and shocks with ones that i had to get through folks on this board by way of Japan, but you can use everythinginfiniti.com (call Joe at Scotsdale Infiniti, they do mailorder cheaper than you can get locally, their website is everythinginfiniti). You will probably want to at least get fresh struts and shocks at some poitn soon, at 70k my rears were leaking.

If you cannot verify that you have fresh fluids in transmission, crankcase, radiator etc take it and get them all flushed and run best quality you can afford. I have 89k on my 97' and the car is very bulletproof if you take care of it.

Congrats on this purchase, not many left in this year at that mileage.

[jimbyjimb]

CarQuest synthetic fluid (re-bottled valvoline @ less than 4 bucks a quart) has been working great. Did a flush and changed the first pan and it turned out looking real good. Mobil 1 is always good too. Use a dextron type fluid in your transmission and if you love it put in a 15 dollar bottle of lubeguard ATF friction modifier (basically just synthetic whale oil). The carrier takes less than 2 quarts of fluid, I use valvoline synthetic 75-140.

[maxnix]

It's great reading these posts of owners who restore and maintain their cars and thus know what the car can do. Us longertime owners who have done so for so many years (none longer or better than Q45tech) know and to a certain extent assume others will know what we know after performing the required work. All in all, thanks to Joe and the knowledge posted on this board (so few noobs will invest the time to read!) these cars are relatively cheap to maintain for an imported luxury V8 sedan, and the build quality is second to none.

I just wish every noob who has come here in the last two or three years and said, "But it's only a $x,xxx car! I won't spend any more on it." Would read this thread. They just don't understand what they could have.