My plates are due at the end of November so I had to do the safety check with Missouri BMV to get the new tags.
The 91Q passed the emissions test but failed safety. Seems there's a series of smaller problems that are related to the steering, including a leaky hose for the transmission fluid. On top of those problems, the exhaust pipe has a leak where some of the clamps are located. The dealer told me that to get the Infiniti part would be about a $1,700 job. He also told me he could cut that section and put a sleeve on for about $150.
As I thought more about it, I realized that the car is getting very old and that repair costs are just going to increase every year.
So tomorrow, I'll go see what I can get for trade-in value. The car is in decent shape but does have a few visual blemishes. There's a patch of rust developing around the rear whhel well and the driver's side seat has torn leather. W@ith 145,000 miles on it, I'm not sure what to expect as a trade-in value. Any ideas what I can expect?
It's a standard Q with no active suspension. It has Fittipaldi wheels, a JVC radio with the Bose speakers recently repaired. The whole interior except for the driver's seat is almost perfect. The exterior has that patch of rust. The rest of the car is in very good shape.
Mechanically, aside from what I mentioned, everything is running smoothly.
Kelley BB says I can expect about $900 as trade-in value. Is this about right?
Time to sell the Q
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elwesso
- Posts: 30810
- Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2003 4:52 pm
- Car: 94 Infiniti Q45t 5 spd
2007 BMW M Coupe
2007 Infiniti G35 S 6MT - Location: Indiana
- Contact:
Well.... you certainly are in an weird position...... Id keep the car personally, to you its worth more than 1000.... Now, a 90-93Q has to be PERFECT to get mentionable money from it.....
And with the rust (HUGE nono for the Q, they have some of the best rustproofing of its day), and the seats, Id say about 900 would be good.... What about guides??? What kind of stuff have you done to it???
I say fix it up really nice, and spend that 1000 getting it there.... I GUARNTEE that you will be MUCH happier this way..... On top of that, you wont find a car that will even compare to the Q even after its repairs!!!
And with the rust (HUGE nono for the Q, they have some of the best rustproofing of its day), and the seats, Id say about 900 would be good.... What about guides??? What kind of stuff have you done to it???
I say fix it up really nice, and spend that 1000 getting it there.... I GUARNTEE that you will be MUCH happier this way..... On top of that, you wont find a car that will even compare to the Q even after its repairs!!!
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greg_atlanta
- Posts: 1111
- Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2002 4:37 pm
- Car: 2008 G35 Journey Sedan, silver/black (no sunroof), 1992 Q45 (in a past life)
Sounds like the problems are minor. Power steering hoses and maybe a few transmission hoses. Exhaust can be fixed by any exhaust shop for a lot less.
Is the transmission original? Were chain guides replaced?
It'll always be worth more to you than to someone else. Get rid of it if you have a single repair which exceeds $2000-3000 (transmission or engine).
Is the transmission original? Were chain guides replaced?
It'll always be worth more to you than to someone else. Get rid of it if you have a single repair which exceeds $2000-3000 (transmission or engine).
According to the Infiniti service records, transmission service was performed at 81,000 miles. A reacall was also perfomed at 75,000 but it doesn't specify what it was. The Bose rear speaker recall was also done. Another entry at 70,000 mentions "A/T lock-up clutch"
No clue about the chain guides.
Don't get me wrong. I absolutely love the car. It runs beuatifully. It's just that I can't keep up with the cost of repairs...and I know I'm going to have to address that rust patch at some point before it spreads any further.
No clue about the chain guides.
Don't get me wrong. I absolutely love the car. It runs beuatifully. It's just that I can't keep up with the cost of repairs...and I know I'm going to have to address that rust patch at some point before it spreads any further.
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nuQ
- Posts: 1659
- Joined: Thu Jan 23, 2003 1:39 pm
- Car: 2003 Infiniti M45
2009 Dodge Caliber SXT - Location: Bethlehem PA
"I FEEL YOUR PAIN"---say like clinton!!LOL looks like maybe $3k or 4K will get the Q back to where she should be,,,,maybe less!!!! tough to find a new car payment or used, that would equal a "like new" 91Q for 3 or 4 grand!!! once it's back to great running condition (that's including a guide job if it hasn't been done yet, included in the 3-4 grand), and assuming you might spend 100 to 200 hundred a month in maintenance, still better than almost any car loan you'd get for a similar car!!!!
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VenCountyQ
- Posts: 43
- Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2003 8:44 am
Don't give up yet, we'll help you through this crisis. You just need to be a little creative at this stage of your car's life.
Exhaust pipe leak - Use a couple $5 rolls of high-temp silicone self bonding tape ( search for X-treme tape on internet ). Or find a local independant exhaust shop, slip the guy an extra couple of $20's and say you want a McGyver special.
Leaky transmission fluid line - a couple feet ($5) of low pressure hydraulic hose from your local auto parts store.
Exhaust pipe leak - Use a couple $5 rolls of high-temp silicone self bonding tape ( search for X-treme tape on internet ). Or find a local independant exhaust shop, slip the guy an extra couple of $20's and say you want a McGyver special.
Leaky transmission fluid line - a couple feet ($5) of low pressure hydraulic hose from your local auto parts store.
Put on a second clamp below the leaky one . . . . easy short term fix. Save up some bucks and replace the hoses. Get the hole patched with a spot weld -- again short term fix. Cheaper than new car payments. Heck cheaper than just the sales tax you will pay! Cheaper than the difference you will pay for insurance on the new car. Also, if you buy another used car you are out of the pan into the fire with someone else's former problems. Cars cost money period -- this is low dollar stuff here.
I took your advice AZ and went to Midas and, on a gut feeling, got the car re-inspected for $12. It turns out that a state inspector was there at the same time as I and she was making sure that the mechanics were doing their inspections properly.
I thought to myself "great, they're going to be even more picky about everything." Well, they came out to me and told me that only a few holes needed to be patched up in the muffler and the whole thing could be done for $100. There was no mention of any of the steering safety failures I had when I was at the AutoTire store (where the first inspection took place.)
Car's going in Friday for the muffler job. I may keep her longer since I should be getting a much better salary starting in February. I may just fix her up after all...
I thought to myself "great, they're going to be even more picky about everything." Well, they came out to me and told me that only a few holes needed to be patched up in the muffler and the whole thing could be done for $100. There was no mention of any of the steering safety failures I had when I was at the AutoTire store (where the first inspection took place.)
Car's going in Friday for the muffler job. I may keep her longer since I should be getting a much better salary starting in February. I may just fix her up after all...
