G50 vs FY33- Opinions wanted

[elwesso]

Just curious how everyone things of the FY generation in comparion to the G50......

[szh]

A better comparison would be Y34 to G50. My M45 gives me the same "grin factor" today that my original new purchase of a 1991 Q45 gave me twleve years ago.

Z

[elwesso]

Well the G50 and the FY are the only ones in my price category.....

Have you driven the FY33 Q?? How was it in comparision to the G50......?

[szh]

I have to admit that I have not driven the FY33 model years ... only driven 1991 (owned), 1995 (owned), 2002 (test drive) and 2003 (test drive) Q45's.

Z

[TgduMg]

Well the G50 and the FY are the only ones in my price category.....

Have you driven the FY33 Q?? How was it in comparision to the G50......?

To me the 90-96 Q drives like a slightly bigger Z32 (it does not drive IMO as big as its size) with the power falling somewhere between the NA and the TT. I like the 97-01 as well but felt that if Cadillac had been making a reasonably sized RWD full size car at the time, the FY33 would have been a great benchmark for a deVille. Not as big as the huge (looking) 93-96 RWD Fleetwood. And the 97-01's are thought to be more trouble free. The Americans copying the Japanese, what a concept. Statements not meant to be offensive to patriotic Americans or Gen II Q owners (I know Dennis, Fred, and a few others disagree about the generational thing). Use to really like Cadillacs. Have loved Nissans for some time. But I'm Qrazy for the G50. Have driven every year Q45 except for 2000, 2001 and of course 2004. I can't wait until January.:crazy

[szh]

I can't wait until January.:crazy

What happens in January?

Z

[TgduMg]

What happens in January?

Z

The 04 Q45 will be released. Hopefully with the updated (Cima) headlamp assembly and a smaller and relocated rear view camera lense. I liked the grille on the new Cima as well.

[szh]

Ah! Okay, thanks for the info!

Z

[elwesso]

So most of you think the G50 is better than the FY??

[90Q45blue]

By G50 to FY33 are we talking about body style or cars as a whole? The FY is a more bullet-proof car...less goes wrong usually and of course chain guides aren't an issue (but they aren't for 94-96 anyway). The G50 has a bigger engine obviously and is more powerful and IMO handles better. Also, I prefer the body style of the G50 (flagship car...looks like the old Nissan President) than that of the FY (looks like every ES lexus or toyota avalon). The G50 was a revolution.

Nick

[elwesso]

The FY definitely looks newer...... But Im not sure better.... I kinda like the interior of the FY better, seems overall nicer (more luxurious)......

Reliability isnt that big of a deal.... Id definitely sacrifice the power of the G50 for the reliability of the FY..... And handling, theres not a lot better than the Q (same class), especially for the moeny......

[elwesso]

Bump.....

Ive been seriously thinking about getting a 97 or 98 Q... Do you think I should?????

[suretytek]

I've got a 99 q, and it has been a great car so far. Very comfortable seats, lots of nice little touches. The Bose stereo kind of sucks, but I'm feeding it with Sirius Satellite anyway. I'm a bit envious of the first generation q's power, but the power of mine still surprises me sometimes.

I'm shooting for 250k+ on this car before I get rid of it. I hope that it has the longevity of the first generation.

Jeff

[gloucester Q]

i'd say if you have a g50 and like it, stick with it. my first q was a 92 that i bought when i didn't know anything about the car--maybe in 99 or so? ended up absolutely loving it, but realized after a year or so that there was too much i didn't know about it. didn't have lots of maintenance history, i found out the chain guides needed doing, etc..., so in the end i figured i would spare myself the trouble and move to a 99 q45t. my rationale was that i liked my 92 so much, the 99 would probably be improved in every way. without trying to slight any 97-01 owners here, and speaking solely from personal preference--i missed my 92 every time i drove my 99. and when i say every time, i mean literally every time i drove somewhere i would think 'man i miss that 92.' 2 things stuck out out about my 99 that i thought were better--it looked more the part--more imposing, and in the touring version, aggressive--of a luxury sport sedan. also, i never once worried about reliability or repair--just regular maintenance and that's all. i've seen people on here refer to the second gens as bulletproof and i will attest to it. though i only owned mine for a year, i didn't have a single problem with it. it wasn't just me either--all my friends missed the first q. anyway, i decided to go back to the first gen q. spent 6 months tracking down a good condition low mileage q, finally found a 93 a year ago in florida, bought it and have been very happy ever since. i didn't do it, but i told myself when i finally found my car, the first song i would play would be 'back in the saddle' by either aerosmith or gene autry. the things that stick out about the first gen q for me more than anything--the interior--might be the best interior i've ever been in--comfy and open. the 99 felt a bit tighter and darker--could have been the color scheme (beige versus gray), but i just didn't feel as fat and happy in the second as i do in the first. first gen feels (and sounds) more like a muscle car than the second--feels and sound more like a luxury car. and that's not a bad thing, just a preference thing. as far as day to day driving, although the first is a bigger engine, i can't say one felt faster than the other in day-to-day so i think it's a push. i will say i never could get happy with the 17" touring wheels on the michelin pilots--they were entirely too stiff for where i live in mass. lastly, and i think this was the absolute biggest thing as it permeated just about every aspect of my interaction with the car--when i drove the first q i had the feeling that i was driving something special--original, inspired, engineered. when i drove the second, i couldn't fight the feeling that i was driving something a bit more derivative--kind of 'we're getting taken to the woodshed by lexus, we'd better try something different'--and looking at sales numbers, they WERE getting taken to the woodshed. that and their funny advertising campaign early on. i also had the feeling that the 2nd gen had a much closer eye on cost--more shared parts across the nissan line. whether it did or not, i don't know, but i remember a fair amount of the car didn't have the tactile experience i remembered from my 92. you know, in the end, it's going to come down to personal preference. i know what i'd do, but i'm sure there are 2nd gen owners that are just as happy with theirs and i can not fault them for that. if you're thinking about it, i would try and drive the second for a week or so and see how you feel about it by the end of the week. i don't think one day (or one test drive) is enough. i will say, if you could combine the first one's personality with the reliability of the second, that would be the car for me. as a first gen owner, as much as i love the car, to own one is to be paranoid, and that's not the most comforting feeling. anyway, best of luck.

[elwesso]

See personally I think the 94-95 Q has the best of both of those worlds you speak of.... A really comforatble ride when cruising, and attitude when it comes time for aggressive driving..... The 97 seems like a car that likes to cruise at moderate speeds, whereas the 1st gen doesnt seem to be able to go fast enough.....

Ive had my 94 for almost a year (will be next feb, granted only 5000 miles to date) and I have never even had second thoughts about this thing breaking down..... I really dont think it will die!!!!

[TgduMg]

i'd say if you have a g50 and like it, stick with it. first gen feels (and sounds) more like a muscle car than the second--feels and sound more like a luxury car. and that's not a bad thing, just a preference thing.

[quote=" TgduMg To me the 90-96 Q drives like a slightly bigger Z32, with the power falling somewhere between the normally aspirated Z and the Twin Turbo. If Cadillac had been making a reasonably sized RWD full size car at the time, the FY33 would have been a great benchmark for a deVille.[/quote] gloucester Q, having owned a 92, then a 99t, and then back to a 93Q, says it all. Nonetheless, the 97-01 Q45 is still an exceptional automobile.

[Jesda]

Okay, my 92 Q is no longer for sale. The love affair is ridiculously strong, and my appetite for a unique, powerful sport sedan wont be satisfied any other way. If I got a good offer, I'd migrate to a 94-95, but thats it.

-Jesda

[airman]

The Bose stereo kind of sucks, but I'm feeding it with Sirius Satellite anyway.

Jeff

In 97-01 Bose sounds better than in first gen Q and much better than in G35.

[elwesso]

97-01 bose is better than 94-96?? The 94-96 is pretty good, and it gets really loud.....

[maxnix]

In 97-01 Bose sounds better than in first gen Q and much better than in G35.

I agree. It's not how loud it gets, but how accurate it is that matters. The FY33 doesn't seem to have that annoying resonance around 440Hz that the G50 Bose does. It's not a great difference, but a slight improvement.

[Jesda]

Bah! If all the damn head units out there werent so freaking hideous to look at (dancing displays that amuse only toddlers and teenage girls) with ridiculously complex controls, I'd have swapped my Bose out a long time ago.

And another $#@#$ amp is dying.

-Jesda

[gloucester Q]

jesda-i'm in the process of putting in a nakamichi cd-400 head ($300) in the car--one of the selection criteria was that the new head unit not look so out of place. i can post a pic when i'm done if you're interested.

[eQlipse]

I love my '97 but the '90 I had was much more fun to drive. Handling, responsiveness, & interior quality(leather seats, door panels, & dash) are just a few things that come to mind. The '90's interior did appear to be much roomier than my '97. I was lucky enough to get the year without the dash clock. Such a small item added much class to the car IMO.

[elwesso]

Yes I agree... When people get in my car for the first time, they always say.... OOOH I like that clock!

[PalmerWMD]

Wes,

Dont sell your car for a FY33.Chances are you'll spend money and gain little except a bit more modern body style.While I like the FY33 you havent had your car all that long yet, dont make tons of money to afford churning cars and a "new" used car can always have majoy probs you are unaware of during purchase.

Your current car is in good shape and will lat you many yeras.

If you have some extra money use it to fix your seats.

Fred...

[elwesso]

Yeah.... Thats a good point....

With all this money ive been putting into it, im gonna have to keep it till 200k to come close to breaking even... i guess that means id be in for life!!! Plus, id have to get all the service manuals, and basically relearn everything!

She gets new valve cover gaskets, full plenum job with knock sensors, new rear bulb sockets (ive had it with that stupid STOP LAMP INOPERATIVE), PCV valve, a switch over to synthetic, new floor mats (hopefully), and new seats (really hopefully)...... Then we start getting into the deals with tinted windows (next summer) and new rims (also next summer), and hopefully the transmission still has another 20k left in it...... I think come this time next year I'll have a great example of a really nice NICO Q.....