New Z an improvement? What do you think?

[cray]

Do you think that the rumored new Z will be an improvement (performance wise) or do you think they will make it more like the brz/frs?

[XiP]

wouldn't make sense to take a step back in performance

[cray]

The only way I would say they would tone down the performance is to make the car cheaper.

[luigi90210]

Nissan got rid of the altima coupe which was their midrange performer, so I think Nissan might be bring back the Silvia to compete with the FRS and BRZ while improving on the next gen Z performance without bypassing the GTR.

It honestly doesn't make any sense to downgrade the Z to compete with the twins since the twins are suppose to be what the 240sx/Silvia/180sx was back in the 90's

[shadoquad]

Who knows? They have considerable room to improve performance without encroaching on the halo car and big competition at a lower price point...

I could see them going either way, make it faster or make it cheaper, but they won't do both.

[w0rM]

They're going to have to completely overhaul the Z if it's going to survive. Sales have been slipping for years in the US and I'm sure Nissan knows it. They sold more 350zs in the first year (36,000+) than they've sold 370zs since 2009. The 2013 models haven't been moving at all. They may not even break 7000 units in the US when it's said and done.

[Bret_T]

Originally Posted by w0rM

Sales have been slipping for years in the US and I'm sure Nissan knows it. They sold more 350zs in the first year (36,000+) than they've sold 370zs since 2009. The 2013 models haven't been moving at all. They may not even break 7000 units in the US when it's said and done.

I remember back when the 350Z came out seeing rows upon rows of them at the dealerships here in Atlanta. Now most dealerships have about four 2013's and won't order a 2014 until a 2013 sells. Times have certainly changed. I recently drove a 370Z with sport package. I can honestly say that I was extremely impressed. It's faster, handles better and is better balanced than the Hyundai Genesis that I was considering. Yes, the body style is looking dated, but the performance is certainly there. I think the biggest thing that the 370Z has going against it is the fact that it's a two seater. That culls out a majority of its potential market. Having a token back seat would go a long way towards opening up a larger market.

[edk370]

I'm gonna digress a little, but you'll see what I'm talking about.

Toyota no longer offers a "mid range" sports car like the Supra tt MKIV. That was initially a $35,000+ car when it debuted in '93, and ended up being close to $50,000 MSRP at the end of its run, back in '98/'99 if I'm correct. Toyota saw sales dramatically slip because the yen was too strong relative to the U.S. dollar. Fast forward to now, and you saw how Toyota will only offer ultra-expensive sports cars like the Lexus LFA; well that ended recently and those cars were only available for lease...to people who got chedda. Toyota did this imo because they wanted to get out of the boy-racer/import scene image and instead wanted to be on par in image/prestige with the likes of Ferrari, Lambo, etc...Supra MKIVs get riced out, and so do FD3S's, Z32s, and so forth. Japanese car companies want to shed the import scene/boy-racer image imho. They want to be perceived like high end Euro cars.

I think Nissan will either eliminate the Z a la the Supra, or offer a cheap entry level sports car (and name it other than "Z") a la the BR-Z or Scion to appease the teenage/early 20s mileu, and leave only its marquee sports car i.e. the GT-R because Nissan too wants to leave the boy-racer/import scene image. Besides, the import scene is passé and gaudy now.

Whatever Nissan does, more power to them. The import scene had its 15 minutes and its time to leave it where it belongs--in the past.

[Tick64]

Originally Posted by edk370

I'm gonna digress a little, but you'll see what I'm talking about.

Toyota no longer offers a "mid range" sports car like the Supra tt MKIV. That was initially a $35,000+ car when it debuted in '93, and ended up being close to $50,000 MSRP at the end of its run, back in '98/'99 if I'm correct. Toyota saw sales dramatically slip because the yen was too strong relative to the U.S. dollar. Fast forward to now, and you saw how Toyota will only offer ultra-expensive sports cars like the Lexus LFA; well that ended recently and those cars were only available for lease...to people who got chedda. Toyota did this imo because they wanted to get out of the boy-racer/import scene image and instead wanted to be on par in image/prestige with the likes of Ferrari, Lambo, etc...Supra MKIVs get riced out, and so do FD3S's, Z32s, and so forth. Japanese car companies want to shed the import scene/boy-racer image imho. They want to be perceived like high end Euro cars.

I think Nissan will either eliminate the Z a la the Supra, or offer a cheap entry level sports car (and name it other than "Z") a la the BR-Z or Scion to appease the teenage/early 20s mileu, and leave only its marquee sports car i.e. the GT-R because Nissan too wants to leave the boy-racer/import scene image. Besides, the import scene is passé and gaudy now.

Whatever Nissan does, more power to them. The import scene had its 15 minutes and its time to leave it where it belongs--in the past.

Interesting point of view. I suppose it's possible that the Z line could end, but I hope it doesn't. There has been a little bit of media coverage foreshadowing a new revamped Z model (eg. Jay Leno at Nissan headquarters etc) that keeps my hope alive. Could be an opportunity for Nissan to have a small niche market in the current price range (or slight deviation from the current price range).

[andre12031948]

At the end of 08 Nissan gave a 5k rebate for the 08's. The 09's were out & that rebate + $2k profit made the dealers offer $7k-$8k discounts. Some people got great cars (08's) at a fantastic price.

If the new Z gets smaller with a 4cyl., I'd love to see that discount on the 2014's. My new car???

[Bret_T]

Originally Posted by andre12031948

If the new Z gets smaller with a 4cyl., I'd love to see that discount on the 2014's. My new car???

I wouldn't count on that happening. Right now Nissan has lowered the price on the 2014 base model over $3000 and they're offering no incentive (other than 0% APR) to move the 2013's. Dealers are literally going to lose money on their 2013's.

[andre12031948]

Originally Posted by Bret_T

I wouldn't count on that happening. Right now Nissan has lowered the price on the 2014 base model over $3000 and they're offering no incentive (other than 0% APR) to move the 2013's. Dealers are literally going to lose money on their 2013's.

Lowered $3,000 on the 2014???? Still a long way to the start of 2014. No?

Imagine the discount/lowered price in Aug. of 2014

[Bret_T]

Originally Posted by andre12031948

Lowered $3,000 on the 2014???? Still a long way to the start of 2014. No?

No, the 2014 370Z's are in production right now and available at some dealerships.

[Tigger]

I agree with everyone above on pretty much every point. But I would like to point out something I've been noticing recently and if it is a trend then I wouldn't expect to see anything in 2016 that'll impress in terms of a new Z or even the likes of one.

For example, the 200HP engine has been the benchmark number for how many years now? 14? 15? Even so, it seems manufacturers are only trying to acheive those same numbers with smaller and smaller engines that are more fuel efficient. The new Honda Accord "Sport" model only has, what, 185? Sport? Give me a break.

What I'm saying is they keep re-generating the same numbers and the only battle now is for fuel economy. They don't really care about hp anymore as long as they get close. BMW drops the 8cyl in the M3 for a turbo-6. And what are the figures? only 6 more ponies than last year. Whoopie-do!

The FRS? I drove one again the other day here in Las Cruces because I was bored. Handling was fine. But it was sooooo damn slooowww! It made it almost unbearable. I think my 138hp rental car has more torque.

What it comes down to really is this... performance figures are all but out the window. The battle is fuel economy in ever larger vehicles and soon every damn engine will have a turbo on it and will be direct injected. Not necessarily a bad thing but it will begin to limit the ability to do much to the motor for performance gains since they are getter ever smaller in displacement and most will be 1.6L or smaller and will soon likely come coupled with batteries as a standard feature.

So if they decide to compete with the FRS in 2016, expect low performance figures and specs. I would expect a performance drop with the Z as well if they so choose to bring it back in 2016 as an overhauled vehicle. It'll be underpowered but that's ok as long as it is 100 pounds lighter.

[Nailzs]

Originally Posted by w0rM

They're going to have to completely overhaul the Z if it's going to survive. Sales have been slipping for years in the US and I'm sure Nissan knows it. They sold more 350zs in the first year (36,000+) than they've sold 370zs since 2009. The 2013 models haven't been moving at all. They may not even break 7000 units in the US when it's said and done.

2009 the USA was knee deep in the recession and we're not out of it yet.