I want a Q! but I have some questions...

[colinm]

I've been and searching through these forums and the freshalloy forums for quite some time now, ever since I found what I think is a "deal" on a Q. This is kinda long so please bear with me

My neighbor got one from his mom's friend who apparently bought two of them (not sure if same source) with bad transmissions in them. He knows someone who is selling him transmissions for $500 (a junkyard I think, and possibly a friend of his). The car he sold to my neighbor was a 92 with ~98k miles, and before he sold it he had the transmission installed by a good friend of his (lots of friendly people here eh?). He got his for $3300 total. I am looking at getting the other which he is selling for $2500 as is. The only thing he says is wrong with it is the transmission, and I think I could get the same $500 transmission that he'll buy and install if I don't buy it before his mechaninc gets too it first. I talked to a local mechanic who has done work for me before and seemed pretty knowledgable and they'll install the transmission for $400. If I wait and buy it with everything installed it will probably considerably more expensive. Here are a few details:

1992159k milesexcellent exterior (burgundy)excellent interior except the drivers seat has some cracking/rips and the armrest appears to have soaked up a lot of sweat or something, heheAll electrical that I was able to test worked (sunroof, audio, etc)The battery was too low to start it, not sure how long it has been sitting but he said it runs and soons good if that means anything..

Now, I haven't called him back yet to ask about the chain guides being fixed or other repair history, but assuming the chain guides are fixed (I've decided if they are original I will just forget about it) cna you guys give me some tips as to what to look for or avoid? I have never owned a nissan/infiniti, and never done much engine work, so how could I go about checking the chain guides?

As far as the transmission goes, I don't know what date the car was made, but is there some way to know if the transmission I get for it is one of the problematic ones or not? If it isn't, how long are they expected to last?

I'd like to keep this car for a LONG time if I get it, but I can't afford to put much in to it right off the bat. And I tend to drive good vehicles pretty hard (why else do they put 278hp in it?), so I am kinda worried about the transmission thing... Should I put a transmission cooler on the replacement transmission no matter what date it was made? Also... What other year trannies will fit easily into a 92, and is a certain year/model better than others?

Lastly, if you've read this far and are typing up answers already, thank you very much... but are these prices Excellent/Average/Bad in your opinion?

If anyone has pictures of timing chain guides or other things I should look at (I could do minor disassembly myself, but I really don't want to get a real mechanic to look at it under these conditions) I would really appreciate it if you posted them or links to them so I could see what to look for.

Thanks a bunch!Colin

P.S. who here holds the record for the most miles on a Q, and what major problems has it had?

[PalmerWMD]

1)ask about the chain guides being fixed or other repair history, but assuming the chain guides are fixed (I've decided if they are original I will just forget about it) cna you guys give me some tips as to what to look for or avoid? I have never owned a nissan/infiniti, and never done much engine work, so how could I go about checking the chain guides?

2)As far as the transmission goes, I don't know what date the car was made, but is there some way to know if the transmission I get for it is one of the problematic ones or not? If it isn't, how long are they expected to last?

3)And I tend to drive good vehicles pretty hard (why else do they put 278hp in it?), so I am kinda worried about the transmission thing... 4)Should I put a transmission cooler on the replacement transmission no matter what date it was made? 5)Also... What other year trannies will fit easily into a 92, and is a certain year/model better than others?6) are these prices Excellent/Average/Bad in your opinion?

7)If anyone has pictures of timing chain guides or other things I should look at (I could do minor disassembly myself, but I really don't want to get a real mechanic to look at it under these conditions) I would really appreciate it if you posted them or links to them so I could see what to look for.

Thanks a bunch!Colin

8)P.S. who here holds the record for the most miles on a Q, and what major problems has it had?

1) If they have been done (not real common but becoming increasingly less rare due to the efforts of this site among others) then it mean you likely had a reasonably well maintained vehicle as owners who tend to get guides done are probably doing the other maintenance as well to some extent.

2)Junk Yard transmission's dont have a real good rep at all..Neither do the budget rebuilders.Ask what car the transmission is from so u can check milage insist on finding a way to check milage n transmission.If they are in good sahpe and get good fluid with frequent flushes every 20k miles or so and a transmission cooler, they are likely to last very long, Dennis' transmission lasted 175k and was still shifting/working as new, when he took it out for a new one.And he drives his car <hard>.

3) with a good new(er) transmission and the right maintenance, drive hard its ok, most of us do (I do weekly streetracing)

4)Yes,

5)90/91/92/93 all fit with no mods. factory replacement transmission for those years is all the same part number now, regardless of year of car

6) Prices seem fair.

7) Do a NICO search (big red button) for "guides" we have some pics here on the site somewhere.

Fred...

[AZhitman]

I'd try to get it for $2K and save the extra for all the little things that it'll inevitably need.

Welcome to NICO, enjoy!!!!

[911/Q45]

160K Q with a bad trans $2K?????????

[PalmerWMD]

160K Q with a bad trans $2K?????????

He <did> say good cosmetics.......To me thats worth alot mechanical stuff I can always fix but a paintjob equal to factory, is something one could never justify in terms of money.......

But there <are> good deals for entirely working Q's to be found on our Buy?seel/Trade every months.Some for not all that much more money.

Fred...

[elwesso]

Unless you can get it under 1k, look for one that runs.

[nuQ]

really depends on how bad you want to own a Q. like fred said, if the cosmetics are excellent and all it needs is a transmission (assuming the guides have been replaced), i might try to buy the car for a low as i could then put all the $ into repairs. especially if you know people that might be able to do the repairs cheaply, but correctly! i own a 90Q that looks almost brand new. i have so many friends who after seeing the car/driving in the car will say "i'd love to find a Q like yours and grab it". after explaining the maintenance requirements of the Q, and becoming more interested in your car than "oil change at 3K", ,,,,scares alot of people away. it's a shame cause' all cars should be maintained this way,,,if you plan on keeping it!!!!! i learned sooooo much from this site. if you go for the Q (and i hope you do) do a search for all your repair/maintanence questions. the Q is really a special car, and worth the extra attention to details. good luck and keep us posted!!!! jeff

[BadQ45t]

I'd keep looking, you can find a 94' for just a few grand more than that, than you don't have to worry about guides or transmission.

I'd pass on this car myself, looks and smells like a money pit.

[AZhitman]

Several on eBay every week.

Even more on autotrader.com.

AND, I think any NICO member or mod would be more than happy to help you check out a prospective Q if they are in the area... I know I have offered to check out Phoenix area Q's for several people.