Interview Questions for Detroit from the Fans

[Zaki]

Why are you so bleeping secretive about information on upcoming and confirmed models?!
What do you gain from it?
Porsche, Ferrari, Mercedes, BMW etc. have no problem letting their enthusiastic followers know interesting and useful information about upcoming models?

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[Spilner]

Sure hope this is true
https://www.torquenews.com/1084/legendary-nissan-silvia-about-make-comeback

 

[A70TTR]

No fucking way. Of all the things that could go down in the world, the one thing that will never happen is Nissan bringing back the Silvia.

I'd do a backflip...

I know the head engineer that worked on the original S16 proposal (Mike Kojima, Formula Drift Dai Yoshiharas chassis engineer). The board literally said they were going to build the Juke instead because that's what marketing told them people wanted, and though it disgusts me they've sold them like crazy.

They also turned down the proposal for the rebirth of the 510 (IDX concept), so...

 

[Timmo598]

No fucking way. Of all the things that could go down in the world, the one thing that will never happen is Nissan bringing back the Silvia.

I'd do a backflip...

I know the head engineer that worked on the original S16 proposal (Mike Kojima, Formula Drift Dai Yoshiharas chassis engineer). The board literally said they were going to build the Juke instead because that's what marketing told them people wanted, and though it disgusts me they've sold them like crazy.

They also turned down the proposal for the rebirth of the 510 (IDX concept), so...

That really rubs my goat, the fact that Nissan bought out the 'butt-ugly Juke' instead of a new Silvia.

One of the most annoying things to ever happen out of Nissan Japan.

To think Nissan thought it would sell better than a Silvia is a total shit storm.
I know for e.g. they haven't sold well at all, here in Aust.

 

[Zaki]

^
Yup! What happens when the bean counters and non-car people are running the show

 

[A70TTR]

That really rubs my goat, the fact that Nissan bought out the 'butt-ugly Juke' instead of a new Silvia.

One of the most annoying things to ever happen out of Nissan Japan.

To think Nissan thought it would sell better than a Silvia is a total shit storm.
I know for e.g. they haven't sold well at all, here in Aust.

Yeah, it may be unrelated, but he left Nissan soon after that and never looked back. Modern Nissan really is a joke of company though, and the level of cost cutting on U.S. models at least is horrendous. You get some reprieve when buying a Z or GTR because they're made and sold in Japan, but the rest of the lineup is more or less garbage IMO. Infiniti is decent as well due to being made in Japan.

 

[HKz]

^
Yup! What happens when the bean counters and non-car people are running the show

they actually make money?

Yeah, it may be unrelated, but he left Nissan soon after that and never looked back. Modern Nissan really is a joke of company though, and the level of cost cutting on U.S. models at least is horrendous. You get some reprieve when buying a Z or GTR because they're made and sold in Japan, but the rest of the lineup is more or less garbage IMO. Infiniti is decent as well due to being made in Japan.

which economy cars don't have cost cutting? There are plenty of brands you could place below Nissan when it comes to quality..

 

[A70TTR]

Sure there are, but that doesnt make them any better... their level of cost cutting for a Japanese manufacturer is the most hardcore by far; it's basically cutting corners in their case.

This article details their relationship with suppliers due to this: https://www.cips.org/supply-managem...-cost-cutting-puts-it-at-odds-with-suppliers/

In contrast, Toyota and Honda top the list because they actually spend money to create quality products.

 

[A70TTR]

There is also this tidbit showing how glorious they are as of late: https://www.autoblog.com/2017/10/19/nissan-suspending-car-production-in-japan/

Kobe Steel, Takata, and Nissan should all take a sabbatical together

 

[HKz]

Sure there are, but that doesnt make them any better... their level of cost cutting for a Japanese manufacturer is the most hardcore by far; it's basically cutting corners in their case.

This article details their relationship with suppliers due to this: https://www.cips.org/supply-managem...-cost-cutting-puts-it-at-odds-with-suppliers/

In contrast, Toyota and Honda top the list because they actually spend money to create quality products.

of course, compared to Honda & Toyota (mainly the latter), virtually everyone looks pretty piss poor in quality. Regardless, it is all relative. The recent Consumer Reports survey showed Nissan was still above average (less problems than Acura, and 2 spots behind Honda who barely cracked the top 10)

There is also this tidbit showing how glorious they are as of late: https://www.autoblog.com/2017/10/19/nissan-suspending-car-production-in-japan/

Kobe Steel, Takata, and Nissan should all take a sabbatical together

Nothing is perfect and both controversies were blown out of proportion. Toyota has already confirmed that Kobe's dilemma is not going to really affect anyone and I am willing to bet it will be the same case with Nissan.

 

[A70TTR]

I have a lot of friends with a lot of cars, as I'm sure most on here do, and quite a few have had big issues with Nissan. One bought a Titan brand new in 2006 and by 2012 the bed/bumper had rusted out in some spots (lived in FL at the time), the A/C compressor had to be replaced twice under warranty, and the powersteering cooler cracked and sprayed fluid all over. Another friend bought a new Maxima in 2009 and the push to start and motorized steering column failed within a month of each other 6 months after purchase, and it also had intermittent issues with the HIDs. I can keep going on and on... These are simply not isolated issues.

Granted, nearly all my friends drive Subaru, Nissan, Toyota, or Mazda, so if were talking being relative then it's the worst Japanese manufacturer in those terms.



pre-2004 they sold some great vehicles btw (my DD atm is a 2003 Maxima SE).

Nothing is perfect and both controversies were blown out of proportion. Toyota has already confirmed that Kobe's dilemma is not going to really affect anyone and I am willing to bet it will be the same case with Nissan.

I agree with media frenzies not helping anyone, but it's not unimportant. Just because Toyota said it's not a big deal (for them presumably as they arent all knowing) doesn't mean everything is right with the world. That's not how these things work. If nothing else it's wrong based on principles.

 

[HKz]

Heard similar nightmares with tacos too. personally I never had any issues with nissan whether when I had my 240sx (wasn't even rusty) or my parent's 08 maxima the differences between the automakers are getting smaller and smaller, it is grasping at straws especially since most of the jdm eco models that are for the na market are being made in the us anyways

 

[Spilner]

Heard similar nightmares with tacos too. personally I never had any issues with nissan whether when I had my 240sx (wasn't even rusty) or my parent's 08 maxima the differences between the automakers are getting smaller and smaller, it is grasping at straws especially since most of the jdm eco models that are for the na market are being made in the us anyways

Especially when a majority of cars today share the same platform

 

[A70TTR]

yeah, the issue doesn't lie with the shared components because those are going to affect each fairly equally. For instance, Takata and Kobe Steel would likely affect Honda, Toyota, and Nissan about the same if all products were equal. However, even in those cases there are still different grades of product you can choose from despite sharing suppliers. For instance, Nissan chooses Grade 3 durasteel while Toyota opts for Grade 5; there is a tangible difference in making these sorts of decisions. It is also up to each corporation in how they manage QA and implement materials (say using good switches and terrible wiring etc).

my argument against quality doesn't extend to Nissans made outside the US/Japan either as I have little knowlege of them. I just know that I would for sure buy a Corolla or Civic if need be and wouldnt touch a Sentra with a ten foot pole just because I feel they are that much cheaper in quality overall. at the same time, I would absolutely buy an Infiniti, Z, or GTR, because they are all made in Japan and as such I feel from experience they hold themselves to a higher standard both in QA and materials and that the products reflect this.

I feel the other Japanese cars manufactured in the US are held to a higher standard in much the same way without having to be made in Japan.

 

[zigzagz94]

Did you guys get a chance to ask any of our questions? If not thanks for trying anyway. Wish I could have been there.

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