Did Nissan Target the Wrong Demographic?

[fintanv]

Thought I would see if anyone else out there thinks that Nissan mis-read their target demographic? It seems to me that they are trying to compete with Honda's Fit crowd (young first time car buyers) and are making too many of the S model manual instead of setting their sights higher. I think they would have done a lot better making more of the SL with CVT, ABS, and Convenience package. Plus they should have offered a leather seat option. Target the folk looking for a good value second car.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Not really. I think it's just a case of making more of what sells more. Lower end models always sell at higher volume. Manual transmissions--especially in the case of the Versa where it gives the best milage--are always in high demand.

By the way, welcome to NICO!

[DocPlez]

2nd car?? It's my fifth!!

[Althalus]

Yup, this is my third car. But the first I've gotten all alone.

[cireecnop1]

This is my 13th car! but the second out of the ones I have right now. This is infact the first car that my credit was able to support, bought this Versa with $0 down and no trade. and also bought me an S-10 but had to put $4,000 down on that to get rid of my Audi. about time I can do things financially on my own.

[Jrscherer]

First brand new car for me. I'm only 21 and wanted something brand new but small and good MPG, yet also didn't want to spend an arm and a leg on it. So the S class was a perfect fit for me.

[MIdnkight-lude]

i think it is a more of an issue of supply.

If you dont know, the CVT tranmission are in a shortage, most of the transmission are sent over to the sentra, that why only the SL have the CVT and the S has the 4 speed AUTO. For me i didnt wanna sit around waiting for a CVT to pop up and pay the extra 3k for items i would eventually remove from the car with aftermarket parts.

But ya out here in socal, i havent seen a SL Model YET. let alone a CVT. :p

[xu_chen]

I got an S with manual, with just bare-bone power package. When you get down to it, this car is only $13,850. The dealer also had a SL with CVT and all the frills, that one was ~$17k. We're talking $4k different here, which is enough to get an old and beat up used car. I think people who get the Versa are looking for something cheap, small, and gets good mileage. The S with manual transmission certain fits that description and can actually provide some fun if you move your shift point higher! :-)

[LA02MAX]

Not really. I think it's just a case of making more of what sells more. Lower end models always sell at higher volume. Manual transmissions--especially in the case of the Versa where it gives the best milage--are always in high demand.

By the way, welcome to NICO!

Yeah lower end models always outsell the fully loaded ones, but now days, automatics actually outsell the standard transmission cars by quite a big margin, sadly. 4 out of 5 of my friends can't even drive a manual, which is really sad IMO.

But I think that this car is marketed just right. I mean, it's a very inexpensive car that's cheap to maintain, gets good gas mileage, has room for friends, and is very inexpensive to buy. It's the perfect car for the first time buyer. Just because it's competing against something that's a little less serious or professional than the versa (meaning the Fit) it doesn't mean that it's marketed wrong. Yeah there are going to be quite a few people who buy it as a second commuter car (I actually think my stepdad is going to buy a 6-speed as a commuter) but for the most part, it's pretty well marketed

[Ever Victorious]

I got an S with manual, with just bare-bone power package. When you get down to it, this car is only $13,850. The dealer also had a SL with CVT and all the frills, that one was ~$17k. We're talking $4k different here, which is enough to get an old and beat up used car. I think people who get the Versa are looking for something cheap, small, and gets good mileage. The S with manual transmission certain fits that description and can actually provide some fun if you move your shift point higher! :-)

When I heard the Versa was actually out and went hunting for mine, I specifically sought out an SL with the convenience package. Turned out that a nearby dealer had exactly that, with the Manual (that I preferred), in exactly the color I wanted. I got lucky.

I agree with almost all of the marketing Nissan has done. They have two different levels of cars that fit several different demographics. The one complaint I have is that they don't offer cruise on the S... I know several of you have lamented that as being basically the only feature of the SL that you wanted.

Ah well... I'll stick with playing with my toys. If I ever get them back from the body shop.

[proxim2020]

Thought I would see if anyone else out there thinks that Nissan mis-read their target demographic? It seems to me that they are trying to compete with Honda's Fit crowd (young first time car buyers) and are making too many of the S model manual instead of setting their sights higher. I think they would have done a lot better making more of the SL with CVT, ABS, and Convenience package. Plus they should have offered a leather seat option. Target the folk looking for a good value second car.

I think Nissan knows that there's a lot of young people who don't have a lot of money to throw at a car and wants something that looks and performs well. The kids these day don't seem to want to buy things like the Geo Metro . They read the magazines and visit the trade show and they know there's a huge open tuner market out there. This is why there's a 6 speed gear box and a ultra low price. Like others have said, they are looking at selling volume. There's a big demand for the SL's with CVT, but an even bigger one for the manual S. I think they want to make the Sentra the more grown up second family car. That's why they gave the Sentra 3 trim levels.