Modern Nissan really are idiots. They remind me of mid-90s GM: every SINGLE time they seem to be finally getting something right, they kill it off. They finally replaced the terrible, ancient, hateful 4-speed auto with a half-decent 5 speed only to universally replace it with CVTs everywhere. And they build a DOHC V8 that struggles with reliability issues, only to turn around and add amazing technology, not only solving the reliability problems but also making HUGE torque and power with decent fuel economy. Now, just TWO YEARS into the engine's lifespan, they decide to kill it off?! Who the Hell is in charge of R&D at Nissan? Isn't someone cursing and breaking skulls over all that wasted investment?
The M56 is a fantastic car. Who the Hell doesn't want 425 ft-lb with those looks and that level of comfort?! And at that price!!! The FX50 is a little confusing (why is it not an FX56?!). The QX sells like gold-plated chocolate covered bacon.
There's a bigger problem, though: The VQ is NOT a viable replacement, even with boost. Unless Nissan has a BRAND NEW V6 ready to unveil, they're dooming themselves. Mopar's Pentastar and GM's LFX are in a whole different UNIVERSE from the aging VQ. CHRYSLER IS BUILDING A BETTER V6 THAN NISSAN. Pretty sad.
Nissan is clearly being run by directionless morons. Probably seven or eight directionless morons, none of whom ever communicate. That's the only explanation for the kind of nonsense we're seeing from them these days.
Of course, it's not all Nissan's fault. American buyers are trying as hard as ever to compete with a bag of hammers on the intelligence front. EVERY TIME I see an Infiniti on the road, it's the pansy-a** V6 version. FX35s everywhere (with big shiny wheels to make sure it gets noticed). Wusstastic all-wheel-drive M35s and M37s. If no one buys the V8s, Nissan can't be expected to see any appeal in selling them.
Jesda wrote:Just when I thought Infiniti had more guts than Cadillac which killed off the Northstar V8 last year.
RIP.
Modern GM is doing a pretty good job of acting like 90's GM, too. Head studs are fixed, let's kill it off! It's like the Fiero, or the Impala, or any of a thousand other GM gaffs ALL OVER AGAIN. That said, they could almost just glue two more cylinders on their V6 and still come out ahead. Well, once we make it through the teething years, anyway.
HOW CAN IT BE THIS HARD TO RUN A CAR COMPANY?! Nissan is shoving CVTs down the world's collective throat. Cadillac kills off BOTH their flagships without a replacement and follows it up with a product THEY ADMIT is not worthy of the badge. Infiniti is killing off the V8. Ford is determined to lie to the world about their Ecoboost fuel economy while selling the fattest cars ever imagined in my most fevered nightmares, and hoping no one notices that they've faced their engines the wrong way. Hyundai has decided that a rattly, buzzy little turbo four is a sufficient replacement for a V6 and completely took the choice away from the consumer. CAN'T ANYONE DO ANYTHING RIGHT?! FOR HELL'S SAKE, PUT ME IN CHARGE OF ANY OF THESE COMPANIES FOR A MONTH AND I'LL CHANGE THE WHOLE DAMN WORLD.
I'm disgusted with everyone. There's not a single damn car company that hasn't pissed me the Hell off. I have NO loyalties anymore. Everyone's a loser. The only good car is used. I hope the whole damn industry collapses on itself and explodes.
If you'll excuse me, I'll be out driving my old, V8 powered performance sedan with traction control turned off and trying to forget how much everything sucks. But that's hard to do when I'm surrounded by Hybrid badges and Turbo badges and idiot people who buy Jettas (the latter is unrelated to the rest of this rant, but remains true and a source of stress).
... and I agree with most of his commentary.
