hakk97se

Just saw an interesting report about Nissan on CNBC where they talked with Gohen, the CEO of Nissan. They commented that Nissan is making more money now than ever before in its history and has the best cost-margin's of any car manufacturer in the world. They claim their business continues to grow and they will see 3x the profit margin by 2004. The CEO of Nissan brought it back from a $13 billion debt. And he will also be taking over Renault next year (in addition to Nissan).

Furthermore, they showed and spoke with the lead designer for the '04 Maxima. He said that it took him a year to design the car and another 2 years to get a production model ready. To me this seems like a quick turn around, especially since this one was designed in Japan rather than Nissan Design USA like the 5th Gen.

Just some interesting things to think about as the **** hits the fan on the 6th gen between now and March when it's released. I sure hope someone does something about that grill!

Frank Fontaine

I wouldn't believe everything I saw on CNBC. That cost me alot of money and curiously they no longer have the slogan "profit from it," because it isn't and wasn't ever true. Haynes, Faber, Kernan, Bartoromo, etc., their guess is as good as ours. Many CEO's have said lots of stuff on CNBC before getting fired, investigated by the SEC, losing stockholders' money, etc. It's publicity. Nothing more than that, whaddya expect, for them to say the co. is in trouble?

I never would have imagined that putting fake dual exhausts on the 350Z and Murano and taking hood struts out of cars would have that big of an impact on Nissan's margins, but you learn something everyday! I guess offering rebates on Maximas for 6 years running and Nissan can still have the best margins in the industry? you woulda thought situations where buyers paid list for a car (ie German) would create those kinds of margins.

hakk97se

Ok. I'm not saying "hey guys, go invest in Nissan" and neither was CNBC specifically. It was about Gohen being named CEO of the year or something. The fact is, Nissan is a more popular brand now than it was when he came onboard. They don't do zero-down financing like Mitsu, etc.. Yet, the fact of the matter is that 4 years ago, they were $13b in debt. And they aren't now. This guy knows his ****. That's all I'm saying. I thought it was interesting, especially considering the reaction the '04 max is getting around here.

blizz20oma

iTrader: (1)

Man, you're REALLY locked into the hood struts and "fake dual exhausts" (would you complain about your NSX having one muffler and two outlets?)...just breathe, frank...just breathe

thnikkamax

iTrader: (2)

Oh there's a very simple answer to your speculation.

RB26DETT - R.I.P. so GT-R out of production
SR20DE & DET - R.I.P. so Silvia out of production

And those are the only ones to my knowledge cuz there could be more.

VQ - used on more than half a dozen different models and trims throughout the Nissan/Infiniti lineup

350Z - sold a whole year's allotment in only a few months.

Altima - sold more than the Altima of generations past ever has.

Also, I would assume that having the cars built here is more cost effective. Cheaper to ship parts to manufacturing plant than it is to ship built cars into other countries.

I wouldn't rule out shady dealings though... a company that is free of bad mojo is not a profitable company. Breaking/bending a few rules sometimes equals profit.

Keven97SE

Geez, where'd that come from? Didja lose THAT much money in the stock market the last couple of years that you're THAT disgruntled with corporate America?



Seriously do you really think Nissan is the only auto manufacturer out there that selectively uses some cheap-o parts? No. Everyone does it. And if you say that Audi, etc don't, well look at their MSRPs and you'll see that their absent manufacturing shortcuts also translate to absent discounts at the bottom of the tag. Personally, though, I can live with a couple of effective "budgetary" moves on stuff like hood struts, etc. Better that than going cheap-o on engine and suspension parts.

The bottom line is Nissan/Infiniti is now starting to make some very cost-competitive, reliable, desirable cars. They look good, drive good, and people want them. What's wrong with that? Jeez, be happy for Nissan already.

But I do agree that CNBC's CEO interviews amount to no more than verbal masturabation. Most of those corporate types are greasy as hell in my opinion and talk so much BS, but that doesn't make their entire corporations shady.

JoesMAX

iTrader: (2)

nissan is on top of the game right now, look at the lineup they have. from the spec V, to the altima, to the maxima, all of their cars are better than other cars in their class/price range.

i also dont feel that nissan will lose sales on the 2004 maxima, just because a lot of people on here dont like it, doesnt mean its not going to sell. not to mention that the altima wasnt exactly the nicest looking car out there, but look at how many you see on the road

Frank Fontaine

Put a Ford Mustang and a 325i on a lift. Look at their exhausts, and STUDY HARD!

They represent the right way. 2 exhaust pipes out of one muffler equals WRONG WAY!

Yeah I was su***** wind on the ice today, musta played over 25 minutes, so thanks for the advice.

Tanman

What were you playing, hockey?? If so, I'm jealous.

bamaslammer

Nissan is definitely on the offensive. Honda was satisfied with only 190 hp for its Accord V-6's, but when the Altima came along with 240 hp, they were forced to act. The Spec-V is a winner (I'd have gotten one if I wasn't looking for a used Max), the 350Z is the second coming, the new Altima rocks, the trucks are cool (can hardly wait to see what the fullsize V-8 truck will look like and be capable of), the newest Max looks a bit clunky and hunchbacked, but if it handles as well as Maximas of yore, it will be just fine. And face it, this is a free-market society. Profit, preferably achieved under legal means, is the name of the game. Ghosn has made Nissan profitable by reducing the number of platforms and engines, thereby reducing production costs and ta-dah, making more profit possible. Corporate America is not completely corrupt, populated only by evil, corrupt robber barons.

JoesMAX

iTrader: (2)

not to mention that they can perfect something better... they VQ is an award winning motor, so they built it up and put it in a bunch of cars, much easier than having 5 different motors where 4 of them arent that great.. it also helps them get us a better product if they can cut down their costs..

i give a thumbs up to nissan, they have a nice lineup of cars now and deserve the business they are getting

blizz20oma

iTrader: (1)

Yea, but then what do you say about the NSX? And in past posts people making references to ferraris/porsches/etc doing the same...I could do some research and find other such cars that are obviously performance-oriented and not skimping-costs kinda cars that don't run a true true true true dual exhaust. You don't have to reply, I'm just saying two outlets from one muffler != bad necessarily, and that and lack of hood struts in certain models aren't reason to knock a company, especially repeatedly :P (btw, I'd prefer a lever on my hood...my max's prop is a broomstick)

I need to get off the tennis courts and onto the ice, one of these days. If only my parents had bred me to skate and play hockey like they should have...
tho it's in the mid-60s today....time to throw on the (goalie) gear and practice up

Tanman

You guys are very lucky to have ice time. I hope to start playing hocket again when I move up north.

Goalie? You wuss.

ru4real

iTrader: (3)

You can see the new Titan full-size pickup at www.nissandriven.com now. It looks very good.

Tanman

Looks like a futurized Ford F-150.

bamaslammer

It looks very cool. It looks like a cross between a F-150 and a Dodge Ram. 300 hp will make it the Max of pickups.

JoesMAX

iTrader: (2)

not everyone on the board knows the c++ lingo !=