Infiniti QX4

anode

Looking at a 2001 QX4 w/premium package, sunroof, navigation system, tow package and rear window defector listing for 40,115 and being offered to me for 38,270. Fair Deal or should I look elsewhere?
Thanks!

nicky44

I have been offered $800 over invoice on the QX4 from Tim B at Glendale infiniti....He is the internet salesperson...tell him that Nicky W referred you to him. This is the best deal i found in CA (southern) area.

nicky44

Hey Anode.....thats too much.....i would not pay anything over 36555 is invoice plus $800 = $37355....

ace10

i STRONGLY advise not entering into a lease which is longer than your warranty period. for infiniti, that means 48 months max. look at it this way, do you want to pay to repair someone else's car? say the tranny goes bad in the 52nd month or a window motor dies just before you turn the thing back in. consumables, such as brake pads, tires and wiper blades, are one thing, but it's not like this is your car. if something breaks, it's not like you have nay choice but to repair it, especially minor stuff.

this goes for all vehicles, especially one as with so many potentially expensive repairs with the qx4. (tranny, 4wd system, power everthing, stereo, etc...)

my opinion,
ace

tinyguy

For those vehicles with short warranty (3 or less), you can purchase extended warranty, and lease for (say) 5 years, if you are interested in leasing for long term and wants some peace of mind during the ownership.

Long term lease isn't for everyone, since you end up paying so much interest during the time, but it does lower the monthly payment, so if you can use the remaining payments optimally (ie. invest), it CAN make sense... If you have no means to invest and get less than the standard interest rate, DON'T do it...

lopro1

Sounds like a great deal. What year was your previous QX4? I recently purchased a 98 love it so far(heavy drinker though).

I must say that I miss my old car 95 Probe GT, first time I traded in a car that I still enjoyed driving. Winters a coming, and I hope the Q, makes me forget my Probe.

jimmydelray

I traded a '99 QX4 for a '00 I30T with traction control. I than traded the I30T for the '01 QX4 4X4. I absolutely love it. Also loved the I30T. What a great car!!!! Missed the riding position though of the SUV. Needless to say the 240HP engine will probably be engine of the year or something. It is terrific.......

Have Fun with your QX4,
Jimmy

jscatena

Good luck with your Jeep. After 18,000 miles DC bought it back under the Lemon Law. I was one of 54 that the law office handled. They are proven lemons and the Quadra drive system is the worst part. Listen closely for the grinding nose when you make a hard left hand turn then wait for your transfer case to blow out. Mine went 3 times before Chrysler admitted it was a service bulletin/recall. I took the money from my settlement and leased a new QX4 loaded. man, what a difference!

kdshapiro

Good luck with your QX4 the '01s are sweet vehicles. As I said my Jeep has been a honey, with no problems. The QuadraDrive has been a blast especially in last years snow and also off-road. The problems reported on these forums, I have not seen (yet). Your new QX$ will probably be reliable, after all it's an Infinity. When my lease expires in two years, I look forward to giving it back and getting the 2003 model with souped up V8.

kdshapiro

Check out this thread...the pictures show the difference between the Jeeps and most other SUVs.

http://jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/Forum11/HTML/006727.html

(Although you already know this)

jscatena

It was a tough decision. I loved my JGC but it was a piece od sh@@ and Chrysler admitted it. I drove every SUV from the Tahoe to the Mercedes ML and the QX4 was the best. Only 3,500 miles on it as I have a 1999 Miata that is my "summer" car. Hope you Jeep is the exception. There aren't many who don't have the problem

psherrod

I recently purchased a 2001 QX4 with a GPS navigation system and want to give a brief report.

The navigation system is VERY well designed and works extremely well as long as the area you are driving in is part of an area for which they have done detailed mapping. So far, they have only done detailed mapping for about 40% of the USA, but they say that the rest should be done by summer of 2001.

The screen is large, mounted high and easy to see while driving. It has a touch screen which makes it much easier to make selections and enter addresses than other systems that require a joystick to position a cursor over letters for an address or menu items.

When cruising, its "Birdview" display shows the car on the road from a perspective viewpoint located above and behind the car. So you see the car and the roads extending into the distance. Major buildings have 3D icons that extend up from the ground. When approaching an intersection, it switches automatically to a fine-scale planar map showing the intersection in detail.

The voice guidance is incredibly well done. It uses a clear and pleasing female voice that is very smooth without the typical jerky, pieced-together quality that some other systems have. It gives good guidance in advance of turns such as "get in the left lane", "turn left in 0.6 miles", etc. It automatically reduces the volume of the audio system while giving a navigation guidance announcement.

I have used the system to make several complex, cross-town drives involving interstates and backroads. It calculated excellent routes, knew about one-way streets, and the voice guidance was perfect in telling me what to do in plenty of time.

The "wow factor" is very high. EVERYONE who I have given a ride immediately spots the navigation screen, wants to know how it works, and is impressed by the moving map and voice guidance. In 5 years navigation systems may be old hat, but right now it an awesomely impressive option. This alone would make it worth $2,000.

Phil Sherrod

psherrod

I recently purchased a 2001 QX4 with the Premium, Sport, Navigation and Towing packages. I am very well pleased with the car except for one thing: I find the seats to be uncomfortable for my back. The lumbar support seems to be too high. I have tried various adjustments, but I can't seem to make it fit me well. Has anyone else experienced this? Is the seat likely to be more comfortable after it breaks in?

Phil Sherrod

jimmydelray

Give the seat a chance. Yes, I have already noticed a difference in only a few days. Love this vehicle. It was really a hard decission and I could of gone for the Montero Limited but the QX4 feels just perfect for me. I love the size, not too big and yet not too small either. About the same price when done with the dealing. Feel the QX4 will also hold it's value better than the Montero Limited.

Thanks,
Jimmy

djski

I have had a 2001 QX4 for 4 months now and love every minute of it. Gas mileage between 16-17 and hoping it will break in closer to 18-19 someday. Question on the Fuel Gauge ... mine reads E and the light comes on with about 5-6 gallons left in the tank. This is a bit annoying since I get no fuel feedback past this point and find myself guessing how much gas I have left.

I have taken it to two different dealers and both have checked the vehicle out and told me this is the way it works (i.e. "we want to make sure you have early warning ... blah blah blah"). If this is true, its a very poor design as it reduces my effective tank to 16 gallons (and my effective range to around 250 miles).

Anyone else see this problem? Thanks.

yoeddy

I also have this same problem with my 2001. The service dept at my dealership also said the same thing. So, when it hits E, I go another 50 miles before filling it up.

jimmydelray

No problem, I do the same thing....I reset my mileage after fill up and check it before filling up.....I don't really view it as a problem and have seen bigger margins in some of my other vehicles. Wow, I really love this QX4. Can't wait to take it to the mountains!!! No, I'm not gonna run it through the mud and up rock mountains. Just some rough mountains roads!!!

Thanks,
Jimmy

johnskev

i noticed the post in the pathfinder area about husky floor mats. has anyone purchased these for their 2001 qx4? do they have the no-slip pin hole? i've been quoted 150 for the infiniti manufacturer floor mats (front and back seats) so i'd be much more interested in the husky mats if anyone recommends them.

how about a hoodshield?

wsdlic

I just bought a full set of floor and cargo mats for my 2001 QX4. Takes all the grief out of taking kids to the beach. Sand/mud wetsuits etc. Replaces the luxury of carpet with a bit of industrial strength rubber, but worth it to me. I have same mats in my seven year old Jimmy, and it still looks great. Front mat fits over tab, bottom has non skid spikes and doesn't slip. Rear mats overlap over hump. Cargo mat doesn't accommodate rings for cargo net in back. I put my small stuff in the right side compartment, and don't miss net. Overall good fit after they "relax" from shipping. I got a great price from http://www.roadstore.com/index2.html. Tan matches my beige interior fine. WSD

crikey

the part numbers can be obtained here

Get Carparts.com coupon and the whole liner application (floor, 2nd row, and cargo) will cost about $113.95 + shipping. In my case, shipping was $18.84, so my total is $132.79.

titanfan1

I recently purchased an I30 touring through Neil at Infiniti of Nashville.He will be handling the lease on my new QX4 as well.He mentioned he had taken a short break and was frustrated by the antics of some of the customers he worked with through the internet.One guy in Chicago actually had the nerve to put a deposit on a car with Neil,then go to his dealer and purchase the car.
I just wanted to give my thanks to this hard working guy and Thank him for being so professional and kind.He also has all the responsibility of designing and maintaining http://www.infinitiofnashville.com for which he is not compensated for.Thanks Neil

psherrod

I agree with the comments about Neil at Infiniti of Nashville. He was very patient with me and let me have 5 test drives without putting any pressure on me to buy. When I finally went in to buy my 2001 QX4 a week ago, I was disappointed to learn that Neil has gone back to California. So another salesman, who was plesant but had only spent a few minutes with me, ended up getting credit for the sale. On a positive note, I love my QX4.

donbanks

The QX4 has only 2 power outlets according to the Infiniti manual - 1 in the front center console and one in the rear cargo compartment. The manual specifically says that Infiniti recommends against using the cigarette lighter as a power source saying it is not designed for that purpose. To quote page 2-32 "The cigarette lighter socket is a power source for the cigarette lighter element only. The use of the cigarette lighter socket as a power source for any other accessory is not recommended."

Does anybody *know* why they recommend against using the cigarette lighter as a power source? (no guesses now!) I find the center console power outlet almost useless since there's no place to passthrough a power cord to the outside for a phone, laptop etc. and the power cord plug for almost everything I have a power cord for protrudes above the inset plastic dish above it (accessed from the top of the console) making it necessary to remove the dish when plugging in a cord.

I really like almost everything else about the QX4, but this is really beginning to bug me since I intend to use it for long trips and will often want to plug in several items that I don't want kept/won't fit in the center console.

aling

if the cigarette lighter is designed for the element only, it probably means that it wasn't designed to carry much power, and if you use it for something else, you may blow the fuse.

However, you can probably test (by trial and error) how much draw you can place on the socket before the fuse blows. I wouldn't be too ambitious though. A phone is probably okay, but a computer may be taking it a little far. As I said, the worse you can probably do is blow the fuse, so try it at your own risk!

Good luck!
Drew/aling
Townhall Community Leader/Vans Conference

qx4_4x4

crikey: Does your price include 2 liners for the
front, or just one for the driver's side? Also,
how flexible is the cargo liner, such that when the back seats are down, is the liner going to get
stretched or ripped if you have the cargo area
filled up?

For the record: I have a 2001 Titanium 4x4, and I absolutely love it. Just got out of the break-in period, and can't wait to see how it does when
towing. Should I change the oil now, or wait until the specified 3,750 mile mark?

Don't you guys love it when people get in the back and realize that the seats recline. Every single person has commented on it. I also get a lot of comments regarding the in-dash CD changer.

Also, getting ready to order the Zaino products,
I'll post my comments after I give them a try.

Keep the comments coming, this is a great message
board, I find myself checking it at least a couple times a day.

Later,
Tig.

baataboom

Phil and David, I live in the Nashville vacinity also. Can you share your QX4 configuration and price info? Here in Huntsville, AL we have a very small selection of QX4s (4), only one of which is 4x4 and it has the nav (which is an interesting feature, but probably has less value locally). And they don't seem particularly interested in fetching one. I'm looking for 4x4, premium pkg, sport pkg, sunroof, deflector, & tow. Do you recall seeing a similarly config'd QX4 in Nashville? I drove through Memphis 2 months ago and they had a large number (40?), but not very broad selection (no sport or tow).

BTW, I've followed this, the MB M-Class, and Pathfinder forums for 2-3 months and, like most, find it very valuable. (Wish the same could be said for investment boards!)

crikey

The total price specified is for 2 front liners, 1 full 2nd row liner (covers the hump) and the cargo are liner. I just ordered them the other day and am waiting for the arrival. So, I'm not sure about the flexibility, etc. Although, I would expect it to be very durable.

As for Zaino products, I placed my order in those too.

qx4_4x4

Please let us know how the Liners turn out. I'm very interested in getting them, just not sure if I should order all of them. I'm certainly interested in how they look, compared to the OEM carpet mats.

Thanks again for the quick response.

astro_dude

I am undecided about buying a 2001 QX4 because I am 6 feet tall and the leg room only says it can hold 41.7 in. Will this be okay? or will I be all cramped?? HELP!

bretfraz

Don't worry about the silly numbers. Try one on for size.

I'm 6'4" with a 36" inseam. The primary reason I bought my '97 was for how well I fit in the drivers seat. Not only do you have enough leg room, but there's very good knee room (the console shape doesn't intrude too far). But the best part of the QX4 are the front seats. Great thigh support, lower back support, and shoulder support. It's easy to get in and out and plenty firm to keep you comfy for long trips. I rent alot of vehicles so I feel I know what "big guy" comfort is and isn't. I'm always happy to hop into my QX4 after driving a rental for several days.

Drive one and feel for yourself. BTW, the '01 seats are the same as the '97. Slightly different leather texturing is the only diff.

psherrod

Here's my configuration: 2001 QX4, Tuscan beige, 4x4, Premium, Sunroof, Sport, Navigation, Towing, rear deflector (that's about all there is to get).

When I went in to negotiate, I had the full Consumers Report breakdown of dealer costs, plus quotes from 4 other dealers. After several rounds of passing offers and counter-offers to the manager through the salesman, we arrived at a final price of $38,500. This includes everything except for tax, title, license. I am very pleased with that price. I believe the more options you buy, the more room they have to negotiate.

I drive by Infiniti of Nashville's lot often, and they have a long string of QX4's right at the front. I don't know if they have the configuration you want, but I'd estimate that they have 12-15 QX4's on the lot. They are pleasant people to deal with. They let me have 5 test drives without putting any pressure on me to buy. The salesman I ended up buying from is Wayne Marshall; I suggest you ask for him if you contact them.

By the way, I LOVE the navigation option and highly recommend it. Right now, they don't have detailed street maps for Huntsville, but they will in less than a year. However, they do have all of the interstate and state roads mapped, and you can use them. There is no question that the navigation system has been the single most fun thing about the car, and the thing that most impresses people who ride in it. I would give up the Sport package before the Navigation package.

I've had my QX4 for about 2 weeks, and I love it. I'm enjoying it more than I expected to, which is unusual for a new car. It is extremely solid, and I love the solid, almost silent thump that you get when going over a significant bump in the road. I've never heard a rattle, squeak or creak. It handles these bumps like a Mercedes sedan.

Speaking of Mercedes, before settling on the QX4 I looked real hard at a ML320 -- took 5 test drives in it too. It is also a nice vehicle, but its reliability rating is terrible. Maybe they have improved the reliability in 2000 or 2001, but I'm not willing to take a chance. If you read the MB forum, you will see countless messages from owners having problems, squeaks, rattles and other problems. By the way, I think the interior of the QX4 far outclasses the ML320.

Don't let people tell you that a QX4 is just an expensive Pathfinder. I took a long test drive in a Pathfinder and there are major differences in the "feel" and ride. There is no question that the QX4 is the car to get.

Phil

jimmydelray

Yes Phil, I agree. Can't comment on the navigation system because I didn't get it. I did get the tow package and premium package as well as the sun roof. This is one outstanding vehicle. I too took an extensive ride in a Pathy and also felt the QX4 had a more solid feel however I also felt the Pathy was excellent too. I think there is a bit more insulation in the QX4 and I believe that is why the QX4 weighs more than the Pathy. Can anyone substantiate that?

Jimmy

aling

Yes, the QX4 does have more sound dampening material than the Pathfinder, and the suspension is tuned for a more luxurious (read soft) ride. This has advantages and disadvantages, the latter being that the QX4 is much more likely to bottom out its suspension, hence running into the bump stops. Both Car & Driver and Consumer Reports noted this with the QX4, but not with the Pathfinder.

Drew/aling
Townhall Community Leader/Vans Conference

titanfan1

Phil , Neil is still at Nashville, They had a disagreement over the fact he is not paid for any of the internet work he does.He was supposed to be compensated but the owner refuses to spend money on the internet.
Neil is a sharp guy .He came from California to introduce the internet and feels he is ahead of the curve.It's a shame the owner is so cheap.
See his handiwork at http://www.infinitofnashville.com

crikey

The Husky Liners should be the best custom fit out there. A few of the PF owners in the PF forum have them. Some of them tried out the WeatherTech Liners but returned them for the Husky Liners. I ordered after receiving positive feedback from PF owners who have them already.

wlee013

I received my QX4 this weekend and very happy with purchase. However, I have noticed that wind noise generated from roof at higher speeds. Wondered if anybody else has notice the wind noise from the roof? I think it is caused by the roof rack. Is there a remedy? Can rack be removed?

Thanks

bretfraz

You are correct, the wind noise is from the roof rack. I know the rack was redesigned on the '01 so have a close look at it. My '97's rack removed easily (thumb-screws for the two large rails, threaded twist locks for the three support rails) so I took it off right away. The noise didn't bother me so much as the tacky appearance. My Q is black and so are the main rails, so they disappeared once I removed the huge cross rails.

If you need a "real" roof rack, check out Thule and Yakima.

jimmydelray

Hmm, don't notice on mine....but I also have the
wind deflector on the sunroof and that may play a role......check it out with your dealer before you remove your cross pieces. BTW what did you buy and how was your deal if you don't mind sharing.

Jimmy

psherrod

I appreciate the message, but I really don't think Neil works there any more. When was the last time you had contact with him there?

When I called to buy, I asked the receptionist for Neil, and she said he no longer worked there. I asked Wayne Marshall about Neil, and he said they were sorry to see him leave, but he decided to go back to California.

Neil was not there when I went in to negotiate about the car, nor was he there when I picked up the car or when I went back to get the license plate put on.

Phil

jscatena

I have the rear window deflector but no sun roof deflector. I notice a "howling" noise at speeds over 70 MPH. I'm adjusting the cross bars to try and eliminate the noise.

Also, anyone have a problem with the front nose wind deflector/bug guard? I understand it creates a wind tunnel that somehow vibrates of the mirrors?

Anyway, 4,000 miles and I love my QX4. Got it after Chrysler "bought back" my 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee under the Lemon Law.

baataboom

Does anyone know if a program like this exists (similar to the Lexus program)?

Mark

lopro1

Anyone here know if the interior bike rack that's avail. for the Pathy. can be used in the QX4?

Also has anyone had any luck getting the rear seats to fold flat? I know that you must remove the headrest, but I still can't get the thing to lie flat.

Does anyone know of a good site for QX4 assesories? Can you get heated seats installed?

Thanks

E!!~~

bretfraz

I'll hazard a guess and say the Pathy parts will work with the QX4. You may want to have a closer look before parting with $$.

I've loaded heavy stuff on the folded seats and they still weren't flat. Just the way they are.

I've never found a supplier with alot of dedicated QX4 parts. Most Pathy parts will fit but be careful with things like bull bars and other off-road accessories since there is just enough diff between the "twins" to cause a problem. Aftermarket heated seats? Man, I have no idea. Maybe from a totaled wreck? You'd have to do the wiring and switches yourself.

lopro1

Do All QX4's come with Limited Slip Diff.? What's the best way to find out if you have LSD?

fcar

No. Limited slip dif only comes with heated seats option

bretfraz

only on 4X4 models. No LSD on 2WD, not even an option.

Geez, I wonder what drug the product planners were on when they decided not to offer LSD on the 2WD models??

psherrod

<<Geez, I wonder what drug the product planners were on when they decided not to offer LSD on the 2WD models??>>

Maybe they were on LSD:)

I wondered about that too. If any model needs LSD it would be the 2WD where a single slipping wheel takes ALL of your power. Also, it seems strange to me to bundle LSD with heated seats.

Phil

phil47

Quickest way to confirm LSD is to check for the orange label on the back of the diffential housing warning to use synthetic gear oil.

Slight vibration in the driver's side mirror (not passenger side) is a known weakness in the PF/QX4 mirror design. I had it on my 99.5 PF LE and I have it on my 2001 PF LE (and other owners have commented on it). Even my Nissan dealer acknowledged it, finally. They first claimed the bug deflector caused it, but taking it off only made it a bit less obvious at highway speeds. They finally said they would "notify" me if Nissan/Infiniti worked out a fix...yea...I'll hold my breath. Anyways, it's only noticable in high winds or highway speeds so I don't care enough to be upset.

lopro1

Can't say I've had that problem. I do have a slight shimmy though. This is a great truck I've been avg. 16.6 mpg.

Have yet to take it on a road trip. May drive down to Virginia Beach in a few weeks.

crikey

all liners fit perfectly.