Quote:
Originally Posted by takemorepills
This is just thinking in absolute metrics. Not everyone thinks this way. I totally respect and appreciate the performance value of the C8, and I generally like the car. But, I feel no urge to go out and buy one. I have zero bad things to say about it (I have many bad things to say about a Mustang or Camaro, another possible Z competitor)
I am also sure a C8 and the new 300Z will be equally expensive to insure, both being 2-seaters, so that's another metric that would push the value ratio towards C8.
For me, I've had (2) Z31's, (2) V6 S12's, a Z32, a Q60, various Maximas and a Stanza and a Titan. All have treated me well, and all of my V6 coupes stand out in my mind as being favorable memories. I want another one, especially since we are going back to a retro-vibe 3.0TT V6 model, which was my favorite of all time.
Honestly, I HIGHLY doubt the new 300Z could outperform the BMW Supra 3.0TT, let alone the C8, obviously. BMW deserves a lot of respect for building cars that perform better than their specs suggest, and BMW has a lot of un-tapped room for improvement in the Supra, if the 300Z begins to nip too closely to the Supra, BMW can just turn up a few dials, maybe even offer a 6MT. I doubt Nissan will play such tricks with the VR, you will get what you get.
Nonetheless, I don't want a BMW either (although I'd take a C8 over a BMW in a quickness).
An enthusiast can take a new 300Z, significantly improve it with a tune, change out the exhaust in their driveway, modify it as they wish and not really break the bank. For us Nissan fans, it's an easy sell.
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/\ good point about absolute performance metrics not being the be all end all for whether or not someone buys a particular performance car.
There’s a balance at play between aesthetics, ergonomics (not everyone is comfortable in every car equally), absolute performance, performance for the dollar (perceived performance value), perceived quality and workmanship, brand loyalty, historical provenance of a particular model, and of course price (both absolute $$ and how it stacks up $$ compared to rivals).
Some folks will weigh certain of the above more than other ones but all are at play to some degree for every car buyer.
As I get older, the absolute performance metric becomes far less important. I want performance but never at the expense of the other stuff, especially quality and ergonomics, etc. I’d rather be in a slower Porsche than a faster vette.
The problem with only bringing in buyers who are essentially performance mercenaries is that every year or two, something better comes out so sales will tank once the new hotness gets superseded by the even newer hotness.
Long term sales success for a performance car is actually least dependent on absolute performance and much more on brand loyalty and all the other things I listed above. As long as the car gets some updates periodically to keep it somewhat relevant it’s overall performance might be the hook initially that gets attention but the manufacturers hope folks keep coming back for all the other stuff too.
The z34’s downfall was that Nissan is building a 2009 car in 2020 and its had no real updates ever, no I don’t think the ‘15 nismo refresh was a major update.