Darn Cost Cutters

[Jesda]

Darn Cost Cutters

So according to the Morgan Friedman inflation calculator, my $43000 Q45 back in late 1991 would be $56845 in 2002.

Now, a brand new Q is $52k, with MUCH more equipment and features, would be $39334 in 1991 dollars.

To sell a $43000 car for just $39000 with bigger wheels, better tires, more power, more room, DVD navigation, VDC, fancy electronics galore, reclining rear seats, heated seats, and better acceleration, it seems the difference had to be accounted for somewhere else. This is what bothers me about new cars these days.

My mom drives an Acura MDX. Stepdad drives a Lexus LX470. I drive a 92 Q45 and a 93 Mazda MPV RWD V6. In my mom's MDX, a sub-40k SUV, the creases and crevices are uneven, like the plastic was cut and molded in a sloppy way. All of the buttons dont push in at the same depth, door handles feel loosely attached, wood trim looks Chrysler-fake, and panel gaps and unevenness are obvious. The leather seats look like they were yanked from a 93 Accord SE. The Lexus has none of these issues, but thats another $25k.

My old Q45 arguably has the most durable and detailed interior of all the vehicles at our house, and without question the best paint. After 11 years, its stunning to look at.

The old MPV isn't bad either, with nicely textured soft surfaces, closely assembled panels, and no irregularities of any sort. By no means is it upscale, but its orderly and durable.

Take a look at the 350Z. The plastic feels hollow and cheap.

If manufacturers are cutting costs on interiors, where will they go next? Cheap tires? Cheap suspension? Cheap paint and bodywork? Maybe these companies think that if we're distracted by cool gadgetry, we'll miss the obvious.

Auto sales are so price-driven that I wonder if I'll find myself saying "They don't build them like they used to" a few years down the road when I'm perusing the used market again.

-Jesda

[PalmerWMD]

Yes,

there is some downward mobility in class , but there are also some imrpovements in productivity I am sure.

Fred...

[Rex]

Keep in mind "Technology" costs less today than it did 15 or even 10 years ago. And not just the technology in the car, bu the technology used to design and build the car.

[Onizuka]

Nissan also heavily uses platform and parts sharing now which cuts costs across the whole board without sacrificing much in the line of quality.

[lessthanjakejohn]

I dont know about the Infinitis, but on some of the neww Nissans I have seen and others i have heard about the paint is absolutely terrible. <the>reverend was also talking about how the body panels on the new nissans are fragile.

Does nissan just want these cars to ****ing die soon so that people will come back to buy in 7 or 8 years..

[AZhitman]

I, too, am VERY disappointed in the 350Z.

How a car by the same manufacturer, on the same platform (G35coupe) can be SO far superior in build quality and fit/finish is a mystery to me.

[nuQ]

i'm shocked at the quality of the interior and the paint of my 90Q. people still climb in and think it's a 99 or 2000 model, not bad for a car that's 13 years old. the paint is unbelievable too. looks better (when waxed) than most new cars i've seen. infiniti really went for it!!!! on the other hand, my girlfriend has a new altima and the interior looks and feels absolutely CHEAP!!!! granted, an altima is no Q45, but you'd think that a brand new mid-range sedan would look and feel better than a 13 year old car. at least i have braggin' rights with her now!!!LOL

[yidal8]

First , a nicely equipped 2003 Q45 is much more then $52K .But , you have to agree ,that these days , Honda , Toyota , have in general better fit & finish , as compared to the rest of the Japs.The move to cheapen the Q started in the second Gen. (1997) model year , and never really stopped . Yes , my 91Q is still a jewel .The influence of the French only made it worse , because the cost cutting was the 1st. priority . But , even compared to the 2003 Q , M , I ,( pre-French era designs), the rest of the lineup (G, FX) is inferior ,( post French era ) when it comes to fit & finish . The best finish of any Infiniti today is the I35 .

[maxnix]

First , a nicely equipped 2003 Q45 is much more then $52K .

Not really. Grubbs Infiniti out of Dallas was selling all 2003 Q45 and M45 for $9K off sticker a couple of weeks ago. That makes a loaded premium Q45 $53K.

[yidal8]

And it makes a loaded M45 , minus the navi. only $37.5K . WHAT A SCREAMIN. DEAL !!!!!

[VimyJ]

The step down in Infiniti quality was signaled by the end of the J, introduction of the I and scaling back of the Q. All happened in 96-97 when Nissan was in finanicial straits and that lead to the take over by the French.

[greg_atlanta]

It's not just cars, it's everything else too..... consumers have loudly declared that PRICE is the #1, #2, and #3 deciding factors in any purchasing decision.

Everything is disposable and replaceable.

[Jesda]