Nissan Chief talks smack about FR-S and BRZ with their upcoming sports compact

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by bestwheelbase

Toyota was no different, and clearly they brought something fun to market. It's never too late!

They have more than they are showing. They have been developing ideas for years. Years! A change in priorities may have pushed it back, but I think something good is on the horizon.

If you had told me two years ago I would own a Toyota built within the last 20 years I would have laughed at you hysterically, but here I am. You are right, it's never too late, but I am definitely not optimistic. Nissan's only selling point right now is 'it's cheaper than a Toyota!'.

I just realized that the economic crash as well as the '11 earthquake probably put a huge damper on sports car development, especially in Japan. Going back and looking at articles for the next gen Mustang and Miata targeting a '14 model year release, we'd probably be looking at a concept for the next Z car already if it wasn't for those delays and shifts towards improving their bestselling base models to attract the 'next generation consumer'.

[bestwheelbase]

@strat61caster nail on the head. They gotta keep the bread & butter econoboxes moving so they can fund the less profitable sports car stuff. Toyota and Subaru made the return to old fashioned fun... we're approaching the time when competition joins them for a piece of the action.

[Bristecom]

I am still confused about this guy's comments... Is he saying the current gen 350z/370z has been for mid-life crisis buyers or the FR-S/BRZ? It definitely seems to me that the 370z is more a mid-life crisis car because it's more expensive, less practical, and more focused on power. In fact, there's a 60 year old guy down the street from me that has one.


Anyway, I welcome competition from Nissan and all the Japanese brands but I highly doubt I would prefer it over an FR-S/BRZ. As long as they give the twins a more powerful NA Boxer engine next year, it will pretty much be perfect in my opinion. But Nissan can have the market for those who really want more power with a turbo or V6.

[civdaddy]

First off. The twins, awesome cars. But too much credit is given to them for Nissan building another light rwd "inexpensive" car.

Genesis coupe anybody?

[thill]

Originally Posted by Bristecom

I am still confused about this guy's comments... Is he saying the current gen 350z/370z has been for mid-life crisis buyers or the FR-S/BRZ? It definitely seems to me that the 370z is more a mid-life crisis car because it's more expensive, less practical, and more focused on power. In fact, there's a 60 year old guy down the street from me that has one.


Anyway, I welcome competition from Nissan and all the Japanese brands but I highly doubt I would prefer it over an FR-S/BRZ. As long as they give the twins a more powerful NA Boxer engine next year, it will pretty much be perfect in my opinion. But Nissan can have the market for those who really want more power with a turbo or V6.

He was talking about the BRZ/FR-S appealing to mid-life crises buyers and how Nissan is going after the younger crowd (mid to late 20's) most likely based around power.

Meh, what is he going to say? That the FR-S and BRZ are awesome cars and Nissan is going to do the best they can to copy them? I would not put much stock into anything the guy says in relation to the competition.

By the time this car is released (new Z) there will most likely be a more powerful FT86 option.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by civdaddy

First off. The twins, awesome cars. But too much credit is given to them for Nissan building another light rwd "inexpensive" car.

Genesis coupe anybody?

Genesis coupe is definitely not light. It's 3300+ lbs. Heaver than a 370z in fact.

[GT 86 Brah]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Genesis coupe is definitely not light. It's 3300+ lbs. Heaver than a 370z in fact.

rolled in a friend genesis.. very comparable to a new v6 mustang

[RRnold]

Bring it Nissan! The last time there was competition among the Japanese manufactures, we all won!!

[raven1231]

Originally Posted by RRnold

Bring it Nissan! The last time there was competition among the Japanese manufactures, we all won!!

This!

I miss my old 550whp Single turbo 3000gt

[clayrush]

My grandma was in her late 60's when she bought her 300zx.

[Steve201brz]

Price is almost as big of a factor as the car's performance. Can't wait to see where this ends up, I'm not even going to comment on his lunacy. I have to agree with a lot of previous posts about the competition. The next couple years are going to be great for enthusiasts

[Dezoris]

I have a shit load of money in the FRS there is something to be said about having the right amount of power out of the box which Nissan will do.

However I like that the FA20 has plenty of overhead for adding power as proven so far.

Just have to wait how Nissan handles the chassis, as the power will certainly will be there.

[TeamZleep]

Originally Posted by FRSupra

I never quite understood how people can jump ship so easily. I'm not saying anything negative about you just trying to use it as an example. I've seen people leave 370s, sti's, porches evos and r32s for this car which I still cannot justify. A lot of now owners bought this car simply because it's the car to have right now. As soon as the next big thing comes out used fr-s examples will be everywhere.

On another note I am very excited for the arms race of Japanese sports cars to unfold just as it did in the 90's resulting in the production of my all time favorite cars. I'm just fortunate that my favorite manufacture provided something already and I have no intention of "swaying" away from it.

Little background on me. I literally have been into Z cars for the past 20 years. Mostly S30Z's (69-78), but there were a few 280zxt's/300zx's that made their sweet way into my life. I always have, and always be.. a DATSUN guy.

I had a 2008 VW R32 before the FR-S (it was my non-project-but still a project) daily. When I was finally sick of the maintenance/faux awd on the .:R, I ran right to Nissan. The 370 felt like an appliance. A car simply built to put good numbers down but lack any "soul". On a gander, I went and looked at the FR-S (Was interested slightly from the get-go) and the soul/feel/way it drives is almost identical to an S30, so naturally... It was love at first drive.

TL;DR, I don't sway easily (or at all, really... I'm still a Zed head), but Toyobaru captured my heart by out Datsun'ing Nissan. Even if they come out with a new Z that I actually like, I'll just get one after the FR-S is paid off... She's a keeper in my book.

[FRSupra]

Originally Posted by RRnold

Bring it Nissan! The last time there was competition among the Japanese manufactures, we all won!!

Originally Posted by Steve201brz

Price is almost as big of a factor as the car's performance. Can't wait to see where this ends up, I'm not even going to comment on his lunacy. I have to agree with a lot of previous posts about the competition. The next couple years are going to be great for enthusiasts

This is what I've been saying. The 86 arrived almost 20 years in line with the supra mk4 (92) and at that time the 300zx and nsx were already in production. So to me this is kind of a chance to re-live that decade ( in 92 I was 4) with the opportunity to actually buy these cars. It's really exciting and the day I bought my car off the showroom floor I got to feel what it probably was like. Its going to be a great couple years for Japanese enthusiasts.

Oh and in April Jurassic park was in theaters again and that was just a bonus.