Nissan is #5

[nissangirl74]

on the list of the world's most valuable car brands in 2013

in $ billion
rank in top global 100
% value change from 2012

1) Toyota $24.5 -- (23) +12
2) BMW $24.0 -- (24) -2
3) Mercedes-Benz $18.0 -- (43) +11
4) Honda $12.4 -- (71) -2
5) Nissan $10.2 -- (86) +3
6) Volkswagen $8.8 -- 3 (100) +3
7) Ford $7.6 -- (*) +8
8) Audi $5.5 -- (*) +18
9) Hyundai $4.0 -- (*) +11
10) Lexus $3.5 -- (*) +2

(number) = overall top 100 position
(*) = Did not rank in the top 100

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/toyota-over ... 08276.html

Do you think Nissan being number 5 is a good thing or a bad thing? We all know Ghosn is going after world domination of the market but you have to wonder about the things he did nad the calls he made in order to get there. It's a sad day when a rental car lot full of Versas and Altimas is more important than a car that appeals to the enthusiast community. I think Nissan sorely underestimates the impact that we can have. The owners of the largest Nissan car forum on the web both drive Mazdas. I would say that'd be a helluva kick in the teeth, but that would mean that they care, so Yeah.

[elwesso]

If you look at the other brands surrounding Nissan, most are a highly enthusiast based brand, like BMW, MB, VW, Ford (somewhat), and Audi.

[float_6969]

Yea, I see a lot of enthusiast brands there as well. "world domination" is never a good goal. Toyota didn't set out to be #1. They set out to provide a good product and support their customers. That brought them to #1 as a result. Trying to do it the other way around results in a fleet of blandmobiles.

[krash]

The only reason "the new Nissan" is even in my radar is because of the 370z. Take that away and I've got Honda, Subaru, and Mazda to hang out with. Honda does some AWESOME things for the enthusiast and racing community, it really makes me want to be a honda owner. I might have to buy an S2000 soon.

[Kompresshun]

Nissan hasn't been on my radar for a LONG time. I can go elsewhere and buy something so much better, for the same money or less and have more fun. I like the Z34, but it has no back seat and the G Coupe is too much money new. #5 is not somewhere i'd want to be, but we've already seen that Nissan's priorities are in the s*** right now anyways.

I already bought one Korean vehicle Mr. Ghosn and I wouldn't mind one bit having another. Everyone else is making interesting vehicles right now and i'd have a hard time deciding on which place to stop first, right as a drive by the Nissan dealership.

[JTR32gtst]

Nissan hasn't been on my radar for a LONG time. I can go elsewhere and buy something so much better, for the same money or less and have more fun. I like the Z34, but it has no back seat and the G Coupe is too much money new. #5 is not somewhere i'd want to be, but we've already seen that Nissan's priorities are in the s*** right now anyways.

I already bought one Korean vehicle Mr. Ghosn and I wouldn't mind one bit having another. Everyone else is making interesting vehicles right now and i'd have a hard time deciding on which place to stop first, right as a drive by the Nissan dealership.

But Nissan has the Juke, right.....

I agree. The sports side of the brand seems to have gone slightly to the way side, being only options are the Z or the GTR. Both are priced pretty high. There needs to be a "S" chassis type car revival. A small liter turbo, rwd car people can enjoy. Priced in the upper teens to low 20's. This is why I own an older Nissan sports car.

The truck platforms, however, are fantastic. My Titan is a great truck that does not disappoint, my wifes Xterra has 90K with no issues other than maintenance, and I love my Skyline. I have owned plenty of Frontiers and not a single one has let me down. I will only buy Nissan, but that is because I am not forced to buy a new sports car. Had this been so, I would be looking at Subaru.... Just my opinion though.

[Bubba1]

I think The answer to your question about whether it's good or bad depends on your perspective.A stockhlder might think it's great, but to a budget minded enthusiast, upon whom it appears Nissan has been emptying its bladder not so good.

[Rogue One]

Nissan hasn't been on my radar for a LONG time. I can go elsewhere and buy something so much better, for the same money or less and have more fun. I like the Z34, but it has no back seat and the G Coupe is too much money new. #5 is not somewhere i'd want to be, but we've already seen that Nissan's priorities are in the s*** right now anyways.

I already bought one Korean vehicle Mr. Ghosn and I wouldn't mind one bit having another. Everyone else is making interesting vehicles right now and i'd have a hard time deciding on which place to stop first, right as a drive by the Nissan dealership.

Interesting. Nissan ranks #6 in car complaints, along with issues of low brand loyalty.

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/10-cars-wit ... tml?page=2
Additionally, the brand had a far lower customer loyalty than any of the other large makes. Just 42% of owners bought another Nissan when they traded in their previous model in 2012, far worse than Chevrolet, Ford, Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (NYSE: HMC) and Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) — all of which were able to retain at least 47% loyalty. Nissan owners also are more likely to trade in their models in sooner. The average car traded in last year was just 5.4 years old, younger than the average for all the other major makes.

[gwoods]

I think Nissan is doing okay. I helped my sister work a deal on a new 2013 Altima this weekend (CVT :-( ) For the price and performance everything else was not even close to the Altima.

[nissangirl74]

The Altima is a fantastic car. We drove one while we were in Carlisle and it was great. Effortless to drive, amazingly comfortable but it's not built to be a performance / enthusiast car. I don't fault them for building it, or the Versa. They both serve a need / purpose. Basic economic transportation to get you from point A to point B. (Yes, I know the Alti is a lot nicer than the Versa but it's not OMG-I-have-to-have-that nice). They just don't inspire a real desire to get out on the road and GO. Would you drive the Tail of the Dragon in a Versa? How about the Pacific Coast Highway? No, you wouldn't. Not if you had the chance to drive something else that was actually FUN to drive.

[gwoods]

For 17k its hard to beat

[Bubba1]

I agree with Bex. Bex/Greg gave me an opportunity to toss around their rented new altima around the Carlisle autocross course. I actually liked the memory foam... I mean "zero gravity" seats once your butt eventually settles into them. As a highway cruiser/people hauler I think it would be a nice (but not great) family car choice for a non-enthusiast. BUT equipped with nothing else except that gawd awful CVT, it became one of the more unsporty vehicles I've driven. As an enthusiast, I wouldn't remotely consider buying one now. With the exception of the 370Z, it seems like Nissan's slogan "enjoy the ride" is a fading memory.

[Kompresshun]

They just don't inspire a real desire to get out on the road and GO. Would you drive the Tail of the Dragon in a Versa? How about the Pacific Coast Highway? No, you wouldn't. Not if you had the chance to drive something else that was actually FUN to drive.

^This is one of the main reasons why I feel the way I do about Nissan. On the other hand, i've heard that the Ford Fiesta is a blast to drive, as is the Mazda 3, and the Focus. I cannot remember the last time that I drove something from newer Nissan that I truly enjoyed, aside from a G37 Coupe and G37 sedan. Outside of that, everything I gotten into has been a huge fail. If I had a use for one though, I still think the XTerra is fantastic.

[elwesso]

I agree with Bex. Bex/Greg gave me an opportunity to toss around their rented new altima around the Carlisle autocross course. I actually liked the memory foam... I mean "zero gravity" seats once your butt eventually settles into them. As a highway cruiser/people hauler I think it would be a nice (but not great) family car choice for a non-enthusiast. BUT equipped with nothing else except that gawd awful CVT, it became one of the more unsporty vehicles I've driven. As an enthusiast, I wouldn't remotely consider buying one now. With the exception of the 370Z, it seems like Nissan's slogan "enjoy the ride" is a fading memory.

If you had to choose, would you take the Dart or the Altima?

[gwoods]

We drove, Ford Escapes, Fusions and Toyota Highlanders. The Altima gave the best gas mileage and was the cheapest to purchase. I tried to steer her toward a 2012 G37 Infiniti loaner with 25k miles for 24k but the insurance was $130 more A MONTH! when the Altima was $20 more a month.

[Bubba1]

If you had to choose, would you take the Dart or the Altima?

That's a good question. Hmmm. If I can't choose "neither" and were forced to buy one or the other, I think I'd grimace and get the Altima.

[MinisterofDOOM]

The fact that VW is on that list at all proves that there is ZERO correlation between corporate VALUE and PRODUCT.

[Jesda]

Nissan makes a lot of money selling rolling purses to the unwashed masses. If that's what they've built their brand on then so be it.

I now accept that the Nissan I loved as a kid is long gone.

[nissangirl74]

If you had to choose, would you take the Dart or the Altima?

Buss pass.

[gwoods]

The fact that VW is on that list at all proves that there is ZERO correlation between corporate VALUE and PRODUCT.

I wonder if VW is including Audi, Porsche and Lamborghini in the pot?