Originally Posted by rj45

My point was, if planned properly, Nissan could offer a Z with V8 power for a price similar to the Corvette's, and it would be an altogether nicer car. I wasn't suggesting Nissan take the current car and just drop a V8 into it, like a backyard mechanic. It's not uncommon for manufacturers to offer cars/trucks with both V6 and V8 power. Take the Mustang you mentioned. I realize design changes and certifications would be needed, but they're not monumental tasks.

Probably what Nissan is thinking is they don't want a two seat sports car in the $50K+ range. They're hard to sell and make money with. The GT-R is an expensive car, but it's a halo car for them, not a money maker. They want to make money with the Z. The Corvette's got a rare piece of the market.

IMO, Nissan wants to offer a car with performance and feel comparable to an entry level Porsche, but at a cheaper price...and that's what the Z does. Nissan probably worries that at $50K-$60K for a V8 Z, the buyer will gravitate to the Porsche, even with the Porsche's power disadvantage.

The bottom line is...if Nissan could build a quality V8 Z for Corvette money - and they could if they wanted to, IMO - GM can build a higher quality Corvette. At $55K for the average Corvette, the car should be better. Look at the nice little GTI VW sells for $25K. Tight as a drum with a high quality interior that puts the Corvette's to shame.