I just went on www.motortrend.com. The new G35 is compared to a Skyline in a luxury skin, with its RWD 3.5L 280-hp engine and avail. 6spd tranny.

But here's what got me thinking:
"...The G35 is scheduled to go on sale nationwide next spring as a 2003 model. Although pricing has not been announced, the smaller-displacement Skyline will retail for under $22,000 in Japan, leading us to be hopeful that the G35 will not be positioned above the 30-something I35...".

Of course, pricing the G35 over I35 will steal sales from I35...but how does Nissan hope to sell Maximas when loaded 2k2 SE is priced in the sub 30's range??

 

they better keep selling them, cause i'm waiting specifically for the 03's to come out. i do wish they would lower the price some though, it is a BIT obnoxious....

 

The Max will soon be a big V8 luxury car.

 

that seems to be the only thing possible. maybe a down'scale q45, since that's the only 8 they have (that I know of)

 

just like the G35 is floating into the I35s area, the altima is floating into the Maximas area....but if they give the max the Q45 layout in 03, then does the I35 get trashed?

 

The 6th gen Max has a whole new V8 in it. No other car has it at the moment that is. It's going to be RWD, 300+hp. Just wait and see....

 

I'm really confused by all that Nissan/Infiniti is doing with their line up.. it's all messed up.... cars are jumping class, creating their own class, higher class priced lower then others, 2 cars in same class... wtf....

i dont care, it will be a while until i can afford a new car anyways and chances are it won't be a nissan

 

I35 will be gone in 2 years. Infiniti will replace that with the M45. Will have the v8 engine of the q but scaled down interior. RWD and everything. This has already been anounced

 

The space is very crowded, even the Euros are pushing sub-30k offerings. One mentality that Nissan will not be able to shake for a very long time is the "how much can I get off list" way of life. Nissan buyers want 4-6k off Maximas, that's very different than German car buyers who are willing to pay list or more depending how badly they want the vehicle. G35 would be mistaken to go after the BMW 330 buyers, because they are not all about numbers. Yep, road-feel and prestige are actually 2 things people pay $$$ for. Nissan to date has not shown they understand how to correctly do the steering.

Why does Nissan keep building their cars so narrow? Is there some kind of width limitation in Japan or something? The trend is wider, not narrower. Maybe we should send them an email before they launch this thing because here we go again with the car being so narrow.

 

One factor in car tax class in Japan is width - and the taxes are stiff. Way back when ford escort was rwd, Ford had a big press to squeeze them 1/8" or so narrower to make the tax class in Japan!

 

I use to live in Japan yes the streets are very narrow, at least in Shin-Iwakuni where I lived, but when I went to Tokyo they were a bit wider just a bit, our four lane highways are their 6 way highways seriously. I dont know if that has anything to do with the way they design their cars. Maybe we need to email like you said and let them know we are FAT GREEDIE AMRERICANS we need more width ,

 

You ARE correct, sir. The Maxima is going to be replaced by the Altima, , and will sport a not-so-sporty V8 engine.

 

Great answer, I figured there had to be an explanation. A 2003 RWD car that is only 68" wide, man, give people so room inside. We all are in good shape on this board, but there are some folks with 45" waistlines that need some more space!

Truthfully I'm not that loyal to Nissan because I honestly expected alot more having bought a 1998 brand-new. If I had bought it 2 years-old than I wouldn't be so annoyed with the little problems. Nissan can either choose to build a good car and skip the BS with that Jerry whatever his name is on the commericals, or just keep going the way they are. The price of the 3.5 Altima and to use a prop rod for the hood, that says something.

Darn I'm running out of time have to drive the Altima and I35 to get the free gifts! hehe

 

The only problem with making it wider is the drag factor...Unfortunetely, we don't get to drive fast enough for that to be a real issue...But making the car wider does something to the mystique of it. We don't seem like the black sheep bastard child of the auto industry anymore. I know the conformity sells, but it just seems kind of sellout-ish, if you know what I mean.

 

how do you get that??