Hello all!
I have been looking at picking up a Q45 or J30 in the $3000-$5000 price range. This pretty much puts me in mid nineties as far as product years. I have read good things about the 94 and 95 Q45's and have centered on those because of the higher luxury, better power than the J30 counterparts. My questions are these:
1. Does anyone have first hand experience with good Infiniti repair shops in Western New York? I am not a DIYer when it comes to cars, and I would love to find a place that I can go to that knows these cars and will not rip me off completely.
2. I have found 1995 Q45 (not touring or AS) with 123k and a rebuilt tranmission from Cottman. It is on ebay here I am not able to look at the car personally, and have asked the seller to send me better pictures and a list of the options installed.
Beyond the obvious condition questions are there any I should ask that are specific to that model/year?
3. I drove a 1993 J30 yesterday and was surprised by the amount of engine noise that I could hear during acceleration. Quite different from my Audi S4. I understand from reading that this is normal for the J30 and Q45 - is this true?
Thanks!Mike
Newbie looking at 1995 Q45 w/questions
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Q45tech
- Moderator
- Posts: 14296
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2002 3:19 am
- 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
Car are usually sold because the owner gets the word that they need expensive repairs!
80-120,000 miles is where the rubber isolated, rubber hose and gasket and shock wear shows up.A newish transmission at 123k is a sign of previous owner abuse since the 94-96 transmission can go over 200,000 miles if maintained.
Never by a used car without paying an expert [a few hundred] to test everything as you could be buying a vehicle that needs $10,000 worth of immediate work. vs another one which only needs $5,000. Some only need $3,000.
I usually warn buyers in the under $10,000 price range to be prepared [be finacially able] to spend the purchase amount AGAIN to fix the things worn or wrong that will occur in the first year.
Think why $50,000 cars have depreciated to $5,000.
A mechanically rough can drop to $3,000 and a good mechanical ly can be $6,000 in a 95Q with 123k.......with pristine paint and interior.
80-120,000 miles is where the rubber isolated, rubber hose and gasket and shock wear shows up.A newish transmission at 123k is a sign of previous owner abuse since the 94-96 transmission can go over 200,000 miles if maintained.
Never by a used car without paying an expert [a few hundred] to test everything as you could be buying a vehicle that needs $10,000 worth of immediate work. vs another one which only needs $5,000. Some only need $3,000.
I usually warn buyers in the under $10,000 price range to be prepared [be finacially able] to spend the purchase amount AGAIN to fix the things worn or wrong that will occur in the first year.
Think why $50,000 cars have depreciated to $5,000.
A mechanically rough can drop to $3,000 and a good mechanical ly can be $6,000 in a 95Q with 123k.......with pristine paint and interior.
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Q45tech
- Moderator
- Posts: 14296
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2002 3:19 am
- 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
You ask things like: when were all the shocks changed, when were upper links and tension rods last changed, when was the brake fluid last flushed, was the ac system serviced, was the receiver dryer replaced, when was the coolant replaced, when were plugs last changed ............this is a $4,000 area.Have the oxygen sensors been changed, has the fuel pump been changed, transmission mounts, motor mounts, water pump, thermostat, etc etc lots of normal maintenance items need change at 120k.
Were the plenum hoses and knock sensor/harness replaced a $1500 job.
From 70-to 123 k is ~~ 50,000 miles I would have expected at least $5,000 in out of pocket expenses 10 cents per mile]...tires, brakes, services, some repair work after the $1,000 @60k routine service............ask for paper work proof.
The point is you may be better off paying $6,000 for a well maintained unit than $4,000 for a car where nothing was done.
An owner that choses an independent transmission repair over the dealer [factory remanned unit] worries me.........as there can't be a $1,000 difference [if you negotiate].
Were the plenum hoses and knock sensor/harness replaced a $1500 job.
From 70-to 123 k is ~~ 50,000 miles I would have expected at least $5,000 in out of pocket expenses 10 cents per mile]...tires, brakes, services, some repair work after the $1,000 @60k routine service............ask for paper work proof.
The point is you may be better off paying $6,000 for a well maintained unit than $4,000 for a car where nothing was done.
An owner that choses an independent transmission repair over the dealer [factory remanned unit] worries me.........as there can't be a $1,000 difference [if you negotiate].
