Fuck Cars.

[SomeMook]

My car lunched it transmission with 115k on the clock. Pricing for a rebuild is $3k parts and labor. What a shitty way to start one's week.

I am looking into used/rebuilt transmissions, and the pricing there is more livable. Whatever happens, however I decide to fix this shit, the car will get sold.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

For those who care its a 2003 Infiniti G35. And I just paid it off 13 months ago for fucks sake!

[ghost]

Ditch the cage. Buy another bike.

(... or were you looking for a different type of advice?)

[bndgkmf]

Isn't it ride to work day?

[SomeMook]

Ditch the cage. Buy another bike.

(... or were you looking for a different type of advice?)

All advice is appreciated. I am considering this, but you know which bike I'm lusting over at this time (not the most practical machine). I'm also looking into that zipcar type thing, but I don't know if it's available out where I live. And bndgkmf, you are correct, and I did.

If I get the damned thing fixed, I can sell it for more than it's current state.

[Groove]

For those who care its a 2003 Infiniti G35. And I just paid it off 13 months ago for fucks sake!

It'll nickel & dime you infinitely.

[Priest]

Sell the Gucci Pimpwagon and get yourself a sweet 1997 Corolla for a few bucks for those 11 pesky snow days we get.

[Jaeger]

First -- question, is Infiniti actually Subaru? If so, I'm not surprised about the transmission, I'm sorry to say. If it is a Subaru mother company and a Subaru transmission, cut your losses and walk away.

Second -- what he said about the Corolla. I'd actually say go with a Civic or (heh) a Taco.

Just sayin'.

EDIT: I stand corrected -- they're Nissans, not Subaru. Hunh. Oh well -- never mind, then.

--Jaeger

[tumbler]

hmm the g35 is a nice car.. i was looking at those when i bought mine.. sorry to hear about your transmission.


i have no advice. i'm useless.

[UndertheGun]

Should be able to find one for waaay less than 3k used. Look on your local nissan/z/G forum for one.

Auto or manual?

[Jonny]

...you know which bike I'm lusting over at this time (not the most practical machine).

A Yamaha TW200? They're not so bad...

[Bigshankhank]

Fix it and keep driving it. Repairing you car once or twice a year is cheaper than making payments every month. Take it from me, my truck crossed 200k a while back, it looks like hammered shit but it still runs and needs work occasionally, but I will be dead in the cold hard ground before I make another car payment.

[GOSTAZ]

Sounds like it is time to find a clunker tranny and some flat black paint. Rip out the the passenger seat, and tape a picture of Ted Bundy to the dash. Rock it old skool....

Bummer about the G. I always liked the lines of that car.

[smashinator]

Fix it and keep driving it. Repairing you car once or twice a year is cheaper than making payments every month.

What he said. It is always cheaper to fix the car you HAVE than to buy a new one. Giving away nickles and dimes sucks, sure, but not as much as multiple Benjamins every month.

Of course, sometimes you're just sick of the damn car.

So if you're trying to save money, keep your car and keep fixing it. If you just hate your car and want a different one, well, get one.


Also, if you need transportation that's cheap on gas, insurance and maintenance, I know a fella selling a sweet Vespa.

[rc26]

I'll push you into getting another car. Having recently gotten rid of a nickel and dime queen...it got old, frustrating the ever living shit out of me. One thing after another.

I didn't wanna wrench on it any more (or pay someone else to do so either)...get something newer and be done with it.

[Vespalina]

When I met N8 I had a 1991 Nissan Stanza - the damn thing ran for 146k miles before the transmission finally took a header into the abyss on my birthday (yay!). I loved that damn car and - as N8 can tell you - I fondly refer to it often.

That car however, did nickle & dime me to death - in the year prior to the transmission going, I put 5 grand into fixing this, that, and the other thing on it - finally, the guy at the dealership (yeah, don't harass me for that, N8 already does) said "hey, it's time, go look at some of our cars that just came off lease"

So I ended up with a 1998 Altima - which I never felt comfortable with. I took that in for an oil change one day, found out both tie rods were shot and needed replaced (still under warranty thank doG). While I was waiting the 2 hours it took to fix, I got approved to buy a new car. Took N8 to the dealership the next day and we leased a Pathfinder.

A year and a half later, we used up 3 years' worth of miles on our lease and traded the lease in to buy a dealer-demo Pathfinder which we still have.

Now that we both have bikes, N8's trying to talk me into buying a pickup truck - the Pathfinder is paid off and running well so I'm leaning more toward installing a hitch and getting a trailer.

My advice - if you can afford the payments - trade it in (running or not) and get something dealer-left over or recenlty off-lease - that way you'll have a warranty again.

Just my 2-cents though.

[Metalredneck]

Infiniti is NOT Subaru, I think it is Nissan. Both are owned by the same parent company; Fuji Heavy Industries.

As for what to do, you have to investigate remanufactured assemblies vs. used vs. shop doing repair vs towing to a tranny shop vs......

Good luck with the thinking.

[motorpsycho67]

Shirt I got at Munroe Motors in SF a few years ago...

[piccini9]

Aerostich has these...

[stiles]

Infiniti is NOT Subaru, I think it is Nissan. Both are owned by the same parent company; Fuji Heavy Industries.

This needs clarification:

Infiniti is (and always has been) a wholly-owned division of Nissan.

Nissan is currently owned by Renault.

Subaru is owned by Fuji Heavy Industries.

Nissan owned 20% of Fuji Heavy Industries (and thus Subaru) from 1968 to 1999. When Nissan was bought by Renault that year, Nissan sold their stake in Fuji to GM. This is why the Subaru WRX was rebadged and sold in the US as the Saab 9-2X for a year or two. GM in turn sold off its' stake in Fuji.

Toyota now owns about 17% of Fuji.

Fuji has never owned any part of Nissan AFAIK.

[rc26]

Infiniti is NOT Subaru, I think it is Nissan. Both are owned by the same parent company; Fuji Heavy Industries.

This needs clarification:

Infiniti is (and always has been) a wholly-owned division of Nissan.

Nissan is currently owned by Renault.

Subaru is owned by Fuji Heavy Industries.

Nissan owned 20% of Fuji Heavy Industries (and thus Subaru) from 1968 to 1999. When Nissan was bought by Renault that year, Nissan sold their stake in Fuji to GM. This is why the Subaru WRX was rebadged and sold in the US as the Saab 9-2X for a year or two. GM in turn sold off its' stake in Fuji.

Toyota now owns about 17% of Fuji.

Fuji has never owned any part of Nissan AFAIK.

Ok. let me see if I can get this straight. His Infinity is actually a INFINISSAULT?

I had a Renault R 12 for a few months back in the early 80's. Blew the motor backfiring it at will. Referred to it as "Le Peanut", always reminded me of one...

<a href="http://s443.photobucket.com/albums/qq16 ... lt-R12.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq16 ... lt-R12.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

The R5...wow, kick ass little car. Loved those huge fucking fender flares.

<a href="http://s443.photobucket.com/albums/qq16 ... ent=R5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq160/vfrf2/R5.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[SomeMook]

Thanks for the advice, the laughs, and the interesting tidbits of info. I bought a used transmission, it should arrive tomorrow or Monday. I should get the car back by mid next week. As long as this car runs until I can sell it, I'll be happy.

[problemaddict]

I concur w/ the fix it and keep it crowd, which seems to be the way you're going.

Are you dissatisfied w/ the car otherwise? I LOVE G35's. Think they are beeeyyoooteeful. I'm suprised at the tranny dying at 115k. I haven't heard of many reliability probs w/ newer Nissans. Is it an autotragic? maybe install an aftermarket tranny cooler, just to be safe...

[rc26]

I maybe install an aftermarket tranny cooler, just to be safe...

I totally agree on the trans cooler idea. They can help with extending the life of the trans tremendously. Don't forget the trans fluid changes either.

[stiles]

That's a R5 Turbo 2, which as a rear-drive, mid engine turbo has little in common with a regular FWD, front engine, boat anchor slow 1.4 R5 (otherwise known in the US as a LeCar).

Nissan's cars slipped considerably after Renault took over, and some current Nissans are Renault-based (like the Versa). I am not a fan of Renault-era Nissans for several reasons, among them spotty build quality, subpar reliability and flimsy materials making for a delicate car that does not hold up well over time.

This is especially distressing since late '80s to early '90s Nissans were usually rock solid, high quality cars that were very dependable and fun to drive.

YMMV of course.

[EIF]

This is especially distressing since late '80s to early '90s Nissans were usually rock solid, high quality cars that were very dependable and fun to drive.

+1

The XE Pickup (2.4L 2WD 5spd) I had from '99 to '05 was the best four wheel vehicle I have or will ever own. I sold it with 145K, the only non maintenance parts required in that interval were a cap and rotor every spring. Survived a T-bone from a van in it, my only car accident to date.

*Insert knock-on-wood icon here*

IMHO, I stick with the rule that if the repair will cost more than 75% of the current value of the car, ditch it. You'll make up the rest in the next twelve months in "incidentals".

That's why we are shopping to replace the Mercury Pillager in the driveway that needs electrical work, holes in the AC system plugged, and a complete exhaust manifold. That's more than the 3K or so the van is worth.

[guitargeek]

Yup, I drive a '92 B-13 Sentra with a GA16DE: 1.6 liter 16 valve four cylinder with variable valve timing into a 5-speed stick. It's peppy! In the fullness of time, I'd like to hot it up a bit with a nice 4 into 1 header (they look just like a Kerker with a long tail pipe!) and a CAI. Maybe even hang a fart can out back!

[Dave]

This is especially distressing since late '80s to early '90s Nissans were usually rock solid, high quality cars that were very dependable and fun to drive.

YMMV of course.

What late 80's early 90's nissans? Those all rotted out a decade ago up here.

[EIF]

This is especially distressing since late '80s to early '90s Nissans were usually rock solid, high quality cars that were very dependable and fun to drive.

YMMV of course.

What late 80's early 90's nissans? Those all rotted out a decade ago up here.

The only ones you'll find around here are Zs that come out on perfect days in the summer and sublegal 4WDs with holes everywhere that people use to plow out their driveways.

[tucko]

Fix it and keep driving it. Repairing you car once or twice a year is cheaper than making payments every month. Take it from me, my truck crossed 200k a while back, it looks like hammered shit but it still runs and needs work occasionally, but I will be dead in the cold hard ground before I make another car payment.

I've never had a car payment, and my 90 Toyota truck is the newest car I've owned. 190,000 miles and it just keeps going...

[Bo_9]

What late 80's early 90's nissans? Those all rotted out a decade ago up here.

Shhhh, Yer scaring my little '88 hardbody...