The build qualty of the RL cannot by faulted, but it drives like the best version of the top of the line Buick ever made (the Park Avenue? - Buicks are not my forté). It is the apex for that kind of transportation device.
You will notice I am also a first generation Legend owner also, so I know a little about from where the RL is descended.
thinking of buying a '99 Q45
I will add 2cents if it's not too late.
Before I bought my Q I checked out all cars you mentioned but GS400.
G300 is like a Camry, which is not bad of course. Cons: it's not spacious, in fact it looked less roomy than q45 (it is narrower), poor rear view (high trunk), mushy suspension and it is very _slow_. Especially comparing to Q.
LS400 is a truly luxury ride with all that belongs to it: dead steering, soft suspension. Pretty spacious in the back but not that much over the Q. It's not that fast either. Nakamichi did not blow my away, btw.
3.2RL I like the way it looks, really. Very classic. Good for a woman I think. But it's FWD. I did not want it. It felt faster than gs300.
i30 is what Maxima should be. And it really is, cause that way Maximas are sold everywhere but in US. Comparing to all other in the list may be less comfortable ride, but better control, road feel and good pick up. You can't make fair comparison with others cause this car one rank lower than Q in all aspects. FWD.
3.2TL is Accord, which is not bad again. FWD. Fair to compare with i30 not with Q, LS and GS. I woud prefer I30 at least for the better engine.
So, I ended up with q45 touring and very happy. No problems, just maintenance up to standards of this board. It is pefrect interstate cruiser. We made over 1200 miles drive with my family through Texas and did not notice it. It was said true about comfort on rear seat: my wife is all the way with baby back there and always sais it's very comfortable. Keeps beggin me to take her on trip to Florida in this car
I think overspent my 2 cents Hope this helps.
Before I bought my Q I checked out all cars you mentioned but GS400.
G300 is like a Camry, which is not bad of course. Cons: it's not spacious, in fact it looked less roomy than q45 (it is narrower), poor rear view (high trunk), mushy suspension and it is very _slow_. Especially comparing to Q.
LS400 is a truly luxury ride with all that belongs to it: dead steering, soft suspension. Pretty spacious in the back but not that much over the Q. It's not that fast either. Nakamichi did not blow my away, btw.
3.2RL I like the way it looks, really. Very classic. Good for a woman I think. But it's FWD. I did not want it. It felt faster than gs300.
i30 is what Maxima should be. And it really is, cause that way Maximas are sold everywhere but in US. Comparing to all other in the list may be less comfortable ride, but better control, road feel and good pick up. You can't make fair comparison with others cause this car one rank lower than Q in all aspects. FWD.
3.2TL is Accord, which is not bad again. FWD. Fair to compare with i30 not with Q, LS and GS. I woud prefer I30 at least for the better engine.
So, I ended up with q45 touring and very happy. No problems, just maintenance up to standards of this board. It is pefrect interstate cruiser. We made over 1200 miles drive with my family through Texas and did not notice it. It was said true about comfort on rear seat: my wife is all the way with baby back there and always sais it's very comfortable. Keeps beggin me to take her on trip to Florida in this car
I think overspent my 2 cents
Hope this helps.-
BadQ45t
- Posts: 3255
- Joined: Fri Jul 26, 2002 7:54 am
- Car: '21 Nissan Leaf SL Plus (wife's car)
'05 Nissan X-Terra S 4x4
'97 Infiniti Q45t SOLD! Miss the old girl
'84 Nissan 300ZX (Original Owner)
'16 Mercedes Benz S550e V8 Power & 35 MPG - Location: Half Moon Bay, CA
I have a 97' Q45 and nothing has gone wrong. I love the car. I was lookingin 2000 at BMW 540i, GS400 used and Acura TL. I also was looking at 90-96 Q's and ended up with touring model 97. I drove the 96 and 97 back to back and they were about the same in terms of speed, there will be some people on the board that might refute that since most of them are 90-96 owners. My had a 92' for 6 months, that was for sure faster than the 97. But the 97 looks have really gone on me and when people see the car they think it is a real luxury car. One thing I should point out, the touring model I felt made a big difference and when i wore out the original tires I bought some 17x8 rims and 245/45 ZR tires and it made a huge differnce in the car. I couldn't ever get used to the GS looks and the 540i seems soooo good on paper but wasn't much different in practice.
If I had anything to change I'd put the damn gas tank where it is in 99% of the other cars and make the trunk bigger and the back seat bigger, but overall for the money you can pick them pu for these are great cars and VERY reliable. So far in 4 years my extended warranty has paid $225 for a gas door solinoid, these are very bullet proof cars if you do the mantainence.
If I had anything to change I'd put the damn gas tank where it is in 99% of the other cars and make the trunk bigger and the back seat bigger, but overall for the money you can pick them pu for these are great cars and VERY reliable. So far in 4 years my extended warranty has paid $225 for a gas door solinoid, these are very bullet proof cars if you do the mantainence.