2015 speculation

Isamu

I was sad when I read that Datsun wouldn't see the US shores

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黒子 ('Kuroko')
Project: SuperNova Owner/Operator and Lead designer @BlackGuard Aeroworks

Magic Bus

Just curious, anybody care to share the dimensions of the original 240Z?

lemon-fresh

google "240z dimensions"

first result

binary0x01

Always works. Google is magically magical.

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Tune (by Seb@SpecialtyZ) -- Upgraded Parts List : When in doubt, use brute force; if it doesn't work, you aren't using enough.

Bick

Just guessing and grasping on available information... but my gut tells me the new Z may be straight inline 6, smaller compression with turbo option. They can still drop a couple hundred pounds, granted they will drop some HP but gain torque, making it a wash with the 370 but faster acceleration. This also goes back to the 240 original 6 inline straight.

What ya guys think? It's kind of an in-between, but they can probably price it low to mid 30's base, and mid 40's to 50 with turbo.

Base model would be spanking any turbo 4 popper, and put it within reach of equivalent sport v6's for less than 10-50k.

zguynate

What makes you think Nissan will do a straight 6?

I for one hope they dont offer more than one engine. That makes things that much harder to find parts for later on. Also no 2+2. Thats a waste because everyone knows that the back seats are useless.

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2009 370z touring w/sports package

lemon-fresh

I'd also like only one (good) engine choice. Lack of an "affordable" offering makes things a little more exclusive. I dont need to see a Z in every household, see mustang.

UNKNOWN_370

Though I agree with you and probably 95% of the forum agrees

NOT EVERYONE in the general public will... camaro's and mustangs sell because they have USELESS back seats. If you can squeeze two kids under the age of 10 in a backseat? A Husband can justify his purchase to his wife.
Now we all know, in a mustang, there's no way in hell you will fit 2 adults comfortably in the backseat. And the camaro may leave a little more headroom but... where are the legs supposed to go??? 2+2 sells because you can do "something" with the area, whether its kids or junk storage.
You are talking from a performance drivers standpoint. The Z doesn't sell well because out of 45000+- units sold over the years. 7500 went to enthusiasts. 15000 went to. Z admirers and 22,500 sold to married men, mild life crisis guys, and retiree's getting there last breath on a nice sports car before they can't drive anymore.

The market has to be expanded. If you sell it as a 2+2, you will have an extra 25,000 units sold to some idiots who wants to throw his claustrophobic kid in the back and call it a split family and performance car all at the same time, while his kid is getting hooked on ativan's so he can survive the ride. I see mustang owners doing it every day.

Suggestive advertising in america outpowers common sense. Give an american consumer half an excuse to justify a sports car purchase to his family (ie backseats & automatic) He's on it like stink on dodoo. And in the end, these cars are built to sell. Nissan figures the enthusiasts can modify what they don't like. As long as the platform is good for the track? They can still sell to enthusiasts.

SPOHN

I got a plan. Let's wait till we see what it ends up being. Then we can discuss.

Thank you. I'm here seven days a week

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lemon-fresh

How about we do both...

Davey

But Nissan is going to do whatever the person who argues the most says they're gonna do!

Cmike2780

The 240 was awesome, but pretty slow by today's standards. They also didn't have to deal with all the safety requirements and crash test ratings. If you compare the two, the 240 might as well be made of tin foil. I wouldn't mind the z being lighter, but I don't want it looking as small as a miata either.

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[09][MB][6-Spd MT][Touring][Stillen Gen III][K&N][Borla CBE][Evo-R]

370zbb

True, but still I find it pretty amazing that cars can be sort-of lightweight and "kinda" have power... and still be safe.

I know how it feels though, kinda disappointed in the low HP.. affordable, safe, and has UMPH is what we all want.

I think we'll push past the 200HP affordable sports car within 5 years.

Manufacturers are still testing the waters to see if this segment will be profitable... think of the wonderful S2000 it was killed off because it didn't sell enough.

Because the FRS is selling like hotcakes, the manufacturers see the need to sell "affordable" sporty cars to compete.

If the FRS fails, there won't be many manufacturers following Toyota's footsteps.

If the FRS sells, everyone follows and competes in the segment

Cmike2780

It's nearly impossible to build it cheap, safe, lightweight and have the same characteristics of a modern sports car.

I guess my point is, to achieve everything we want in a sports car, we need to use more exotic materials like carbon fiber, which has gotten a lot less expensive to produce. I read somewhere that the new Mclaren MP4-12c cost a 1/4 or a 1/3 to produce than the F1 because of new techniques. Lets hope it trickles down to us mere mortals.

You've probably seen this before. This shocked me the first time I saw it. I thought most of these old cars were tanks compared to new cars, but the thing just disintegrates. I can't imagine how a 240 would stack up.

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[09][MB][6-Spd MT][Touring][Stillen Gen III][K&N][Borla CBE][Evo-R]

370zbb

You are absolutely right! There has to be a paradigm shift in the manufacturing of cars. Pre-preg Carbon fiber is expensive only because it takes a long time to make (laying down fibers, Baking, etc) compared to Steel which can be stamped in about 6 seconds then welded or bolted together.


Maybe in about a decade we'll see huge cost-saving methods. It only gets better from here.

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