Nissan=Styling that will last and age well?

edeeZee · 08-10-2009, 08:15 PM

American cars have their unique styling. It's funny because the economy is bad (for the past year or so), the "big 3" is starting to emulate Japanese cars in styling because I guess their marketing efforts are to plant a seed in people's heads that they're just as good as Toyotas and Hondas reliability-wise; and the most obvious impression is physical appearance a la the cliche "first impressions count"...Well, this is more of a reinvention of the big 3's image. Malibu's, Tauruses and the likes are starting to have contours and lines that look more Japanese rather than American.

The "bigger is better" motto doesn't work in today's economy. This motto equated to big displacement motors with lots of HP and torque in the hopes of winning over customers. Maybe the hardnosed people who are nationalistic and will never "buy Jap-junk" or "won't forget Pearl Harbor," but pragmatic people overlook such emotional ploys. That's why the big 3 are downsizing in displacement and doing the "twin turbo" thing in 6's to "replace the waste" from 8's.

Yes, Nissan's 370 IMO is a classic a la the FD3S and Supra MKIV. 10-15 yrs. down the road it'll still look fresh a la the Z32 TT's, or like Phoebe Cates walking topless near the pool in "Fast times at Ridgemont High," but not the 350 (sorry 350 drivers). But a lot of Japanese cars are stale and generic too these days.

Sorry about my digressions.

Nismo 370z · 08-11-2009, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edeeZee

American cars have their unique styling. It's funny because the economy is bad (for the past year or so), the "big 3" is starting to emulate Japanese cars in styling because I guess their marketing efforts are to plant a seed in people's heads that they're just as good as Toyotas and Hondas reliability-wise; and the most obvious impression is physical appearance a la the cliche "first impressions count"...Well, this is more of a reinvention of the big 3's image. Malibu's, Tauruses and the likes are starting to have contours and lines that look more Japanese rather than American.

The "bigger is better" motto doesn't work in today's economy. This motto equated to big displacement motors with lots of HP and torque in the hopes of winning over customers. Maybe the hardnosed people who are nationalistic and will never "buy Jap-junk" or "won't forget Pearl Harbor," but pragmatic people overlook such emotional ploys. That's why the big 3 are downsizing in displacement and doing the "twin turbo" thing in 6's to "replace the waste" from 8's.

Yes, Nissan's 370 IMO is a classic a la the FD3S and Supra MKIV. 10-15 yrs. down the road it'll still look fresh a la the Z32 TT's, or like Phoebe Cates walking topless near the pool in "Fast times at Ridgemont High," but not the 350 (sorry 350 drivers). But a lot of Japanese cars are stale and generic too these days.

Sorry about my digressions.

Agree with u 100% except on the 350z. I think the 350z is one of the nicest looking cars on the road right now. Call me biased if u want since I drive one, but that car was a fresh change from everything else when it came out in 2002. It helped Nissan from their troubling times and has sold very well since. The Z enthusiasts loved the cars sexy lines. Now it didnt have the exotic supercar look of the 300zx or the return to the 240 look of the 370 with the long hood, short deck but the 350 was a revolution when it came out. The 370 is more of an evolution.

rudi · 08-11-2009, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nismo 370z

Agree with u 100% except on the 350z. I think the 350z is one of the nicest looking cars on the road right now. Call me biased if u want since I drive one, but that car was a fresh change from everything else when it came out in 2002. It helped Nissan from their troubling times and has sold very well since. The Z enthusiasts loved the cars sexy lines. Now it didnt have the exotic supercar look of the 300zx or the return to the 240 look of the 370 with the long hood, short deck but the 350 was a revolution when it came out. The 370 is more of an evolution.

I would have to agree with you on that. When I first saw the 350 concept car about a year before it was released, I thought wow this is different and I loved it. However, I didn't get too excited as many concepts never look anything like final production model. When it was released I was surprised how close it was. Initially, many people didn't like 350 one bit. I believe It was just too far out for most peoples taste, eventually they changed their minds once they got used to seeing them. I think the same will happen to the 370, once people start seeing those boomerang lights on a regular basis.

I owned a 240Z, 300Z and now the 370Z and loved every one of them, they made me take the long way home every day.

SManZ · 08-11-2009, 06:13 AM

Hi new to the forum, first post, blah blah...

I wish they would do something with this 240 concept drawing;

I also think that Nissan's designs are more time-proof than others. The last gen Maxima, and even the Maxima before that, still look good. The Murano has been around forever but it still looks fresh. My 350Z still gets me thumbs ups 5 years after I bought it. Infiniti G coupe and sedan models, as well as the Q and M lines look modern as well.

The lines of the new FX are wild and I hope that this is the direction that the Infiniti line heads in. It will be especially interesting if it trickles down to the next G coupe.

FricFrac · 08-12-2009, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SManZ

Hi new to the forum, first post, blah blah...

I wish they would do something with this 240 concept drawing;

I also think that Nissan's designs are more time-proof than others. The last gen Maxima, and even the Maxima before that, still look good. The Murano has been around forever but it still looks fresh. My 350Z still gets me thumbs ups 5 years after I bought it. Infiniti G coupe and sedan models, as well as the Q and M lines look modern as well.

The lines of the new FX are wild and I hope that this is the direction that the Infiniti line heads in. It will be especially interesting if it trickles down to the next G coupe.

Mmmm 240Z

or maybe badge it as a 240SX with a new SR24DET - drool....

... oh and swoop up the rear windows

ct63084 · 08-12-2009, 01:59 AM

The only thing that i really hated about the 350z is that everyones has one, here in NORCAL for every block i drive i at least see one 350z I pretty much got tired of looking at it. So far it's very rare for me to see a 370 i've seen 3 so far so i hope it stays that way.

molamann · 08-12-2009, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ct63084

The only thing that i really hated about the 350z is that everyones has one, here in NORCAL for every block i drive i at least see one 350z I pretty much got tired of looking at it. So far it's very rare for me to see a 370 i've seen 3 so far so i hope it stays that way.

Surprisingly it has. I see one 370Z maybe on a weekly basis.

Spikuh · 08-12-2009, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FricFrac

Mmmm 240Z

or maybe badge it as a 240SX with a new SR24DET - drool....

... oh and swoop up the rear windows

I would cry tears of joy if they reintroduced a new S car. Especially if it looked like that. I would only demand that the engine come with huge amolunts of torque!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX_370

Yeah Nissan has a knack for making "time-less" body styles. I still look at my '91 240SX and think that could be a current generation car.

Props to Nissan!

I agree completely. I have '91 White 240sx with 17" silver 7 spoke rims and it looks absolutely gorgeous. I think I'll even go give it a good wash and wax now since I am all done with work for the day.

FricFrac · 08-12-2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spikuh

I would cry tears of joy if they reintroduced a new S car. Especially if it looked like that. I would only demand that the engine come with huge amolunts of torque!!!

I agree completely. I have '91 White 240sx with 17" silver 7 spoke rims and it looks absolutely gorgeous. I think I'll even go give it a good wash and wax now since I am all done with work for the day.

...if they did I'd be figuring out how to swing a fourth vehicle

08-10-2009, 08:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
edeeZee Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: s. cali, los angeles Posts: 627 Drives: 09 370z plat 6 speed Rep Power: 268	American cars have their unique styling. It's funny because the economy is bad (for the past year or so), the "big 3" is starting to emulate Japanese cars in styling because I guess their marketing efforts are to plant a seed in people's heads that they're just as good as Toyotas and Hondas reliability-wise; and the most obvious impression is physical appearance a la the cliche "first impressions count"...Well, this is more of a reinvention of the big 3's image. Malibu's, Tauruses and the likes are starting to have contours and lines that look more Japanese rather than American. The "bigger is better" motto doesn't work in today's economy. This motto equated to big displacement motors with lots of HP and torque in the hopes of winning over customers. Maybe the hardnosed people who are nationalistic and will never "buy Jap-junk" or "won't forget Pearl Harbor," but pragmatic people overlook such emotional ploys. That's why the big 3 are downsizing in displacement and doing the "twin turbo" thing in 6's to "replace the waste" from 8's. Yes, Nissan's 370 IMO is a classic a la the FD3S and Supra MKIV. 10-15 yrs. down the road it'll still look fresh a la the Z32 TT's, or like Phoebe Cates walking topless near the pool in "Fast times at Ridgemont High," but not the 350 (sorry 350 drivers). But a lot of Japanese cars are stale and generic too these days. Sorry about my digressions.

08-11-2009, 06:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
SManZ Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Centreville, VA Posts: 15 Drives: '04 350Z Performance Rep Power: 18	Hi new to the forum, first post, blah blah... I wish they would do something with this 240 concept drawing; I also think that Nissan's designs are more time-proof than others. The last gen Maxima, and even the Maxima before that, still look good. The Murano has been around forever but it still looks fresh. My 350Z still gets me thumbs ups 5 years after I bought it. Infiniti G coupe and sedan models, as well as the Q and M lines look modern as well. The lines of the new FX are wild and I hope that this is the direction that the Infiniti line heads in. It will be especially interesting if it trickles down to the next G coupe.

08-12-2009, 01:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
ct63084 Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: FAIRFIELD CA Posts: 219 Drives: 2004 MAZDA3 Rep Power: 18	The only thing that i really hated about the 350z is that everyones has one, here in NORCAL for every block i drive i at least see one 350z I pretty much got tired of looking at it. So far it's very rare for me to see a 370 i've seen 3 so far so i hope it stays that way.