New guy checking in

[Dravis]

I've recently been looking at getting a cheap car on the side for commuting to work when its rainy and nasty (I ride a motorcycle otherwise) and my grandparents own a nice 92 Q45 with only 70k on it that they are offering to me.

I might just buy something local (california) instead of shipping their car, but either way, i'm looking at Q45s and thought I would say hey! Already read through all the tech docs and stuff posted here, thanks to all that contributed to that.

I'm sure I will have a bunch more questions as I start looking at cars. I'd rate my technical knowledge of mechanics as high.

Thanks!

Alex

[maxnix]

Your grandparesnts 1992 should prove real tempting with a timing chain guide job and a 1993 TCU.

Welcome to our club!

[ceningolmo]

First off... welcome to NICO.

Second...I'm not sure the Q45 is what you want if you are just looking for cheap, intermittent transportation. It's a beautiful car. And, they can be had cheaply, but rarely is the cost of ownership cheap.

You said you rate your mechanical skills as high, so you already have a jump on most of the us newbs. So... if you can find the right Q, the right year, that has received consistently good maintenance, you may be able to invest a relatively small amount in the car and make her a reliable second form of transportation.

In any case... we are here to help with whatever you bump in to. Hope you find you a Q you like.

[elwesso]

Welcome to NICO. For what you're looking at, IMO youd be better off getting something smaller and more reliable. Consider an older maxima, a 1st gen altima, older sentra, and so on.....

A Q45 is not something where "cheap" and "transportation" are used in the same sentance.

[Dravis]

yeah it looks like it can get really expensive really fast, but this is more a secondary project car for rainy days, than a daily driver. Im in Socal, and traffic, weather and gas mileage get along really well with my motorcycle. The bikes my daily driver.

I have enough money to maintain the car without problems.

The 94 and ups have the new metal chain guides, right? I know to listen in the trunk to make sure the fuel pump isn't going, drive the car hard and soft to make sure the transmission/injectors/fuel pump are working alright, make sure it doesn't have any check lights. Is there any easy way to disable the check engine/diagnostic lights in the dash on this car?

Anything else weird to listen for when driving it?

KBB is listing this model (95) for around 3k with the 130+k miles it has.

Thanks,

Alex

[Dravis]

Just to update: I decided to look for a Q45 that was local, and found one near home for a great price. I'm checking it out tomorrow. I'm assuming there is no way to see if the guides were updated without pulling stuff apart or seeing paperwork, correct?

Its a 1992 dark charcoal gray with gray interior. Are the 92 interiors all two tone?

Thanks!

[ceningolmo]

I remember someone saying that you could get to it with some sort of extra, super-duper scope of some sort. But, for practical purposes, you can't look and see.

Either receipts for work done... or assume it hasn't been done. If the seller says it's done but can't provide receipts, I'd still assume it's not done and pay accordingly. I'd ask for $500 off the asking price if there is not specific evidence of the job being completed.

[Jesda]

I remember someone saying that you could get to it with some sort of extra, super-duper scope of some sort. But, for practical purposes, you can't look and see.

That was Robert (DAEDALUS) who suspected it might be possible to look with a boroscope. I checked in with him a couple years ago and he confirmed that method would not work.

[Q451990]

...and my grandparents own a nice 92 Q45 with only 70k on it that they are offering to me.

So for us vultures here... are they selling their Q? Where are they located?

[Dravis]

Grandmas in Seattle...and she decided she didn't want to sell it...but she offered me her Lincoln continental instead

When she does finally decide to get rid of it, be sure, i'm buying it

I look at the Q45 today. Dark Gray on Gray interior (two tone i'm assuming)

It has the climate control display out and supposedly some other electrical problems with dome lights etc, but nothing serious. 135k miles, clean title, and 2400 bucks, I don't think I can go wrong as long as its rust free and in working order. Supposedly they have a stack of paperwork for it, so hopefully the major stuff has been done! I plan on asking 100 off the price for the display replacement, other than that, if its nice I don't want to rob the people!

Ill let you guys know what happens.

[xerexabante]

There are cheap y33's here in Vegas. I have seen a '99 for as low as 2,400. Check out reviewjournal.com see the adds.

[Dravis]

Yeah the Gray Q45 was beat, dented door panels, idled a little rough, RPMs didn't drop very smoothly from 4k rpms, was leaking a little oil from somewhere, scratches everywhere. He said he would let it go for next to nothing but it seems like a poor investment. The search continues!