I see a lot of people saying the enthusiast market is dead and that we don't buy cars in high enough volume but I don't believe it to be true.

Mustangs, Camaros, Challengers, Corvettes, 911s, they sell.

Other than the Vette and the 911, you can actually find practical use for those cars. Mustangs, Camaros and Challenger/Chargers come in many more flavours than "enthusiast". The higher ends don't really sell in huge numbers either.

911's sell for a different reason than 370Z's. But there are only so many dentists in the world.

The Vette sells because they take a good car and every few years make it an even better car (well, there were a few dog years in there, LOL). 25,000 copies moved of store shelves in the USA last year, and that's down for them from 34K in 2014. By comparison, the 370Z was 4,600 in 2017 and almost 7,400 in 2015. US 911 sales (all variants) were just shy of 9,000 units in the same period. Also down from 10,400 in 2014. In fact, sports car sales are down across the board.

Camaro - 68K down from 86K in 2014
Challenger/Charger 152K down from 160K in 2015
Mustang 81,800 vs 122,000 in 2015.

Corvette can share engine and suspension developments with other GM vehicles, and kind of is the sports car flag-bearer for the brand, which is probably how they keep it fresh.

Agreed. I definitely don't see 2ss Camaro not corvettes every day. Though I do see at least one 6gen Camaro every day. I don't feel like I'm living in a sea of SS Camaro's.

Part of the issue is also the consumer. That and the constant rise of costs. Enthusiast cars are a specific niche and in most cases not practical. When I was a kid my dad kept nothing but muscle cars and as the years went forward we saw sports/muscle cars few and far between. Wasn't that my father isn't or wasn't an enthusiast it's just the changing of the market. Even now being in my 30s with no children I find my Z very impractical for a daily but it's what I wanted and like most of you it's what you wanted. At the end of the day should I have gotten something more economical for a daily commuter? Possibly, but life is too short to drive boring cars lol

On going rumors if the next z lol

https://www.carscoops.com/2018/03/ni...s-benz-next-z/

That's yesterdays news. You're late. :rofl2: It's been covered in another thread.

:rofl2:

Since Mercedes has started going inline-6 again, I'd LOVE for that motor to make its way to a Z.

Then why not just get a Mercedes? I personally hate engine and platform sharing between car manufacturers.


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Don't wish that crap engine in my Nissan. Mercedes only wishes it could make a drivetrain like Nissan.

:facepalm:

I had hopes, but I've given up on the idea of getting a new Z. I haven't narrowed down what my next car is going to be, but it won't be another Nissan at this point. There are too many other companies putting out quality products while Nissan goes the way of Mitsubishi.

That's the same question I am going to ask about the new Toyota Supra. Why not just get a BMW M240i with the same engine and optional manual transmission?

AND, one of those exists.

Ha ha! Yeah, sadly you're right.