Your first time driving a Q.

[Jesda]

(G50, Y33, F50)

I'm bored, so I'm recalling my Q45 deflowering.

I remember my first time, back in 2000 at "Greenacres Auto" in Spokane WA. It was a 93 I believe, with 140k and a grey interior. It was either black or forest green, and I really had no idea what I was getting into. I knew it was $7000, was an Infiniti Q45, and thats the extent of it.

I put the key in... quiet hum of the seat and steering wheel moving into place automatically. The second thing I noticed was the way the controls wrapped around the driver, and the clock was analog with a warm glow. The numbers on the gauges were printed in an elegant font I had never seen in an automobile. They looked like the letters you'd see on a distinguished law firm's business card.

Next, I pushed the "O" button on the Bose head unit -- the radio had a motorized door! [Thats the only and ONLY thing I do miss about the Bose system in my old Q.] I turned on the radio and heard some squealing. Doh. I turned it off, and good thing, because it opened my ears to the VH45.

The car lot was located right next to a highway ramp, and three surges of power threw me back into my seat over and over again. Holy CRAP. I did that two or three times before returning. It wouldnt have mattered if it steered like a cruise ship or looked like a Yugo. The thrust was worth $7k alone.

After getting out, I opened the hood and took a long glance at the strangely exotic badge, with its decorative flora. I'm glad I didnt buy it, because at the time I could barely afford the car itself, much less a chain guide job and fuel system work.

That experience stuck with me for a few years, and finally in 03 I bought a Q (after strongly considering a Legend and a Seville to replace my 929). You can always tell when human emotion goes into the development of an automobile.

[FarFetched]

My first meeting was in NY. My bro-in-law had 98 Q45 (he wrecked it )I was visiting my family there few years back.We were heading to NJ for some shoppoing, when he asked me if I want to drive. I jumped in, It was like having sex for the first time! Yknow what I mean. You don't know the territory, you are intemidated, and somewhat scared. I was overwhelmed by Q45's authority. It lasted entire trip. I couldn't drink unough of this wonderful experience, I was thirsty for Q's power and control. I fell in love, blindly and irrevocably. Every time I see Y33 blazing down the road, I catch up with her and check her out. I have no problem catching up with car on hwy. I ride bike now! Eventually, I will get Y33 back. It will happen. The sound is pure balzam to your ears! Listening to classic music (yeah mechanic who listens to classical music - what an oxymoron you'd say) blows you mind away. I've hver hear such clear sound in a car. I've driven E55, can't comare sound system at all. Those vanity lights, auto seats, telescoping steering wheel. Spoils your aZZ rotten!One of the best cars I've owned and driven!Cheers!

[DetroitJazzMan]

In october of 1989 I got a call from a friend of mine who was to be the General Sales Manager of a Newly Built Infiniti Dealership, in Orlando Florida. Billy....he say's to me, "this is gonna be a fantastic car company, I need you to come and help me get a sales force together." (I had just left the auto industry 9 months before, to concentrate on my longtime second career as a Real Estate Broker) After a lot of reflection (I Love Cars) I decided to go on a trial basis for six months. I went over, we negotiated a pay plan, they gave me a Q45 for a Demo! Putting the key in the ignition, the Q comes to life, just a glimpse of exhaust note, we began to move, this Q is sweet, in fact its nicer than a lot of cars I've either owned or driven, you see I was the Diplomatic sales director for a Mercedes Distributor in Nuremberg, Germany for 12 years of the 15 years I lived in Europe. (*****flashback***** dayuuummm just past a cop at 220 Klicks and he didn't even move) What immediately impressed me with this car was the impeccable paint, no orange peel here!!! (never saw a Q with paint blemish come on the lot never!!!) ...absolutely flawless, the supple leather and everything surrounds the driver, and with everything a Q can do, it still looks good doing it!. I take the on ramp onto the interstate, press down on the gas and that little glimpse of exhaust note, turned into a controlled angry growl, propelling this car in what seems like unrestrained power, speed building rapidly, I ease off at 110 mph, this car is awsome at that speed, no indications that you're traveling that fast, Lexus whished their new LS400 was this nice. I've always felt that the Q was a nicer car. My second demo, was with HICAS, now that's a car, I ended up leasing (big mistake, artifically inflated residual values were way out of line by end of lease) by the time the lease was up, with all the new parts and changes, it was a dayumn fine automobile, and, i've never seen another one since with the two-tone pearl white with dark brown rockers and cream white interior. I ended up buying a 1994 Base Q with TCS and Heated seats, kept that car until 1999 when it was stolen. Now I've got this 94 that I bought to finally replace my earlier 94, it runs so good I always found an excuse to drive it rather that one of the other cars. Unfortunately, now it dosen't get any road time....it sits covered in front of the garage with a frown on. You see, its front teeth, eyes, and hat are all crumpled. Now im looking for another one but this time it has to be Active 94-95 only. again...IMHO the best years for Q45.

Monday Mornign we all sit down and preview Infiniti's launch advertisement, (Lexus had already launched the LS) My initial impression was "Where's the car" ROCKS, ZEN GARDENS, TREES............. I thought we were selling cars. IMHO had nissan chosen a different ad agency, things might be a little different. Infiniti Q45 could have been the flagship of the world!!!!! But as it stands, the informed buyer that considers the older Q45's have an opportunity to buy one of the finest cars made, for the price of a ford taurus, assuming you could find a taurus in the same preserved condition you can buy a Q in.

[Qship4life]

I was only 15 driving on a learners permit. my dad had a 90 at the time. I went out to chicago for the day with him so he could run some errands. we were getting ready to head home and he suggested that i should drive. i happened to be pulling out on to a very busy road and needed to get into traffic. he told me i best put it down into first gear to make sure she was ready to go when i spotted an opening. holy crap was me reaction, so smooth and so powerfull for a little 15 year old. i knew right then i had to get one. ended up getting one a year later and been driving it since.

[louiegz]

The first time I drove a Q was when I picked up the Q I have now, brand new. As some of you might know, my Q use to be my father's. I remember going to the dealer with him and he had a white Caddy Sedan Deville. I hate white cars so I made sure I chose the color. Cabernet Pearl and I chose the dark brown interior because I thought the darker color would stay cleaner than the tan, If I knew it was going to be my car in the future, I would have gotten black on black. That's the color combo that makes the Q look the most fresh and modern. It was also my job to make sure there were no pinstripes on the Q. Both his Caddies before had them and there where a few Qs at the dealer with them. We go pick up the Q and my dad was a little worried driving a car that he wasn't use to at night, so I drove it home. Man, when that car was brand new, it was awesome. The Q was smooth as butter. I wish I was more observant as I am now because things that bother me about the Q now, I don't remember back then. Now I find the Q a little long on the tooth. When I want to go out on a spirited drive, I grab the keys to the Bimmer. The Q still holds it's own on the road and runs well for an 11 year old car. Now with all the dents and scratches, it's my work car and the car that I don't care where I park. Who thought a $52,000 car would become my beater. Not a bad car for a beater.

[Q451990]

My first experience with a Q was in 1994 or 1995. I had been driving a 1990 Mercury Cougar, and although I loved it's features and comfort, had terrible quality issues. (Duh, it's a Ford)

I had decided that my next car should be a third gen. Nissan Maxima. Preferrably a Pearl white 5-speed SE model. My dad spotted the Q in a parking lot at a Ryan's steak house for sale by owner. Turns out the owner was a manager there, and we took the car for a drive. I too remember the unique dash, and badging on the "belt buckle." This car was Charcoal grey with a grey interior. I also remember thinking "this car is too much for me" ... sort of an "I'm not worthy" feeling.

I drove the car and was amazed at the smooth effortless acceleration. I remember loving the muted growl from the exhaust that sounded refined yet still let the driver know something was alive under the hood.

This particular Q was a bit out of our price range... maybe $18K at the time... and we were also concerned because he had just bought the car in Atlanta a few weeks earlier. He didn't really have a reason for selling it... just said he changed his mind. In any case we figured he found something that scared him and decided to unload.

Later that summer I bought a pearl white 5sp Maxima SE. It was a wonderful car but died a violent death due to a road hazzard piercing the left front tire on the interstate. It safely guided me backwards across the interstate over three lanes, up a hill, and through a fence. I came out without a scratch - the car wasn't so lucky.

So then in 1996, looking for a car once again, we started looking at Q's and J's. My dad wanted me to get a J because of the lower fuel costs... but we decided on a Q in Atlanta that had some of her exteneded warranty still in place. I was a 9th semester senior in college at that time, and needless to say, many of my friends thought I was selling crack or something. They had no idea how much that Q had depreciated in six years... I bought her for $13,900 with about 78K on the odometer.

That became "Q1" that stayed with me for almost 10 years!

Heath

[louiegz]

...and we were also concerned because he had just bought the car in Atlanta a few weeks earlier. He didn't really have a reason for selling it... just said he changed his mind. In any case we figured he found something that scared him and decided to unload.

He probably found out that he had to do the chain guides. I would have dumped the car if I knew that big job was looming.

[vicQ45]

i saw it on autotrader(looking for a replacement maxima) and was like "i wonder what it's like to drive a car like that and why does it cost the same as a maxima"

drove it. loved it. bought it. loved it. sold it. regret it

the end

[Q45man1]

My first experience with the Q was back in 1991. I was a field application engineer handling microprocessors, microcontrollers, ASIC, PLDs and memory products for an electronics firm. I went to visit a Japanese customer who happens to own a 91Q. It was a beautiful car. We went to lunch together and he had let me drove it back to his office.

It was a pleasant experience. At that time I was still driving my 280Z (equipped with triple mikuni, bilstein shocks and suspension technique springs). My Z has a bone jarring ride compared to the Q. I keep telling myself that one day I will own a Q.

Needless to say, it took me 13 years later to buy a Q. I bought my '02Q in 2004 and it always brings smile to my face everytime I received compliments how nice it looks. It just turned 60K miles with no problems, just changed the battery and cleaned the throttle body.

Now, I'm in the market for a 94-96Q!

[Q451990]

He probably found out that he had to do the chain guides. I would have dumped the car if I knew that big job was looming.

Back in 1994 or 1995 I doubt many people knew that the guide issue even existed! Remember, many dealerships (including mine) don't even acknowledge that there's a problem even today! Probably more ignorance at this point, but even in 1998 or 1999 they marginalized the guide issue and acted surprised when mine cratered.

Heath

[BadQ45t]

My dad had a 92' that he bought in 95' to replace his 90' LS400 as it was getting close to 100k and he was able to get a ripping deal on the 92' Q with like 23k on it for 7 grand from someone that didn't care what the car was worth. Anyhow, he was out in Palm Desert and I drove my 300ZX out there to visit him and we drove to a restaurant for dinner and i sat in the back on the way there and thought that the back seat was smaller but hte car was WAY cooler than his LS400 was. On the way home I asked for the keys and was blown away when I nailed it getting on the highway. Got it up to 90 on the freeway in a heartbeat and though, man did Infiniti blow it with their wind and zen ads thinking of what a unexciting car his LS400 was.

I finally made a choice in 2000 to buy a 97' over a 96' from a local dealership, the wife liked the 97' hands down and the power difference was not apparent with back-to-back comparo on the test drives. I had that 92' for six months and it was a beast but didn't want two V8's in the family......timing guides broke 100 miles after dad sold the car and gave the guy his money back, the 97' still is in the garage.

[hannibal]

I cant recall ever driving a Q, except for Q's that I parked as a valet. But those 'test drives' cant give an accurate picture...

I remember my first ride in a Q. A friend in high school drove his Mom's 90-93 Q to school and we took it out to lunch. Coming back, we got on an entrance ramp to the highway cruising at about 40mph. My friend hit it at the top of the ramp, and the Q pressed me back in my seat for a few seconds. We accelerated from 40 to 100+ quicker than I ever had before.

I was impressed by the car, but I really didnt have a luxury car mindset, so I totally dismissed the experience. It wasnt until I joined NICO that I realized how great of a highway cruiser that Q was.

[HashiriyaS14]

My first and only experience driving a G50 was when I went to go check one out at "Maximum Deals", a shady dealership in Virginia.

I did a whole write-up on it in it's own thread here:

zerothread?id=157081

I really enjoyed the drive, and I'm still hell-bent on getting one, although I'm just as hell-bent on a Fleetwood, so I suppose I'm going to have to find more parking spaces.

For the record, the other G50 I was looking at recently is unfortunately a no-go. Guy sold it to someone else, and so the search continues.

[PIONEER]

I have owned 5 maximas in the past. My last one was a 02 6spd. I was getting fedup with Nissan's customer service at the dealers. Sold my Maxima. Looked around for a LS430. Saw a 02 Q45 few states down from me, Flew out there, Drove it, Picked it up, Drove it some more til a Deer ran into me and killed the car and the deer. Now I have a 05 Q. Glad I didn't follow the Hype and get the LS430.

[qsiguy]

About 2000-2001 wife wanted a new car to replace our old Suburban. A used car dealer friend of mine said the Infiniti's were a good buy. Found one in the Autotrader and went to see it on a hot summer day in Phoenix, AZ in my Land Rover Discovery. Car was beautiful, he had it sparkling, lots of maintenance records. Drove it and loved the power. Wife liked it too so we made a deal and paid $9500 for it. Amazing how they came down in price in the last 5 years let alone since new! While doing the test drive one of my kids got sick and hurled in my Land Rover not cool. Had to smell that stuff cooking in the car on the long hot drive home. EEWW!

Land Rovers gone but still have the Q and love it more now than I did then. Also, wifes got a minivan for hauling the kids around so the Q is all mine! sweeet.

[Peterofdevon]

I drove my first Q in the spring of 1993. I was passing an Infinity dealer in Jersey and saw several of them in front on the lot. My Maxima was coming off lease in a couple months. I had some time to kill so I drove in not expecting anything.

Well, here I was 35 years old and looking at a $42K car and the salesman was actually nice to me and considered me a serious buyer! I test drove a new one and was blown away by the way the car tracked and how it fit me like a glove. We talked price and he suggested I also consider a second hand one---at the time they had some two year lease deal going and some had just come off lease.

One hour later--I'm driving home in a 91 with 15K on the odo! I was in love with it. I'll never forget a stretch of interstate in central PA where I had it at 140MPH for what seemed like ten minutes. It was like a train on rails-totally unflappable. I drove it to 120K then got divorced in 96 and bought a Mustang Cobra. As much as I liked the Cobra I missed the refinement of the Q. So in early 97 I bought a 93Q and the Cobra was only brought out on weekends. The Q spoiled me and my boss said I should have a fun car that was more in line the Q--he was a Porsche guy. So I took the plunge and me and Chase bank owned a 1996 911 Cab for two years. Funny thing is---I liked the Q so much better as a daily driver. I remember test driving a new Corvette at the time and when I got in the Q after the test drive I thought it was a better tracking car and had a more light handed sporty feel on the interstate.

I drove that 93Q till 217K and last Oct bought a 94 which I like the best of all. Its not as sporty as the 91 or 93 but its more refined. Last month I saw a low mi 94T and had to have it. Its green and looks showroom new. Its getting its transmission sorted out now. I'll take it out as my weekend "nice" car and drive the other 94 till it drops.

Damn, I love these cars!

Peter