G50 Q45 Running Cost

[Merfin22]

Hello all, I've been looking into a 1994-1996 ( I think those years are correct for the updated G50 ) and I have been a nissan guy my entire life (owned about 4), but I don't have a huge budget and I love the value for money the Q45 gets me. Now, I really want to hear from owners what the running cost per year (ex. fuel) as parts are more then any Nissan I've owned, but are they reliable? I don't want a bank breaker.

Thanks!

[OwnerCS]

Well I've been driving my 91 for a year now (appx 10,000 miles) with the following maintenance items. I'm not counting the bent tie rod end from hitting a pot-hole as that was not the car's fault and based on the condition of the joint it would have lasted for years. Over the past 12 months I have replaced:

1) 1 can or R12 Freon at $25.
2) 4 tires at approximately $800

But the year before that it was a rebuilt transmission, a complete under plenum job, sensors, injectors, chain guides, hoses, radiator, water pump, struts, bushings,speakers, that was almost a complete technology restoration.

It drives like a new car. I'm expecting next year to be low maintenance.

[Merfin22]

Well I've been driving my 91 for a year now (appx 10,000 miles) with the following maintenance items. I'm not counting the bent tie rod end from hitting a pot-hole as that was not the car's fault and based on the condition of the joint it would have lasted for years. Over the past 12 months I have replaced:

1) 1 can or R12 Freon at $25.
2) 4 tires at approximately $800

But the year before that it was a rebuilt transmission, a complete under plenum job, sensors, injectors, chain guides, hoses, radiator, water pump, struts, bushings,speakers, that was almost a complete technology restoration.

It drives like a new car. I'm expecting next year to be low maintenance.

Thanks for the reply. Just curious, do you remember how much the tech restoration cost you?

[OwnerCS]

I did the work myself except for installing the transmission. I'm not sure I want to remember it all but it seems like it was in the $7,000 range.

[Rex]

I think Q45Tech used to say the cost per mile for a Q45 was 3 or 4 times that of a Civic. It's a large heavy "performance sedan", it won't be cheap to repair or maintain.

I'd say that most Q45's you will find on the market have a fair amount of "outstanding maintenance" as they're seen as budget luxury, until someone needs to pay for more than a $19.99 oil change.

Hope this doesn't come across as elitist, just want to make sure you're fair warned as over the years we've seen many people join after buying a used Q45 w/100k and become shocked when they learn it's in need of lots of work ($2-3k) to last the next 30-40k.

[OwnerCS]

I think Q45Tech used to say the cost per mile for a Q45 was 3 or 4 times that of a Civic. It's a large heavy "performance sedan", it won't be cheap to repair or maintain.

I'd say that most Q45's you will find on the market have a fair amount of "outstanding maintenance" as they're seen as budget luxury, until someone needs to pay for more than a $19.99 oil change.

Hope this doesn't come across as elitist, just want to make sure you're fair warned as over the years we've seen many people join after buying a used Q45 w/100k and become shocked when they learn it's in need of lots of work ($2-3k) to last the next 30-40k.

So true Rex.. My first year budget amount was $3,000. Since it was a DIY project I got to let my preventative maintenance perfectionist manical OCD side run wild with setting up the car for at another 120,000 miles (about 4 years) of good service.

The transmission was completely unexpected and an item that any individual purchasing an older car (regardless of make) should be cautious about unless the car is manual and the clutch could be an issue.

One of the main goals was for the Q45 restoration it to be a family project with my teenage sons who got learn about working on cars so that experience for them will be priceless.

I felt this particular Q was worth the investment in $ and time as the pearl paint and interior was well preserved by the previous owner's obsession with keeping the car in a climate controlled garage unless it was being driven on a road trip out of state.

The work and $ invested yielded a luxury car with sport suspension handling (per upgrades) that looks and drives like nearly new -- thus a car that originally cost $45,000. Since it has had so many new, air, cooling and fuel system components replaces, the closest performance sedan that I might be able to find to replace it would be a carefully driven Cadillac CTS-V an about the 2 year old range that will easily cost over $30,000 -- most likely more.

And then there is always a new M56 (if you can find one) for $65,000..