Retire the Q?

[elwesso]

So I'm kind of torn with a decision I will have to make sooner than later.. As of right now, my 94 Q with 5-speed is my primary transportation. I have owned this car since October of 2004, and have put 110k miles on the car, let me say that those 110k miles that I put on the car were NOT easy miles. Right now the car is sitting at about 220k miles on the chassis.

Overall, the car is reliable but I have a feeling that my days are numbered. I estimate that I have another 30-50k miles of easy miles left in the car before it starts to really become problematic (or about 250-270k on the clock).

Currently the car needs the following:

1. Trans grinds into 4th gear when hot, however I need to change the fluid so that may fix with that.
2. Fuel pump is starting to get a little noisy, but not to the point where it needs replaced right now
3. Suspension needs some help, it's been about 100k miles since the car had any suspension work.
4. Rust is starting to get worse, and I have a feeling it won't look pretty after this winter. Most of the rust is areas you can't see, it's working it's way from the inside-out.
5. AC works "ok", but the compressor is definitely getting weak
6. Clutch already has about 80k miles on it, so by then it will be time to think about replacing it.

I am kind of thinking that it would be a lot easier to find a mint Q and swap over some of my goodies (like the 5-speed) rather than mess with this one with the bad body and questionable other stuff. In other words, it seems like it would be more cost effective to start with one in better shape.

Any opinions?

[BCC93QT]

I am in the same boat. Cosmetically my Q is shot. Interior is showing wear, paint is peeling on the rear. Rust is minimal. Over 300k miles and does not have a shim or vibration well past 100mph. Runs flawlessly. You can find some mint ones for under and around 2k. At least cosmetically. I would go that route

[Infinitiguy19]

Is the rust on the left frame rail? Has it rotted through?

How are the rocker panels?

What about the quarter panel where it meets the trunk? Do you have holes there?

I love the Q, Right now mine needs a oil pan but the part is so damn expensive. The labor is free (Me) but damn I am used to thinking if the part is cheap the labor is expensive or vice versa. I guess thats not always true!

Rust is the hardest thing to fix as everything on a unibody car is structural. The other stuff you mentioned is cake!

[BCC93QT]

I check on copart.com sometimes. Theres a red 1991 on there that has a mint interior and good looking ext. I may bid on it and ship it up. Plop my engine in that as it may have plastic guides

[born2shift]

Go get that black 55K Q45 in Norco, Ca. She is pretty clean and ready for all your parts to swap over.

[Q451990]

I think the only thing on your list that really scares me is the rust...

The rest of that stuff is probably going to be wrong with any Q that you buy.

If the rust damage is repairable I'd stick with the devil I know vs. sorting out a whole new one.

Heath

[oldmako]

210K on my 99 now.

Needs all four shocks plus all associated rubber, bearings, mounts etc. Probably a 1500 dollar job at min. Hell it might even be 2K.

A/C hoses all its freon out. I am unable to find the leak, so that tells me it may be either the compressor or the exchanger in the dash. Either case its $$$

Starting to show rust on the left rear fender and trunk lid. If this rust is vis from exterior inspection, then there is probably more just hidden and ready to show up. My car came from Wisconsin where the winters were cold and salty. Cancer is forever. To fix and repaint the car properly would cost $$$$

Those three items alone would easily add up to FAR more than the car is worth. Its still a delight to drive even with the crapshocks and I just hung new tires on it. Its still a nice looking car the the interior is in great shape. But sad to say the plan is to just help it along until death and then replace. I hope to get another 50-70K out of it.

I picked up a mint 1990 560SEC and my energies are directed toward that I'm afraid.

[Brew Q]

Find a clean Q to swap to

the rust sounds like the nail in the coffin to me...don't want to put a lot of time, energy and money into this one only to still have growing rust spots.

I'd suggest a clean TX or Cali car. I still see them pop up down here.

and when you swap over the 5 spd, great time to RMT

[mikejax21]

to be honest as cheap as it is to find another body with a bad automatic i would but one for 500 bucks and do the swao. down here in fl q's can be found all over the place and can be had for un 1000 in decent condition with no rust.since you have a transmission it makes sense to do it that way.

[Q-ZILLA]

down here in fl q's can be found all over the place

Where are you in Florida? I'm in Cape Coral, couple miles west of Fort Myers.

[mattd1979]

He's located in Jacksonville, the same as me.

[Q-ZILLA]

Overall, the car is reliable but I have a feeling that my days are numbered. I estimate that I have another 30-50k miles of easy miles left in the car before it starts to really become problematic

Considering I'm on my third engine in this car and the long list of repairs, upgrades, etc., I have contemplated life without My Baby or trying to find a "newer" one to use for a swap.

So, if I were to scrap her and buy something I want; GTR or 392 Challenger w/ supercharger. Can't buy either unless 600hp+, why bother... Large down, big monthly payments and another depreciating asset. I don't have that kind of fun money anyway, I have three girls and a wife...

Newer Q for swap. Less out of pocket, but buying someone else's headaches, although probably minimal. Parts for days... Lot's of labor for repairs and swap. No payments.

I guess my question is answered for me personally quite simply... Gonna get buried in her! My oldest girl has expressed a desire to have my Q, she likes all the power and muscle cars also, I just smiled and replied with you keep dreaming... It just sucks you can't get a nicer car anymore for a reasonable amount of money.

Besides Wes, you'd be lost without her and I'll assume unhappy with much of anything else... Unless you've got an extra $40-60k laying around, burning a hole in your pocket.

[Rex]

Wes - Find a no/low rust car and go from there. You can fix most anything mechanical, but rust is just a terrible thing to deal with.

[ericthered]

A 94 Q45t, green with seat heaters? That is my car too. I have owned 3 Q45's since 1996, and this one has been the best, but I don't have time to make the Q all right (new A/C, paint, odds and ends) so I can really enjoy her. Today I drive my M35x, and the Q has no where to go. My kids either don't want a car at all or already have a newer one. To simplify my life I don't see much else than selling her.

I've been dragging my feet on selling her for a long time, but looks like I may do something soon.

[maxnix]

Rust is the killer. I will probably sell my hail damaged 1995 Q45t to a yard with only 60K or something on it. Great interior, trans, differential.

[elwesso]

I'm actually heavily leaning toward getting an M56 sometime next year... 420HP, 25MPG, what's not to like..

I put the winter tires on the car on Saturday, and it's sad because when the car is clean it still looks decent, and overall it doesn't drive too bad.. I think I just want to get a new D.D. and then maybe nickel and dime getting it back into shape.

I think the real dagger in the heart for the Q was not being able to get Tokico blues, because my suspension is shot...

[maxnix]

I'm actually heavily leaning toward getting an M56 sometime next year... 420HP, 25MPG, what's not to like..

M56 is interesting, in a fast cruiser sort of way. Better than an M37 for sure.

[BCC93QT]

I just don't know. I wouldn't know what I will buy when I go for something new. I have too many old pieces of crap lying around I couldn't bear to trade them in for nothing. I would go broke and try buying a new Piper Arrow before I went for a new car

[AZhitman]

There's no "fixing" rust. Period. Get that notion out of your head, because it's unrealistic.

Find a pristine, rust-free shell and swap everything over. In the process, you can clean / lubricate / restore / improve EVERYTHING, which is really the way it deserves to be done anyway.

I'll keep an eye out here in AZ.

[elwesso]

I'm actually heavily leaning toward getting an M56 sometime next year... 420HP, 25MPG, what's not to like..

M56 is interesting, in a fast cruiser sort of way. Better than an M37 for sure.

Better MPG and more HP than 550i, although twin turbo V8 is both scary and awesome at the same time. I trust Nissan/Infiniti to make a more reliable long-term vehicle than I do the Germans. Right now the M56 is a bargain on the used market.

I never really understood the M37. IMO if you're not going with the bigger engine, you might as well pay less money for a similarly-equipped and lighter G37.

Hitman is right though, it makes little to no sense to put $2-$4k for a decent paint job on a questionable Q, when you can buy an entirely new car for the same money with a perfect interior and exterior.

[Infinitiguy19]

There's no "fixing" rust. Period. Get that notion out of your head, because it's unrealistic.

Find a pristine, rust-free shell and swap everything over. In the process, you can clean / lubricate / restore / improve EVERYTHING, which is really the way it deserves to be done anyway.

I'll keep an eye out here in AZ.

Why is rust not fixable? Do you mean that if a car has small hole in it then send it off to the junkyard? You are right that finding a rust free car is the way to go. But I believe in fixing what I have. Because I know what's wrong with what I have. Then new supposed rust free car might be rusting inside the fenders....who knows.

You repaired the car below. I am not sure if it had rust spots or not (Didn't read the complete article).
http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/datsun ... ion-2.html

[elwesso]

There's no "fixing" rust. Period. Get that notion out of your head, because it's unrealistic.

Find a pristine, rust-free shell and swap everything over. In the process, you can clean / lubricate / restore / improve EVERYTHING, which is really the way it deserves to be done anyway.

I'll keep an eye out here in AZ.

Why is rust not fixable? Do you mean that if a car has small hole in it then send it off to the junkyard? You are right that finding a rust free car is the way to go. But I believe in fixing what I have. Because I know what's wrong with what I have. Then new supposed rust free car might be rusting inside the fenders....who knows.

You repaired the car below. I am not sure if it had rust spots or not (Didn't read the complete article).
http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/datsun ... ion-2.html

An old Datsun 240Z is a lot different than a Q45 with 170k miles on it. Since it's basically impossible to find rust-free examples of old 240Z's even in the barren desert (they with rust from the factory), sometimes you have to make the best of what you have. Also, once that car is restored it's worth a lot more. A "restored" Q is only worth a little more than a junk Q. So, if you could find a rust-free example for not much more money then fixing it, that's the way to go.

Rust is "fixable" but it's not a permanent solution, you will have issues again.

[AZhitman]

19 - The Z had rust in a few concentrated areas, and it was from a sprinkler system hitting the car in a couple spots over a few years' time (as well as a long-ago battery leak).

That's a HUGE difference from the kind of rust we see in cars from the Rust Belt (any place they salt the roads), which is pervasive, and gets into areas you simply can not repair.

On the old Z, I was able to dig until I found good, solid, pristine metal - and that's where the corrosion ended. That's not the case with Wes's Q, unfortunately.

The types of stresses experienced by a unibody car with a lot of HP and an aggressive driver will certainly make those rust issues rear their ugly head - usually with terrible consequences.

I recently inspected a 240sx here for a out-of-state buyer. The car was advertised as an "AZ car" - except my title research showed it spent most of its life in Durango, CO. The corrosion WAY up inside the strut towers had popped the seam sealer and swelled the spotwelds to the extent that I could pick away the seam sealer and see daylight between some of the critical structural seams. Bad news.

[seldomseen]

I sold my F50 last year with 67k miles on the odometer due to some quality concerns I had about the car: cracks in dashboard, smart key not working intermittently, front spring spontaneously cracked, GPS screen intermittently glitching, etc. I just knew the F50 would end up being a money pit. The F50 was a smooth riding, high powered beast and makes my '12 3.5 SR feel slower than cold molasses.

[ericthered]

I am decided, selling - I could only keep it as a hobby car at this point, and just don't have time.If you want to take a look: http://imgur.com/a/OwCgg unwashed, but zero rust.

As far as replacing your Q, you can pick up a used M at an excellent price, no huge loans to deal with. I am very satisfied with mine, but I still like the Q better for high speed handling.

[superuber]

Get the M56 Wes.

[Q45Owner]

Get the M56 Wes.

Yea, but much much more expensive, no?
I mean, hell I'd love to be driving an M56 myself, but umm, there's kind of a big price between a '94 Q and an M56

[BCC93QT]

Infinitis just don't catch my eye. I think the only infiniti I will ever own will be a G50 Q. Especially for 60k there are so many more cars you overlook if you go for an M56/Q70. For a little more money you can get this for a little less you get that... If you are set on sticking nissan and want speed and to turn heads just jump to the GTR for another 20-30k. $2500 to 3500 a month for a car payment isn't THAT much different is it wes?

[elwesso]

Right now, 2011 M55 can be had for under 30k with around 50-80k miles. I wouldn't buy it new, but they've taken a HUGE hit on depreciation which is great. They will continue to fall, but my intention with this vehicle is to keep it for 100-150k miles. I like the fact that Infiniti uses a standard automatic transmission rather than those stupid dual clutch deals. Right now for anything that has over 350HP, the M56 wins in terms of HP compared to fuel economy. I don't really like automatics, but I bet that thing would wake right up with a valve body from level 10 and a high stall converter..

Find me another car that has 400+ HP, 2010 or newer, gets 25+ MPG, and can be had for 30k.

[Brew Q]

E39 M5 would be my vote, but call me crazy - 400 hp and a sub 5.0 0-60 bone stock.

$$ you'd save would more than cover maintenance and gas $$...

but you said 2010 or newer.