Japanese Culture and the Z

fastsach

Some interest was shown by the guys that responded to my post under newbie in the roadster section and the more I think about it the more I believe that some of my experiences with Nissan in Japan would be of interest.
As I mentioned I was with Nissan over 27 years in various capacities from tool maintenance to Purchasing and have been to Nihon (they don't call their country Japan) 27 times.

First and foremeost is that the Z is not made by Nissan per se. They have another name (can't remember) and are considered a contractor. There are three different distinct manufacturing arms of Nissan in Japan. Passenger cars/light trucks (Infiniti and Nissan), heavy trucks and sports cars. The sports cars section only makes the Z and GTR (I think) in a seperate city I have never been to. All of the arms are allowed to use the other's assets to test and ask questions. The Z is seperated so that the bureaucracy and scrutiny of the larger machine does not interfere with their art. The hierarchy of management and decision making is not readily understandable to the western mind and that is another subject but believe me this structure is needed and can change any April (Japan's universal fiscal year start).
The Z folks are the elite and that's where everybody wants to go but few do. What goes on there is kind of private and the rest of the world, including Nissan people, only see the end result of their efforts.
The Z is a piece of technological art and represents what the human species is capable of producing right now (in their opinion). As soon as it's launched and in production the team sets out to raise the bar for the next model and starts anew.
I can go on and on, believe me.

I have to admit I have never even ridden in a Z post the 300ZX but will get my roadster as a lease from Nissan in February. Damn the time is going slow..................

Sach

shadoquad

That's pretty fascinating, sach!

Junior370z

Interesting info!

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Mt Tam I am

The sports cars section only makes the Z and GTR (I think) in a seperate city I have never been to. Tochigi may be the place.

Welcome to the forum.

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Rui Z

I thought Infiniti, Z, and GTR were all made at the tochigi plant. And most of the Nissan USA vehicles were made outside Japan.

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ChrisSlicks

There is a manufacturer facility and test track in Tochigi. Here is the map link. I can't read Japanese so I have no clue what it says

OP thanks for the insider insite, it's always interesting.

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fastsach

I have not been to Tochigi in many years and if they made the Z there I was not allowed to see it. Infinitis are made wherever it's cheapest and the actual situation I am not sure of but will check.
For example the Inf EX is actually a dressed up Rogue and goes down the same line at Opama I believe.

I wish I could be more accurate on this but it's been a while since I was there or informed of the situation. I can tell you.

Smyrna, TN Plant - All Altimas (not sold anywhere else), Maxima, Frontier, Xterra and Pathfinder.
Canton, MS - Titan, Armada, QX and the Quest in the past (now gone back to Japan for the new one).
Decherd, TN - V8 and V6 machining with a casting plant for blocks and heads.
Mexico 2 plants - Versa, Sentra

ProfessorDave

Great information! +1 rep for you Sach!

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ChrisSlicks

Not all of Infiniti, just the Skyline series (i.e. G35/G37/M/GT-R to us) as I understand it. These are badged as Nissan's in Japan.

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fastsach

There is also a test track at Opama. I have not been on it but have watched mules run around it. I was studying plastic injection molds for bumpers there and there was always a vehicle going around the track day or night. We did one in four weeks on night shift as everyone did because the Japanese think it is cruel to put soemone on nights all of the time. The mule was piloted by a Japanese volunteer 24 hours, three shifts, 7 days a week. This one looked like something out of mad max as it was a car frame with just enough sheetmetal to keep wind and rain off of the occupant.
It's purpose was to test differen systems so they ran them until they failed. Sometimes it would be gone for two hours and then be back.
Drivetrain, A/C, power seats, windows, cruise etc were in action all of the time with lots of wires and recorders. OSHA would never allow this thing to move here. The drivers mainly only broke for lunch.

Cool to watch.

rico magic

Welcome to the boards FS and thanks for the insight, good to know that there is a dedicated team that works on our beloved Z!

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kenchan

wow, 27yrs is a long time. wasn't much of a nissan fan at all until about 7-8yrs ago when the Skyline 350GT was released. ever since getting the G35C in the states ive been a fan of nissan. ive had the car the longest and still luv it like the day i bought her home.

i have the same feeling for my 370Z as well. something about nissan's sporty cars have unique character similar to wat i felt for like my MINI. they're more like a pet than a car.

i saw a Juke driving around this am...first time seeing one in person. although it's a werd looking car i felt something. i actually like it. i dont feel this way towards other japanese cars. like when i see a honda i feel 'convenience, reliability, workmanship, etc' but do not feel attached to it.

there's some kinda magic goingon in tochigi.

Rui Z

Fastsach, I see you are located in Nashville. Does that mean you work for Nissan USA headquarters now? Welcome, and try to see if you can get the head honcho there to issue build number plaques for the 40th anniversary models J/K.

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worldfamousz

on a side note, the new GTR R35 is completed on the same assembly line as the Skyline 370GT (our Infiniti G35/G37).
I've seen MANY pictures of GTR's being working on and built side by side the other skyline platforms ever since the R35 came out.

spearfish25

LOL. Sounds like they need to open their eyes to the outside world (or get on the internet) if they think the Z is the best the human species is capable of producing. Or just add the catch line "at this price point" to those statements.

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