The last 300ZX twin turbo gained some "respect" in Europe
but with a price of $60K it wasn't that easy to sell when
you could buy a 911 for the same price. Same thing with
the 240Z. In 1973 a 240Z cost $8000 and a 911 $8400.
Datsun did some rallying in Europe during the 1970's to
early 90's with various success where the Sunny/Pulsar
GTi-R did some good results. Toyota sold probably at
least a million Celica's in Europe. I think now all Nissan's
sold in Europe are made here with a few exceptions.
I doubt the 350Z will sell here. A Skyline GT-R would
have a better chance on the market. For example a Renault
Clio V6 (mid-engine 3000cc 230 hp V6) cost $33K here.
It's the 5:th generation Renault 5 evolution special.
I just took the Clio as an example as Renault own
a lot of Nissan Motor Co. and the Clio isn't going to
win any design awards either. The competition is tough.
Thomas
The Belgian Roadster wrote:
> <<As for the Datsun Roadster, if it had another badge...
>
> The badge has always been Datsun's/Nissan's biggest problem on the
> continent.
> Just like Thomas said, we made e few nice sports cars that looked like
> sports cars.
> But most often Datsun/Nissan's powerfull engines were put in cars that
> looked like saloon cars, cars with no identity, "shy cars" except for
> the Sunny N14 GTI-R with its big air intake on the hood and the NX100
> with its special front bumper and headlights.
>
> Datsun/Nissan in Europe have never been as implicated in motorsports
> than Nissan US.
> Young people here, are buying cars of manufactures that do track
> racing or rallying, like Mitsu, Subaru, Toyota, Peugeot, Ford and
> Renault. The leaders are the frenchies, Peugeot & Renault as the
> youngster can afford them.
> For roadsters or "cabrios" (topless cars with 4 seats) again, Renault
> & Peugeot and sometimes VW"Rabbit".
> For those who have more $$$ to spend, Mercedes SL or SLK , Porsche
> Boxter or BMW.
> You can easily understand that here on the continent, driving a car
> has to do with "identity", "image" and "personality".
> During the years Datsun/Nissan US acquired these three things. Here in
> Europe they did not enough for that, and of course we have to fight
> this old "demon"- first car build in Germany- but that doesn't mean
> they are the BEST, are they.
>
> Chris-The Belgian Roadster
> http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1424148&a=10670695&f=0
> -----Urspr|ngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: "Thomas - Sweden" <csp311@telia.com>
> An: <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
> Gesendet: Dienstag, 13. November 2001 17:50
> Betreff: Re: Sid's opinion (diatribe) on the BMW Coupe, Z3 and 350Z
>
> > The younger crowd buy cars on credit. In fact most people do.
> > When I was young (1970's) a 240Z looked like a sportscar.
> > Today they all look like Audi TT. A cute little blimp that looks
> > like it was designed by the Disney studio for a sequel of Herbie.
> > Guess what, the TT used to flip over forward at high speed until
> > the made a big recall and bolted a 20 lbs weight inside the rear
> > bumper, along with a rear ducktail spoiler.
> >
> > Nissan could sell a lot more of the 350Z if it was based on the
> > Sentra Si-R(?) with FWD. That's what you get for $20K these
> > days. One of the best performing "sportscars" from Japan today
> > is Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 7 but it's got 4 doors and dont
> > look like one.
> >
> > I like cars that looks like the latest Aston Martin Vanquish,
> > Ferrari 456 or 550 and Maserati 3200GT. From being too
> > expensive for most people new, at least the Maserati 3200GT
> > is affordable second hand. I like a roof over my head and classic
> > sportscar lines like they used to be. BMW Z3 Coupi is not
> > good looking but it's got the long hood/short tail. Zender straight8
> > concept car was based on the Z3M Roadster and that one have
> > more styling flashbacks to the original Z. BMW sell a lot of Z3's
> > so maybe that market segment is filled by now. They dont need
> > any 20 lbs weight hanging inside the rear bumper either.
> >
> > As for the Datsun Roadster, if it had another badge...
> >
> > Thomas
> >
> > Alex Avery wrote:
> >
> > > >design. I think that Thomas in Sweden hit the nail on the head.
> The 350Z
> > > >is not designed for the types that like the Roadster, nor for the
> types that
> > > >like the early Z cars. If it had been, it would be a failure.
> To be
> > > >successful, it needs to appeal to the current sporty car market.
> > >
> > > I thought that I was part of the current sporty car market! I'm
> 32. I
> > > don't know many 23-year-old guys with a spare $30K lying around.
> > >
> > > >As a closing thought, remember that most of the established US
> automotive
> > > >press dogged the Roadster when it came out, and still gripes
> about it in
> > > >retrospect.
> > >
> > > Yeah, and how many roadsters sold in the US? (don't git yer undies
> all
> > > bunched up, I'm a roadster guy too) Now, how many 1st generation Z
> cars
> > > sold in the US? I'm just saying that the Z car appealed to a far
> larger
> > > market than roadsters.
> > >
> > > The foreign magazines were more kind. I think this is a
> > > >subconscious disdain for Japanese autos. If the Roadster had an
> Alfa Romeo
> > > >badge or some British Leyland badge on the rear, it would have
> been revered.
> > > >
> > > >For those that want to flame my opinions, fire at will.
> > > >
> > > >Sidney Raper
> > > >1964 1500
> > > >1967 SRL311 00060
> > > >1967 SRL311 00076
> > > >Jacksonville Florida
> > > >http://www.geocities.com/roadsternut/index.html
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