LOW SELF-ESTEEM: Another reason why Q resale values are sucky...

[goody90q45]

From what I have seen (while looking for my Q ) people can get the Q to limp along for a while when doing nothing but adding gas and oil. I love the ads that brag "Haven't needed to do anything for 2 years, its a great car"

I've got one of those cars- my parts car. Had the previous owner joined NICO and read up on his active Q, he would have found that he could have had his car running pretty nice for just a couple hundred dollars and a plenum removal. It only needed 4 injectors (all dead), FPCU (burned connector), and fuel pump o-ring (see below). The PO complained that the car always smelled like gas (I wonder why?). Bragged that the only thing he'd had to do to it in 9 months of ownership was 4 brakes and rotors (I'll keep the new rotors, Thank you).

He bought the car for $2000 and called me from the side of the road crying that he wanted to cut his losses and sell me the Q for what I'd offered him a month earlier- $300. He's riding a bike now. Expensive lesson.

[Haitian_King]

HAHA! Aren't you the savvy consumer?

Nice Deal. If I can get a Q for 300. I'd totally do it. I'd put it in the driveway and put a coverover it until I could do something.

[knowspinzone]

Here in the New england area I don't see many Q's. However, the ones I do see appear to be well maintained (at least the exterior is clean). The problem around here is the damage done by road salt in the winter.

We just gave away my wife's '95 J30t this spring. We bought it brand new and it had 190,000 miles on it. In the end a lot of things were breaking on it and a big part of the problem was corrosion from road salt. It got so you couldn't remove anything to get at something else because it would all break apart from salt corrosion. This happened in spite of the fact that I keep a hose out all winter to wash the cars and to spray the undercarriage. My Q45 hasn't faced all the road salt that the J30t did, but it still shows signs of damage (see my thread on the Active Suspension).

Anyway, I take very good care of my cars and motorcycle. I always took pride in my vehicles, even when I was driving my lowly '63 Corvair!

[Alcyone]

Man, you would hate me. :-) My Q has a dent in the rear corner thanks to some d!ck head hitting it while it was parked and not leaving a note. I also have a dent next to the rear door that was already there when I bought it. I replaced the door which hid most of that damage; then somebody hit the rear. Go figure.

My AC doesn't work either. I have to role all 4 windows down to keep moderately cool.

I suppose I only paid 1800 for it and can't justify the cost of AC replacement. The thing has over 190 k on it. I do maintain what's necessary but refuse to put 1000s of dollars into it. I mainly use it for transporting computer equipment for work.

It's a nice car, but I guess it was already beat up when I got it. I suspect the same is true for others. I do have to thank the guy who sold it though as it's been a very dependable and nice second had car to drive. No major problems whatsoever.

[Haitian_King]

Damn. Sorry to hear that. Have you considered putting the car up for adoption?

No disrespect, but that car needs to be in the hands of someone who's willing to care for it.

[pito11213]

Why?? Its a car not a relative who's sick. He's uses it for what it was intended for overall. Transportation with a taste of luxury.

I love the Q's but with the high (and increasing) prices to maintain the Q I wouldnt bother. On my LS, it didnt need anything major and ran like a champ. My Q even after dumping a bunch of money into, still needed valve seals replaced. I blame this on whoever had the car many, many years ago.

[Haitian_King]

I just feel that if you're not going to be committed to the car, maybe it's better off in the hands of someone who will be.

Why would you put a sick relative up for adoption?

[pito11213]

Commitment is in the eyes of the owner. It can be easily said that Wes, Dennis and a few others are truely dedicated to their Q's.

But I would also go as far to say that these guys do this as a hobby. I have finally realized that I am a "car" enthusiast. I am not dedicated to any one brand. I may lean stronger to one brand than another but I am not headstrong on any one car.

Also no matter how many names you give your car, you cannot compare it to a relative.

[Haitian_King]

Yeah. I never compared the car to a relative. De quoi tu parle?

[Skibane]

As I see it, there are some things that are painful to see being abused. I'd hate to see a vintage McIntosh amp being used as a boat anchor, or a fine Italian shotgun being used as a hammer, or a Jaguar being used as a chicken coop - regardless of the object's current condition. It just shows a lack of appreciation for quality and style.

[Haitian_King]

and a G50 is one of them.

[Jesda]

I would put some relatives up for adoption.

[pito11213]

"Why would you put a sick relative up for adoption?"

Sorry I mistook that statement then.

Yeah I understand your opinions, mines is just that at the end of the day....its a car

[Vate]

As a car gets older, only a true enthusiast takes good care of it. And simply enough, there are a greater percentage of enthusiasts for cars like Corvettes and Porsches than for 4 door luxury sedans.

And for most people, that four-door luxury sedan represents their daily driver, not their enthusiast car.

For 10 years my wife has been a Q45 enthusiast, but only because she loves the car for her daily driving. But in the past 2 or 3 years, the cosmetics have not been worth the money to fix or replace. We'll soon sell it to someone who will get a mechanically sound but cosmetically imperfect car. And they will probably put regular gas in it. And use non-synthetic oil. And the first time their $2500 car needs a $1000 repair, they'll probably leave it by the side of the road.

[pito11213]

Your right. I totally agree. I am sure the LS that I sold is being treated like garbage now.

I loved my Q and in hindsight if I would have held out a little long when my money improved I would have had it perfect, but they are getting more and more expensive. I dont have the space or "want" to work on my cars myself anymore. I have gotten older and dont want to be a wrench turner, thats just me.

I have been considering a 98 740 since I love that body style and it has the timeless design of the 94+Q

[Vate]

>>>I have been considering a 98 740 since I love that body style and it has the timeless design of the 94+Q

BMW, now there are some expensive parts. Nice car though - and I agree on the body style, clean lines, good looking car.

My wife is looking at the current generation Jag XJ. To her, it is the car that is the most "Q45-like". She does not want to buy a last-model Q, too much of an orphan. When I think Jag I think "in the shop", but the latest platform has a good reputation.

[VJ1]

It burns me when I see a poorly maintained Q, especially when a person with one which is faling apart asks me how to get their car in the condition that mine is in. I simply reply, "go to nicoclub.com if you have 10 grand to restore it or put it out of it's misery, but you should never have let this car get to this bad condition". I have two 94's. One which is my daily driver that's in very good condition, and one which is in show condition and only comes out of the garage on a weekend if there is no rain in the forecast. Most are unaware of the cost involved in keeping these beauties alive and let them run into the ground.Sad to say that we, the real Q enthusiasts are a dying breed.Vandi.

[Magnum PI]

, I agree. We are the last of a breed, the G-50 was an original, and it's artistry was special. I hate to say it but all the Q45s that followed, while they are nice cars, lacked the originality of the G50. My daughter drives it now, and certainly appreciates it as she is not jealous of her friends with newer civics and other cars, she digs the solid build and individuality of the Q. They cannot believe the car is that old.

[Jesda]

E38 parts are cheaper than G50 parts.

[Haitian_King]

Are they really?I was told otherwise. that's how I ended up with the Q.

[Alcyone]

Damn. Sorry to hear that. Have you considered putting the car up for adoption?

No disrespect, but that car needs to be in the hands of someone who's willing to care for it.

I understand your love for the car as it's very nice to drive. I also admire your commitment to maintain your vechicles. But it seems as though these things are a dime a dozen. I see them all the time. Is it really worth restoring such an old, used, common car?

[Haitian_King]

Maybe around your way they're common. I see more Y33 Q45's around here. And J30's.

A nice G50 is a rarity. I did see a nice shiny green one with really clean piepans yesterday.

[Jesda]

If you want to see G50s running around, go to the south. Its amazing how many I see here and there when driving from St Louis to Tampa. I think it might be because T3 is in Marietta!

I used to see tons of J30s, but theyre dwindling down, and its sad to see them covered in scuffs with damaged sheet metal.

I feel like I see QX4s all the time, but only because my apartment manager has one.

[Peterofdevon]

We don't see many g50s here. I still cant get over that 94 identical twin I saw at the King of Prussia mall. It was scarry.

I saw something above about the 740 and these cars breed here like rabbits. One thing I do notice, when I see a clean 740 the owner if male usually oogles the Q.

I feel proud driving it and I love the challenge of keep them in as new as possible condition.

If I had the garage space I would buy the super uber.

P.

[Haitian_King]

Yeah. I catch 740 owners watching me.

I love my Q and all G50's.

I see a lot of Y33's, QX56's, FX35's, and QX4's around here.

There's this house on Germantown Ave heading into Whitemarsh and Lafayette. I see a charcoal G50 parked in front of the garage when i go to and from Wawa. I'm tempted to pull in and knock on the door and talk Q with the owner. But if the owner isn't a Q enthusiast, I'll feel like an idiot.

[konatown]

I understand your love for the car as it's very nice to drive. I also admire your commitment to maintain your vechicles. But it seems as though these things are a dime a dozen. I see them all the time. Is it really worth restoring such an old, used, common car?

I have one of 5 total Q45's that I know in a metropolitan population of 700,000.

One guy has a green G50 and a white 2006 Q45. Also owns a F430 and countless musclecars.

I see a red Y33 everyday, but never see it driven.The other is a white Y33 that I very rarely see.

740's are far more common here. I think I've seen more M5 and/or M6 vehicles than Q45's. Probably because we don't have an Infiniti dealer closer than a 2 hour drive.