What to look for in a 1994 Q45?

[Mark Larson]

I'm going to look at a 1994 Q45 with 79k miles tomorrow. What should I look for, anything in particular? They say the engine was rebuilt in January 2005, anything I should check for there, apart from the receipts?

I checked the fuel economy and it says 17/22 - is that a fair bet, or is it mostly lower than that? I drive a Miata right now and get around 30mpg, but I want to get something else because I'm tired of hearing the engine scream at 3500rpm on the freeway at 70mph and being a convertible it isn't nice to have to drive it everyday, rain or shine.

Its not the A version (is that the automatic suspension?), and he's asking a round $3000 for it. Would that be a fair price for it?

I've been looking for a nice quiet luxury cruiser for a while now and I don't know much about the Q45's - what do you dislike about your cars? Any quirks that I should be aware of before buying?

Thanks!

[Jesda]

Welcome!

Expect 16 in town and 19 on the highway, assuming all is in good condition. You picked the right car for quiet cruising. The 94-96 Q45 is one of the quietest cars of the decade, out-quieting Lexus.

http://www.q45.org/buyingadvice.html

Also check NICO's article section.

[BadQ45t]

Get as many receipts as you can from the guy for any work he's done, I know 3k isn't that much for a car like this, especially since it cost 45k new. I personally really like the 94' as you get some nice goodies that the 90-93 didn't have (although there are folks on this board that will tell you those years are the fastest).

I would think about having a mechanic look at the car. Even a dealership could do it, if they say the transmission is about to die, you know you'd have a VERY expensive repair immediately. Drive it too and really feel how the transmission shifts, make sure it is really smooth, that woudl be the thing I'd be most worried about.

Also, plan on dropping another 2-3k into the car once you get it. The shocks are shot and there are other parts that wear around that age. But you cna probably spend 3k for the car, 3k over say 2 years on fixing it, another 1k a year to keep it up to 100% and you will have one very nice car.

If you get the VIN the Infiniti dealership might be able to get you some info but you could also run a CarFAx on it, I'd do that for sure and make sure it has not been in any accidents or anything.

Jesda is right, the gas mileage is not pretty so if you're squimish about that this is not the car for you. When you have a kick *** V8 like the Q has, you're gonna punch it. I have a 97' which is the slightly smaler engine and it gets 20mpg combine when I drive in the Bay Area, but I can easily get 14-16 when I drive like a mad man in Los Angeles...I think 17-19 average for that car is about right. some guys here report getting 23-24 but I have to think they are either not quite right or just driving REALLY mellow. This is a V8 that loves to rev and that is gonna cost you, plus keep in mind that it take Premium Unleaded.

With gas prices where they are and the car checks out see if you can talk him down to 2,500.

[Mark Larson]

Thanks for the quick tips. Jesda, I originally followed the link in your sig from miata.net, that's how i found this place.

Why exactly is the gas mileage so low? I was looking at the Crown Vic/Grand Marquis and they don't seem to have such low gas mileage.

I'm going to drive it and sleep on whether its going to be an issue for me or not. Gas has only one way to go, and I won't want to be stuck with a gas hog.

What are some other issues? Is there a way to check the transmission to make sure it isn't going to go prematurely?

[CrimsonQ]

Why exactly is the gas mileage so low? I was looking at the Crown Vic/Grand Marquis and they don't seem to have such low gas mileage.

Ever check the power ratings of those 4.6's? 230 if your lucky, thats why

[Q45denver]

I'm going to look at a 1994 Q45 with 79k miles tomorrow. What should I look for, anything in particular? They say the engine was rebuilt in January 2005, anything I should check for there, apart from the receipts?

Thanks!

My main concern is why the engine had to be rebuilt at such a low mileage and if the odometer was rolled back. $3000 would be a killer deal as the rebuild probably cost at least twice that.

[Q451990]

I agree... a rebuild at 79K is suspect. What sort of explanation are you getting for that? Then you get into the quality of the rebuild... If you can find an experienced first gen. Q tech. in your area it would be well worth a couple hundred to have him look at it...

Heath

[elwesso]

If the trans shifts crisply through all gears HOT OR COLD then its really hard to tell if its going bad.. The twin coolers as opposed to the single coolers on the 90-93 really helped longevity.

Sometimes injectors are problems, MAF, etc... This is ALL outside of the normal suspension, brake, external cooler, and EVERY DROP OF FLUID that must be replaced on any used car upon delivery.

ITs possible you will see 22MPG on a perfect Q..... Who knows...

The engine also concerns me... the Q motors hardly ever have to be rebuilt. IF it only has 79k and they rebuilt the engine it likely only had 2 oil changes in that 79k......

[Rex]

If gas mileage plays a factor at all in your car purchasng decision, then a Q is not the car for you. Nothing personal, but if the mileage is 20, or 17 or even as low as 12-14 that shouldn't be a deciding factor if it is, you can't afford the long term up keep. The reason the ~$50k new car is selling for $3k is the cost of upkeep is exceeding the current owners budget, so there is most likely postponed maint work it will need.

These are budget cars, but they're great values, if you go in knowing right things.

Welcome to NICO.

[Jesda]

Ever check the power ratings of those 4.6's? 230 if your lucky, thats why

Have it in DOHC form. 25-27mpg @ 70mph and 280hp.

[jamesmost]

the only professionally rebuilt Q motors i have seen are from JASPER and they were around 6k, most do not rebuild these motors but replace w/ a low milege JDM takeout. I gor over 300,000 of hard driving miles from my first motor

[Rex]

It's possible the motor over-heated and blew the head gaskets, and they are calling the replacement of those a (top end) re-build. If that's the case, I'd stay away from an overheated motor, unless you want a project car.

If a Q ever overheats (not to the point of blowing gaskets) all the fluids should be changed. I don't want to think they "might not have done" if this was from an overheated engine .

[Jeff Williams]

If you drive 70 in the car, and don't try to pass everybody on the road, then you could get as much as 22 MPG. The car would have to be in perfect tune, and you couldn't have monster tires on it.

I got a constand 21 to 22 in Layla, pure highway. Lola gets 19 to 20. Around town, I get 15 to 18, depending on the red lights, and my driving habbits.

Once you drive the car for a while, you will get hooked, and the gas mileage is not so expensive as the upgrades and maintenance you will want to do. This site helps you get better deals, but also drives you to do all the maintenance everybody else is doing.

I wouldn't want to drive anything else (unless it is a 2004 M45 with the tech package and navigation).

[maxnix]

The importance of obtaining the dealer performed service history by submitting the VIN to the dealer cannot be overstated.

Do this a day or two in advance in case some of it is archived.

[DrewQ45]

I wouldn't want to drive anything else (unless it is a 2004 M45 with the tech package and navigation).

Tell me about it. Sunday I took the truck over to my cuz's house cause he needed to haul some trash. I drove home his 4-cyl, 5 speed integra and parked in the driveway... and there it sat till he picked it up today. It just wasn't as nice to drive as the Q. Granted, I would have saved gas going back and forth to work, but I just love driving the Q.