Looking at purchasing a 1990 Q45

[the_franchise]

I found this in a local car ad... The pictures are stunning, the mileage is 46,000, color is black, and I live up north in snow country. Asking price is $5,495. Here is the text of the ad...

"this 1990 infiniti q45 is PERFECT!!! this car cost over $40,000 new in 1990!! i am the second owner and the car came from arizona so no road salt ever!!you will not find a nicer one. original paint and windshield it has never been altered in any way. paint has beatiful shine and absolutely NO RUST!! interior is flawless also. has 6 disc cd changer, bose stereo sounds great and i just had all of the amplifiers rebuilt. tires are almost new. i have replaced:all engine seals and gaskets,same for transmission,timing chains and updated guides, oil pump and chain.motor mounts,power steering rack,fuel pump,spark plugs. car drives straight as an arrow,shifts perfectly and is in excellent shape. all fluids have been changed to synthetic. has over 300HP!!! BONE STOCK! if u have been looking for an awesome powerful luxury car in good shape, look no more!!! you will not be dissapointed. best offer!"

I have left a message with the guy to verify the timing chain work done was the belt guide modifications, away from the notorious plastic. I would have to assume that was the work done, and why the high price (almost twice the recommendation of Kelley Blue Book). What else should I ask, and what are everyone's opinions about the price?

I currently own a 1992 Maxima SE that is nearing it's end of life at 220,000 miles (thanks in part to hitting a deer at 60 mph over a year ago; actually the deer ran into the side of the car.), and I find this a suitable model to replace it.

[HashiriyaS14]

I can tell you that a 46k mile 1990 Q in immaculate condition in my area would probably be asking the same price.

Now, I'm not saying they'd recieve that much, but it probably would be far off, probably $4500-$5k. Used car prices around here are also high.

I'm no expert, but if this was for sale near me, I'd certainly be at least talking to the guy trying to get a little off the price and likely making the purchase.

Where are you located, exactly?

[Jesda]

Low miles mean its less likely it got a new transmission and transmission cooler under warranty. Ask for VIN, take to servicing dealer.

[BadQ45t]

The 90 is a beast, if you can verify that he did the guides properly you should also ask about the hoses, belts, and other rubber stuff, this is now a 16 year old car and the rubber parts are not going to be in any better shape at 50k than they would be a 150k

I think you could talk this guy down a bit, but if it is what it says it is that would be a pretty nice car at say 4200 or 4k.

[the_franchise]

Rrrrrr, the wife just said no way to even taking a look at it. We supposedly made a deal that I would find a car that was 2000 or newer for "reliability" reasons. I don't want to spend that much $, and I feel this could be just as reliable. How do I convince her, or am I just dreaming that it will for sure be reliable (of course, nothing is guaranteed).

[96Qowner]

So, the question is which car will cost more over the next few years. With 46,000 miles on this one, and all that previous maintenance work, it shouldn't cost more than average to maintain, and the average is 20 cents a mile or so. It also won't depreciate much from here, whereas the 2000 or newer WILL - like more than double - $5000 vs $2000 for the Q. So, it's a matter of the higher maintenance cost of the Q against the depreciation cost of the newer car.

Unfortunately, I think you'll have to admit to her that the Q45 will cost more.

But here's an axiom I have come to believe in: If you buy cheap new stuff and replace it when it gets old, you live with cheap stuff all your life. But if you buy good quality stuff and take good care of it, you live with quality things all your life.

The Q45 is/was one of the finest automobiles Japan ever built.

So, ask her if she wants to live with cheap new things all her life.

(the Q will probably cost you an extra $50 - $100 a month over a 2000 or newer $13,000 car.)

[HashiriyaS14]

You really think that the Q will be that much more expensive than making payments on a new car?

That'd have to be hella expensive, or are you assuming he'd be buying the 2000+ car outright?

[DrewQ45]

The big question is... how handy are you with a wrench? You've found the perfect site if you want to save $$$ in repair costs on this car. The question is, are you willing to work on it yourself? This will offset cost greatly for you.

My 90' is currently at 195K and my biggest expenditure was the transmission replacement I performed a few months ago. It's been my most reliable car to date (purchased in 98') and this is coming from someone who's owned many Toyotas.

Oh, and you need to search this site on how to check for updated chain guides. I think there is a plate you can pull off to take a look. Make sure he shows you a receipt for that.

...Drew...

[96Qowner]

You really think that the Q will be that much more expensive than making payments on a new car?

I was assuming a $13,000 car. Depreciation will be 20% per year = $2600 the first year, $2080 the second year, $1664 the third year, etc. In that time the 1990 Q45 with 46K on it will depreciate maybe $2000 for a difference of $4344. Meanwhile the Q will cost maybe 10 cents a mile more than the newer car. Over 3 years that would amount to $4500 @ 15K per year.

So actually, it's kind of a draw. Insurance on the Q45 is high, so that might add another $50/ month.

But now he's found an Anniversery Edition Q45 for under $10,000 - a better deal in my opinion.

[Q45denver]

Get a 94 or 95. You'll get most of the depreciation benefit of the early model and the reliability of the latter models.

[nuQ]

i've had my 90Q for three years and the most expensive thing i've done is put new tires on. if you stay on top of the maintenance the Q is a very reliable car, but,,,stay on top the maintenance!

[96Qowner]

I've spent $6000 on my 96 and put 47K on it so far = 12.7 cents/mile. That's with no DIY - all at shop rates.

But I need to replace the suspension rubber all around this summer, and a remanned transmission one of these months. That'll be another $1000 + $3000. I drive close to 20K miles per year. At 20 cents per mile, $4000 is only a year, and I'll get a lot more than that out of it.

The $6000 went into a full replacement of engine hoses, valve cover gaskets, spark plugs, all motor and transmission mounts, cam position sensor, O2 and knock sensors, oil pressure sensor, MAF, headlight assembly, tension rod bushings, Tokico struts, tires, all fluids flushed (diff, PS, transmission, brake, etc.), fan blade, front strut tower brace, Sylvania Silverstars ...

Now that it's almost restored, it runs flawlessly, mile after mile after mile.

I'm driving a $55,000 car, if you excuse the 10 years of minor scratches on the paint. My bro-in-law has a 2004 Lincoln LS Sport, and the 8 year difference doesn't amount to much - I like the 5 speed auto. 'Course, he has $35,000 in his and it depreciates at $5000 a year now.

Besides, I own one of those "what IS that?"s. I like that.

[greg_atlanta]

The ad sounds too good to be true, I've heard a lot of sellers play up the "desert car" thing to sell older cars & SUVs.

Service records may have been purged if car was not dealer serviced recently, good candidate for carfax.

[Q451990]

Sounds like a car after my own heart. Four weeks ago I would have said get something newer - honestly. I was starting to feel like my purchase of "Q2" was frivolous at best - given the age - etc. Like I'm living in the past...

At this point, after loosing "Q1" I am scared to death that another 18 y/o slack-*** in a Jeep has "Q2's" number too. If I had a huge garage I would buy this one (if it's condition is as advertised) just to have another spare. I'll post more later, but we replaced Q1 with an '05 G35 sedan - which I love - but the Q is still my favorite.

Heath

BTW Franchise - I bought "Q1" in 1996 after totaling a 91 Maxima SE 5 Speed. The Maxima was a great car... unfortunately I only owned it for a year... but the Q was a very worthy replacement and a major step up. Take your wife for a test drive. Mine is absolutey not a car person - but after driving "Q1" for a few short months she was almost in tears to see her flatbedded off after the wreck - and then again with no front bumper, headlights, or fender when they brought her home last night. These cars can melt the hardest of hearts.