G50 Test Drive - Impressions

[HashiriyaS14]

I went out and got my first ever drive in a G50 Q today, and I must say that by and large, I was pretty impressed. I had driven an LT1-powered 96 Cadillac Fleetwood the week before, and I think that at least for everyday usage, the Q45 is without a doubt the superior car.

Unfortunately, the example that I drove (1995 base model, silver on black) was not in terribly good condition. It was emitting small amounts of blue smoke from the tailpipe, and small amounts of smoke from the hood (which the dealer said was a bad valve cover gasket that they intend to fix before selling). The odometer was nonfunctional since 139k miles, and so the stated 189k mileage was largely a guess on their part. The car had no service records, and it had a few interior and exterior blemishes. It was also making a disturbing noise that seemed to be coming from the rear end.

Fortunately, the car drove, shifted, and rode rather well. I sat in the car for about 10 minutes with the engine running before driving (I test drove alone), just to poke, prod, and examine all the neat features that a Q45 has and my S14 lacks (which appeared to be numerous). I was VERY impressed with the back seat room, it was simply enormous even, IMO, compared to the much larger Fleetwood. The front seats were comfortable, and the interior materials in general appeared to be of a very high quality, again, much higher than those of the Cadillac (although the caddy was in much nicer condition).

I especially liked the click-in-place sunvisors, power headrests, great stock sound system, analog clock (really found myself using it), and general feel of the heavy, well-made metal pieces on the door (i.e. handle and lock tab, felt almost like a Rolls, very solid).

The dealer had turned me loose in a car with nearly an empty tank, so the first stop was across the street to put in about $5 worth of premium to enjoy on my test drive. I used *all* of it, so suffice it to say that it wasn't an "around the block" test drive.

From the standpoint of driving feel, it really is a spectacular automobile. It did not have the same sensation of massive power right from idle that the LT1-powered Cadillac had, but it was far superior across the rest of the powerband. It still has a very commanding feel in the lower end though, far more than what I'm used to. In the higher end, it's like riding a missle with la power leather seat. I ended up going about 130mph in a downpour on Route 66 just outside of DC. It SOUNDS amazing, I'd never heard an Infiniti V8 near redline before, I was just blown away. Around town, I would prefer to have the option of a tiptronic-like select-shift, but it's not a dealbreaker. I do not like the steering wheel, I'd prefer a thicker-rimmed one, and the steering feel is still slightly vague by sports car standards, but then again, it's not a sports car. The somewhat vaguer steering actually makes it much easier to handle on the highway than something more sensitive. I did not get to really wring out the suspension, as while I succeeded in finding delicious twisties (to which I shall return!), it was absolutely pouring rain, and I did not want to crash someone else's Q45.

From an exterior standpoint, it really is a beautiful car. It cannot be done justice by any picture, and even a fairly neglected example like this one looks positively royal in the flesh. The silver paint, even after 11 likely tough years, still looked positively immaculate except in places where it had been physically damaged by means other than simply age and wear. It looked like NEW paint, I honestly think it looked better than some of the paint I saw on the G35s at the DC auto show last week.

All in all, it's just an amazing car. I still need to go drive a Y33, but I was very impressed, and I'm not sure if I can see it topping this. I'm not certain its quite the right time for me to own a Q yet, I have some financial (i.e. insurance is sky high, 25th b-day in 6 months) and parking issues to sort out first, but at this point I think it's more likely I'll own one inside of a year than not.

Certainly was a fun way to spend a couple hours on a Saturday

For info's sake, here's a link to the actual car that I drove today:

For some reason, the price was $2,950 yesterday and $1k more today. At any rate, I'm not sure I'd even want it for $2k. Maybe for $1k or $1500, but it was a disaster (albeit an attractive disaster) http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/...st=21

[CrimsonQ]

Good write up.

Now you need to go find and test a nice condition 90 Q

[rsiwicki]

Ahh...hell...just come down to Miami and buy my Q. I am slowly trying to remove myself from the emotional attachment I have with my Q...been now about 4+ months that I have been trying to get myself to put it up forsale. It is my first car that I bought with my own monies at 25 years of age and I have put so much into it in the last year or so and have lots of fun...but I need a truck so sooner or later this year it will have to go which will suck.

[elwesso]

Good writeup, however id like to comment on a few things...

the vague steering is likely due to worn suspension components... Granted the 94 Q (non touring) does not have a sports car like snappy steering, but its not bad for a big car... Worn suspension components only make it worse because of the extra play.

Remeber, the gated shifter is there for a reason.... Hold your shifts out in 1st, 2nd and 3rd...... Using that and keeping the RPMS above 3000 REALLY makes the car feel a lot different.

[Jeff Williams]

It is interesting to read a review from someone who has driven a Q for the first time.

It brings back memories of my first drive. I actually fiddled with the headrest button afew minutes before I realized the headrest was moving up and down in the rearview mirror!

Definitley a few suspension upgrades will make the car handle like a dream, and probably make a lot of S13 and Z32 drivers jealous.

I hope, when I upgrade to the M45 in a year or two, I am equally impressed. The test drive I took was a lot of fun.

Thanks for the input.

[Rex]

So you went and drove it, glad to know it wasn't disappointing, but the price hike is .

Keep your eye out or just take Rob up on his.

[HashiriyaS14]

Remeber, the gated shifter is there for a reason.... Hold your shifts out in 1st, 2nd and 3rd...... Using that and keeping the RPMS above 3000 REALLY makes the car feel a lot different.

So I'm supposed to use that while under throttle? I was worried it'd be like taking a normal automatic from 1--->2---->D, which tends to be pretty bad for them. I wish I'd messed around with that then....

I've actually found someone who may be willing to trade a nice white 94 G50 for my red Zenki S14, which would be pretty cool. We'll see, if that doesn't work, I'm sure I'll find myself in one some other way.

Only thing I wish it did was tow though, a G50 can't tow a trailered, stripped Miata to the track like the LT1 Fleetwood can

[Jesda]

Aggressive shifting isnt bad on the transmission. Heat from improper cooling is the killer. Slap on a $50 cooler and beat the piss out of it. Its not as beefy as the Fleetwood's transmission, since that was designed for towing and high torque, but its perfectly reliable for aggressive driving.

[elwesso]

No its not going to hurt it at all.... The transmission shifts as it wants and all your doing is telling it what to do, instead of it deciding what to do.

[HashiriyaS14]

So can you use that to downshift while moving too?

And I guess more importantly, will it engage quickly enough to be of use to stay in the powerband on twisty roads?

[elwesso]

Yes, Yes and Yes

I nearly always downshift using the gated shifter... One thing you can do is downshift at 35 using the gear shifter, but you can do it at a max of 20mph by pressing the gas.....

Downshifting into 1st at 35= extreme power.....

[3Q Jay]

i nailed a 2-->1 downshift last night at 33 mph while in 'd' (exiting a right turn). that was the highest i've been able to hit 1st without manually yanking it. that is the afterburner rush

the sound of the vh from 4500 up is absolutely intoxicating.

[hannibal]

Good review!

FYI, every car Ive seen from Maximum Deals has been beat to hell. I drove 2 S14s there when I was shopping about a year ago.

[HashiriyaS14]

Good review!

FYI, every car Ive seen from Maximum Deals has been beat to hell. I drove 2 S14s there when I was shopping about a year ago.

That's what I gathered while I was there. They had to jumpstart some other car so someone could test drive it, my Q had no gas, et cetera.

I'm doing to do my best to buy from a private owner who's been anal and kept very complete records. I'm still looking for an automatic S13 as a short-term daily driver, but every day that passes cements my intention to get a *really* nice G50. If I have to end up paying $5-6k for like the nicest one I can find, I can live with that, considering how long it'll last me.

Next up is a Y33 drive, happening this weekend at a Nissan dealer in Arlington. I'm interested to see how, overall, the fit, finish, and overall sensation of quality compares to the G50.

Jesda mentioned on AIM once that he thought the leather in the G50 seemed thin, and I'd have to beg to differ in regards to the one I drove, at least the seats. It seemed *very* heavy and sturdy, WAY more so than my S14 leather, although the material on the door cards seemed sorta weak.

[BlackBirdVQ]

Glad you like the Q

I drove a few Qs before mine, but they always had something wrong with them- knock sensors, or it was a 96 model that didn't have the ooomph I was looking for.

I hope to enjoy my Q soon. I don't think I could sell it, as it would cost way too much for a such revamped car, and no one would justify the cost. So I am just going to keep it for a long time. I hope it can match my Maximas reliability, as I have put 140+K miles on mine since I bought it new almost 5 years ago.