Y33 (97-01) Q45 Spec Question

[MattB]

I have decided that my next car is most likely going to be either a used Y33 Q45 or a used Y34 M45. It will all depend on what I can afford. Anyway, when did navigation and HID headlights first become available on the Y33s?

[elwesso]

Not a fan of Y33.. Very nice exterior design, but not much else, IMHO..

Go for the M45 or new Q... Better yet find a pristine G50...

[Rex]

Let's not completely forget pasadenaQ.

[PalmerWMD]

I always felt the Y33's are an excellent all around buy, some of the most reliable V8 lux cars money can buy.

The Xenons became standard in 99.I dont know about Nav.

Not slow and handle well for a big car as well, plus many are still under warranty and the prices cant be beat.

Fred...

[Rex]

Some stats from the car mag industry

• 1990 Infiniti Q45 7.2 15.4
• 1991 Infiniti Q45 7.3 15.6
• 1993 Infiniti Q45 7.5 15.6
• 1994 Infiniti Q45t 7.2 15.4
• 1996 Infiniti Q45t 7.9 16.2
• 1997 Infiniti Q45t 7.5 15.7

Take into account that this may or may not reflect "ringer" test cars, and that the "testers" are not consistent from year to year.

This information is from magazine articles and cataloged at web.missouri.edu and I quoteQuote »DisclaimerInformation on this web page has been obtained from Motor Trend, Road & Track, and Car & Driver magazines. If any of it is in conflict with your own information, we are very sorry.[/quote]

[Jesda]

Interesting times for the 94. A bit sad for the 96. Of course, conditions vary. Its not a perfect scientific process.

The 240hp Accord should run to 60 in 6.2. Its plenty of power for a small, lightweight vehicle. So you'll get spanked regardless of what stock Q you're driving.

That E320 Cabrio is more than one sec slower (about 8.7sec to 60 and 16.5 in the 1/4) compared to the Q. On the highway, who knows. Bear in mind the Q is a bigger, heavier vehicle.

The E320 Cabrio's only redeeming drivetrain quality is highway passing power. Its biggest weakness is off the line -- the transmission feels like a child being woken up early for school -- it doesnt want to do anything without some considerable effort.

On the Q, you can launch in second gear and it feels fine. On the E320, you almost have to put it in first to really take off.

My parents had an E320 sedan and I had a 300E sedan. Both behaved the same way. The E320 sedan however can hit 60mph just as fast as the G50 Q, just not as effortlessly.

Back to the topic...I believe the 97-01 Q45 conveys class and luxury in a way few luxury cars do. The tail is remarkably distinctive, especially among the cookie-cutter Lexus, BMW, and MB offerings. The rear of the FY33 reminds me of a Bentley, especially with the large C-pillar and lamps.

I've never driven one, but I can say for certain that you wont be disappointed... unless you had a G50 before.

Another NICO member a few months ago posted a comparison of the 99Q compared to the 93. He let go of his 99, found a 93, and has been happy ever since.

Do you want more luxury or more performance? Thats really all it boils down to. And the 97 and 98, if I recall (I may be wrong) does not have an analog clock. Thats big minus for me, in a class where the mid 90s Mazda 929 and the 99+ Chrysler 300M offer such a feature.

G50 competes with BMW. FY33 competes with Lexus and MB.

-Jesda

[maxnix]

I will say the FY33 and G50 are quite different cars. However, in everyday driving, they are quite similar in performance short of WOT. Some of the systems (cooling, stereo, HID low beams, shock design, brakes, more power options on the passenger seat, more room in the cabin) of the FY33 are better sorted than on the G50. Some (no mirror memory, no mirror tilt in reverse, power headrests) are missing. The engine and transmission are a little less robust, but less is asked of them so they may be a better match for the tasks they are assigned. And the VH41DE may indeed prove to be a more durable design than the VK45DE. Ask again in five years.

And the FY33 should be less expensive to run. If Dennis is correct that the per cost mile to maintain a FY33 is 33% less than a G50 (10¢ vs. 15¢ per mile), then I would say take a hard look at a 1999 or later FY33 (I think 2000 and 2001 are the best feature and refinement wise).

I love the G50 and plan to drive mine as long as I can (I'll be the last person on this board), but I wouldn't mind driving an FY33 everyday instead. They were both under appreciated designs by most of the contemporary automotive press. Both are built to a high standard of manufacturing assembly with quality components. Given the choice of a range of examples of any of them at an equal price (which they never are), I would take the one in best condition with the best documented maintenance regardless of model, color, or year.

[FONT=arial]EDIT:[/FONT] Avoid the navigation on the FY33 as it is CD based, was only upadated once (very expensive CD set), and is therefore generally useless. If this is important, get the Y34. Don't reject a Y33 because it has it, but don't expect great funcionality either.

[elwesso]

I agree on all these counts....

I think the styling of the Y33 is wonderful, second to none, and IMO its better than the G50. IMO the G50 is bland, and you dont like it, or hate it (94-96 years). Y33 stands out more...

performance is an issue, and the fact is there is simply less HP and torque.

IMO, I could have a G50 without a Y33, but not a Y33 without a G50....

[kimrober]

Yes, it wasn't that the G50 was discontinued and 'new' Y33 was introduced. The Nissan of Japan was still manufacturing G50 based VH45DE mounted Presidents until 2002 while Y33 Cima was also manufactured at the same time.It's like comparing Toyota Century to Celsior (LS400).The "Cima" can never beat the "President":)

[QShip]

I have decided that my next car is most likely going to be either a used Y33 Q45 or a used Y34 M45. It will all depend on what I can afford. Anyway, when did navigation and HID headlights first become available on the Y33s?

Get whatever makes you happy. Who cares what everyone else thinks?

[Jesda]

Hey now... the RL as Brian said is the Japanese Buick. I consider the FY33 and Lexus LS430 the Japanese Deville.

[suretytek]

I've got a '99 q45t, and it is just a dream to drive. Is it as fast and meaty as the first generation Q? No, it's not. But it is surprisingly powerful, and seems lighter and zippier than similar vehicles of the same vintage (LS400, BMW 7, etc.). It's got all of the cool toys (good looking wheels, HID headlights, memory seats, etc.)

Personally, I was looking for something that was fun to drive and comfortable. If I was looking for something to snap my head so that my eyes clicked into the back of their sockets, I would have gone with a 350Z.

Jeff

[MattB]

Thanks for all the replies. A G50 would be an option for me if I could find a pristine one with low mileage (could be difficult as I am looking to buy a new car in about 4 years). Do all the Y33s have the annoying power antenna? Based on what everyone has said it looks like a Y34 M45 is going to be a better choice...hopefully I'll be able to afford a used one in a few years (saw one the other day at a Lexus dealer-loaded '03 w/12K at $29,500).

[maxnix]

Power antennae work great on all my cars. What's annoying?

[elwesso]

Mast will fail on ANY car with power antenna... Eventually.

[MattB]

IF memory serves me correctly, for the 2000 anniversary year, stillen put a package together for the Y33..

I believe it was rated at 300 hp

Interesting...that would give the Y33 some serious power.

[BadQ45t]

Dkill seems to have bit of a complex with the 97-01 Q. Dude, you do not need to buy one, drive one or be near one. But your The G50 rules, Y33 sucks is just so silly I wonder why I'm tying this message. Some of us here do not have tons of teenage (perhaps your 21 now) time on our hands to fix timing guides, transmission replacments, bushing, etc etc etc. I drove a 96 and a 97 back to back, bottom line, not much difference.

Leave it go man, go post in the G50 threads

[TorQue45]

I am with BadQ45t,

dkill, you comments and intentions were to piss people of. You can point out the performance differences but you don't have to take cheap shots like calling the y33 as a "slow dog" and "jap.. buick".

Hey, we are all in the same boat here. Be nice dkill.

[PalmerWMD]

This thread is locked.

Fred...