Hey Q fans.... I am about to "inherit" my mom's black on black 2002 Q45 "sport" with 90,000 miles on it. We got it for her two years ago but at age 82 she doesn't drive as much as she used to, and her eyes are going bad. She doesn't expect to be a safe driver much longer.

So here's my Q-estion: what should I do with this monster? I'm going to keep it as a second car (my DD is a lightly-modded 04 6MT G35 sedan) but if I'm keping the Q I want to mod it. My first priority is a tire/suspension combo for a less "floaty" ride and slightly (1" max) lower stance. Thinking 19" rims and some kind of coilover combo. I want it to look basically stock but with bigger rims and a BBK. Apart from that I want a total sleeper.

Second priority is upgrading the Bose audio system, and already thinking of how to do that without having to butcher the integrated "command centre" console with the audio/climate controls. I think the easiest way would be to just install an entirely independent single-din head unit in the glovebox wired to the steering wheel controls and basically bypass the factory system completely. That would leave the byzantine climate control system intact. Suggestions?

Last on the agenda is adding power via the following options:

rebuild the VK45DE to NISMO spec with the upgrades (flat-plane crank, etc) used for the 2008 Super-GT GT-R, thereby bumping up to around 500hp from the stock 340hp;

or

add to the stock motor the Stillen intercooled SC produced for the Titan truck.

I think it's possible to mate the VK45DE to a 6MT gearbox, but I'm not sure. Will have to research. Plan B would be to upgrade the existing AT with a shift kit to eliminate the laggy shift.

In either case, a severe revision of the stock exhaust is in order. I'm thinking test pipes opening up to a 3" true dual system of some sort. Some kind of frankenstein build with Magnaflows or similar at the end.

What do you guys think? Seems not too many people have fiddled around with the third-gen Q45. Am I stupid for even considering this?

 

You're def not stupid for considering this
Interested to see where this goes

 

Sub'd for updates if this happens.

 

Might as well do it

 

I was too until I realized this was just another one of my shattered dreams, was sooo looking forward to the major win this might have produced. Why do people have to get my hopes up only to smash them like a pumpkin hit by a 66# sledge....

 

dream-shattering is what I do.

Mom got herself some cataract surgery which seems to be a vast improvement in her ability to see while she's driving. Still a terrible driver, but now she can clearly see whatever it is she's about to run into. She's going to keep driving the Q for a while. Mods are still on the drawing board......