how many people think the Z34 is the last Z for a long while?

UNKNOWN_370

Exactly, in 97 cost of car, was the main factor, in 11 its cost of living and gas prices.

SeattleLion

This situation looks pretty bleak now. Nissan has only used the Z in one set of commercials that I have seen; the one where a Z is stretched into a Maxima. When sales slump on a specialty car, the only justification for its existence is the ability to use it to generate excitement about the brand. I haven't seen Nissan do that with the Z.

Certainly with projected sales under 20,000 cars, it is virtually impossible to imagine that the Z would get any special engine or transmission. Expensive-to-produce parts like engines and transmissions would have to be shared with other, better selling cars. I think it was a very good decsion to use the G37 engine and transmissions in the Z.

When I had my 240Z, its value grew every year because the successor cars just didn't have the excitement of the original. I suspect that if Nissan stops selling Z's (though I can't see why they wouldn't simply keep selling 370's since they have the tooling) then those of us with Z's would see our cars jump in value.

Sadly, in a world where for little more than a sport touring Z with nav, you can buy a Porsche, Nissan has to do more than just make Z's and ship a few to each dealer. It has to decide if the Z is a halo car. The GTR is a world class rally car. The Z is a true sports car.

I suspect the exotics and the midrange sports cars are also feeling the pain from the recession and gas price rise. Car sales in general are starting to decline.

I would hate to see the Z line disappear again; or worse, morph into some ugly sedan with the Z imprint. The good news is that we have our Z's and from my point of view, the 370 is the most wonderful Z ever. It is at least as beautiful as the 240, and has more power than I ever imagined a Z would have.

My forecast is that there will be a 2012 370Z with minor body tweaks. The hybrid Z is years and years away.

shadoquad

I don't see its competition advertised often, either, such as the Audi TT, the Porsche Cayman, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, the Ford Mustang, the Chevy Camaro and Corvette. I don't think advertising performance cars is good PR right now.
But you can still get in a Z for 30k.
The GTR is not a rally car. It's much too heavy to fit in that class, and it's used more as a GT race car if anything. It's a super car, competing with Corvette Z06's and high level Porsches.