re: Could the Nissan brand be saved in the US?

The company needs to shape up and change its name back to Datsun.

This thread just passed me with an expired texas tag and a busted tail lamp, then threw 2 Jack in the Box bags out the window onto the shoulder, running me off the road and leaving a strong aroma of weed in its wake.

If Nissan weren't idiots, they would sell a fully-fledged Patrol in the US instead of the Armada. They could import the castings and machine the differentials, axles, and whatever else is required in the US to avoid the chicken tax (like they do with the engines now, made in TN and shipped to Japan for assembly).

As is, a 4wd Armada is still pretty good and the V8 is awesome (which they are also getting rid of).

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This thread just passed me with an expired texas tag and a busted tail lamp, then threw 2 Jack in the Box bags out the window onto the shoulder, running me off the road and leaving a strong aroma of weed in its wake.

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The OT is what has me noticing all of the shitty Altimas on the road in BR


I've definitely seen shittier than this

Serious answer? They shifted their business model around 2010 or so. Instead of trying to compete with the other Japanese manufacturers on engineering they shifted their business model to cater to low down payment leases and loans. Essentially they moved their focus from engineering to be a financial services company. Now their product pipeline is dated and suffering and quality problems are popping up, hurting the reputation. That and the stereotype that comes along with being aligned with no down payment, poor credit buyers.

Essentially, when Renault took over the company in the late 90's / early 2000's, they intentionally stopped investing in engineering and manufacturing now that cars like the GTR, the old Maxima and yes, even the old Altima have aged out, they don't want to chase small returns reengineering their lineup. There is a ton of demand at the low end of the market for cheaply made new cars with warranties. A car like the Altima where the production has been fully amortized years ago, Nissan can price lower than the competition and offer up with very lenient financing terms and accept buyers with bad credit, because production of the vehicle (stamping, tooling, etc) had been paid for long ago.

Quality and features aren't going to win them money, and they can afford to give away marketshare because they are much more profitable per unit. They are only making vehicles to reach a particular price point and align with what their financial teams needs are. So far it's worked well for them, as they have been very profitable with this model. They target a specific portion of the market, do it profitably. In their eyes from a corporate, macro standpoint for the Renault Group, I don't think they feel they need to be saved. They are where they want to be. Nissan isn't the company they were in the 90's -- Independent and Japanese. They are a profit center of a French company that doesn't care about their history.

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had a Pathfinder (back when they were actually a true 4WD SUV and not a minivan). 

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If they were wise, they would embrace retro styling and respectability and bring back a Pathfinder that looked more like the original early 90s model. Give it a real engine and a MT option, and make it a 4wd toy. Y'know, like a TRD 4Runner.

Nissan's problem is that they don't know what they want to be. Do they want to make EVs? Rental fleet cars? Decent trucks? Mom wagons?

They need to find a niche and stay there. I have a 1st Gen 4wd Titan, and I absolutely love that thing.

There’s just plentiful of better options in the family car market than Nissan right now.

I love my Frontier. My family has had several Nissans and have never had any issues.

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RolltidePA

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Great answer. Makes perfect sense, and explains the other comments on this thread. Thanks.

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I love my Frontier. My family has had several Nissans and have never had any issues.

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I've own a 240sx, 90's Nissan p/u, an Altima and currently have a Infiniti Q50..

Can't count the 240.. because I used to beat the absolute piss out of it..

I'm pretty sure if I still have the P/U it would still be running and operating just fine today.. damn thing would never die..

The Altima was my wife's that she bought new and drove for years until our youngest was born and she stayed home and I drove the car for work after that.. only issue I ever had was that the a/c crapped out in the last year I was driving it and I was constantly putting refrigerant into it.. was considering have it fix but the parts and labor was 2500 and that was more than the car was worth.. ended up selling..

Now I have a Q50 and it's been a fantastic car..