I really miss the first gen

[AZ94Q]

I was just viewing an older topic with some archived reviews, it really had me reminisicing. I found out some incredibly interesitng things, I didn't know before.

The Q was 30% stiffer then the Mercedes (which was the stiffest car of it's time)

In the long term road test, they pulled a .83g on the skidpad and 60.x through the slalom. .83g on those crappy 15 inch tires? Awesome.. My friends 99 XJR can barely pull those numbers.

Just reading old excerpts from the designers/developeres explaining the car, made it all come together. Grill? Why use a grill, it's just a traditional luxury car feature, that ruins aerodynamics. Why use wood? Wood is nice, but we didnt see a way to integrate it properly, so why just use it to use it? Damn't I love the Q, I love how in the long term test, it was rock solid. The Q was so damn revolutionary. I miss my first gen, I miss the feel, I miss the sound, I miss the attitute about it. The 94 was basiclaly a sell out version, and I realize this now more then ever. I want first gen with a JWT ecu/tcu, nice custom exhaust, and some suspension work. I've alway swanted to feel a properly maintained jwt ecu/tcu when the vvt kicks in, it must be incredible.

Oh well, enough ranting.. I really hope Infiniti can make a Q that will be a worthy successor to the first gen.. It's not to say the latter versions arn't nice, but they don't represent the major advancements and engineering detail and passion that the original q entailed. If you don't believe me find any old article on the the development of the orig Q, and you will realize your $5,000 car, is one of the finest vehicles ever produced

[AZhitman]

You can stop by and drive mine when you're feeling nostalgic...

I'm sure I'm doing a little better than the "as tested" .83 g with my Eibachs, Tokico blues, FSTB and sticky 255/50ZR16's.

[PalmerWMD]

I also keep toying with the idea of buying an early Q, for say 4 k and making it right for another 5 k for a kick -*** ride.

Fred..

[VimyJ]

$10k for a world beating ride. Hmmm...... No! Dammit! You know I'll just end up in jail! 80 mph in the J is like butter. 100 in a 1st gen Q is just asking for the slammer! A man has got to know his limitations. But no cop could catch me..... but they'd get the plate number..... I could say it was someone else..... they'd dust the car for prints..... Dammit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WesAllen]

$10k for a world beating ride. Hmmm...... No! Dammit! You know I'll just end up in jail! 80 mph in the J is like butter. 100 in a 1st gen Q is just asking for the slammer! A man has got to know his limitations. But no cop could catch me..... but they'd get the plate number..... I could say it was someone else..... they'd dust the car for prints..... Dammit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL

[Jesda]

Thinking about buying a first-gen Q with most of the R&R done? All you'd have to spend is $1000 for chain guides and tad more if you wanted to upgrade the new Firestones.

Buy mine if you want, for about $4500.

Maintenance log http://q.spilky.com/irl.xls

-Jesda

[Altiman94]

what's so desirable about the 1st gen Q's besides the extra power?

[fxjackso]

Altiman, you will burn up the board with this one! And plenty will disagree.

Others will detail the handling and power. But, think of what a stock 1st gen does not have-

Wood insideFront GrillChrome inserts outsideChrome inserts insideFlashy wheelsA radio with 50 buttons, al la BlaupunktGlass sunroof

It's this lack of glitz that gives it the style that can't be duplicated. And the quality of the materials...There is almost (airbag) no exposed molded plastic surface in a 1st gen. Every inch is wrapped, in either leather or a high quality finish.

A zen car, like the strange original ads.

[SOCAL91Q45a]

"what's so desirable about the 1st gen Q's besides the extra power?"

Is that not reason enuff ? :-)

Jones'n to get mine back on the road ......

[Q451990]

I also keep toying with the idea of buying an early Q, for say 4 k and making it right for another 5 k for a kick -*** ride.

Fred..

We need to talk

Heath

[Altiman94]

I gave up more power for better handling. So power isn't everything, per say.

[AZhitman]

Different strokes for different folks....

[SOCAL91Q45a]

Id say Gen 1 w/ properly operating Active Suspension would be the best of both :-)

You could also ride a street bike tho ..... too.

[maxnix]

The combination of power, handling and luxury is compelling per se for me.

[QShip]

The combination of power, handling and luxury is compelling per se for me.

I concur.

[louiegz]

Call me traditional, but I like the grill of my 95 as opposed to the pre 93 with the big badge that looks like a big belt buckle some trucker would be wearing. A little wood inside is nice too, except when they would put that ugly wood kit that went all over the dashboard. It’s one of those options that people would get when they would get the gold badge kit. Tacky! Not only that, but no chain guide problems, and no need to reprogram the trany CPU to start in first, and the nicer multi spoke rimes as opposed to the pie pans, like the pre 93. I think 94-96 is when they got it right.

[90Q45blue]

I still like the styling of my 90Q better than the 94-96 models. Chain guides weren't really an issue for me as I'm one of the only members I know of that had them replaced under warranty by Infiniti. Sure you have to reprogram the TCU but the 90-93Q's are slightly faster than their younger sisters. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the 94-95Q's, just prefer my styling better.

Nick

p.s. I agree, a properly maintained active suspension Q would compete with many a car in great handling.

[PalmerWMD]

I am the otehr way around I love the 94-96's styling over teh 90/93 styling.

But the slightly lower weight combined with the slightly extra power make for some extra performance.

Of course there are many ways to make a G50 versionb faster.

Fred..

[natsoundup]

I have both ... a 90 and 94....

The 94 is right for this time in my life (46 yrs old). It's a little cushier, quieter.... also a bit slower than the 90.

I get in the 90...and it feels like a completely different car... of course theres 80k difference between the two...

90.... sports oriented luxury car.

94 luxury oriented sports car.

[AZhitman]

90.... sports oriented luxury car.

94 luxury oriented sports car.

Perfectly stated!

[PalmerWMD]

not the other way around?

Fred..

[EWT]

Call me traditional, but I like the grill of my 95 as opposed to the pre 93 with the big badge that looks like a big belt buckle some trucker would be wearing. A little wood inside is nice too, except when they would put that ugly wood kit that went all over the dashboard. It’s one of those options that people would get when they would get the gold badge kit. Tacky! Not only that, but no chain guide problems, and no need to reprogram the trany CPU to start in first, and the nicer multi spoke rimes as opposed to the pie pans, like the pre 93. I think 94-96 is when they got it right.

I've owned a 93 and 95, and I like the looks of the 94-96s better, but IMO, the 93s are the best of the breed. You get the nicer seats, better interior material quality and firmer suspension of the 90-93s and you get first gear start unlike 90-92s. You also have the possibility of having the new guides. It could be because it's an older car now, but I've never "bonded" with my 95 like I did with my 93. The 94-96 wheels are somewhat nicer looking than the piepans, but they're still not all that attractive IMO, and are a serious PITA to clean. I got rid of mine in favor of a set of 20 slot wheels from a 98.

The lower gearing on the 90-93s really shows up on rainy days. I used to accidently get my 93 sideways going around corners without using a lot of throttle on a semi-regular basis. I've never had an "accidental" slide with the 95.

Eric

[maxnix]

While there are distinctly subtle variations within and between various editions of the Q45, a ride in most other cars proves there is nothing that comes close to its combination of quality, luxury, handling and performance. Unless you want to pay much more in Euros (and get less reliability) or compromise for a Lexus (and get numb handling). I'll take any edition of the Q45 (G50, FY33, F50) or M45 (Y34) over any other four door luxury car, especially if I am responsible for maintaining it.__________________Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t & 2000 Q45

Discover the power of the button!

[elwesso]

Personally, I like the 94-95 the best..... Even though some people say the 90-93 materials were of higher quality, I think its comparable in contrast to any other car...

Id rather have it a bit more plush than have it be faster.... I think the 94 and 95 have the best combination of luxury and performance (50-50 balance) whereas the 90-93 have a bit more on the performance end (40-60).....

However, I have 3 gripes about the G50 series1. Rear leg room (dont care cuz im never back there, when the car is moving of course )2. Trunk space (but all it needs to hold for me is a set of golf clubs)3. Gas mileage

Not to mention, the stock piepans on the 90-94 look TERRIBLE... I like the turbine wheels of the 95+ much better...

[elwesso]

Also, in the original post, I like how when they designed this car to begin with, it was all about function.... No grille because it hurt aerodynamics, no wood because it was worthless, etc... Id much rather have a car that is designed for function rather than looks good....

But the Q does both, so it makes it best!

[Aztek72]

I've owned both. I had a 94Q back in 97 and then sold it and bought a, then, low-mil 92 Q for dirt-cheap. I made the changover to the first gen because it is the 'purer' of the two earlier gens. As far as aesthetics, it depends. I prefer the 94+ because there's something about the first gen Q bumper that looks slightly odd, can't explain it but I keep thinking of duck-bills whenever I look at it. Interior, the first gen Q was flawless. Didn't really care for the the woodgrain and chrome doorhandles on the 94's.

I'm sure my Q could pull higher than .83G on the skidpad with all the mods I've done and lightening up the ride by dumping the active suspension. Also with the home-made K&N cone C.A.I., JWT chip, 93 TCU and custom exhaust this thing sounds and feels much quicker than the average first gen Q.

I ride in the stock 94 Q's and notice right away, on the same offramp I could go 15mph faster in my 92.

[louiegz]

Well, I see a lot of you are partial to the 90-93 because they are sportier, but after you put in the Tokico Blues and the Eibach springs or just the Blues, wont the 94-96 handle as sporty as the 90-93 Q? Are the stock springs on a 90-93 firmer than on a 94-96 and are they interchangable? I also was wondering, if you had a 90-93 and you wanted the look of a 94-96, does the hood of a 94-96 fit on a 90-93?

Also being a newbe, I have another question. G50, FY33, F50 and Y34. I know the Y34 refers to the M45 but which years of Qs are G50, FY33, & F50? I'd like to know what people are talking about when they refer to these codes. Thank you for putting up with the dumb new guy.

[szh]

I have had both a 1991Q and a 1995Q. I liked my 91 better from a performance perspective. The 95 was more comfortable inside but soggier handling. I regretted trading in my 91 for the 95, but not to the point of wanting to undo the deal!

Z

[elwesso]

G50- 90-96FY33- 97-01F50- 02+

[EWT]

Well, I see a lot of you are partial to the 90-93 because they are sportier, but after you put in the Tokico Blues and the Eibach springs or just the Blues, wont the 94-96 handle as sporty as the 90-93 Q? Are the stock springs on a 90-93 firmer than on a 94-96 and are they interchangable? I also was wondering, if you had a 90-93 and you wanted the look of a 94-96, does the hood of a 94-96 fit on a 90-93?

I don't have Eibachs, but with new tension rods, relatively new upper links, new stock shocks (F), and new tockico shocks (R), my 95 still felt softer than my 93 did with 70K mile+ shocks, tension rods and upper links. I'm guessing the culprit is softer bushings. The new parts were a very big improvement over the 70K mile parts that were on my 95 when I bought it though. The difference isn't dramatic like it was when I bought the car, but it is still noticible. The rear end wiggles around at times more than it did on my 93, and it doesn't have the same amount of directional stability at high speeds. The 95 is very good, but the 93 was exceptional.

Eric