In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a competitive race was on for luxury-market share among the major Japanese automakers. Honda took a chance on the notion that North American buyers would embrace a lineup of higher-priced vehicles with premium amenities, and the Acura brand was born in 1986.
Nissan and Toyota followed suit in 1990, with Infiniti and Lexus respectively. Infiniti’s top-line flagship car was the Q45 sedan, with a retail price of about $50,000.
The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 2000 Infiniti Q45 in Black Obsidian being advertised on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Tempe, Arizona. While calling a car “low mileage” that has nearly 100,000 miles on it (97,000 to be exact) might raise a few eyebrows, it’s true that longevity on Japanese cars such as this one is a strong attribute, and this Q45 probably has quite a bit of life left ahead of it.
At 10 years old, the 2000 Q45 was in its second-generation. It received some suspension updates and modern offerings like HID headlights, an eight-speaker Bose audio system and a CD changer. Commemorating the Q45’s 10-year production run, Infiniti badged 2000-model cars as “Anniversary Edition.”
Power for this large sedan came from a 4.3-liter V8, factory rated at 266 horsepower.
“Mechanically, this Infiniti is in perfection condition and runs and drives great,” the seller says. “The car is very clean under the hood and really shows how its previous owner took excellent care of it.”
Indeed, the Carfax report, shown via screen shots in the ad’s photo gallery, illustrates maintenance history that was performed, including replacement of the drive belts in 2014.
Inside, a two-tone color scheme features ivory-leather seats with a dark-graphite dashboard, accented by wood throughout the cabin including on the steering wheel. An Infiniti-signature analog clock resides in the upper portion of the dash. Infinity, after all, is a measure of time.
This well-sorted Q45 example deserves a role as a solid driver or a future collectible for a Nissan or Infiniti enthusiast. The seller is asking $7,900.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
