New to Infiniti and Need a Little Guidance

[kenmont]

Well, my '94 Altima reached 248,000+ and I think it is finally biting the dust. I've been looking at the Infiniti i35. The model year just changed and I was wondering if anything really changed. Should I get a 2003 or shuld I search for a decent 2002 from a dealer?

I'm not up to the Q level yet and I'm wondering if I should get the base model or try an option package? They really don't look worth the $$$. I'm also wondering what a decent price is? The Infiniti home page gives out the MSRP but nobody pays that much! I haven't shopped for a car in 8 years. What to do!?

[greg_atlanta]

I don't think they're selling that well, so if you want a deal, just buy what's on the lot. Dealers here have been advertising pricing in the $26K range in Atlanta.

Might want to look at G35 too. Different driving experience since it's rear wheel drive. But will cost $30K+ in most cases.

[911/Q45]

I35 is just a fancy Maxima, cross shop those. You can get a Maxima with a 6 speed stick too. They are changing radically for 2004, so good deals should definitely be available.

[PalmerWMD]

I really like the I35's.The 2k2 and 2k3 have not too many changes at all.They do have some better QC in the I35 vs the Maxima at the factory and the warranty is a lot better.Also they are generally availlable at decent prices and those engines are <powerful>I had an I35 loaner for a weekend an really enjoyed it.One of teh best FWD around.Cost Not much more than a loaded MaxBut if you prefer RWD then go with a G35 but they are popular so don't expect to get any off MSRP.

Another little secret: 2 year old Q45's can be had for around 30k now...Even tho many purists on this board prefer the earlier Q's, those last generations Q's (97-01) are an incredible value, you get a LOT of car for the money and they also have a great rep as being just about bulletprrof.

Fred...

[Stoneage_Turbo]

"They do have some better QC in the I35 vs the Maxima at the factory and the warranty is a lot better."

exactly , maxima is built here in the USA where I35 is a real japnese car built in Japan ...the city starts with a "O"i belive . Thats where to two bodys come from , anything built oversaes whether or not its a maxima or 135 will have the US market I35 body anything that rolls off the line in the US will have the US market maxima body ...

im still in love with the maxima tho , gimme a aniverasry editon six speed , awesome car

[kenmont]

Thanks for all the replies. I had no idea they would come back so quickly.

The next part of the question is: should I go after the base car (assuming a new I35) or add on one of the Option Packages. If I go for a 2002, 2001 I35 or Q45 (per Palmerwmd's suggestion), should I be looking for anything in particular or just the most for the money -- whatever that is???

[PalmerWMD]

I like to shop price equivalent.Once I decided I have a certain amount of money to spend(how much in your case?) I look for which cars which cost that much and are Infinitis.

I think a 2 or3 year old Q45 and a new I35are about thesame.About base vs loaded:Since the best deals can be had on cars already on the dealers lot (those are the ones they must sell)you can ofeten buy a highly optioned car thats already been aon athe lot for a bit for the same price as if you tell them to order you a base car.

Of course base cars tend to sell not all that well for most cars so if you can find one thats on the lot and a base a good price is assured.

Kinda depends on what you like.I would suggets going to your dealer and scouring the classifieds for good deals.Of course the ebst deals can be ahd from a private party via the classified but its harder sometimes there to find exactly what you are looking for and also Infinti dealers would never sell you junk whereas private party sale you need to exercise soemn extra care.

Fred...

[Mayhem_J30]

Do the I35's come in a manual? That would be sweet

[Jberger]

Ken, I NEVER thought I'd be the one saying this, but you may want to consider buying new. (Anyone who knows me thinks I must have gone crazy overnight)

While I'd normally NEVER suggest it, the extremely low finance rates, coupled with the model year change over and new body style for both the I-35 and Maxima could make for a great deal.

Just a thought, of course if it were me, I'd be shopping for a new G not the I.

[MetaOrbit]

Do the I35's come in a manual? That would be sweet

Nope

Theoretically, with enough time, money, determination, I'm sure someone could swap it out with a 6-speed transmission from the 2k2+ Maximas..

[kenmont]

When I first found this forum, I was in a bit of a hurry. My Altima with the 248,000+ has literally stopped in the middle of the road on me and I had to have it towed in.

I had been thinking about getting an Infiniti for a long time. I had great experience with the Altima and a Sentra before that. Now, being a Realtor and all, I needed an "image" car and I didn't want to follow the pack down Benz Boulevard or Lexus Lane.

I went to the dealer today. He was pushing the 2002 I35's he had on the lot but I was seduced by a 1999 Q45 with 45,000 miles on it. I loved the room (for me ...and my clients) and the ride was smoooooth. It was missing some of the newer bells and whistles of the I35 but had enough for my tastes.

I don't know if I made the best deal in the world but I'm happy with it (for the first four hours I've owned it) and if it lasts me to 200,000 miles I'll be ecstatic.

[greg_atlanta]

Congratulations!

Dealers do tend to overprice on used cars but I'm assuming it was less than a new I35. And dealers never carry questionable cars... that car probably just came in off a lease.

What color?

Did they offer an extended warranty? If not, might be a good idea to try to get a bumper to bumper warranty to 100K miles. That model is very reliable but chances are you'll get your money's worth if a few things break over the course of 3 or 4 years.

[kenmont]

Greg,

Thanks! It's Gold (I'm sure it has another name for the color) and I was able to get the extended warranty thrown in with the price I negotiated which was cheaper than a new (or 2002) I35.

With 45,000 and a few years already on it, I knew the original factory warranty was due to run out soon and I put a ton of miles on a car just in the normal course of life. It'll probably get to the 100,000 before the years on the warranty but it was worth getting.

[AZhitman]

WOO HOO!

Great story... "I saw it, liked it, bought it."

Welcome Ken!

[kenmont]

Well, I went to the shop my Altima was towed to and they think (without having done a whole lot of tearing apart) that the engine "swallowed a valve." Everybody I talked to said it was more money than it was worth to repair.

So, off to charity land it goes. I found an organization that will take it in any condition, fix it and give it to a low income person who needs it to get to work and get the kids to day care. Sounds like a good cause to me. Plus they give me the tax deduction for the blue book value since they are an o-fficial IRS recognized 501(c) charity.

I might actually get back a tad for what I put on the new Q. It's real interesting getting used to the size of the Q and the handling. I think I can handle it, though!

[PalmerWMD]

I'm happy with it (for the first four hours I've owned it) and if it lasts me to 200,000 miles I'll be ecstatic.

When I bought my first Q45, I was in heaven.The first time I passed a lesser car in it, I laughed like a Loon in surprise and joy.

Be sure to take your car into the triple digits sometime soon to see what I am talking about.

It may take some time before you realize how much more your new car is than your previous cars..

The more miles you drive the more you will appreciate your Infinit.

When I had gotten my first Q45 I would sometimes just go and sit in it.Or look in it.My current Q even tho I had it for a year now, I still turn around to look at it as I walk away.

As for lasting 200,000 miles . no problem at all, just remember to change your oil, use quality oils (preferably a real synthetic) and change every 3500 miles.

Congratulations,

Fred...

PS: Be sure to take some pics of your new ride and send it in using the Link "send us pics of your ride" on top of the page.Be sure to include your screename too..

[kenmont]

Fred,

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm not sure what road I can get it up to triple digits on. I'll be lucky to get it up to 40 on the DC Beltway. Seriously, I'll have to take it for a little road trip out to the "country."

My next questions are: I noticed that my 1999 Q45 was missing the Owner's Manual. Is there a way to pick up one? The dealer? Some third party?

You mentioned keeping a good synthetic oil in it. I used Mobil 1 for the Altima. Good enough? Should I really do it every 3500 miles? Why not every 10,000 like the synthetics used to say they were good for?

Where's a good place to pick up general maintenance parts such as wiper blades, brakes and tires? I drive a lot and I go through those a lot (or did with the Altima).

Should I put premium gas in it or will it do OK on 87 octane?

Thanks for all the help!

[szh]

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm not sure what road I can get it up to triple digits on. I'll be lucky to get it up to 40 on the DC Beltway. Seriously, I'll have to take it for a little road trip out to the "country."

My next questions are: I noticed that my 1999 Q45 was missing the Owner's Manual. Is there a way to pick up one? The dealer? Some third party?

You mentioned keeping a good synthetic oil in it. I used Mobil 1 for the Altima. Good enough? Should I really do it every 3500 miles? Why not every 10,000 like the synthetics used to say they were good for?

Where's a good place to pick up general maintenance parts such as wiper blades, brakes and tires? I drive a lot and I go through those a lot (or did with the Altima).

Should I put premium gas in it or will it do OK on 87 octane?

Thanks for all the help!

Welcome to Infiniti and the Q! I am on my second one now and still very happy. Here are some of my answers to your questions (although there are far better experts on this site who will also respond):

1. If you drive fast, get a good radar detector (although it would be illegal in DC, I guess). The Q is deceptively fast, and could easily get you in trouble with the highway patrol folks! In fact, I recommend having a radar detector for non-highway driving too - the car is so comfortable at speeds that you will find yourself doing more than the limit just about everywhere! My recommendation (albeit a bit expensive, but worth it) is the Valentine 1. Has saved me a bundle in tickets and insurance surcharges already.

2. I don't use synthetic engine oil, but I try to be methodical about doing an oil change every 3750 miles (halfway between the normal 7500 mile check points). If you do a lot of stop-and-go driving, then definitely do an oil change that often, even if you use synthetic. This is one of the simplest and cheapest ways to ensure that a car engine lasts for many, many miles.

3. Wiper blade inserts are easily changed - any auto parts place will have decent ones that will do fine. On my 1995 Q, the size is 21" on both left and right - I think it is the same for your year.

Now, if you choose to go a bit overboard (but get great results!), put in silicone blades, like "Ultra SilBlades". I got mine from http://www.silblade.com and like them a lot - they really keep the windshield dry in heavy downpours (the limited California kind of heavy downpour - no comparison to the ones I experienced in Mississippi!). These come with carbon-fiber arms and are available in different colors. I have black arms with black blades on my silver Q - in retrospect, I wish I had noticed that they had silver arms and blades(?) available! Would have looked really nice on my Q.

4. Inre manuals, the Infiniti dealers can sell you one, but you are better off doing a bit of a search on eBay for a lower cost. If you can't wait, then the dealer is a good place to get them.

5. I am strictly a beginner when it comes to fixing things on my car (although I am about to get deep into it with a rotor and pad change as well as new shocks), so I don't have much of a recommendation with regards to that stuff. I have had the fortune of having a good Infiniti dealer in the Bay Area work on my cars (two Q's) for most things. For parts, http://www.infinitipartsusa.com is a good source if you do want to DIY or get a cheap repair place near you to do the work.

My thought would be to try your local Infiniti dealer out and see how good they are. Although there are a few exceptions, the Infiniti service departments have earned a good reputation with Infiniti car owners. (Of course, if I lived in Atlanta, GA, then T3 is the place to go!)

6. In regard to tires, this is one area that you do not want to skimp on, IMHO. Mismatched, unbalanced, or simply badly worn tires can be dangerous. I try to get my tires from Tire Rack (http://www.tirerack.com), since local tire places tend to be more expensive. Do not skimp on the tire load requirements - the Q is a heavy car and needs good tires. I use Firestone SZ50EP on my 15" rims. I think your model year has 16" or 17" rims, so you will have an easier time finding good tires.

7. I use Premium gas in mine - the 91 ron kind - and have no experience with the lower grades. The Infiniti folks do recommend 91, so I would not know what might happen if it were not used. I suspect that the engine processing unit would compensate and work for most driving habits, but might not be able to compensate for the lowered octane under stress situations (climbing, heavy acceleration, etc.). But this is a guess. Of course, if you let the engine knock badly, etc., then you will damage the engine. Timing in valve interference engines is critical - I think (but am not sure) that the Q is an inteference engine.

Good luck with your Q!

Z

[PalmerWMD]

Ken,

I agree with Z 's excellent summary in all areas except maybe oils.

Definetly use synthetic oils, some geenral musings about them including brands and multiple questions:

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....shtml

Of course all new oils that meet SL standards are pretty decnt even the non syn "dino oils".But with such a nice great engine it just doesnt make any sense to use anything less than synthetics.

Also I reiterate use premium fuel only.For some reason a lot of PPL like to use regular when gas prices go up, but proportinally the diffrence between regular gas and premium actually goes down when gas prices rise.20 cents difference ,is a lot less when prices are 1.60 than when they are 1.00.

As for the manual I belive your Infinti dealership owes you one.They have them in stocka nd you pobviosuly paid good money for a car and presumably that includes the manual.Call your salesman and have him fix it, all salesmen have a "petty customer service budget" assigned to them, which they can charge things, such an an extra manual, to.

Fred...

[greg_atlanta]

You mentioned keeping a good synthetic oil in it. I used Mobil 1 for the Altima. Good enough? Should I really do it every 3500 miles? Why not every 10,000 like the synthetics used to say they were good for?

Should I put premium gas in it or will it do OK on 87 octane?

Yes, synthetic is a good idea. If you drive a lot, you can stretch the 3750 mile change, but be sure and change the oil AT LEAST EVERY THREE MONTHS. Be sure and check oil level about once a month, may need to top off a little. (But I've found full synthetic 10W30 burns off very little compared to conventional 5W30).

Only use premium gas. Using 87 octane just makes the engine run less efficiently (burns more gas) and can cause knocking, pinging.... and eventually wears out knock sensors, which could be $1000 to replace. Not worth it!

[szh]

Ken,

I agree with Z 's excellent summary in all areas except maybe oils.

Definetly use synthetic oils, some geenral musings about them including brands and multiple questions:

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....shtml

Of course all new oils that meet SL standards are pretty decnt even the non syn "dino oils".But with such a nice great engine it just doesnt make any sense to use anything less than synthetics.

Hi, Fred.

I don't really disagree with you either. I suspect my use of regular, non-synth oils is dictated more by the fact that I get the work done at the Infiniti dealer and they use the "standard stuff". If I were doing my own, I would probably use synthetic too - I suppose that does mean that I should start asking for that at the dealer, too, huhn? Hmmm ...

Also, my miles-between-oil-change is roughly 3750 for convenience (halfway between other work at the dealer), plus the fact that 70% of my driving miles is on a highway. Sooner is always better, of course - I'd never wait till 7,500 or 10,000 miles (synthetic or not)!

Z

[q45dallas]

Finally able to log in and put my 2cents in. I just bought my 99 light green Q45T (57K miles) about 10 days ago. What a car and bargain. I cannot even boought a new Accord V6-LX for the price I paid for the Q. Thanks for all the infos posted here. I am putting Mobil 1 in the car, flushing the coolant, changing out the transmisson fluid & brake fluid. I also purchased some new 245/45 HTZ+ tires from tirerack. I should pick the car back by tomorrow.The 99Q even with only 4.1 liter is deceptively fast, it get away from me couple days ago. I was doing about 85mph and try to make a pass, I stepped on the gas and looked down at the speedometer later. I was doing almost 110 mph. I had the Valentine 1 which should help me from getting into too much trouble with the cops.I am thinking about getting a new muffler and air intake for the car but I don't know it worth it or not. Any comment? Also, should I purchase extended warranty from Warranty for Gold?

[911/Q45]

Skip the muffler and intake, just more noise not more power.

[greg_atlanta]

Skip the muffler and intake, just more noise not more power.

I'll second that.

Just replace the OEM air filter once per year and maintain a steady diet of synthetic fluids, injector cleaner, and proactive preventative maintenance.

Mods are for Hondas.

[gumbysgottaQ]

Hey Kenmont, congratulations and welcome to my generation Q. I just bought a Silver 97 Q45t about a month ago (the pics are coming). I took my Q up to 120 mph on I-40 in NC on the way home from the dealer and wasn't even trying. You will love this car, hell, I find reasons to go driving around town now. And the best part is you can pull up next to those benzes, beemers, etc. and laugh cause your riding in luxury to and didn't spend anywhere near what they did!

As far as the oil, I had the same questions as you did. I read an archived article called oils on this site and decided to go with the mobil 1 syn. So far I am extremely pleased with the performance. For additional info, check out my first post entitled "I want some info on my new ride...", these guys were very helpful.

As far as the gas. You're in a premium car, use premium fuel. Save the cheap gas for your lawnmower.

[DDWQ45T]

Congratulations! I picked up a '98 Q45t a few month ago and the more I drive it, the more I like it. Have only put about 4,000 miles on it, but am impressed with the value. ($19,500 with 59,000 miles.)

You will most likely be very happy with your choice.

Cheers,

Dana

[PalmerWMD]

Looks like we are finally getting together a good crowd with 97-01 Q45's here.This place has always been so dominated by first generation Q45 owners it's good to see some diversity.

Y'all be sure to post some pics now..

Fred...

PS: To post pics,go to the link on top "send us pics of your ride"Be sure to include your screename and a small write up-with details about the car.Also lately PPL have been skipping on interior pics, so take some of those as well.

[AZhitman]

Re: Extended warranty, I have WarrantyByNet.com. Free online quote, very comprehensive, and I have had VERY good experience with this coverage.

Drop my name if you decide to buy and I'll split the bonus with you!

I can't add anything else - These guys are all sage and wise!

[maxnix]

Great to see a whole new corps of second generation Q admirers forming!

[q45dallas]

Just got my car back and with 245/45/17, the car feel great with a more sportier feel than the original tires. I love to drive this car around town and on the highway. My wife and my kid love the car, too.