Okay, it's no secret that we have exhausted the 2002 Altima/5th Gen Maxima issue. But here's my opinion of what Nissan should have done with its 2002 product line. This might have made everyone happy.

Discontinue the Altima altogether. Introduce the Nissan Skyline to the US market to replace it. This would create a new image for a Nissan product in this segment and essentially eliminate the view of the Altima as a marginal car. Position it with a base 4 cyl, 180 HP engine and a 240+ HP V6 in an SE/GLE model.

That would be consistent with Nissan's desire to have a car that is a better value relative to its competitors. It would also be a very attractive option to performance-oriented buyers.

Grow the Maxima slightly. Bump up its performance specs. Don't make it an Avalon class car. That would undermine the Maxima's reputation as a sports-sedan. It should be positioned to compete with the Lexus GS and to a lesser extent BMW 5. If Nissan played their cards right they would have a very uniquely positioned Maxima, which should drive exceptional sales.

What does everyone think?

one problem with the skyline gig...The skyline is being released as the g35 or sumthing like that...