Top 5 reasons you like your Q45

[BLACKonBLACK98]

1) Because its the same chassis as the Nissan President (wouldn't have bought it otherwise).

2) Because it keeps me from having money to waiste on bad things like drugs and hookers.

3) Because I didn't have to walk to the store in the rain yesterday (its really not road worthy yet but oh well).

4) The VIP guys stopped making fun of me for owning a Maxima.

5) I <3 Cars.

Will report back once I get her running right and can really see what all the fuss is about.

[rudefyet]

Well I guess I can come up with 5

5. Leather is still in perfect condition after 14 years

4. The separate amplifier for each channel on the BOSE stereo

3. Sound and maybe power, at least on the high end, but the weight/gearing makes it slower in the 1/4 then my best time in my previous GMC Sonoma.

2. I paid $2000 for the equivalent of a BMW 7-series, needless to say, friends who paid $3-5k for mid 90s Hondas now hate my guts.

1. Every time I talk to someone about the car, or even ask for a part somewhere I get "That thing has a V8?!"

[slybydesignq45t]

Well I guess I can come up with 5

5. Leather is still in perfect condition after 14 years

4. The separate amplifier for each channel on the BOSE stereo

3. Sound and maybe power, at least on the high end, but the weight/gearing makes it slower in the 1/4 then my best time in my previous GMC Sonoma.

2. I paid $2000 for the equivalent of a BMW 7-series, needless to say, friends who paid $3-5k for mid 90s Hondas now hate my guts.

1. Every time I talk to someone about the car, or even ask for a part somewhere I get "That thing has a V8?!"

Your car looks good. Yeah I feel you. I like my Q for those reasons as well. One thing you can not deny is the body is nice and big on these cars yet the low stance makes them look really cool. For people that don't know much about cars they look at it as if its a 2000 something. Keep in mind, the average person isn't into cars, makes and models. So for them to see a 1990-96 Q45 they look like what is it. I don't think it can be mistaken for a mid size sedan just from the share size of the car. I'm telling you, de-badging the Q makes it look cleaner to me. Keep'm come'n

[jimbyjimb]

It's not as much cylinder #'s as it is dispacement. A 4.5L V-6 will have a much more impressive curve than a 4.5L V-8. Sit behind a cheesey 70's 250HP 7.4L Chev (454) and then a much more tuned and refined 4.5L Nissan V-8 and the 454 will still feel like it's working much less to move a vehicle 1500lbs heavier. But I dig on what you mean, I think we're saying the same thing 2 different ways.

[jimbyjimb]

1. It was only 1800 dollars.2. It's pretty.3. I can sleep in it with ease.4. It's a V8 rear-driven Japanese machine.5. 26 MPG at 55 mph.

I love it even more now that I only use it a max of 2 days per week. Now it's more like a toy than a necessary item.

[Q45tech]

Why old lead F-770 bearings in Q are to like: Old vs new technology

"VQs and previous generations of Nissan motors, stretching from the QR to the RB series, all use a modern-style bearing material that's fairly intolerant to heat. While older engines used a tri-metal, lead-based alloy (designated F-770 internally by Nissan) that held up well at elevated temperatures, newer bearings use a lead-free material (for environmental reasons) that's far less tolerant of high oil temperatures. This is why most new Nissans from Sentras to Skylines all use oil coolers and bearing failure is so common for track-bound GT-Rs and 350Zs.

At temperatures below 300 degrees F, where most synthetic oils are still stable, the newer lead-free bearing material has already changed chemically and been damaged permanently. Even at 250 degrees F, these bearings have lost significant load-bearing capacity."............................................................

Early generations of the VQ also used small bearings, which have less surface area to reduce friction and mass. The drawback is more load per bearing area. When coupled with a bearing material intolerant of high temperatures, that results in a lot of spun bearings in hard-driven cars. This is why we're seeing larger and larger bearing surfaces on updated versions of Nissan engines, as well as oil temperature sensors wired into the ECU. Add the fact that most new engines feature piston oil squirters, which transfer more heat from the pistons into the oil, and there's a snowball effect of hotter oil, bearing material transfer, increased oil clearances and reduced oil pressure.

Over-revving the stock VQ is also an issue. Newer engines use light pistons with small ring lands and low ring tension to decrease friction and reciprocating mass, and to clean up emissions. Under stock conditions, this shouldn't be a problem, but throw in boost, rich fuel mixtures and raised rev limits, and there's the potential for accelerated cylinder wear and eventual blow-by. The stock rev limiter was designed specifically so that piston speeds do not exceed 4100ft/second, based on the stock bore and stroke. Missed shifts or raised rev limiters could push the stock, low-tension, thin-strip rings beyond the margin of safety and either gouge the cylinder liner wall or cause ring flutter.

We saw the end result of both these issues in our VQ. The engine consumed and degraded oil at an excessive rate and it was the lack of proper lubrication that ultimately led to main and rod bearing failure. But, much to Nissan's credit, the engine steamed along like this for a good 30,000 miles. As long as we kept adding oil, the bearings kept going, although the blow-by and power loss kept getting worse.

Much of the burnt oil could be seen exiting the exhaust under boost or while the car was cold, so we had a suspicion that the stock rings and bore had taken a beating from being driven hard before reaching proper temperatures."

http://www.sportcompactcarweb.....html

[maxnix]

"Much of the burnt oil could be seen exiting the exhaust under boost or while the car was cold, so we had a suspicion that the stock rings and bore had taken a beating from being driven hard before reaching proper temperatures."

http://www.sportcompactcarweb.....html

Sometimes universal truths need repeating.

[stock1992q45]

After 16 years - 229,000 miles: Possiblility of putting "piss on Lexus decal" on rear window Maybe added 1 quart of oilOriginal TrannyUnderstated Design - looks better every year / simple controlsCruises at 100 mph without straining

[tmak26b]

The Rev Up VQ (7000RPM redline) on the 350Z and G35 coupe are notorious for burning oil. It's actually a common issue, different than the one that was mentioned. I never rev my car when the engine is cold, it was fine at 45K miles. I rarely had to add oil. I track it 10 times a year, oil change at 4000-5000 miles (synthetic), most I have to add in between is .75 quart.

[sijoko]

I like my black 94 Q because it is unique in a sea of boring, plasticky vehicles. It will do 0-60 in 5 seconds and 0-100 in 10 seconds. It has over 230k on the original engine and it still looks nice even after all these years.

I like my silver 95 Q because it looks very smooth and runs great and I paid only $3600 for it. The gentleman who owned it before me took good care of it and I simply did some extra work to make the car outstanding.

The first gen Q45 can be anything that you want it to be.

[MrPresidentQ45]

5. I work at Lexus, and I drive a Q45.

4. It's just like driving a 60's Cadillac, except that everything works!

3. Responding with stony silence and a smirk when people ask me what kind of V-6 it has in it.

2. It is the best open road car I've ever owned.

and at number one...

1. When the pimple-faced tweenager working at the local pizza shack tells me its " the most wicked sick-*** MAFIA ride he's ever seen."

[slybydesignq45t]

5. I work at Lexus, and I drive a Q45.

4. It's just like driving a 60's Cadillac, except that everything works!

3. Responding with stony silence and a smirk when people ask me what kind of V-6 it has in it.

2. It is the best open road car I've ever owned.

and at number one...

1. When the pimple-faced tweenager working at the local pizza shack tells me its " the most wicked sick-*** MAFIA ride he's ever seen."

With out a doubt I have to agree with the caddy statement. I have had several caddy's pull up next to me. Most likely wondering what I am driving. I went to get gas then fill my tires with air and the owner of the Shell station came up to me and offered me money for my ride right there on the spot. I had just finished detailing her. It was a compliment for a hard days work of detailing. I also get allot of Lexus owners pulling up to me. I have never gotten a mean look. They tend to say hi and such. Like I posted before, I had a LS430 owner wave hi to me and smile really hard.

[Haitian_King]

With out a doubt I have to agree with the caddy statement. I have had several caddy's pull up next to me. Most likely wondering what I am driving. I went to get gas then fill my tires with air and the owner of the Shell station came up to me and offered me money for my ride right there on the spot. I had just finished detailing her. It was a compliment for a hard days work of detailing. I also get allot of Lexus owners pulling up to me. I have never gotten a mean look. They tend to say hi and such. Like I posted before, I had a LS430 owner wave hi to me and smile really hard.

I had a man jump out of an S500 and gush over my 92 G50 and tell me that he regretted selling his. I wonder if I should have traded. Most likely I would have sold it and bought another Q. The horror stories I've heard with MB maintenance make my apprehensions about Q maintenance pale in comparison.

5. I work at Lexus, and I drive a Q45.

and at number one...

1. When the pimple-faced tweenager working at the local pizza shack tells me its " the most wicked sick-*** MAFIA ride he's ever seen."

I take it you have a black one? I've thought the same thing about 2nd Gen Q45's when I see a freshly detailed black one. And to think, I used to loathe those cars. Not anymore. I can see the G50 in those FGY33's.

[slybydesignq45t]

I had a man jump out of an S500 and gush over my 92 G50 and tell me that he regretted selling his. I wonder if I should have traded. Most likely I would have sold it and bought another Q. The horror stories I've heard with MB maintenance make my apprehensions about Q maintenance pale in comparison.

I take it you have a black one? I've thought the same thing about 2nd Gen Q45's when I see a freshly detailed black one. And to think, I used to loathe those cars. Not anymore. I can see the G50 in those FGY33's.

Actually Mercedes are pretty reliable from a personal expense point of view. The thing is once its fixed its fixed. Seeing as I owned a 1998 E320 I would go back to Mercedes in a heartbeat. Its much like the Q45T I own now. The Q45 in my perspective is the closest an Asian Auto Maker can come to German engineering. I think the thing to keep in mind is that it doesn't matter what make or model car you buy or what year. Its all about how the car was kept and what sacrifices where made to keep that car on the road.

[maxnix]

Lots of things I notice when switching cars. But what I miss most when not driving the G50 is the steering feel. Has anyone ever built a better front suspension and power steering system with better feel and responsive feedback than a G50?

If so, I have yet to find it.

[Haitian_King]

Actually Mercedes are pretty reliable from a personal expense point of view. The thing is once its fixed its fixed. Seeing as I owned a 1998 E320 I would go back to Mercedes in a heartbeat. Its much like the Q45T I own now. The Q45 in my perspective is the closest an Asian Auto Maker can come to German engineering. I think the thing to keep in mind is that it doesn't matter what make or model car you buy or what year. Its all about how the car was kept and what sacrifices where made to keep that car on the road.

Really? When I had wanted to get a W140, everyone around me argued against it, citing parts and maintenance. I still want one though.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Lots of things I notice when switching cars. But what I miss most when not driving the G50 is the steering feel. Has anyone ever built a better front suspension and power steering system with better feel and responsive feedback than a G50?

If so, I have yet to find it.

Absolutely. The steering feel was one of the first things I noticed with my Q. Unlike a lot of other luxury cars, Nissan didn't just dial in the power assist until the wheel was a gooey uncommunicative mess. Somehow they managed to find a sweet spot where the power steering still assists but the car still tells you what's going on. It's effortless AND communicative. I've never driven a car that did this so well.

Actually, I'd say the above basically sums up the whole G50 driving experience. It's a masterful blend of driver/car/road intercommunication with just the right amount of comfort mixed in. I think THAT is what makes the Q such a great crusier: you can drive it forever and it'll never tire you out, but it never stops talking to you, either. It's something that not many other lux brands manage...the others are usually too concerned with poshness to let the driver have any connection with the car.

On the subject of steering, I also like how big the Q's steering wheel is. Even my dad's 1/2 ton pickup has a smaller wheel. The diameter and thickness of the Q steering wheel are as close to perfect as any car I've driven. Another benefit of the big wheel, aside from pure feel, is that it can move through it's full range of adjustment without it obstructing the instrument cluster.

[maxnix]

Actually, I'd say the above basically sums up the whole G50 driving experience. It's a masterful blend of driver/car/road intercommunication with just the right amount of comfort mixed in. I think THAT is what makes the Q such a great crusier: you can drive it forever and it'll never tire you out, but it never stops talking to you, either. It's something that not many other lux brands manage...the others are usually too concerned with poshness to let the driver have any connection with the car.

And that is precisely why I cringe every time I see a post about some poor abused car that requires $3K of long deferred maintenance which is followed by a comment that the car "is only worth $xK".

One knows immediately that this poster has never driven a restored G50 and has been staisfied with auguring his beater Q into the ground. Totally missed out on the G50 experience.

[northt]

My top 5:

1) It's paid for (this is my 4th since '93) and once you fix the primary issues it is relatively bullet proof.2) It's different, very comfortable and has a competent stereo.3) Great highway flyer.4) They have always had the worst marketing in the automotive business, therefore never sold, therefore have always been cheap to buy used especially at auction.5) Best engine I've ever owned. Put over half a million miles on the last three and none of them have ever burned any oil between changes. (Mobile 1 at 10,000 mile intervals.