What vehicle do you drive?

Nissan imo has or it in short order pricing the GT-R out of what made it what it is... having a 85k legit supercar you can buy at 80% of any Nissan dealership was its thing... they are really lagging behind on the fit and finish of the GT-R - mostly because they have not truly done a new generation... I think they are scared to as the current GT-R is just that magic mojo when everything works perfectly together... like back in the 90's when you researched every single stinking part of your computer and built it all to run in tune with every other part you could make a better running machine than one that was just bigger/faster parts etc. The GT-R in every review 2 or 3 years ago took it by storm, because it was fast...really fast, stock and stupid fast with any mods... now its still fast- although not by as much- but while you have a similar priced competitor within .1/.2 sec and has insanely higher end interior and ride- every review etc. mentioned it and knocks the GT-R down because of its ride and lack of niceties.

The Z was refreshed but really all very minor in comparison with what they have done to their entire line up- everything is new sans the murano (next) followed by the maxima- the GT-R, Xterra and Z are due for a complete rehaul...and the Leaf, do we count that? do the make cubes anymore also? lol...

The new Maxima will either show everyone else that Nissan started the 4d sports sedan craze, or it will show why no one remembers Nissan also seems reluctant to fully replace their 3.5 with the 3.7 sans their infinity lineup- but the 3.5 is such a great V6 how can you blame them... but the new one has proven itself quite well... and no reason their new USA lines should be built out with the old 3.5's less they are all just supplied from their current factories.

All that said, I would still buy a GT-R over almost anything if I had the choice... the look is just sooooo classic and "what" a supercar is to me- but I grew up in the 80's and 90% of the generic hotwheels sports cars looked like the GT-R so its stuck in my brain.

xadion_sl said:

The new Maxima will either show everyone else that Nissan started the 4d sports sedan craze...

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That would have been BMW. The early Maxima - with the 5 spd - was simply more affordable.

But, Nissan is lagging behind in a lot of ways and their current commercials about being the "most exciting car brand blah blah" is a joke because they are, without a doubt, the most boring car brand; GT-R being the one exception in a large lineup of crap. The VQ is out of date and really needs to be replaced with something smaller and boosted to stay with the times and competition. And no, we don't count the Leaf. Electric cars today are a joke. Want to go more than 150 miles? Sorry, takes 2 days to get there.

I would also argue that you can get discounts off MSRP on an M4, while the markups on the Z06 will be enormous for a while.

Love my military / diplomatic discount (contractors with gov IDs qualify). I have had over 6k off each of my last 3 BMWs (2012 X5, 2013 X6, 2014 X5).

Point being, there is definitely room to play with BMW pricing. Some dealers are absolute tight-wads about it for sure.

Here is the M3 / M4 pricing for me:

No reason to pay a mark up on any car unless you have to be the first one on your block the month it comes out. I paid under invoice on both my recent brand new BM's (550i then M5) and I'll get the Vette between invoice and MSRP at launch. If I waited 9 months, I could get the vette near invoice as well.

All about being educated and not putting up with quite so much dealer bullshit.

Frenzied Wombat_sl said:

Cool, thanks for the info. Did you notice any big differences in terms of interior build quality-- such as more plastic?

I pretty much share the same view concerning the size of the vehicle-- the S4 just like a BMW 3 series is a BIG car imho.

BTW, make sure to splurge on the air suspension and the sports diff. Both of those proved to be the best options on my S4 that I almost didn't get.

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I'm waiting on the SS (super sport) seats with Nappa leather option. Supposedly this will be a 1/2/15 order able on the US spec sheets. This will include leather on some additional surfaces in the cabin like the arm rests and the door card. Otherwise, the interior is identical to the standard A3. A bit of plastic, but I didn't get a whole lot of time to finger bang the interior in the S3 due to the line of people waiting. I just remember the base leather feeling like sandpaper on my thighs.

I'd recommend checking one out at a local dealership yourself. They're rather spartan inside but it doesn't bother me as I've never been heavy on the options in any of the cars I've ever owned.

Definitely looking at the magnetic suspension option, upgraded seats and leather, and maybe the back up camera but that's it. Passingly on everything else unless the B&O is that much better than the stock Audi system. No differential upgrade available, lower end haldex system and all.

Cad_sl said:

The Z06 is $79k base the M4 is $64k base. And for what its worth, the M4 will perform like it has more than 425hp, because of the turbo torque. I think those cars are still positioned in exactly the same place in the market.

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Yea, except BMW, even in an M car will still make you pay extra for something like bluetooth or a backup camera... (I'm not sure about specifics, but it's pretty bad across their entire line). The c7 is pretty nicely equipped at base.


And yes, I think waiting for the supersport would be an alright reason, but I don't think it changes any of the interior trimVWVortex.com - S3 Sedan Configurator

I'm just kinda pissed of that the u.s. spec 2-toned seats is the exact opposite of the Rest of World spec I think it looks stupid with just that center piece as red. I guess it's cheaper for them to do the entire seat in one color, and then just use one set of colors for one market and then the other pieces for the u.s. market.

I've never worked in mass production, but I'm "assuming" that's the reason.

And p.s. I really really wish alcantera would have been offered in the u.s. I love the feel of it.

Burren_sl said:

That would have been BMW. The early Maxima - with the 5 spd - was simply more affordable.

But, Nissan is lagging behind in a lot of ways and their current commercials about being the "most exciting car brand blah blah" is a joke because they are, without a doubt, the most boring car brand; GT-R being the one exception in a large lineup of crap. The VQ is out of date and really needs to be replaced with something smaller and boosted to stay with the times and competition. And no, we don't count the Leaf. Electric cars today are a joke. Want to go more than 150 miles? Sorry, takes 2 days to get there.

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Nissan has been working really hard to become number 2 and dethrone Honda- you don't do that by being in a direct fight with Mazda as the affordable zoom zoom... you do it by being contemporary, affordable and reliable- and that is exactly what the new Altima, Sentra and Pathfinder are- great cars that are decently modern on looks- good price and higher and higher quality. Their fun thing has been the Juke and they are doing well with the Juke. The Murano and Maxima look insane. As I said the Z and GT-R are overly due for a completely new generation. They need to stop charging a premium (infinity) for the 3.7 and just replace all 3.5's with it...because well...that's why the damn thing was made in the first place and its proven to be a worthy replacement that will keep its impeccable record.

The 2nd gen leaf is slated for "soon" I think... and if it truly is not soon its too late- it is supposed to be between the sentra/Altima and look similar with 170-225 mile range- the current 80/90 is practically useless for anything other than a runabout.

Next year I hope to trade in the man van and my wife's 05 civic with a whopping 22k miles in and get her a GLK and me a ML -- as she will be transporting both kids then to school etc. and I want to get her something more substantial than the civic. Maybe the new Rouge- or even the old rouges as they still make them as they are quite well priced and popular- and the new rouge is more of a murano replacement - the new murano is a lux sport suv.

Honda really hit a home run with the current Gen Civic, and unless they have a huge fuck up, I can not see Nissan over taking them on the economy car side. The Civic just looks better than any of the Nissan non-sport cars.

I very much respect the GT-R performance, but it is a rather bland looking car. If it didnt perform so well, I dont think I would even know what it was, if brought up in a conversation. Hell, the 370Z is a better looking Nissan. Whom ever designed the 3000GT or the Acura NSX needs to be found, resurrected, or stolen from Mitsubishi/Acura, then smacked around until a good design comes about for the GT-R!

Firewater Burns_sl said:

Honda really hit a home run with the current Gen Civic, and unless they have a huge fuck up, I can not see Nissan over taking them on the economy car side. The Civic just looks better than any of the Nissan non-sport cars.

I very much respect the GT-R performance, but it is a rather bland looking car. If it didnt perform so well, I dont think I would even know what it was, if brought up in a conversation. Hell, the 370Z is a better looking Nissan. Whom ever designed the 3000GT or the Acura NSX needs to be found, resurrected, or stolen from Mitsubishi/Acura, then smacked around until a good design comes about for the GT-R!

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didn't they mid-cycle refresh the inside of the current civic? the Sentra is a really nice small car and looks like a midsize car- that's what they where going for- while the civic still looks like a civic aka "small car" but awesome my van was out of commission for a week bc someone broke the side-sliding door glass and I had to get it fixed and the wife didn't want me to tape it up etc. and its random rain anytime during the day season so I drove the go-kart civic carting everyone to and fro work, daycare and preschool- its a dang fine little car- come when it is time to get her a new car if I do not get a decent trade in for it- we are just going to keep it- the thing will most likely be fine to give to our kids

The GT-R is performance...that's it...its made to be a race car and does not have any of the soft ride and nice insides that- its now-at-price competitors have - Nissan has increased the GT-R's price by about 20-35k and others have actually lowered theirs some to where instead of saying "the GT-R is 50k less than...XYZ" its now about 10- and by then who gives a flip? Its look, comfort and what you want.

Get a 370Z with NISMO spoiler and an "GT-R" hood from ebay and the thing looks awesome. To me the stock back of the Z is not strong enough and the spoiler helps beef it up- and I just love the double turbo intake of the GT-R hood.

xadion_sl said:

Nissan has been working really hard to become number 2 and dethrone Honda

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But it's not like the other companies are standing still either ... I mean Jesus, look at the new Toyota Camry, it looks like the front end was ripped straight off a lexus, but I think that gamble will pay off for them, it certainly has been working in favor of the ford fusion sales both regular and hybrid. (They overtook and sold more electric vehicles than Tesla last month)

Antarius_sl said:

But it's not like the other companies are standing still either ... I mean Jesus, look at the new Toyota Camry, it looks like the front end was ripped straight off a lexus, but I think that gamble will pay off for them, it certainly has been working in favor of the ford fusion sales both regular and hybrid. (They overtook and sold more electric vehicles than Tesla last month)

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IMO Toyota has been standing still in #1 and doing jack...I think they have realized that and are starting to actually do something... but I will admit, I don't like Toyota's, their dealerships and their pricing / sales practices.

Ford and Mazda have been pushing a lot- heck that new small/midsize Lincoln SUV looks amazing.

xadion_sl said:

Get a 370Z with NISMO spoiler and an "GT-R" hood from ebay and the thing looks awesome. To me the stock back of the Z is not strong enough and the spoiler helps beef it up- and I just love the double turbo intake of the GT-R hood.

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I'd rather have the Nismo GTR, but it's a lot harder to justify the 60,000 difference even between a 370z and a base GTR, but 50,000 EXTRA for the nismo version is just kinda.... not worth it.

Fggts who try to make their 370/G37 look like a GT-R from the front...