Can someone explain Nissan's mentality to me.

Drex · 05-18-2011, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kielbasa16

You have to shop around at different dealerships to find the ones that are willing to negotiate a fair price. That and I feel like dealerships have been playing the Japanese disaster card. In 2010 I found an incredible deal on a left over 2009, but it was 3 hours away.

the first dealership i went to told me they weren't likely to make anymore z's due to the tsunami, so i should buy their overpriced one today. i walked out.

2 other dealerships i went to still had 2010's on the lot that they desperately wanted to get rid of, but they weren't the right color/options for me.

Lemers · 05-18-2011, 06:43 AM

Another thing is that the 350 was the first new Z in the states for a few years. It was announced with a lot of fanfare and it got attention and free marketing. Just like the camaro is doing now it sold a lot in the first two years of production because of people who grew up loving the car could now get a new one.

GZ3 · 05-18-2011, 10:08 AM

idk something about the 350Z that made it an instant hit! I mean that car took off in sales...also the production numbers betweeen the 2 is allot aless....the 370 is barely being pumped out...i think nissan has something huge in the brewing

UNKNOWN_370 · 05-18-2011, 10:15 AM

I see the Z going out of production in 2014. Then the Z coming back on its 50th birthday in 2019 as a 2020 model.

GZ3 · 05-18-2011, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UNKNOWN_370

I see the Z going out of production in 2014. Then the Z coming back on its 50th birthday in 2019 as a 2020 model.

as a 4.0 liter v8

whoady4shoady · 05-18-2011, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GZ3

as a 4.0 liter v8

400Z anyone?

GZ3 · 05-18-2011, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoady4shoady

400Z anyone?

mjd77 · 05-30-2011, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GZ3

as a 4.0 liter v8

Without some huge technological developments in fuel economy and/or energy policy (ie gas prices) in the next several years, V-8s will be history by 2020.

KillerBee370 · 05-18-2011, 10:22 AM

Maybe their thinking it's the best selling and most popular sport car in history

Econ · 05-18-2011, 10:26 AM

people don't have money now + they can get a used 350 (which looks similiar if not identical to most folk) for less than half the price of the 370's

kenchan · 05-18-2011, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shesha

The 350z seemed like a hot selling car. I owned a g35 at the time. It seemed like everyone and their mother owned a 350. In 2009 I leased a 370. 2 years later I see other 370s every once in a while.

Is it because Nissan doesn't budge on 370 negotiations? Why hasn't the 370 sold as well. I don't mind as it makes me feel like I own a more rare car, but what is Nissan thinking. As far as sales numbers go? Has the 370 been a failure? Why doesnt the dealership offer better deals?

I just don't get it.

In 15 months my lease is up, what should I get?

1) economy tanked..

2) i got mine at invoice... so not sure wat you mean.

3) you should get a 4 door mustang.

SeattleLion · 05-18-2011, 12:27 PM

Most of the reasons have already been given:
1. Poor economy
2. Gas prices, etc.

There is one other factor to consider: demand for sports cars is fairly inelastic. The 350 arrived as the new kid. It was really the first true sports car under $40k in years. This opened up a new market. Now young adults (20-35) could afford the payments for the 350. So, more sales...for a while.

It's interesting to note that other car makers did not hop onto this band wagon. The Z still stands pretty much alone in the affordable sports car category. Everyone in the industry, including Nissan, realizes that two-seat sports cars are niche products. The market for these cars isn't going to grow dramatically. The 350 opened up a new demographic segment. That segment began getting saturated by 2008. When the recession hit, one of the most impacted segments was the 20-35 year-old males; exactly the target market for the Z. So it isn't a big surprise that the market slowed.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse is an interesting parallel. I am not saying it is a sports car like the Z, so no flames. But in the 1990's it was an affordable sporty looking car that sold well to young males. However, by 1998 sales had dropped dramatically. Mitsubishi figured it was saturation of their demographic. In 2000 they introduced a new Eclipse. It was wider, had more comfortable seats, lots of ammenities. They were trying to appeal to the older (richer) crowd in order to expand the market.

I am very happy that Nissan is staying true to the Z's tradition of being a hard core sports car. If you look at it in the light of the Eclipse transformation, you can see that the 370 is a more refined version of the 350. I suspect Nissan wanted to broaden the appeal to a larger demographic.

It certainly worked for me. I looked at a 350 when it first came out. It just didn't work for me. I ended up with a Pathfinder. When I sat in the 370 it was a totally different experience, so I bought it. I am older (a lot) than 35 and things like leather seats, sat nav, good comfort are important to me. I am in the Porsche demographic, but the 370 won me over.

Why then are sales poor? I suspect it is that my demographic can afford Porsches and more often than not, that is the choice. Also, since the Z isn't a good choice for your one and only vehicle (my wife has a truck), the recession forced a lot of potential buyers to choose larger, more practical cars.

I don't think that the Z will disappear again. Modern car plants can produce multiple models on the same line. Once the cost of dies, tooling, etc are invested, it isn't particularly difficult to support a low volume model.

From my perspective I like that there are very few 370's out there. Makes my Z exotic. That's cool.

kenchan · 05-18-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleLion

I don't think that the Z will disappear again. Modern car plants can produce multiple models on the same line. Once the cost of dies, tooling, etc are invested, it isn't particularly difficult to support a low volume model.

cfweber · 05-18-2011, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shesha

The 350z seemed like a hot selling car. I owned a g35 at the time. It seemed like everyone and their mother owned a 350. In 2009 I leased a 370. 2 years later I see other 370s every once in a while.

Is it because Nissan doesn't budge on 370 negotiations? Why hasn't the 370 sold as well. I don't mind as it makes me feel like I own a more rare car, but what is Nissan thinking. As far as sales numbers go? Has the 370 been a failure? Why doesnt the dealership offer better deals?

I just don't get it.

In 15 months my lease is up, what should I get?

In 15 months we'll have new choices on top of the present available models

now, I'd go with Porsche if I could make it happen.

EgoTrip · 05-19-2011, 08:12 AM

Personally, I waited till they finally had a financing deal before I got my Z. It's a great car, but I just can't bring myself to EVER pay sticker price for any car. That means I'll never be first on my block to have the cool new toy, but I'm OK with that.

05-18-2011, 06:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
Lemers A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Izmir, Turkey Posts: 15,371 Drives: 2012 Traverse LTZ Rep Power: 53	Another thing is that the 350 was the first new Z in the states for a few years. It was announced with a lot of fanfare and it got attention and free marketing. Just like the camaro is doing now it sold a lot in the first two years of production because of people who grew up loving the car could now get a new one. __________________ 2010 Black Cherry Touring/Sport/Nav Now - 2012 Travese LTZ until I leave for Turkey

05-18-2011, 10:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
GZ3 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: SATX Posts: 3,296 Drives: Z Rep Power: 22	idk something about the 350Z that made it an instant hit! I mean that car took off in sales...also the production numbers betweeen the 2 is allot aless....the 370 is barely being pumped out...i think nissan has something huge in the brewing __________________ 09 GT-R 12' 370Z 7AT HANDED DOWN 12'+13' 5.0 SOLD

05-18-2011, 10:26 AM	#10 (permalink)
Econ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York City Posts: 2,546 Drives: Fiat? Rep Power: 20	people don't have money now + they can get a used 350 (which looks similiar if not identical to most folk) for less than half the price of the 370's __________________ 2014 Triumph Thruxton 900 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth 2009 Nissan 370z

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05-18-2011, 10:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
UNKNOWN_370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: ny'r livn in tx Posts: 8,687 Drives: well over 130m.p.h. Rep Power: 14859	I see the Z going out of production in 2014. Then the Z coming back on its 50th birthday in 2019 as a 2020 model.

05-18-2011, 10:22 AM	#9 (permalink)
KillerBee370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: So Cal baby! Age: 52 Posts: 5,964 Drives: with passion Rep Power: 322	Maybe their thinking it's the best selling and most popular sport car in history

05-18-2011, 12:27 PM	#12 (permalink)
SeattleLion Base Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 226 Drives: '13 Mustang GT Prem. Rep Power: 234	Most of the reasons have already been given: 1. Poor economy 2. Gas prices, etc. There is one other factor to consider: demand for sports cars is fairly inelastic. The 350 arrived as the new kid. It was really the first true sports car under $40k in years. This opened up a new market. Now young adults (20-35) could afford the payments for the 350. So, more sales...for a while. It's interesting to note that other car makers did not hop onto this band wagon. The Z still stands pretty much alone in the affordable sports car category. Everyone in the industry, including Nissan, realizes that two-seat sports cars are niche products. The market for these cars isn't going to grow dramatically. The 350 opened up a new demographic segment. That segment began getting saturated by 2008. When the recession hit, one of the most impacted segments was the 20-35 year-old males; exactly the target market for the Z. So it isn't a big surprise that the market slowed. The Mitsubishi Eclipse is an interesting parallel. I am not saying it is a sports car like the Z, so no flames. But in the 1990's it was an affordable sporty looking car that sold well to young males. However, by 1998 sales had dropped dramatically. Mitsubishi figured it was saturation of their demographic. In 2000 they introduced a new Eclipse. It was wider, had more comfortable seats, lots of ammenities. They were trying to appeal to the older (richer) crowd in order to expand the market. I am very happy that Nissan is staying true to the Z's tradition of being a hard core sports car. If you look at it in the light of the Eclipse transformation, you can see that the 370 is a more refined version of the 350. I suspect Nissan wanted to broaden the appeal to a larger demographic. It certainly worked for me. I looked at a 350 when it first came out. It just didn't work for me. I ended up with a Pathfinder. When I sat in the 370 it was a totally different experience, so I bought it. I am older (a lot) than 35 and things like leather seats, sat nav, good comfort are important to me. I am in the Porsche demographic, but the 370 won me over. Why then are sales poor? I suspect it is that my demographic can afford Porsches and more often than not, that is the choice. Also, since the Z isn't a good choice for your one and only vehicle (my wife has a truck), the recession forced a lot of potential buyers to choose larger, more practical cars. I don't think that the Z will disappear again. Modern car plants can produce multiple models on the same line. Once the cost of dies, tooling, etc are invested, it isn't particularly difficult to support a low volume model. From my perspective I like that there are very few 370's out there. Makes my Z exotic. That's cool.

05-19-2011, 08:12 AM	#15 (permalink)
EgoTrip Base Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 32 Drives: 2010 370Z Roadster Rep Power: 16	Personally, I waited till they finally had a financing deal before I got my Z. It's a great car, but I just can't bring myself to EVER pay sticker price for any car. That means I'll never be first on my block to have the cool new toy, but I'm OK with that.