Picked Up a 98 Q yesterday

[Falkdesigns]

Well, I traded my beloved 2000 Blue Honda Civic Si in yesterday. I loved that car, had it 4.5 years and did many modifications to it. Not ricey, but very clean, I look at M3's as the perfect example of clean. Well, i'm gonna try to not think about her.

I moved into a different realm, got a 1998 black Q45t. 77k miles, tan leather. Got it from an Infiniti dealer near my work for 16k. I'm sure I'll be asking lots of questions here, and glad I found this site. I've already talked to one of the admin's before I got the car.

My plans for this car are very basic: dark tint on the back glass, sport springs and shocks (gotta find someone that offers shocks I know I can get them from Japan, found a few differrent springs for it), different muffler with dual tips, and I'm gonna re badge it as a Nissan Cima and get the Japan spec grille (horizontal slats).

Here's a couple pics to give you an idea of how I want it to look.

[gloucester Q]

congrats. do you know what kind of wheels are in those pictures?

[Falkdesigns]

BBS LM, F: 8.5x18, R: 9.5x18

[dougs98Q45]

Nice! Welcome to gang! Let us know if you have any success w/ the shocks as several folks have been looking w/ no reasonably priced luck yet. Mine's stock and I like it that way but I gotta say like that grill!!

[maxnix]

Yeah, and be sure to post pictures of before also.

[Falkdesigns]

Thanks guys I'll be taking pics this weekend. It's clean as heck, only noticed one nick in the paint.

[MattB]

Sounds like a good plan. I could be wrong on this though but I believe the Y33 (97-01) Q45s were based off the JDM Nissan Gloria/Cedric, not the Cima. Congrats on the purchase.

[Falkdesigns]

Yeah, the Q45 is the Cima in Japan, that's something I'm 100% sure of. Those pics I attached are of a Cima from Japan. I've been doing my research the past month and a half leading up to my purchase. Thanks for the welcomes! Here's a back shot:

[AZhitman]

I would give my left 'nad for those wheels. No kidding.

Welcome, Kevin!!!

[gloucester Q]

az-i think you'd have to---they're like 800 bucks a piece at tire rack. i liked them so much i looked them up to find out.

[AZhitman]

Actually, I don't think my left 'nad is worth much.

I love those, second only to the chromed BRE's.

[Falkdesigns]

Yeah those wheels are sick. I will probably get some that look about like that. One of my boys' is in the wheel industry and starting a new line, so I'm doing work for his promotional material and he's gonna build me a set of weels.

I'm gonna get my wife (who's Japanese, as in, from Japan) to write an email to the guy whose car that is and find out about the grille and what springs/shocks he's using. Here's where I found that car http://www1.plala.or.jp/nakasuka/link20.htm if you click where it says Cima it goes to the pic page.

[gloucester Q]

az-i see you have a pathfinder. i've got a 94 with a ton of miles in need of a little tlc. do you know of a forum similar to this for the pathfinder?

[elwesso]

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub.net

Seriously I think we have some good pathfinder guys. A lot of the same information, as drivetrains are similar...

Besides the fact that all problems are gonna be 95% the same, wether it be a pathfinder, Q, 240, or some other make!

[Rex]

az-i see you have a pathfinder. i've got a 94 with a ton of miles in need of a little tlc. do you know of a forum similar to this for the pathfinder?

Nissan Online Mechanic

NISTECH is always a huge help to anyone with a question.

[AZhitman]

These guys are FAST!

[elwesso]

I can attest to that.. I had an inquiriy about an old maxima i was gonna pick up as a beater... Within a day I had a full response by nistech.....!

[BadQ45t]

Welcome to the growing population of 2nd generation Q's. There will be some bashing occasionally, but that gets shut down quickly. Bottom line is you're going to get people saying to you "what is that car" and that is something I love. I upgraded my 97 touring model to some 17x8 rims and 245/45 17 tires and it is fun. The car rides like silk and is (so for for me) totally reliable at 75k miles.

There are not too many shock/spring combos out there, it appears Eibach does make the aftermarket springs but no shocks yet, just the stockers. Somebody posted some info about coilovers but those are like 1800 bucks and for sure will make the car ride quite harsh. I'm still crossing my fingers that Tokiko (the OEM brand) will make their up-graded version for us 2nd gen folks but no luck yet.

[Falkdesigns]

Hey thanks! Yeah, I haven't found any shocks yet. Still gotta get the wife to send an email in Japanese to the owner of that car I posted pics of above. I took some pics of mine this weekend, so I'll put those up soon. Mine also has some 17x8 rims but 235/45 tires. It rides like silk and seems to handle suprisingly well (compared the Civic Si I had which was lowered with H&R Sports, Tokico's, Energy suspension bushings and a 21 mm rear sway bar which is bigger then what's on this huge car!). I've seen that Stillen offers JIC coilovers but I don't think I want coilovers on this kind of car. I'm leaning to the Eibach's with stock shocks. A 1" drop is so mild that the stock shocks should be OK with that. I'm also planning on 18 or 19" wheels.

Does anyone know about the fuel gauge? it seems that it tells you that there's way less gas than really in there. I filled it up the other day when it was below the 1/4 tank mark but it only took 12 gallons. Now I've driven around 100 miles and it's already below the 1/2 mark! However, I calculated that on the 12 gallons it took, I went about 200 miles, which is about what I expect.

Edit: I meant to ask, does anyone make aftermarket OE replacement shocks? Like Gabriel, Monroe, etc..? I'd like to replace them when I put the springs on it. Thanks!!

[dougs98Q45]

My gas gauge has always done the same thing. Once when I ran the tank down to almost empty it and then filled it up, it just about registered full after but then slowy got more 'pesamistic' again. I've learned not to pay too much attention to it as 1) I zero one of the trip-meters every fill up to track my milage and 2) it's not good to regularly run the tank empty and pick up all the crud. So, I know when my tripmeter is betwn 200 - 250 miles I'm due for a topper!

[Falkdesigns]

Thanks, yeah, I have always zeroed the trip meter in my cars to gauge mileage, plus I know when I need to fill up. But since I just got this one, I don't know have far I can go on a tank (figure 350-400 miles on 20 gal) so I haven't figured it out yet.

[dougs98Q45]

I seem to average 16.5 - 17 MPG. Low, I know but 1) over half my miles are 'city', 2)I use crap gas, 3) windows often down and 4) my foot doesn't exactly have a feather touch. So on a full tank I'd see 340 max. Once I went to about 325 and that's the only time my in-dash fuel light came on.

[Jesda]

Im pulling 13-14mpg on the highway. My Q is long overdue for BG44k, O2 sensors, and an injector rail flush.

-Jesda

[elwesso]

...... and plugs, and guides, and probably o2 sensors too...

I digress

I get about 20mpg on the highway.....

[Falkdesigns]

Here are some pics I took this weekend.

[BadQ45t]

I just call it the "wife" friendly gas gauge, it is VERY conservative. I have gotten 400 on a tank driving to LA, i usualy get 20 flat in mixed driving, except for every once in a while while I really mash the gas alot. When I had it in LA for a week I got 15-16, but in the Bay Area she is almost always good for an average of 20.

They can say what they like about the 2nd gen Q, but it is the smoothest car I've ever owned. I had a 92 for about 6 months, it was faster but not nearly as nice to drive everyday. I plan on keeping mine at least another 5 years, I just do not know what I'd want to drop alot of cash to buy right now in a car. The new Q turned out to be too bla on the outside and BMW, MB, and Lexus are just not turning my crank right now.

[BadQ45t]

BTW, I have that same color in a 97 touring, I think it is an awesome color, nice ride!

[rsiwicki]

very nice choice....and love the wheels

[Falkdesigns]

Thanks! It's definitley the nicest ride I've ever had. My Civic was a kick butt car that was a blast to drive, but this is also a blast to drive, just different. It took a minute to get used to the way it floats (compared to the track ready car I had) but I'm suprised when you corner it doesn't lean too much and really tracks nicely.

It's got 78k now, I watched it hit all 7's. The wheels are ASA 17's. They're Ok, but I want to get 18 or 19's.

1st mod: paint the calipers and hub area of the rotors with Duplicolor Black high temp. The calipers are pretty clean, but the hubs are soo rusty it looks terrible behind the open wheels. I did this on my Civic and it came out great, and black is so subtle, it just looks clean.

2nd: dark tint on all the back glass (it's actually tinted now, but way too light for me).

3rd: Eibach springs and new shocks/struts (I know there aren't any performance ones, but new ones with mild 1" drop springs will be fine)

4th: a nice exhaust with a poiisded muffler and 3" dual tips that fill the cut-out a little better.

That's it, and I'll have my perfect ride.

[maxnix]

You know, that is such a great looking FY33, I would say bring to OEM new specifications before doing anything else. It is a keeper.__________________Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t & 2000 Q45

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