One Year Report

[goody90q45]

Well I bought my Q on Memorial Day last year and thought I would check my reciepts against Q45Tech's claim that you'll spend $3000/yr keeping her running. Here's the numbers:

$5500 Paid $5k plus registration for what was (I thought) a pretty good running Q. Didn't know the first thing about the Q or fixing cars but she was pretty and drove well. Two months later I found NICO.

$530 Parts (missing or broken when purchased) These are all the missing trim pieces and little nits that you notice every day. Trim pieces, fasteners, antenna, AC relay, CC switch, intake ducting, FSM, illumination bulbs, fog lamp trim.

$240 Breakdown parts. The only real issues I've had are 2 injectors, on 3 occasions, leaking past the lower o-ring because they were missing pintle caps. Major headaches but cheap fixes. Also bought pintle caps, , injector o-rings, replaced one injector, the fan control amplifier and the horn relay.

$475 Fluids, filters and flushes. It's all been done. Most of it by me. (This was unheard of one year ago)

$1325 General Maintenance. Things you gotta do to keep her running nice. Rear blues, front anrear rubber, brakes and rotor resurface, battery, plugs, transmission mount, wiper blades.

$784 Optionl upgrades. Things you really don't gotta do. Rear spoiler, rear active sway bar, rims, Silverstars, fogs, dent removal, paint fender.

$3350 Total spent in one year. Doesn't include all the hand tools I've bought (Don't tell the wife).

I've got a short list going for this year which includes tires, front struts, knock sensors and 2 injectors. I could easily past $2000 for these items plus normal maintenance but hopefully not any higher.

She drives straight, brakes straight, has great acceleration, and gets the predicted gas mileage. I'm more interested in handling than top end speed and the upgrades I've done have made the handling even better. I've got her driving like a new car with no payments.

Since I dicovered NICO I do all my own work on the Q. I've shunned all repair shops and have been inspired into doing the general maintenance on my other three cars, all of which are driven daily by the wife and 2 kids. I can justify the expense of owning the Q by the $$ we've saved by not using shops for the upkeep of the other 3 vehicles.

Thanks NICO.

[elwesso]

Isnt it amazing how much you would have paid for the shop to do any of these somewhat mundane tasks!?!??! on a sort of anecdotal side note, my dad hit the mirror with his truck, cracked it (he flys out of the garage thinking hes a ninja ... knew it was a matter of time before it happened)... He was ready to go to the dealer and pay $300 for a new unit (its on an 03 suburban, with the electromatic, heated and turn signal mirror).. instead I bought a new lens off ebay for $80 and installed it in 5 minutes (kind of a bummer i didnt need to use tools, just bought $100 worth at sears)...

The point is that even those who think they dont know anything about cars can do simple tasks like fluid changes, brakes, and so on. I tell people that when working on cars the hardest part is getting past the intial fear of breaking stuff! Once you get past that point of intial fear when you DO break something youll know how to fix it..

Anyway mike, sorry to ramble..... Your list looks great for a first year Q ownership! Id consider helping the suspension out some more.. Get you a nice set of 4 tokico blues, new UL and new tension and sway bar bushings. Thought I remember you replacing some of those bushings, but maybe not.. Especially since you have the rear sway bar you need to get that front sway bar up to snuff with fresh bushies..... You will REALLY REALLY appreciate the Q when the suspension is like new... After you get the engine and trans squared away (DIDNT SEE TRANS COOLER ANYWHERE???), suspension should be very next... The car simply feels brand new when you have a fresh suspension... sounds stupid but its true!

[Q45tech]

Since I dicovered NICO I do all my own work on the Q. I've shunned all repair shops and have been inspired into doing the general maintenance on my other three cars, all of which are driven daily by the wife and 2 kids. I can justify the expense of owning the Q by the $$ we've saved by not using shops for the upkeep of the other 3 vehicles.

Then one of my life goals has been successfully accomplished. Only 99,000 more Q to go.

Think about Cuba for a moment in that they have kept their 1951 Chev running without spare parts.............if it breaks they make a new one without junkyards to pick from..........How easy it is in US with a Q or any old car if you learn................and have the time or make the time.

Unfortunately automotive repair , redesign, technology, etc doesn't stimulate many people if they don't make their living within the industry.

REMEMBER TO ADD your labor at the $75 per hour shop rate to normalize the $3,000 PRORATED or $15,000 over 5 year cost.

Based on 1,000's of jobs Q cost 55% parts [oem retail] and 45% labor at $75............this was before the April 1 Nissan Price increase for parts.