Hey, im pretty much a noob when is comes to q45s...so just bear with me.I may be looking at a 1994 model with 165,284miles. Iv'e read the faq, so I should be expected to do a tuneup when i get the car correct, just to make sure whats all the things I should look at doing?
And is there anything special to look for with ones with that many miles? Is that alot for a q45?
Thanks alot
looking at a 94
Re: looking at a 94 (nwmrkt)
The very first step in the process is to look at your bank balance to be sure you have $3,000 minimum extra dollars available to spend on repairs and maintenance above and beyond what you pay for the car........if you dont, or are not committed to this additional amount, dont shop for a old q45.
Second step, if you pass the above test, is to spend a week or two reading old posts in this thread to gain understanding of the above, and learn the ins and outs of ownership of a 15 year old complex foreign car.
Step three, if all the above is completed and acceptable to you is to start looking at cars using the knowledge learned in step two.
Good luck, these are great old cars if purchased wisely{see step one and two above}, and huge headaches and moneypits if purchased blindly.
Second step, if you pass the above test, is to spend a week or two reading old posts in this thread to gain understanding of the above, and learn the ins and outs of ownership of a 15 year old complex foreign car.
Step three, if all the above is completed and acceptable to you is to start looking at cars using the knowledge learned in step two.
Good luck, these are great old cars if purchased wisely{see step one and two above}, and huge headaches and moneypits if purchased blindly.
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Q45tech
- Moderator
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- Car: 1990 Q45 342,400 miles 22 years ownership with original engine
1995 G20t 5 speed 334,000 miles 16" 2002 wheels - 205/50/16 Sr20ve vvl
Re: looking at a 94 (qship96)
The real question is how long will the transmission last since that alone is $3,000+. So it is prudent to have $6,000 extra if you expect to restore to near new mechanically and drive for a few years. This amount is above the usual annual costs for tires, brakes, and fluid replacements which runs about $1200 on average.
Always best to be properly funded and resigned to the possible expenses BEFORE you fall in love and by the car.
Always best to be properly funded and resigned to the possible expenses BEFORE you fall in love and by the car.
Well, how much you spend depends on how long you intend to keep the car. A $900 junkyard transmission will give you an extra 50-80k of life, which is at least a few years of driving for most.
Allowing non-safety items (paint, interior, audio, etc) to age will save you some more.
Most costs can't be avoided, like fuel pumps, injectors, tires, suspension, steering, hoses, AC, etc -- all of that requires repair with new parts. There's no major issues in the 94-96 Q (unless it has active suspension), just typical neglected things that need service on any used car.
Allowing non-safety items (paint, interior, audio, etc) to age will save you some more.
Most costs can't be avoided, like fuel pumps, injectors, tires, suspension, steering, hoses, AC, etc -- all of that requires repair with new parts. There's no major issues in the 94-96 Q (unless it has active suspension), just typical neglected things that need service on any used car.
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oldmako
- Posts: 727
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'96 Chevy Silverado 5.0 245K
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- Contact:
Re: looking at a 94 (Q45tech)
Consider buying a 99-01 model.
The following is my OPINION...and therefore pretty much worthless. I've only been a Q geek for one year and therefore know next to nothing (this part is true...the rest I make up as I go along) about the marque. Additionally, I'm a red-headed, hair lipped step child with a drinking problem and a dyspeptic attitude. I enjoy annoying others, disrespecting authority and behaving poorly.
While not the hot rod that the earlier Qs are, the newer cars SEEM to be much less susceptible to the fuel injector issues that the older ones are. Injectors are expensive and require a fair amount of work to replace. Even if you do the work yourself they're still expensive. Do it wrong and your car becomes a donation to the charity of your choice. Pay someone else to do it........well hang on to your wallet AND hope that they do it right. The is plenty of evidence in the archives of trained techs d!ck up the job and boning your wallet in the process. I personally can't see keeping a car which eats injectors.
The coils on the later cars are beginning to be implicated in rough idling issues. But they are simple to replace and you will NOT ruin the engine if you stick one in wrong. And, once replaced they have a long life span, unlike injectors.
The interiors on the newer cars are nicer. (flame away gents!) Heated seats, fancy-schmancy xenophobic, bromotriflouride-simethicone headlights, side airbags, etc etc. Schwing!
Look for the lowest mileage, best maintained, nicest Q you can find. Stay away from touring model unless you are willing to spend the big bucks on the inevitable suspension rehab. The shocks are idiotically expensive on the these cars and are for the most part a dealer item. The non stock options I looked at were even more expensive than Infiniti parts (that may have changed since I did mine).
These cars have lots of miscellaneous bits which wear out at a fairly predictable rate, so even if you find a cherry ride it will need rehab eventually. You'll want to have some coin available for general maintenance and rehab which does not include the trans, rear end, or drive shaft. These mothers can break the bank unless you're well heeled. Overall the lower mileage ride you can find the better off you will be. You can easily drop a grand right off the bat just replacing the tires, brakes, fluids and filters.
The good news it that these cars are well engineered and are insanely cheap compared to what they cost just a few years ago. They score high marks with respect to frequency of repair. There are plenty of guys on the site with high mileage cars which have had very little work performed aside from normal, reasonable maintenance.
Keep reading the old threads, and take your time looking for a car. If you're diligent, you can find an awesome ride and not break the bank.
The following is my OPINION...and therefore pretty much worthless. I've only been a Q geek for one year and therefore know next to nothing (this part is true...the rest I make up as I go along) about the marque. Additionally, I'm a red-headed, hair lipped step child with a drinking problem and a dyspeptic attitude. I enjoy annoying others, disrespecting authority and behaving poorly.
While not the hot rod that the earlier Qs are, the newer cars SEEM to be much less susceptible to the fuel injector issues that the older ones are. Injectors are expensive and require a fair amount of work to replace. Even if you do the work yourself they're still expensive. Do it wrong and your car becomes a donation to the charity of your choice. Pay someone else to do it........well hang on to your wallet AND hope that they do it right. The is plenty of evidence in the archives of trained techs d!ck up the job and boning your wallet in the process. I personally can't see keeping a car which eats injectors.
The coils on the later cars are beginning to be implicated in rough idling issues. But they are simple to replace and you will NOT ruin the engine if you stick one in wrong. And, once replaced they have a long life span, unlike injectors.
The interiors on the newer cars are nicer. (flame away gents!) Heated seats, fancy-schmancy xenophobic, bromotriflouride-simethicone headlights, side airbags, etc etc. Schwing!
Look for the lowest mileage, best maintained, nicest Q you can find. Stay away from touring model unless you are willing to spend the big bucks on the inevitable suspension rehab. The shocks are idiotically expensive on the these cars and are for the most part a dealer item. The non stock options I looked at were even more expensive than Infiniti parts (that may have changed since I did mine).
These cars have lots of miscellaneous bits which wear out at a fairly predictable rate, so even if you find a cherry ride it will need rehab eventually. You'll want to have some coin available for general maintenance and rehab which does not include the trans, rear end, or drive shaft. These mothers can break the bank unless you're well heeled. Overall the lower mileage ride you can find the better off you will be. You can easily drop a grand right off the bat just replacing the tires, brakes, fluids and filters.
The good news it that these cars are well engineered and are insanely cheap compared to what they cost just a few years ago. They score high marks with respect to frequency of repair. There are plenty of guys on the site with high mileage cars which have had very little work performed aside from normal, reasonable maintenance.
Keep reading the old threads, and take your time looking for a car. If you're diligent, you can find an awesome ride and not break the bank.
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maxnix
- Posts: 22627
- Joined: Mon Jul 22, 2002 8:11 pm
- Car: 1995 Infiniti Q45
1995 Infiniti Q45t
2000 Infiniti Q45
Re: looking at a 94 (nwmrkt)
How did you miss the how to by a Q45 sticky above?nwmrkt wrote:Iv'e read the faq, so I should be expected to do a tuneup when i get the car correct, just to make sure whats all the things I should look at doing?
And is there anything special to look for with ones with that many miles? Is that alot for a q45?
It's all about maintenance history and condition. That is why you need a pre-purchase inspection by a senior Infiniti technician.
Modified by maxnix at 1:37 PM 12/20/2008
Re: looking at a 94 (oldmako)
Once you start looking for a 97+ q45, you might as well just get a 98+ Lexus LS400, as it is a much better car all around.
Re: looking at a 94 (qship96)
Pardon the hijack ...
Back to the original post ...
Spend the $100-150 and have the car inspected by a certified Infiniti Tech. Have him (or her) list everything that will need replacing over the next 6 months, 1 yr, 2yr (w/ dealer costs). That information will help you decide if it's a worthwhile purchase. If you choose to purchase, you should be able to use the Inspection Report to negotiate more than the inspection fee off the car.
Let me respectfully disagree. The LS will require a timing belt replacement versus the Q45's timing chain and the LS will run $1500-2000 more for the same miles/condition car to purchase, even in the current market. After that the ongoing upkeep costs are rather similar, but the "known" ~$3k difference makes a big difference.qship96 wrote:Once you start looking for a 97+ q45, you might as well just get a 98+ Lexus LS400, as it is a much better car all around.
Back to the original post ...
Spend the $100-150 and have the car inspected by a certified Infiniti Tech. Have him (or her) list everything that will need replacing over the next 6 months, 1 yr, 2yr (w/ dealer costs). That information will help you decide if it's a worthwhile purchase. If you choose to purchase, you should be able to use the Inspection Report to negotiate more than the inspection fee off the car.
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maxnix
- Posts: 22627
- Joined: Mon Jul 22, 2002 8:11 pm
- Car: 1995 Infiniti Q45
1995 Infiniti Q45t
2000 Infiniti Q45
Re: looking at a 94 (Rex)
Yeah, if you ignore the maintenance, the 98-99 LS400 is a better performing car, but it still doesn't have the VLSD like the FGY33. It does have the 5 speed automatic. If you consider maintenance, the FGY33 is way ahead initially for purchase price, and long term for mintenance. A very under stressed car.Rex wrote:Let me respectfully disagree. The LS will require a timing belt replacement versus the Q45's timing chain and the LS will run $1500-2000 more for the same miles/condition car to purchase, even in the current market. After that the ongoing upkeep costs are rather similar, but the "known" ~$3k difference makes a big difference.
Modified by maxnix at 3:00 PM 12/21/2008
Re: looking at a 94 (maxnix)
That 5-speed automatic is NOT a selling point. The Aisin 5-box on my 1998 LS400 was clunky and slow to respond, which is apparently typical behavior. The car also lacked character, despite its vastly superior quality, comfort, and audio system.maxnix wrote:Yeah, if you ignore tha maintenance, the 98-99 LS400 is a better performing car, but it still doesn't have the VLSD like the FGY33. It does have the 5 speed automatic. If you consider maintenance, the FGY33 is way ahead initially for purchase price, and long term for mintenance. A very under stressed car.
Re: looking at a 94 (Jesda)
I never said the 98+ LS was cheaper than the Q41, just a superior product all the way around.....from looks, refinement, comfort, ride quality, build quality, materials,and image....there is no comparison between the 2, the Q41 is not even close.
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elwesso
- Posts: 30810
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2007 BMW M Coupe
2007 Infiniti G35 S 6MT - Location: Indiana
- Contact:
Re: looking at a 94 (qship96)
IMO after you drive a G50 and if you truly enjoy spirited driving youll deal with the nuances of the G50, which really arent that bad once you get it sorted.
Again, you may not care and just enjoy a nice looking, reliable and nice riding car... which then I may not recommend a G50.
These days you have to really be committed to what you're getting to own a G50. its really the same story for owning any other 15 year old V8 Lux sedan, only gets worse when you get into american or german cars.
Again, you may not care and just enjoy a nice looking, reliable and nice riding car... which then I may not recommend a G50.
These days you have to really be committed to what you're getting to own a G50. its really the same story for owning any other 15 year old V8 Lux sedan, only gets worse when you get into american or german cars.