nOOb here, i got a few thing to ask about the Q45.

[mike0589]

i am thinking about buying a 1994 Q45, and i need to know the pros and cons of the car. also any parts that are made for it, info on that would be useful as well. i looked at the review, it looks like a awsome car so far. thanks everyone.

mike.

Modified by mike0589 at 10:43 PM 5/29/2007
Modified by mike0589 at 12:36 PM 5/30/2007

[maxnix]

Mike, welcome to NICO.

While the later G50 is a reliable car, the pros and cons of any particular car is determined by its maintenance history and an inspection by a Senior Infiniti Technician. The initial service history can be determined by viewing the Infiniti dealer performed service history, with the latter non-dealer service records being supplied by the previous owner. These should be viewed before inspecting the car as they will guide the prospective purchaser and Infiniti senior technician where a deeper inspection might be worthwhile.

Read the sticky above on how to buy a G50, and if you really want to protect your self, all posts by Q45tech.
Modified by maxnix at 1:47 PM 5/31/2007

[Q45tech]

Buying a 14 year old Japanese V8, even one with pristine paint and interior can be an expensive exercise BECAUSE so many rubber and other components are worn out and will need replacing soon or immediately.

Always budget $3,000 to $6,000 in replacements above the purchase price.

Only an expert in Q45 can help you develop a cost list.

All it takes is a bad transmission, steering rack, and AC system to add up to $6k.

Simple things like window motors, brakes, wheel bearings, suspension items, valve cover or under plenum leaks are a given.

Same year Lexus V8 sell for $2-$3-$4k more with same mileage because they were built more robustly not to say that steering, ac or other things don't fail on them just LATER in mileage thus the usual IMMEDIATE cost is lower up to a point.

You budget $3k for a Lexus vs up to $6k [depending] for a 94Q. Personal standards vary since you never drove the Q brand new you don't know what as new really was!

This is very hard for those not in the repair business of both to comprehend.

Think of a used $50k car as being a current $10-12k car............purchase price is just the very tiny part!

[96Qowner]

There are two different ways of looking at the early Q45 (G50).

1.) It's a frugal way to own and experience one of the best cars Japan ever made. As Q45tech said, you can drive a $50,000 car for $10-12,000. And it's a fun car. The motor is over-engineered and extremely robust. It's one of the fastest cars on the road from 40-80mph. And you get all this with luxury - smooth and quiet - beat on it, spin the tires, wind the motor to 6800 rpm if you want - then tool calmly down the street in your luxe ride. Or ...

2.) It's cheap to purchase and reliable to drive when everything is working. Pay $3000 for one and drive it 'til it dies. Buy 19" wheels and tires with the money you'd otherwise spend for maintenance. Put a louder muffler on it. Replace the Bose stereo. When something really expensive goes wrong, dump it - buy another one if you want.

Either way, it's a fun car. But it's not cheap to operate - a Honda is cheap to operate. "Parts" are not really available for the Q45. There's an ECU mod available for a limited time for NICO members. Lowering springs are available in group buys and elsewhere. A couple of NICO people are currently working on turbos. Some brake and suspension components are the same as Nissan Z's, or can be adapted.

It's VERY important, costwise, to know that the car you're buying has been well-maintained. It can be a multi-thousand dollar difference in the cost of your ownership. Parts are expensive. A replacement transmission is $3500 installed - important to know that the fluid was flushed regularly. Have the knock sensors been replaced? They're buried deep under the intake and require that you spend several hundred in labor to get to them. While the top end is apart, all injectors should be thoroughly checked and any iffy ones replaced. All engine hoses should be replaced. Brittle harnesses should be replaced. If you have to pay labor, you're looking at $2000.

Those are the two big expenses. The rest are things like the MAF, which can usually be replaced with a $100 used one, the fuel pump for $500, various sensors like CAS and O2, typical prices. Injectors will be a problem if ethanol has ever been used - ethanol reacts with the injector housings and causes them to swell and affect the windings - no ethanol - ever. 5 of the injectors will require the aforementioned removal of the intake (plenum) - spendy.

It's a special car - unique, exclusive, powerful, quiet, etc. - quite reliable. Not many were sold. I love owning mine.

[maxnix]

"Parts" are not really available for the Q45.

Well, OEM parts are pretty reasonable from our sponsors. Few aftermarket parts can make the grade, however much you spend.

[StarPD]

96Qowner is absolutely correct, as is Q45tech. G50s are fabulous cars, wel worth rejuvenating. If you are mechanically inclinded, and have the tools and time, parts costs will be high, but managable. If you have to pay a shop though, labor on Q45s is high for almost anything that needs to be done. But that's what guys like Q45tech are for.

My own suggestion is when buying an older G50 is to bite the bullet and have ALL of the usual wear and age related parts replaced at one time and be done with it for a long time, rather than piecemealing it and always having the car under repair. It will surely be expensive either way, but the Q is well worth it.

Barring that, you could buy a recent low mileage well maintained F50 and do a full normal maintenance on it to bring it up to snuff. That means flushing ALL fluids completely, and inspecting all rubber components, replacing any suspect or worn parts in complete sets. New spark plugs and filters, complete service of fuel system and a full detail will cost some bucks too, but after doing these things, you'd have a great car that will last many years if maintained religiously.

You can cut corners if you wish, but you should be reminded of that old TV commercial where the mechanic tells the customer: "Pay me now or pay me later".

Whichever way you go, you will have to spend money, but will have a great car to drive and enjoy. And what's money for if not to spend on things you appreciate and enjoy? When your time comes to leave this Earth, you won't get another chance to come back and do all the things you wanted to but didn't want to spend the money.

Best of luck to you, and welcome to the Q45 addiction. You'll find a wealth of helpful information here from all the good guys that help so much.

[mike0589]

once again, thanks everyone, this info has been helpful. well the car has service records included. i think i can talk them down to $3000 cash. if so i think i will get it. oh ya almost forgot to ask, anyone know the 0-60, 1/4 times on the Q45? i looked it up and i found 0-60 in 7.2. 1/4 in 15.4. anyways, here is a link. http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/...ist=4

[StarPD]

once again, thanks everyone, this info has been helpful. well the car has service records included. i think i can talk them down to $3000 cash. if so i think i will get it. oh ya almost forgot to ask, anyone know the 0-60, 1/4 times on the Q45? i looked it up and i found 0-60 in 7.2. 1/4 in 15.4. anyways, here is a link. http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/...ist=4

0-60 MPH and 1/4 mile times will vary depending on each individual car, the driver, the track, and weather related condtions. I think a reasonable expectation for a well-maintained early Q in good condtition and tune might be anywhere from 6.7 to 7.3seconds, and in the low to mid 15s.Rejuvenated and with a few tweaks, I don't suspect that 0-60 in 6.3 to be unreasonable, but that might be tough. Others here may have ther own experiences that are more definitite.

[superuber]

Glad to see the timing belt has been replaced! These guys know what they are talking about. I wonder what the left side front seat looks like?

[96Qowner]

Glad to see the timing belt has been replaced! These guys know what they are talking about. I wonder what the left side front seat looks like?

And don't forget the new water bump!

Mike, the VH45DE has a timing chain - doesn't need replacing until 250,000 miles or more. And the driver's seat is usually cracked and worn - ask 'em about it.

[mike0589]

i want the car bad. lol. but i dont have the money to dump in to it, to fix all the little things that go bad on older cars. besides that i think its one awsome car. i will do some more research and see what i want to do. any more info you guys have would be awsome. thanks again. i will update as soon as i find out what i want to do.

mike

[maxnix]

... i dont have the money to dump in to it, to fix all the little things that go bad on older cars.

Then never buy a used car until you do. It's all about making up for deferred maintenance.

[mike0589]

Then never buy a used car until you do. It's all about making up for deferred maintenance.

i have had a lot of old cars a 96 saturn a 89 ford, and cars like that. but nothing like a old infiniti, lexus. too many little parts that go bad. like i said i will look in to it, see what i want to do. thanks again.

mike.

[maxnix]

"3 inch rust spot" on lower rocker would be a deal killer for me.

Maybe at $500.00

[stllplyswcars]

Super-

I saw your Infinity on q45.org and I wanted to congratulate you on one of the nicest Q45s I have ever seen. I also wanted to ask you about your ravelco security system. My maxima I just bought came with one and I hate the way the plug looks, how did you paint yours?

[mike0589]

"3 inch rust spot" on lower rocker would be a deal killer for me.

Maybe at $500.00

ya that is one of the only bad things about the car, that i have found so far. i will see what all is worng with it when i get the time to go look at it again . i will update later.

mike.

[superuber]

My ravelco plug is not painted. They have custom plugs you can buy.You can locate them on the web.