I might become a regular, here

[mckellyb]

I've lusted after the Q since it came out. I even got to drive an active one back in, oh, '93...the car was a '91, IIRC. It was amazing, honestly, as the vehicle I had at the time was a Nissan 720 pickup with close to 200K miles on it. I'd put carpet in, '85 Corvette seats, some decent tunes (not the boomy stuff, but nice Infinity plates in the doors powered by a small, compared to now, RF amp), and other touches, but a luxury car it was not.

All I'd had to that time, ten years of vehicle ownership, was trucks, and I was sick of it. I didn't need one on a daily basis, so why have it?

The whole SUV thing baffles me. Um, folks, if it's not 4WD and exercised properly every once in a while, that's called a station wagon. Get over it.

I'd rather have a '67 Chrysler Newport wagon, instead of (insert giant SUV here).

If you need a pickup twice a year, Home Depot rents them. If you still must have one, learn to park the 21 foot, four-door monster in fewer than three parking spaces, wouldja?!

Anyway, I'm replacing my '89 S-class Mercedes due to damage, and I found a '94 Q here in D/FW, that's Dallas/Ft. Worth, with 162K on it and the dude is asking $2200.

I've not looked at it, yet, but in speaking with him learned the following.

He's owned it for 6 years, the tires have about 50% tread left, and it's in good shape. A door ding here and there, which is to be expected in any city...especially here, where I've been door-dinged while in the car!

One OEM stereo preset doesn't work, the top of the power antenna is broken but the motor works, it just doesn't move, and there is a 3" tear in the middle of the driver's seat.

It's really only this last item which gets me. Are these cars common enough to find either a new cover or a new seat cushion, still in decent shape, in salvage yards or online?

I know I could have it patched...I'm a metal and computer guy, not fabrics/wood/delicate/"pretty" stuff...and I've seen what's been done by others here, but after reading the process, I'll get 75% done and say to myself, "that'll work", and skip to the end.

You can't do this with visible detail work.

I've gone through the "you're thinking of buying one" FAQ, which is excellent, as I knew the '94's no longer had the timing guide issue...I'd been through that with the S-class and didn't want to do it on another car.

Anything else I should know?

Thanks, all!!!

Kellynew guy to Q's, but a very long time gearhead

[96Qowner]

Welcome to NICO, Kelley!

The seat covers are a real pain to R&R - easiest to find an entire seat locally and swap it.

Since you've kept an '89 S-Class in good shape all these years, I'll fill you in on the Q45 without worrying about scaring you.

The engine is extremely robust and trouble-free, unless yours was owned by a bozo or two that didn't change the oil. The transmission can be a little more delicate. It doesn't like heat. So fluid changes were very important. NICO recommends the installation of an auxiliary transmission cooler if you want it to last 200K in a hot climate like Texas.

Heat also plays hell with engine hoses, many of which snake under and around the intake plenum. The recent introduction of ethanol tends to destroy injectors and to get to most of them, you have to pull the plenum, which destroys brittle hoses ... gets spendy.

Age ruins suspension rubber, and since the Q45 is a beautifully nimble handling car, you should plan on replacing as much rubber as you can. You probably need new shocks all around, too, as well as some front suspension parts like tension rod bushings and upper arms. The third link or "kingpin extension" also has a tendency to bend over time.

If you decide to get this one, you should spend an afternoon under the hood with some picks and contact cleaner and pull every connector and clean it up. The Q is sensitive to intermittent connections.

The recent common wisdom at NICO is to look for a car with good cosmetics. They pretty much all need the same restoration work. Of course, a car with a clear and detailed maintenance history trumps any other. Don't be in a hurry.

[maxnix]

It's all about maintenance history, condition and qualified Infiniti tech inspection. Then how much money you want to pur into it to restore it.

Have a $3K -$6K cash kitty for retoration and if inspection shows nothing major, you should be fine.

[LeroyBrown]

welcome

[mckellyb]

It's all about maintenance history, condition and qualified Infiniti tech inspection. Then how much money you want to pur into it to restore it.

Have a $3K -$6K cash kitty for retoration and if inspection shows nothing major, you should be fine.

Thanks.

This is going to be a daily driver, and honestly, if something major happens in 18 months, while I'll be miffed, I'll just look for another car...maybe another Q. This is the way I was with the Mercedes, which usually bugged Mercedes people...to my delight.

As much of a gearhead as I am, I'm not into the official inspections by whomever. I can dig around and find most everything wrong, however the Internet is a huge help when finding the odd thing which you can't see and nobody really talks about in polite company.

Timing chain guide weakness is one of those things. Thanks to NICOclub, I know '94 and up is cool.

While this is going to be a daily driver, and somewhat disposable, if it's in good condition and will last me ten years, I'll keep it and rack up as many miles as possible on it.

[maxnix]

Senior Infiniti Technician inspections are a perscriptive measure too alert those unfamiliar with a particular car or model what might appear to be a concern to them to go a little deeper.

If cash is no object, no problem.

[mckellyb]

I can dig it. Using a guy who knows his stuff inside-out is a real benefit in many cases, but with the cars I'm looking at...meh.

Oh, and the Q I looked at looked like it'd been lived in for a few months. The seller left out the right-rear armrest was more holes than armrest, the windscreen was broken rather badly, and there was what looked like a baseball bat dent on the LR fender.

I know for $2K, it's not gonna be perfect, but I asked for specifics when I talked to him on the phone, which he left out. I mean, truly obvious stuff. I didn't so much as want to open the door.

If his price had been $1K, I might have opened the hood...maybe.

[Infinitiguy19]

Two words: Walk Away.

There is too much damage from your description to even think its a Q45, it sounds like a POS usually made by ford but in this case everyone can make a POS.

In case you didn't know POS means: Piece of ****.

Good Luck on finding a nice Q45 though, Paul

[BadQ45t]

I'd walk away...I know that it sounds cheap but given that the PO's were willing to let the giant rip in the seat develop my guess is the fluids were not changed regularly. And you said you have not patience for issues, there will be issues you can count on that.

Find yourself a decent Maxima for 5k and move on, if you buy this for sure as stated your into it for 5-6k in 2 years easy in repairs.

[Infinitiguy19]

Well rips in seats don't mean your a bad owner because, I have rips in my seat (Drivers seat) and they have been there since the PO made them, but i am waiting for a good opportunity where I can find a good seat for cheap.

Other than the seat rip, my car is somewhat mechanically fine, but I am a perfectionist when it come to my car and my car only which is weird.

But don't let a bad interior beside the dash discourage you because all that can easily be replaced.

Like my Dad always said "everything is replaceable/fixable" when it comes to the Q45, Women too I assume.