pros & cons of the Q45?

[DDWQ45T]

Other... Looking at your prior list of cars, you really will like the Q. The fit of the sheet metal, interior quality, factory sound system, etc. will blow you away compared to US iron.

I have owned and worked on lots of American cars, but the Q is in a totally different league from anything that has come out of Detroit in the past 20 years.

I dumped a top of the line Mercedes (from 1986) to drive a 1998 Q. The Q is the first car that felt like an upgrade, even compared to newer S class Mercedes. You'll love it.

[AZhitman]

I was thinking the same thing that DDW said. No offense, but there's nothing on that list I'd be caught dead in, much less want to drive over 55 mph in....

If you can get a warranty you'll be ecstatic. I've hd my 95Q45t for 13 months. $350 in maintenance this year, and $4400 spent by the warranty co to fix things (at the dealer).

Warrantybynet.com will still warranty a 95, I'd make this a "sticking point" for the dealer: "If it doesn't pass the insprction for the waranty, I don't buy the car."

[maxnix]

Wise words from AZHitman.

Don't buy without a warranty, and finance the warranty. That way you will have a prayer of replacing the wear and tear items.

Oh, and do read any warranty first before accepting it.

[The_Other]

I was thinking the same thing that DDW said. No offense, but there's nothing on that list I'd be caught dead in, much less want to drive over 55 mph in....

that's actually pretty funny.....the 78 Grand Prix i took up to 130mph before i lost the tread on my right front tire and i took the 86 Camaro up over 100mph several times.

[AZhitman]

You're a brave soul...

I've had Quella up to 130. One word: SOLID.

[Ex-CA Driver]

I for one am happy to see someone else other than me be concerned over buying a Q, btu then decides to take on the responsibility. I had not a clue as to what I was getting into when I got my 91 Q45 w/ traction control, but let me tell you. Whew the first 5 months were a liviel Hell. The first thing to go was the spindle on the alternator, then the alternator went. replaced. Then the Transmission would not go in reverse. Replaced. Timing chain guides went, (pay attention). I got lucky though. I heard mine 2 days before the engine went, but I decided that it was a rocker. Nope. So engine replaced. Fuel Pump. Oh my Gosh, let me tell you about that. I went with an after market fuel pump, big mistake, Q45 tech made me aware that the fuel pump controller loks for the exact fuel pump from Infinit. And sure enough not only did the fuel pump burn out over 4 months, but had to get a new controller as well. Now keep in mind that mine is a 91, that's really old compared to some of the guys' cars on here, but I hae come to the realization that as long as I have power under my foot, a great stereo, and the car looks good, everything else will fall into place. Now if your engine goes, There is a company callAttarco in San Jose a that will get you an engine for $1700 regardless of year 90-96. They also sold me my transmission as well. The engine is a Jap trade out with avg 25-30K miles. Good luck, get the car and bond with it. Quintessa, my cars name, has never let me down.

[DDWQ45T]

The warranty thing really is worth pursuing on these cars. I bought an Infiniti warranty that goes 4 years/120,000 for $1,000 on my 98 with 58,000 on it. The first week I had the car, a $448 lumbar support motor in the passenger seat was replaced for a $50 deductible. I imagine the other $552 will end up recovered at some point prior to expiration.

I don't remember the '78 Grand Prix, but I had a '72 with the 428 4bbl. They were solid over 100 mph, but a little floaty. The Q is rock solid at an indicated 140 mph; I backed off with more left.

The Q reminds me the most of my '69 T bird with the 429hp 429cid. It was a solid sled at 135 mph. However, it got 10 mpg on a good day. I'm getting about 20-22 on the highway out of the Q.

[mike, kim, et al.]

We just got our '94 a month ago. It spent 10 days at the best Infiniti dealer around our area and $4k later, it is finally home. It is an absolute dream to own such car (see the previous posts on performance, etc), but the outlay to "bring it back" from 2+ years of neglect was hard-hitting, to say the least. It is worth every penny spent; just be ready to spend.

Ps. I had an '02 I35 for the 10 days; a beautiful car! ...but it isn't a Q.

[Q45tech]

Why do you think a car sells for $50k NEW and suddenly 3 years [36-45k] later it only sells for $25k, it "ain't" the paint or the leather or the glass.Then another 3 years later it is worth only $12,500.........then at 9 years it only brings $6250. [yet people pay more because they don't understand car pricing]$44,000 in depreciation means you better be prepared to spend a third [$14-15,000] in R&R to bring it back like new....... Most don't spend half that so there always seem to be issues.

Worse the $44k was in higher value dollars [inflation] so the depreciation amount is really a third higher in real money.

Scarey isn't it, but the $15,000 is in worthless current dollars.

Don't think that because a car costs twice as much as an average one [$50k vs $25k] that all systems are designed to last twice as long ..........some are and that is the value engineers add because of guilt but it is hard to balance keeping your job vs what you feel you should do for the customer.

Cars are only built to exceed the warranty by a little and the smoother they ride the more stress is placed on the isolation rubber components!

[The_Other]

well, thanx for all the info and maybe i can use it at a later date. right now my wife wants a new BMW, so i'll let her get that and i'll take her car, a 1997 Chrysler Cirrus LX

[deesolballs]

Well, your previous list of POSs just got longer with the addition of the Cirrus.

[maxnix]

Well, at least they have warranty and, I believe, maintenance included. Makes sense to me, if you don't know about the G35.

Ja wohl.

[AZhitman]

Well, your previous list of POSs just got longer with the addition of the Cirrus.

LMAO...

Just keep saying, "7/70...7/70...7/70..." HAHAHAHAHA

[szh]

that's actually pretty funny.....the 78 Grand Prix i took up to 130mph before i lost the tread on my right front tire and i took the 86 Camaro up over 100mph several times.

Well, in another series of posts (on Infiniti Speeding Stories), you will find much interesting stuff! One story of which is mine ... where I drove from California (just short of the Arizona border) to Fort Stockton, Texas, keeping my speedometer near 145 mph for most of that distance. Including gas and quick food stops, my average for that distance was somewhere in the 130 to 135 mph range. Very few cars - particularly for the money - could have done that without flinching!

The 1991 Q I had was just amazing!

Z

[autostick]

Quote » Well, in another series of posts (on Infiniti Speeding Stories), you will find much interesting stuff! One story of which is mine ..[/quote]This actual conversation was two years ago in my 91Q:Officer: Did you see me turn around?Driver: No, I didn't.Officer: Do you know what the posted speed limit is here?D: No, I didn't notice.O: How fast were you going?D: I thought the legal limit.O: I had (my cruiser) at over 120 MPH and you were still pulling away from me! What did your speedometer read?D: I don't know. I didn't look down. I thought it was a good idea to keep my eyes on the road.O: (long pause) I'm writing you up for 85 MPH in a 65 MPH zone. You should be more careful. I don't want to see you again.D: Thank you officer. You won't.

Now back to the prior subject:

Quote »So is that a takeout or a rebuild? [/quote] It was a takeout. Nucore actually had seven Q45 (VH45) engines the day I visited. It was a no-brainer to pick the one I found, as it was new. Somebody must have totalled a new Q; all internals were shiny and the oil still clean. The other six had obvious wear. The dealer thought it was a good find, and they replaced the plugs, guides and both chains anyway. Now I know why. Should have visited NICO sooner.

[DAEDALUS]

Wow, nice site! Sharp graphics and easy to nav. You used MS Frontpage? I'll have to give that a try sometime. I'm completely old school with HTML.

[SCOTTDW]

I love that California to Texas narrative at high speed.Even the little brother I30 becomes electric at the 100 MPH plus level. Super performer,

Scott99I30T41K

[autostick]

[quote=" DAEDALUS Wow, nice site! Sharp graphics and easy to nav. You used MS Frontpage? I'll have to give that a try sometime. I'm completely old school with HTML. [/quote] Yes, Front Page 2002 service pack 2 for the site. I was limited to 5 mb on the roadrunner site so cramming in all the pics was tricky. Thanks for the compliment. The Q45 is destined to become a classic and eventually their prices will start heading up. I have a '63 Lincoln that is now worth 11 times what I paid for it. It just takes time.

[Q45tech]

"Now I know why. Should have visited NICO sooner."

You get your money's worth here!

Just think 50,000 90-96 Q were made and assuming that 40,000 are still on the road and only 15,000 are sitting on used car lots front yards, parking lots with for sale signs.

Where are the other 24,000 owners .....................not here.

Print up some cards and tell every Q owner you run across!

[maxnix]

I would love to have some more NICO stickers like AZHitman shared with me in AZ.

I used them all tagging Infinitis.

I will repeat for Nancy and SD:

If you print them, I will pay for the ones I distribute.

Please?

[landtodd]

Unusual coincidence last night -- a Q45 pulls out of its parking space at the supermarket. I pull in, replacing the first Q45 with an identical car (mine). The guy didn't see me. I still look for tagging opportunities. I printed one piece of paper, cut it up into a dozen slips to leave under windshield wipers. Nothing fancy.

After being on the lookout for almost 2 years (!) I think there are fewer than a dozen gen-1 Q45s in regular service in Tallahassee. I think the rest are all in Atlanta and Texas. Even mine used to live in Orlando, home of NICO, before the previous owner liberated it to Atlanta, home of T3. Not sure how it got here, somewhere roughly between.

[Jberger]

Silly Question

Why don't we come up with a standard design and just make it available for printing from the web. If someone can do the graphics then I'm sure we can post it up and everyone can print their own.

[maxnix]

The original NICO stickers had an adhesive back and a slick, partially metallized surface for enduring weather. They were sharp.

Hard to print on an inkjet or even a color laser.

[AZhitman]

I made some business card-sized "cards" with the NICO logo and address, and listed some of the features of the site: Technical info, buy/sell/trade, online mechanic, special deals/discounts on parts... I keep 30 or so in the console.

I left the back blank so I can write a personalized invitation: "Nice Q - Join us online!"

My kids have gotten REALLY good at spotting Q's and J's in parking lots, they do all my "tagging" for me.

[maxnix]

AZHitman, want to post the template as an attachment?

Maybe I'll scan a sticker or use a graphic from the web. Just don't like the yellow background, which I can change.

Do you use http://www.nissaninfiniticlub.net for the website?

[SCOTTDW]

What is the NICO sticker you guys are talking about? Is that for just you Q guys?

Thanks,

Scott99I30T