Life after Q.

[Jesda]

Three years and 60,000 amazing miles later, I am Qless. The change has been strangely sweet. I dont sit up at night thinking about what to fix or upgrade next. I dont worry if my fluids are fresh or feel guilty when its dirty. Hell, I haven't even washed the Maxima after plowing it through an ice storm, and the interior is full of empty cans, dirt clumps, receipts, and cheeseburger wrappers. There's a tremendous sense of freedom though that comes from not giving a damn.

I'm not that excited about driving to the grocery store or to school anymore (I wonder if this will negatively affect my already abysmal attendance). The Maxima is a thoroughly enjoyable car, especially with a stick, but it doesn't have the "YOU ARE MY B****! I RULE THIS HIGHWAY! IM DOING 150 SO MOVE OVER OR DIE!" sense of command that you get from a beastly V8; without the emotion I just cant bring myself to care.

Getting over 30mpg on the highway now, I don't fret over gas prices like I used to. Seems ironic that even though I can afford to travel more, I don't have the desire to do so like I once did -- twice the savings!

The snob factor is gone too, not that owning any Infiniti means much in a town full of vastly more expensive luxury cars. A girl at school drives a Continental GT and a someone just got a CTS-V, so I was trounced years ago as king of the student parking lot.

I suppose it made complete sense to sell it. I bought it when I was making a lot more money, but not long after I signed the title I got laid off and moved in with my folks to finish school. I noticed that I suddenly have a lot more money to spend on myself too. I just bought a new computer, and when baseball season returns I'll be able to afford to go to more games (new Cardinals stadium!!). Maybe I'll get back into model railroading or get my pilot's license like I've always wanted.

So yes, my life is much easier now without my dream car, but am I happier? I'm not sure. I wonder if this is how old people feel when their kids move away and they have nothing to care for. Greg, care to chime in? (OOOH! SLOW-MOTION ROUNDHOUSE KICK! )

I'm still crazy though. Before I looked at Qs, I was set on getting a Cadillac. I might still do that in the spring.
Modified by Jesda at 5:12 PM 12/4/2005

[CrimsonQ]

I have to drive a 93 paseo with a bad clutch, while the wife drives the Q because her trans went out in the Buick.

I feel your pain

[The Mic]

I still crazy though.

You'll always be a crazy asian brown man with a funny accent.

[Q-less]

Your first three paragraphs echo my sentiments on my loss as well

[Rex]

I've said this at least once before ... combine (this with) your cross country trips and write and article, submit it to a magazine.

Nice post Jesda, I feel some day I'll be in ths same spot, gone will be the Q, and all it's worries and maintenance, only to be replaced by the lack lsuter feelign of whatever the next car is . One reason I will always keep a bike so I can go rolling through some back roads enjoying the feeling of "driving".

BTW "Qless" has already been taken, so no screen name change for you.

[nismofly]

or get my pilot's license like I've always wanted.

wait a bit and i can personally teach you...win win situation

[240DRFT]

You'll always be a crazy asian brown man with a funny accent.

haha does he really have an accent?

[Mr1der]

you can always buy a newer one later on?

or the lucious '06 M45 Sport. I'm so gonna get one at some point...

[The Mic]

haha does he really have an accent?

Yeah, he has sort of a mid-west accent. At least I think so.

[diamond]

nice to just get down to driving eh jesda.right on.although i dont understand why owning one of the worlds fastest depresiating cars makes anyone a snob.snobs are born in.lol.you can still care for the kids when they move out.never stops.sure is different not having kids running around.luckily my daughter checks on me everyday.get to see grandkids and all almost daily.only thing left to give a s about for me.joe grannatelli changed my diapers.but then,he wasnt a snob.just into supercharging,lol.glad i wasnt born into snobbery.its all about happiness.get on with your bad self jesda.K+..now hanging with Ann colter may cross the line.

Modified by diamond at 8:18 PM 12/4/2005

Modified by diamond at 8:19 PM 12/4/2005
Modified by diamond at 8:28 PM 12/4/2005

[elwesso]

I think this is a step in the right direction. You and the Q needed to part ways, so that come spring youll just buy another one...

Buying the maxima gives you less of a sense of necessity.. When you get another Q somtime, youll keep the maxima and then you wont have to worry about if you dont fix something on the Q being out on transportation....

[The Mic]

What person in their right mind after just selling their car, would again buy the same model that they've had for years? Kind of pointless selling it in the first place if he plans to buy the same model come spring. Car enthusiasts are only loyal as their options. If his options involve a Cadillac and a Q, I can tell you that he isn't going to be listening to XM radio via a Q.
Modified by The Mic at 4:05 PM 12/4/2005

[elwesso]

because hed likely get a 94 instead of a 92

[diamond]

lol

[The Mic]

Before I looked at Qs, I was set on getting a Cadillac. I might still do that in the spring.

Koleje

[elwesso]

He knows what he's getting, but he just doesnt know it.......

[bobotech]

I just feel honored that I fouind both of jesda's most recent cars for him.

I found him his Q in the paper and I found him his 90 Maxiima

[Jesda]

because hed likely get a 94 instead of a 92

Yes, but a 94 what?

This would give me pleasure: The head gasket issue would not.

[jdmfreak]

PIMP!

[Looneybomber]

I just feel honored that I fouind both of jesda's most recent cars for him.

I found him his Q in the paper and I found him his 90 Maxiima

Well I will find him his first bike!http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...ZWDVW

[Repo Man]

I was set on getting a Cadillac. I might still do that in the spring.

Modified by Jesda at 5:12 PM 12/4/2005

When the time comes, let me know.

repo

[HashiriyaS14]

I didn't know you were considering Eldorados, I thought you were stuck on the STS.

Is the engine in those Eldorado's the same LT5-derived 300hp monstrosity that powers the STS?

Anyway, that Eldorado is nice, debadged and blacked out it'd be even nicer.

Do Q's really have that many maintenance worries? It sounds from what you and Rex are saying that they're a real PiTA.

[elwesso]

I didn't know you were considering Eldorados, I thought you were stuck on the STS.

Is the engine in those Eldorado's the same LT5-derived 300hp monstrosity that powers the STS?

Anyway, that Eldorado is nice, debadged and blacked out it'd be even nicer.

Do Q's really have that many maintenance worries? It sounds from what you and Rex are saying that they're a real PiTA.

The Q and ETC/STS will be about the same maintenance wise... really the Q will cause less headaches to make perfect... More thingsthat go bad dont need immediate attnetion to...

The bottom line is, that whe you have a car like the Q, your not going to just let things slide, like if you had a maxima.....

Im not on a large budget at all, but ive never had any problems maintaining a Q...

To put in language of a 240 owner, theyre probably equivalent to maintaining a KA-T or SR20 swapped 240, as far as costs and labor times involved.

You never consider the Q a "beater" car... If you dont keep up on it, it will cause headahces.....

Just because you bought it for 5 grand doesnt mean its not a 50,000 car anymore.....

[diamond]

my first car was a 69 eldo,lol...hate to say it american sucks for dependability.inless you build it yourslf,oldschool.lol.but we know thaT.hehe..cant believe my mom got almost 300k without major probs in her late 80's caddy.l trip.she didnt exacly drive slow either,lol.man,ever find anythingon your own jesda,lol.just giving you bad time.life is about spice.mix it up.

[Rex]

Well I will find him his first bike!http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...ZWDVW

Duzzzzzzzzzzzzzam.

Didn't you read the "poodles" story, he wiped out on a razor scooter, bike + Jesda = untiomely death .

[EazyBreazy]

not to mention that hyabusa has a stretched swing arm im assuming specifically for drag racing. 1300cc+200+MPA+fear of razor skooter+jesda=estremely untimely death

[HashiriyaS14]

The Q and ETC/STS will be about the same maintenance wise... really the Q will cause less headaches to make perfect... More thingsthat go bad dont need immediate attnetion to...

The bottom line is, that whe you have a car like the Q, your not going to just let things slide, like if you had a maxima.....

Im not on a large budget at all, but ive never had any problems maintaining a Q...

To put in language of a 240 owner, theyre probably equivalent to maintaining a KA-T or SR20 swapped 240, as far as costs and labor times involved.

You never consider the Q a "beater" car... If you dont keep up on it, it will cause headahces.....

Just because you bought it for 5 grand doesnt mean its not a 50,000 car anymore.....

lol@ "language of a 240 owner".

That all makes sense though. I was just getting worried they were somehow Audi-like or something, which is just an entirely different category altogether.

[elwesso]

No.. not at all..... the difference is this:

With a Q, you maintain it and have little problems. YOu just do your maintenance, suspension, brakes, all normal stuff... Problems are usually isolated and easy to fix.

If it were audi bad, no way id own one.

With the audi, you have to maintain it and you have problems.....

[Q-less]

sup guys...memory lane.

[Jesda]

Interesting bump.

After this thread I did buy another Q45, a 1990. I sold that pretty quickly despite its excellent condition (you always love your first more than your second) and then went through a 4.9L Seville STS, a Lexus LS400, a Range Rover, a Navigator, a Crossfire SRT, a BMW E46 convertible, a newer Northstar Seville STS, a Volvo S60 turbo, a Dodge Ram, a whole bunch of other cars, and now finally... an old Saab. An old Saab 900 turbo convertible with a crummy 3-speed auto that looks a bit rough (rust on a wheel arch), isn't mechanically perfect (transmission is showing signs of weakness), has an odd steering position, and looks pretty dorky, but I've adored it for nearly four years. I don't think I've loved a car this much before, nor have I kept one for so long.

I can also say now that an old Q and an old Caddy are quite similar in maintenance costs. The Q is far more athletic and DIY-friendly while the Seville and Eldorado are more comfortable for long-distance drives, like living room sofas with rocket engines strapped to the back. Haven't had a major issue in nearly 100,000 miles of Cadillac ownership but things like accessories, wheel bearings, and suspension can add up quickly, especially due to parts costs and the need to pay a professional.



Still have never owned an Audi. They justifiably frighten me.



Check out this month's Road and Track for a story by Sam Smith about how much he misses his old M3:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/smithology- ... -1-roa0813



So, what kinds of cars and trucks have you guys experienced in the last 7-8 years?