Nissan taking over Mitsubishi?

UNKNOWN_370

I don't agree. Halo cars are all important for every car brand. Halo cars are the center of marketing strategy. Even non enthusiasts want to believe there car was bred from heritage.

Why did Honda make the NSX, why they brought back the Type R? People were LOSING INTEREST IN THE BRAND.
The bread and butter civic was the worst one in history and the market share was dwindling.

Why did Toyota make the toyobaru , the LFA and now the BMW-Toyota sports car for 2018, the RCF and brand new is350. Toyota in 4 years has cars they can spit off, though they mostly suck. Toyota as well saw a loss of interest in the brand even Lexus. So they made Halo cars to pull new people in and keep new buyers.

As Honda and Toyota bring these econo and premium halos, Nissan is feeling a small but growing backlash.

Just having a brand new halo car in a dealership has people driving in to look at it. Then the salesgirl says. The altima v6 has a 350z engine and a Z inspired suspension and we have one on special for $26,000. But you were ogling over that Z that was $39,000. Dealer gives it to you with an extra $750 cash back and the mark of the altima was actually $29,000
It's lunacy, that halo cars aren't worth anything. I used to sell cars for a short stint. They are the reason why people develop interest in there favorite brands.

Remember the corvette steering wheel and tail lights in the cobalt? They sold a bunch on that alone. They made an SS model and cobalts were everywhere. Just cuz of an SS MODEL and a corvette steering wheel. They sold a million shytty LS MODELS. Lol. People are easily influenced. Trump & Hillary are living proof of people's simplistic mentalities.

So halo cars are everything.

__________________
Favorite Quote.
"I'm not gonna kill you... I'm just gonna Bash Your Face In" Jack Nicholson-"The Shining". 1980

MacCool

I disagree, but

But assuming your point, I'm not sure how much halo effect the ancient old 370Z confers on Nissan these days. The automotive press in particular couldn't be more indifferent (if not downright derisive) these days, and sales of this $35,000 car could most generously be described as "lackluster" after 8 years of the same old same old.

barncobob

8 years long time, Porsche gets 4-5 years before upgrading to something similar but different, nothing radical though while 370z is long overdue

UNKNOWN_370

As Barncobob stated. The Z is 8 years running. People see a 400hp, 3400lb-3550lb q60 and see anxious to see a 400hp, 3,000lb-3100lb , Z with a modernized interior and semi retro styling. They want at least 3 more cubic feet in the hatch and something that will further set it apart from the competition. They want there 450hp Nismo and their 250hp entry level Z that weighs less than 3000 lbs. Lower wider, slightly lengthen wheelbase for more trunk. Possibly a transaxle?

Given the expected weight of the Q. It should be achievable.

The current state of the Z is the problem... NOT the future.

__________________
Favorite Quote.
"I'm not gonna kill you... I'm just gonna Bash Your Face In" Jack Nicholson-"The Shining". 1980

Larso1

Wow, seems like a lot of negativity about the 8yo design of the 370z. Look at the Porsche 911 mentioned..... same general styling since 1966, with maybe the biggest change (among many) being air-cooled to water cooled. Or how about the Giugiaro designed VW Golf/Rabbit/GTi. Same basic styling since 1974 but with lots of refinements over the years. The Miata didn't change much from 1989 until recently. And of course there are others, still selling lots of units. Personally I like the Z being a niche car and not seeing many on the road. It's a good looking car, people look twice at it, and it has plenty of performance for everyday driving. I'm very satisfied

UNKNOWN_370

https://youtu.be/0YHabVZljok

I ran across this review that reinforces what I was saying in terms of brands attracting customers by brandishing a niche segment to draw attention.

__________________
Favorite Quote.
"I'm not gonna kill you... I'm just gonna Bash Your Face In" Jack Nicholson-"The Shining". 1980

MacCool

The link doesn't work. It only brings up a review of some kind of Chevrolet sedan. I watched it until the end. It didn't want to make me buy a Chevy.

And I still don't get your point. I understand the concept of "halo" car...I just don't see where the tired old 370Z relates to that adjective. If anything, I think the Z's effect is generally laughter and eye-rolling these days. Don't get me wrong .. it was cool for the first few years and I've liked my Z's a lot. I just don't think it does **** for Nissan's reputation anymore these days and is probably counterproductive. Now...the GT-R...that's different. Most people who know cars still speak of it in hushed tones.

Z_ealot

Until you realize how many cars that the 370Z screws over on the track when driven by steven doherty

MacCool

No clue who Steve Doherty is, and I'm not even aware that anyone races the 370Z at any kind of level that I might stumble on while channel surfing. I don't see that as much of a halo.


..

Z_ealot

Not arguing on the halo car subject, more pointing out that the 370Z garners anything but "laughter and eye rolling" when equipped properly and driven properly and if you dont know who steven doherty is just google his name and doran racing

Larso1

Lol, you should probably get your profile changed to read "an Ex-Z fanatic". I say, don't worry about what you think others might be thinking, enjoy your Z now. In only 10 years time electric cars are going to be prolific, and f-a-s-t! And battery storage will give you over 200 miles until the next quick charge. All the I-C powered cars on the road today, including Lambos and Porsches, are going to be viewed as "classic" and "vintage." It's going to happen fast, everyone will want one, and no car maker will want to be left behind. No transmissions, motor at each wheel, and so AWD will be a given. And then enjoy those cars for a time until human driven cars are outlawed and driverless transportation is the norm. Mark my words...😉

MacCool

At no point have I said that I don't like my 370Z nor do I care in the slightest what other's think of it. I am intimately aware of its merits and shortcomings and bought my second one anyway. It's a blast to drive, and at $35k for that kind of performance it's a great bargain. I enjoy it every time I drive it. Unlike some in this thread, however, I have no illusions about its contribution to the real automobile world after 8 years, it's overall desireability in the market after 8 years, or its contribution after 8 years to the sterling reputation of Nissan as a performance car company.

The main attraction of the Z for me is its cost. If I wanted performance with minimal regard to cost and without regard to practicality there are about a half-dozen other performance vehicles I'd get over a 370Z, but I can't see the utility of spending the considerably greater amount of money on a performance car like a GT-R or Stingray, both of which I've seriously considered, that would sit in my garage 5 months out of the year. IOW, I would much rather buy performance and I have no interest whatsoever in bolting it on. So until I decide to bite the bullet and pop for something than makes my insurance guy roll his eyes, the factory stock 370Z works well for me. It's a great compromise.

I don't mean to disparage you Tunerz in this thread and I'm sorry to gore your ox. I don't want to mod my Z, I don't want to race it, and I don't know or care who Steven Doherty is. What my car "can be turned into" doesn't interest me in the slightest. I'm interested in how it works out of the box compared to how much it costs and where I can get it worked on.

UNKNOWN_370

Oh goodness. You're fvckin kidding me with this post right? You must've been inducted into the numb steering coyote crew? Name another 2 seat sports car with a sub 5.5 second, sub 13.3second quarter sports car than can be had for $30,000? As stated a million times. The Z is a Jack of trades master of none. You're just the type of guy that wants a car that compares to something else in your price bracket simply so you can say.
"My car is better than yours" But the Z eliminated the competition....
Pontiac died but... They could've done with the solstice, what they did with the G8. Make an SS and stay competitive.
The Rx8. Though emissions knocked it out the park. Mazda recently announced they wont be making a Z competitor anytime soon even though they've made emissions breakthroughs with the 16x rotary engine.
The BMW Z4, no one even talks about it. The Z is still getting buzz all over YouTube channels.

Load out a toyobaru twin and they Costa's much as a base Z. I'll take the 127 extra hp thank you.
Everyone who has made a new v6 that is now Z competitive lacks ANY AND ALL STEERING FEEL. Has much larger proportions and doesn't have an enveloping one with car feel.

See these things matter to real drivers. That's what really sets apart an enthusiast that truly enjoys driving from the schmuck at the cars and coffee c0ck measuring his v8 horsepower numbers.

And before you say... yeah but you won't get an frs and that's a pure driving car. The FRS has NO get up and go whatsoever. You really have to ring it out and get similar mpg numbers to the Z to make it exciting. The Z is properly geared for both low speed and high speed fun.
The Z isn't the only Asian car taking long to release either. The gencoupe which is a stronger seller than the has delayed it's release. I'm sure the wait is based on generational technology updates and playing the waiting game for budget reasons.
As far as not getting anything out of the article. It explained why halo/sports cars are important to companies. That's WHAT YOU DISAGREED WITH as a whole.

Now factoring in your jaded, one sided and highly subjective opinion on the Z. Our cars are the poster child for niche. It compares to nothing.... it is standalone price to packaging. It is stand alone in philosophy of use, and it's more of a drift car and mountain cutter than track car. That's not a popular theme here in the states. If you're living life a quarter mile at a time, the Z isn't for you. But if you love hitting the curves, nothing in the price feels as DIRECT. Gives more FEEDBACK or comes with such an amazingly proper SEATING POSITION. And with swifts n Koni yellows, the front doesn't feels heavy as with the stock shocks so you corner so much better. Adding bigger sways makes this car perfect and the stop tech stock brake upgrade make it stop from excellent to phenomenal.

To each his own on taste and performance needs. And yes the Z interior is outdated. But everything is placed where it should be. The only place you'll get a better layout is on a Ferrari or a motorcycle. The outside still gets the stares and glares and questions. Even though that's aging...

The only reason people don't bash the GTR completely is cuz the GTR will demolish any nay Sayer out to $250,000 without breaking a sweat. The only thing people can say is it's a video game on wheels, and that's bullshyt cuz
It's steering is hydraulic
It's awd is only on 10% of the time.
Stands at 53.9"which is relatively low for its size giving it an advantage over the competition. Giving it a low cog and drag coefficient that is unmatched by anything else in the range. The gtr shyt talkers get shot down in conversations and on the track.

Let's see what negativity you guys have with the Z35?

__________________
Favorite Quote.
"I'm not gonna kill you... I'm just gonna Bash Your Face In" Jack Nicholson-"The Shining". 1980

barncobob

tuff crowd tonite...

MacCool

Yeah, sorry...I coudn't get through all that. I kept drifting off. I do note your passion, however.

Anyway, you've missed the point. I share your enthusiasm for the 370Z, and the fact that It's an 8 year old platform doesn't bother me in the slightest. It was a 6 year old platform when I bought my second one. I had no illusions about what I was buying, and I agree with you about enjoyment per dollar.

What you didn't like was disputing your "halo" car theory. We disagree on the contribution that the Z makes toward Nissan's reputation. We don't disagree on the merits of the car. I'm a fan, and I'm looking forward to the Z35.