Welcome to Craig's Home Page
Last updated 09-March-2007 Return to Home Page
| Pictured is my 1994 Infiniti Q45 purchased February 2007. Photographed on a typically gloomy and overcast day, Vancouver International Airport can be seen behind the car (it just seems happier around other things that go fast). In the distance, some of Vancouver's popular skiing hills can be seen, including Cypress Mountain, Grouse Mountain, and Seymour Mountain. |
| History |
| My first car was a 1976 Datsun 710 which I owned for 4 years. My second was a 1983 Nissan Sentra which also lasted for 4 years. Next was a 1986 Toyota Camry which lasted 17 years. I don't know why, but I never bonded with the Camry over all those years, and even though neither the 710 nor the Sentra were particularly good cars, I longed to give Nissan one more chance albeit with something more upscale and comfortable. |
| The Q45 first caught my eye in 1990, when it was featured by Car & Driver magazine during its introductory year along with the Lexus LS 400 and a few other luxury sedans. I hoped then that I would some day have the chance to own one of these unusual cars. Although most automotive journalists favoured the LS 400 for its overall comfort, the Q45 was the choice for sporty performance. Little did I know that I was only one car away for the Q45, albeit it would be 17 years in that car (the Camry). |
| I purchased the Q45 from renowned Vancouver user-car dealer Cars from Mars ("Serving earthlings since 1989"). The Q45 had arrived on the Wednesday. I saw it advertised on the Thursday, and took the Friday off to have a look. Actually, I made it a point to visit a few other lots, where I looked at a weary 1992 Lexus LS 400 (300,000 KMs and so-so interior), a 1990 Toyota Cressida (took one look at the lot and ran), and a 1995 Mazda Millenia Cronos (not bad and low KMs). When I finally got to the Q45 (I though it best to see it last) it was scarcely believable. 165,000 KMs (and verifiable through online records), local car, beautiful body, and spanking clean interior (nobody who sits in it believes its a 1994). I was sold before I put the key in the ignition. I sealed the deal right after the test drive. Footnote: I dropped off my Camry and picked up the Q45 on Saturday. The dealer then fixed up my Camry and sold it on Monday. |
| Helpful Hints for Q45 Owners and Shoppers |
| Driving a luxury vehicle of this caliber is quite an experience. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a comfortable and peaceful driving experience with bullet-proof reliability (provided that you properly maintain the vehicle). I hope to use this website to share my knowledge of this wonderful automobile and to share resources. |
| Buy-Sell Online Newspaper: Serving numerous regions across Canada, the Buy-Sell is perhaps the best source for used vehicle in Vancouver. Use it for free for several weeks to track prices for vehicles of interest, then purchase an on-line subscription to get immediate access to current issues. (Subscribers get to see the new ads on Thursday instead of waiting until Sunday.) You can also place small text-only ads for free. Those in other regions may wish to note that Vancouver's used car market tends to have higher prices. |
| Cars from Mars: It was a long drive from Richmond to north Burnaby, but I found it worthwhile. The Q45 was a rare find at this lot, but if you're looking for a 10+ year-old car and don't have much money to spend, you will get a fair shake here. Vehicles aren't always perfect but they are quite forthcoming, helpful, and pressure-free. In short, Cars from Mars is ETDBW - 'Easy To Do Business With'. Vehicles tend to turn over fairly quickly so use the Buy-Sell website to keep on top of inventory. |
| Nissan Infiniti Car Owners Club: This is a wonderful resource for owners of all Nissan and Infiniti cars, which forums devoted to nearly ever model ever made. The Q45 has its own forum, which is frequented by its fanatically loyal ownership base. Search the archives for anything you need to know or post your question and watch the replies pile in. Great for do-it-yourselfers and for those who want to get knowledgeable guidance. Note: Prospective owners of Q45s should read the sticky thread, Thinking about buying a Q? Check this out! I narrowly avoided buying a 1992 Q45 and was glad that I searched for and found my 1994. |
| Q45 Maintenance Blog: Here is where I'll keep track of my maintenance and repairs. |
| Ultimate Q45 Maintenance Guide: This was originally posted at the NICOClub website by AlabamaDan. I've updated it to include comments from various forum participants and to make it a bit easier for non-mechanics (like me) to use and to understand. Format is MS Excel. |
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