thinking of buying a '99 Q45

[fog]

hey guys this is my first post so please dont kill me if something has been posted before.

ive used the search feature for the past couple days and learned a lot.

i had a '96 es300 which got totaled last week....im looking at buying a new car.

im torn between a gs300 and a q45....both '99 and about the same price.

im lookin for more luxury than sportiness, if that makes sense....im not going to be upgrading the suspension or modding the exhaust or anything like that.....i just want a smooth quiet ride.

im getting married this year and will use this car as my family car to go to work and family outings and what not.

im very impressed with the Q45 from what ive seen on the street and pictures on the internet, ive yet to go test drive one.

im worried about a few things though......ive read on here that maintenance is high on this vehicle? is there any known issues that i should have to worry about?

im coming from a family that only buys toyota/lexus and im trying to get something a little different but still have that quality of a japanese car.....

do you guys have any suggestions for me as a noob? also is there any websites that will give me a tour of a '99 q45? the infinity website only has the newest and there was a member of this forum who did a nice website for his '02 Q45.....but i need to see a '99 Q and see what features it has and what the inside is layed out like.

thanks for any input you guys might have, ive been home from work cause of my back and ive probably spent most of that time researching what car im going to get cause im very particular about my car.

[Rex]

Most of us drive 90-95/96's, but I'm sure a Y33 (97-01) owner will share his opinions.

As for the Lexus/Infiniti comparison ...

• General concensus is Infiniti is more a drivers car, while the Lexus is considered ... "bland".
• Quality and maintenance is comparable between the upper-scale Asian Imports
• Search Infiniti Mechanic and Lexus site and see who has more info to offer
• Test drive both, like ya' stoel 'em

Good luck

[zinkie13]

It should be very reliable. Just don't take it to an infiniti dealer for repairs and check ups and you will be fine.

[fog]

i have a family friend who is a mechanic and he says that they are both nice cars and as long as they are japanese they should be both pretty reliable.

but then i did a search for q45 in the forum and read all the way back to page 20 i saw some stuff that scares me.

im mostly worried about the powertrain (engine, transmission)......these are things that i need in good condition.

i know i wont have a "guide" problem cause thats with the older cars.......but im sure there is something that should have to check for with the 97-01 edition.

i might be getting the car from an auction with a family friend that has a dealer pass so i kinda wanted to know what to check for to make sure im getting a reliable vehicle.

when does infiniti recommend a timing chain srvc (miles)? about how much does a independant mechanic charge for that?

i have to have hid lights, is that standard or an option?

looking forward to input from 97-01 owners.

i keep teetering back and forth from the gs300 to the q45.

[zinkie13]

It is extremely easy to swap some HID's in there. The only problems I have had have been with the O2 sensors and my throttle body. The throttle body is just a factory defect. Haven't even heard of it happening with anyone else.

[fog]

It is extremely easy to swap some HID's in there. The only problems I have had have been with the O2 sensors and my throttle body. The throttle body is just a factory defect. Haven't even heard of it happening with anyone else.

ok thats cool.

im kinda worried about the interior of the '99.....the backseat looks kinda cramped compared to my es300 (yeah the lil one).

the interior of the '02 looks so much more beautiful than the '97-'01 series......is it that much of a difference in layout and space?

i wish i could afford a '02 but a '99 is my price range right now.

[Rex]

The only weak point on the 97-01's I can think of would be an under-maintained trannies. Look for one that has few enough miles, then shop for an aftermarket warrantee.Timing chain should be a life of car item, as long as oil changes have been done regularly.Keep in mind most of us that post on here are the car equivalent of an audiophile. We'll notice more wrong than most and expect perfection

[greg_atlanta]

Most scary stuff is 90-93 and to a lesser extent 94-96. Any car between 8 and 14 years old is scary!!

97-01 are much improved over previous models but they too will have problems as they age.

Just get an extended warranty and you'll be fine.

If you want a big backseat, you need a 98-00 Lexus LS400.

[Rex]

Q45's "suprisingly" are known for smaller back seats. It has to do with the tank being over the rear axle (one of the safest locations) which makes for a smaller trunk .

4 adults, as long as they aren't all 6'2" are ok for short trips.

[97Q45t]

I assume the GS300 you're comparing with the 99 Q45 is a 98-up model.

If for any reason you later come to any conclusion to get the GS300, please don't. Because for a few more grands you could get an GS400, which is much better in performance (my friend has one). Even if you don't use the power often, I'm sure you still feel good because you know that you have that power in your right foot, spared, waiting for you to use at any time. The more powerful the car is, the less you will get bored of it when time pass by. That is one of the reason the Q owners (especially 90-96Q) still happy with their cars and want to keep theirs for a long time.

97-01 Q45's Pros:Looks good and elegant because it's long and sleek (IMO)Very quiet. It is definately a luxury family car.There're much more "stuffs" for the Q: heat seats, rear sunshade (99-up), 17 inches wheels (99-up Q45t), headlight aiming control (99-up), xenon (99-up), etc.

Conclusion:If you want to get the Q45, try to get an 99-up Q45t (Touring Package) because of the enhanced look by the 17-in-wheels and the blackout headlights. You won't have to update anything else to made it looks better.If you want to get an GS300, don't. I haven't see any GS300 with xenon, and half of the GS400s I see on the street don't have xenon neither. Get the GS400 instead and you will be really glad you made that decision.

[fog]

^^thanks for the input.

the gs300 im lookin for is also a '99 and im trying to find one with the hid's and i believe most of them have heated seats or most of the ones ive seen at least.

ive compared the gs300 and the 400 and other than the tiptronic and the il6 vs v8 i dont see much of a difference other than a little better gas mileage on the gs300.

i love the look of all three cars, its just about whats gonna break my pockets after 100k in maintenance, electrical problems etc.

any more input from '99 q45 owners is appreciated, good or bad.

thank.

ps. how good do the q45's hids look even though they dont have the "gatling gun" look of the '02 and later?

also how do the rest of you infiniti owners feel about your cars (i30, i35) are you satisfied or do you kinda wish that you got the q45? cause i would hate to get a '02 i35 or i30 and regret it later.

oh and im likin this deal, its a private owner so im sure i can talk them down some more.....and this pearl white doesnt look this dingy after a good wash does it?http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/...st=37

[maxnix]

im mostly worried about the powertrain (engine, transmission)......these are things that i need in good condition.

when does infiniti recommend a timing chain srvc (miles)? about how much does a independant mechanic charge for that?

i have to have hid lights, is that standard or an option?

Any vehicle requires powertrain, suspension and brake maintenance to perform as designed by the OEM. There are no shortcuts, only more frequent replacement intervals.

Timing chain should go at least 250K if engine has been maintained per OEM specifications.

2000 and 2001 have HID, and maybe 1999 also. None before.

The cars are quite different, with the Q45 being more of an all round performer. Read the previous posts, have the car inspected by an Infiniti senior technician if at all possible, and start by inspecting the body and fluids yourself. Run the VIN (by prearrangement) through a Infiniti dealer and check dealer performed service history.

For me, the sweet spot in the FY33 range is 2000 and 2001 with 1999 a close second.

[maxnix]

It is extremely easy to swap some HID's in there.

Not to OEM specifications. It would take a complete new harness and interior switches, probably a dashboard too. Get it as designed OEM.__________________Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t & 2000 Q45

Discover the power of the button!

[maxnix]

If for any reason you later come to any conclusion to get the GS300, please don't. Because for a few more grands you could get an GS400

I have one big caveat emptor about both these Lexus engines, and that is the maintenance cost of cogged belt driven camshafts. The timing chains of the VH41DE is a far superior design from longevity and maintenance standpoints.__________________Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t & 2000 Q45

Discover the power of the button!

[fog]

I have one big caveat emptor about both these Lexus engines, and that is the maintenance cost of cogged belt driven camshafts. The timing chains of the VH41DE is a far superior design from longevity and maintenance standpoints.__________________Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t & 2000 Q45

Discover the power of the button!

are you saying the Q45 has a more reliable engine because it has a timing chain and not a belt?

im sure you know that toyota/lexus is no slouch when it comes to reliability and i dont know of any toyota or lexus my family owns that didnt have a timing belt.

[maxnix]

It's maintenance costs also. Most new designs are going back to chain drives for the camshafts, partly for reasons of compactness, partly for maintenence savings for the owners (until the chains have to be replaced). Belts were originally employed because they are quieter. And, yes, chains are more reliable, but the difference is something like 99.5% vs 99.99%, provided OEM scheduled maintenance is done.

Any engine has to be maintained. An engine with a timing belt will necessitate more maintenance (labor and parts) for that item than a timing chain.

I know a little about Lexus (all my inlaws) and Acuras, and what it costs to replace those dumb belts (and usually the water pumps and accessory drive belts also).__________________Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t & 2000 Q45

Discover the power of the button!

[Omar]

Quote »also how do the rest of you infiniti owners feel about your cars (i30, i35) are you satisfied or do you kinda wish that you got the q45?[/quote]

Although I do not have an I30/I35 and instead own a J30, I wish I had a Q. Dont get me wrong, I love my J in every aspect and plan to keep it, I wish I had a Q for its elegance, power, and looks. I plan to own one day.

I cant comment on the Lexus because I never rode in a GS before.

Wish the best of luck to you.

Later... - Omar

[dougs98Q45]

fog- sorry, no experience w/ Lexus but i can say I'm happy w/ my 98Q! One can't responsibly buy a 'luxo-barge' like a Q or an LS without expecting to incur somewhat higher maint/repair bills to properly maint. the car than if one owned a civic, for example. This is of course a given and well known as are the old adages about looking for proof of routine maint./dealer records, lower miles are better, change your oil, etc. etc. I would also echo the above sentiments about an extended warranty for this car. Got mine from the dealer for about a grand (4 year / 60K) when the factory one expired. Paid for itself so far and I'm only half way there - likely wouldn't want the car with out one. Pre-purchase isnpection at dealer cost me $80 and while by no means a garaunteee, probably a good idea unless you're a mechanic. Some of the things about my car I dislike:-little on the noisey side for a lux car. The large majority of this is wind noise from the sunroof. Most of my seals look good and are kept clean. Not too bad tho and easily drowned out by the good Bose stereo, which I DO like. Some on this board hate them tho and I'm not a stero-phyte. Hard to imagine that an 'everything else equal' GS is noisier, given their rep.-barely enough head room for me. I'm 6'1 and like to sit upright & closer to the wheel so if you're tall, keep in mind! All the adjustablilty (seats, wheel) does, however, take adequate care of me.-my front suspension needed shop work at 60-70K miles. Got soft, noisey and a little leaky. Not the first time I said 'Thank the lord for the warranty!' The suspension is just a tad too soft for my liking all around and this is probably my main complaint about the car overall, but some people like that in a lux car and I suspect Lexus is on par or a little softer.-gas miles ain't great (16.5/gal w/ 50-50 street/hwy) but then, why did I buy a V-8 if that was a priority? This I can live with.-no pass thru in trunk due to aforementioned fuel tank. Oh well, I was never a skier and I have a truck for lumber....Things I like about it:-Engine is beautiful! Not enough power to get in trouble (unless you're trying!) but whan you wanna move, you move. Love the subtle growl too!-the rear area may be small to some but those rear seats are the most comfortable I've sat in. Think I could do a long trip as a passenger no problemo.-like the looks. I don't pay too much attention to that but this car kinda grew on me. On thing I do wish I had was the 17' touring wheels (but not enough to change). They look good on this car.-car responds very quickly to steering inputs for such a heavy car. Makes it 'feel' lighter when driving.-reliable rep. Stay on top of fluids/filters/tires/brakes and the dealer or a good independant will not set you back too bad. All in all, I love my Q! Probably overpaid a little but there were some reasons for that. Obviously, you're shopping around. This is good. No one likes throwing money away but I beleive this is one of the proverbial areas in life (like shoes or mattresses...) where paying a little more for one that has the more solid proof of proper care is likely a good idea. Let us know what you do!

[Chrisfrend]

I wondered about the Q45 myself and finally bought one about two months ago from Carmax with about 60,000 miles. Overall, the 97-01 Q45 is a very nice and extremely comfortable luxury car. I had a 5 spd. Nissan Maxima that is about the same size as the Lexus ES 300; switching to a larger and much heavier car has taken a little getting used to. In my case, the automatic transmission has been part of the adjustment, the Q45 just isn't as instantly responsive as a free revving Maxima with a manual transmission, which is to be expected.

I have a 97 Q45 touring model, which has a slightly firmer suspension than the standard model. Even so, the suspension is still a little too mushy for me, but the smooth ride is good for urban commuting. You might want to drive both the Q45 and Q45t to see which you prefer.

The build quality seems excellent and nothing has gone wrong in the short time I have owned the car. I do notice some wind noise as mentioned in the previous post, coming from either the front windshield or sunroof. To me, the Q45 seems quite roomy in front and in back, at least in comparison to a Maxima/Lexus ES 300-sized car.

My car is used as a family car and for commuting into DC from the suburbs, and has been a good choice for these purposes. The 97-01 Q45 does not seem to be an especially complicated design as cars go these days, and Nissan/Infiniti quality is generally very good. Because this model of Q45 is under-rated and is not very popular, they are often priced very reasonably. perhaps you can find a clean 99 with around 60,000-70,000 miles for around $18-20K. They are not stylish in an ultra modern way but are nonetheless fine luxury cars.

[Q451990]

Fog, welcome to NICO! I think the 99Q would be very reliable and a good car for what you said you want to do with it. I would be a bit leary of buying one at an auction since you probably won't have an opportunity to test drive it! That model series is very reliable, but any car can suffer from abuse. Remember that in most cases, any car that's at an auction was rejected by someone else for some reason. Dealerships that take trade-ins keep the cream of the crop for their own lots!

I'd look for a low-mileage private owner car that you can have checked out professionally. Where are you located?

Heath

[HeavyDuty]

A lot of truth to that, but if there's something really wrong with it, you have the option of mediation through the auction house.

Still, a well maintained private purchase is probably a safer bet.

Fortunately for Nissan/Infiniti lovers, there's still a glut of low mileage, clean, cheap cars available.

[PalmerWMD]

The 99GS 300 is in a lower cla.s.s altogether VS a Q45.

A Q is more like a cheaper 7 series and a GS is more like a 5 series in BMW parlance.

Fred..

[fog]

thanks guys, im going to be buying by the end of the week.

my list of cars im considering is now

acura '00-'01 3.5RL, 3.2TLlexus '98-'00 GS300, GS400infiniti '98-'00 Q45, I30

wish me luck

im still not definite on what im gonna get, just gotta come across the right car, with the right miles and features for the right price

[PalmerWMD]

In that list I'd rank (price independent):

-99Q45 and 99GS400 are about equally matched IMO.

Price <dependent> only one choice, Q45 since the the GS400 is much more in used car market.

Fred...

[suretytek]

I have a 99 Q45t, and it has factory HID headlights. I think that all 99 models have HIDs, but the touring model is a for sure.

Jeff

[PalmerWMD]

Jeff:

Yes Xenons are standard for all 99 and newer Q's.

Fred..

[maxnix]

The 3.5RL is the world's most perfect Buick.__________________Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t & 2000 Q45

Discover the power of the button!

[Jesda]

This is true. While I havent driven a 3.5RL, I have been inside one, looked at the price, checked out the equipment (my parents are friends with an Acura dealer, the only reason they keep buying those spongy wind-noise-prone MDXes).

And it basically can be summed up as being a less-than-stellar value. Sure, its a japanese luxury vehicle with legendary dependability, but so are the other cars youre considering. And dependability is pretty much the only selling point of the RL.

I say scratch the RL off your list and dont waste your time. For slightly more money, you can get more room, performance, features, and style with Lexus or Infiniti.

If youre going to hang with the front-drive crowd, you might as well check out the Buick Lacrosse or the Cadillac Seville.

I actually find the Seville and Lacrosse more appealing than the RL anyway.

-Jesda

[QShip]

The 3.5RL is the world's most perfect Buick.

LOL!!

[1qckser]

Quote »The 3.5RL is the world's most perfect Buick.[/quote]

Max if you dont mind im gonna make a sticker of your quote and put on my bosses RL, he swears it is light years ahead of anything Infinit ever made, yeah right:D