Infiniti working on 530-HP twin-turbo IPL model for G

ImportConvert

I like my Japanese car, but one thing I have noticed, having owned two Japanese cars, is that they are more fragile than my American cars. Nothing particular, just...everything.

Windshields crack super easy
Paint is very thin
Body panels are very thin and dent super easy

Things like that. They are very well built, and very nice inside, and very solid regarding things like wiring, and their electronic bits, but physically, they are dainty things.

My Infiniti cracked the windshield just because I turned on the defroster on a snowy day.
My 370Z got its windshield broken 3 days into owning it by a small rock.

My American cars have shrugged off INSANE rock hits before with just a tiny star or chip. Not these cars. CRAAACKKK!!!! My new OEM windshield? It already has multiple tiny pecks, etc. Horrible crap glass Nissan uses.

My Infiniti was all dented to hell. My 1988 mustang GT had less dents, as did all of the police cars my Dad used to escort over-sized loads because he needed cheap, reliable cars.

I guess, I just don't view Nissan as BMW/Mercedes equal when it comes to some things, and never will, unless they up their game and put better paint, better glass, and more durable body-panels on their vehicles. This might mean SMC like the Corvette. In fact, that is one thing I think every company should be doing. SMC and the like is far superior to easily dented aluminum, in every possible way. Go look at a late 90's C5 corvette. If the paint has been taken care of, that car looks BRAND NEW body-wise, nearly 2 decades later.

Jordo!

That's a Nissan thing. I've owned four Toyotas and they were really well built. And Hondas are even better.

__________________
Enjoy it. Destroy it.

ImportConvert

No Toyota or Honda ownership experience here, but I don't think you're lying, so that just goes to show...Nissan has a big part of the equation right, time to finish it.

Jordo!

Until recent years, Toyota was pretty much the undisputed king of reliable cars (they dropped the ball a bit as they became the largest automaker), with Hondas generally ranked a little better.

In terms of fit and finish, Honda generally had and has Toyota beat (of course, they also tend to be a good bit more expensive...), but Toyotas are stil generally good, with the exception of some squeaks and rattles.

Nissan, Mazda, and Mitsu all typically trailed, but tended to fair somewhat better than US cars; on that note, Hyundai has come a looooong way in terms of overall reliability and polish.

US cars tend to be more reliable of late, but often still suffer from poor interior design and materials.

__________________
Enjoy it. Destroy it.

ImportConvert

I sold vehicles (new/used) for a Ford dealer in 2005. Your observations mirror mine.

bigsix

Yes. One thing that surprised me the other day: I sat on the hood of my Legacy and that created two dents very easily. The metal hood is so thin and light/flimsy.

nmjaxx9

bcuz its a subaru

bigsix

Yeah, i guess so ha ha . . . my first Subaru

ImportConvert

Yes, I think any automaker that uses anything but a composite of some sort for the hood is an idiot and a moron. It's an easy, cheap way to shave a good bit of weight off the snout, and the large, flat area of the hood is SOooooo prone to dents from rocks, hail, and fat chics.

That is the worst physical feature of my 370Z...you give me a damn carbon fiber RADIATOR SUPPORT and stick me with a pop-can of a hood. Asshats.