Will the GT-R Fail?

[NickTT6]

All- This is my first post on the board...I have followed the development and introduction of the GT-R for the last year. Much of the speculation, reviews and information are all very favorable....

Today I ran across something on speedsportlife.com that was vastly different then anything I have read before...I feel that the writer has some very valid points and arguments and I wanted to see what perspective GTR owners or fans might think about this....

Again, this is not intent to flame or troll...rather, I am very interested to here some constructive thoughts and feedback on the article....

Thanks

http://www.speedsportlife.com/...-gt-r/

[thefro526]

I think that the author brought up some valid points but I think the GT-R will be a success. IMO I believe that Nissan never actually planed on profiting greatly from direct GT-R sales. I think that Nissan hopes to use the GT-R as advertising to sell lesser models. I know a lot of people will go to a Nissan Dealership to look at the GT-R and some of these people will be amazed by the technology that Nissan has to offer in it's line-up. Lets say Nissan does bring over the estimated 1500 GT-R's next year/this year. At least 5-10 people will go into look at them and some of these will not be traditional Nissan buyers. Hopefully these people with either buy GT-R's or some other Nissan models. Which would therefore cause an indirect profit from the GT-R. I do not think the GT-R will fail; Nissan isn't offering enough of them for sale to fail. I believe that those first 1500 GT-R's will sell or be leased almost instantly. It's a sexy car, with an even sexier price tag... But then again only time will tell.

[themadscientist]

I think I have grounds for a suit alleging he stole my intellectual property. He writes like me!

[themadscientist]

Glad to see I am not the only one who figured it out

What’s the Nissan GT-R’s market base? Well, it’s primarily made up of people who play Gran Turismo and its descendants, plus a smattering of kids who thought the car with the Impala-esque taillights in 2Fast 2Furious was pretty cool. Most of these people live in the basements of their parents’ homes. Do you see the problem with the idea of marketing a $70,000 car to people who still live with their parents and who spend all night on XBOX Live? If you don’t, allow me to point it out for you: These kids don’t have any money. They may be tremendously knowledgeable car enthusiasts and very nice people, but when I was seventeen years old, I was a knowledgeable car enthusiast too, and I don’t remember buying any $70,000 cars with my minimum-wage earnings from working the parts counter at David Hobbs BMW.

[WalterGA]

Glad to see I am not the only one who figured it out

Wonder how many cars the guy who wrote that article ever designed, manufactured and marketed? Looks simpleminded, to me. OF course, the GT-R won't be marketed to folks who can't afford it. Every GT-R brought into America will probably be pre-sold.

[Encryptshun]

Is that Jon Hamilton in the picture?

I particularly like this comment at the end:

"sounds-like a dipsh*t Germano-phile mouthbreather threatened by car that ain’t made by the Aryan brotherhood." Like or dislike the GTR, that comment is pretty fin funny

[supguyex]

i think the GTR is not just advertisement for Nissan's lesser models, but also a good excuse to pour money into R&D to develop things that will bleed downwards in the line lineup.

[themadscientist]

lord I hope not.Your new 2010 Nissan, now standard with the HAL9000 driver assistant

What are you doing Dave?,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Trying to shift gears HAL.I can't let you do that Dave,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Encryptshun]

[rhettdec]

This car fail? Thats laughable in my opinion.

But I do think the german fanbois are praying it will fail.

All- This is my first post on the board...I have followed the development and introduction of the GT-R for the last year. Much of the speculation, reviews and information are all very favorable....

Today I ran across something on speedsportlife.com that was vastly different then anything I have read before...I feel that the writer has some very valid points and arguments and I wanted to see what perspective GTR owners or fans might think about this....

Again, this is not intent to flame or troll...rather, I am very interested to here some constructive thoughts and feedback on the article....

Thanks

http://www.speedsportlife.com/...-gt-r/

[EfiniRX7]

I dont think this is a pass fail car. Nissan is making this car for a select consumer group not the masses. I believe most of the cars will find a home.

[Hijacker]

I've been saying since they confirmed that the R35 was shipping globally under the Nissan badge that Nissan NA was going to have a tough time selling the car.

Coming from a marketing standpoint, it's a tough sell. Nissan has for decades branded the name as a manufacturer that produces good cars for the middle class. Infiniti was created over here to sell their "upper class" models. And it's been a fairly successful venture for the company

Now, you look at the marketing base of Nissan and Infiniti. While, most people know that they are one in the same, Infiniti carries a different weight and view in the public eye. It's how they sold themselves over the years. People will pay 50,000+ for an infiniti, but not for a Nissan. High prices is what killed the Z32 in its later years. 45 grand for a loaded Z32 in the mid nineties? Ha!

I agree with the author that the marketing base isn't there. Nissan's job right now is to create it, but that market segment is tough as it's usually old money. And old money tends to be set in its way and like what it likes. New stuff doesn't really cut it unless it proves it to old money. That's why he pointed out Porsche and Corvette. Old money knows those two well and likes them a lot. They're safe zones if you would.

Paying 90,000 for a Nissan sounds ludicrous to old money, and so far Nissan hasn't done a lot to excite old money to get him into the dealer to check out this "really fast nissan".

In short, Nissan needs to pick up their marketing effort. They need to get some well written articles in C&D, Motor Trend, etc that do nothing but pump up the GT-R to get the market base that can actually afford the car to go look at it. They need to do some advertising on TV, specifically during the prime time zones, to reach that crowd.

Another nail in the R35s US coffin is the constant Big Brothering. Americans don't like having no control over their automobiles. The Japanese have no problems with it since they're fairly used to it by now. How often do you know of someone who takes their car in for the proper mileage tune up? Who in their right mind is going to enjoy saying "Well! Done with my track day. Best schedule that $1,000 service check up so I can keep driving mah car!"

I think Nissan didn't consider the big picture when they started talking about bringing the R35 over here. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy they decided to. I'm happy it stays branded a Nissan. I'm happy that this will trickle down to the middle class in other forms (can we say sister cars. platform sharing. etc), but I'm not holding my breath to watch this car barnstorm our roads and tracks.

[rhettdec]

I've been saying since they confirmed that the R35 was shipping globally under the Nissan badge that Nissan NA was going to have a tough time selling the car.

Coming from a marketing standpoint, it's a tough sell. Nissan has for decades branded the name as a manufacturer that produces good cars for the middle class. Infiniti was created over here to sell their "upper class" models. And it's been a fairly successful venture for the company

Now, you look at the marketing base of Nissan and Infiniti. While, most people know that they are one in the same, Infiniti carries a different weight and view in the public eye. It's how they sold themselves over the years. People will pay 50,000+ for an infiniti, but not for a Nissan. High prices is what killed the Z32 in its later years. 45 grand for a loaded Z32 in the mid nineties? Ha!

I agree with the author that the marketing base isn't there. Nissan's job right now is to create it, but that market segment is tough as it's usually old money. And old money tends to be set in its way and like what it likes. New stuff doesn't really cut it unless it proves it to old money. That's why he pointed out Porsche and Corvette. Old money knows those two well and likes them a lot. They're safe zones if you would.

Paying 90,000 for a Nissan sounds ludicrous to old money, and so far Nissan hasn't done a lot to excite old money to get him into the dealer to check out this "really fast nissan".

In short, Nissan needs to pick up their marketing effort. They need to get some well written articles in C&D, Motor Trend, etc that do nothing but pump up the GT-R to get the market base that can actually afford the car to go look at it. They need to do some advertising on TV, specifically during the prime time zones, to reach that crowd.

Another nail in the R35s US coffin is the constant Big Brothering. Americans don't like having no control over their automobiles. The Japanese have no problems with it since they're fairly used to it by now. How often do you know of someone who takes their car in for the proper mileage tune up? Who in their right mind is going to enjoy saying "Well! Done with my track day. Best schedule that $1,000 service check up so I can keep driving mah car!"

I think Nissan didn't consider the big picture when they started talking about bringing the R35 over here. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy they decided to. I'm happy it stays branded a Nissan. I'm happy that this will trickle down to the middle class in other forms (can we say sister cars. platform sharing. etc), but I'm not holding my breath to watch this car barnstorm our roads and tracks.

Im failing to see how this car is going to be a failure. This car is going to be sold around the world not just to middle aged white americans.

And what do you consider a failure? Every site I goto theres people putting in a whole lot of effort to get their name on a list just to have the chance to get one.

You arnt a Corvette fan by chance are you?

[KeiSkyline]

Super cars dont fail

[Sil40_Mayhem]

I have a feeling this car will be marketed in the same arena as the Corvette (and the Z06, in particular). Lots of 'fanbois' drool over that, but settled for lesser offerings (like the now-dead-but-soon-to-be-reborn Camaro). As previously mentioned, I doubt Nissan is looking for this to be a volume-sales leader, but rather a halo/flagship offering. I suppose we will just have to wait and see.

[Jim124]

I have always liked the Skyline but sadly I have been thinking that exact same thing for a while now. I only think the GT-R will last a little while in America and I agree with him on what will happen to it. I wish it could sell tons and stay here forever but I dont think that will happen.

[EL MAMITO USMC]

well many of the points here are well taken , but i think that nissan havent started a good PR campain for their super car. in other countries since they are sold they know about the car but here no regular person knows it. they need a good efective PR campain or it migth fail

[konatown]

The GT-R has already done its own advertising. It is the single most written of car that has ever come to the states. Put a picture of it as your office computer's background. EVERYONE knows what it is. People want this car because it transcends Nissan.

Nissan should get the GT-R into sanctioned racing to run against the Corvettes and Vipers and create a rivalry.

But as for a sales failure? No, not an inkling of a snowball's chance in hell that it will be a failure. It is priced in a range that car guys will buy it. Yuppies will eat it up because how popular it is now, and we don't even have it yet.