Ford and Dodge actually build trucks, so there's no vacuum.

 

The Titan has been a flop so far. It has never hit the 100,000 a year sales mark Nissan wanted and sales have been falling every year. Big SUVs are falling out of favor. It doesn't make sence for Nissan to invest lots into the Titan platform when other segments are heating up. Altima used to be on the top 10 best sellers list and it has fallen from that. Nissan also needs to get there hybrid lineup on the market quicker.

 

Oh right, that's why you have to compare the Titan to models that didn't exist when it came out or even compare it to models that aren't on the street yet to win your comparisons while concurrently ignoring every major publication that reviewed the Titan at the time it came out (which the Titan won by the way - even beating all comers with a 1,000lsb in the back while the others were empty). Yeah…right…the Titan isn’t a “real” truck.

And I’m sure claiming the Titan isn’t a “real” truck gives you a lot of comfort while you ignore the red ink GM is loosing by the gallons (or should I say billions) while Nissan and Toyota are smiling all the way to the bank. Again, you had better hope that GM's leadership isn't so obtuse or GM's red ink will surely turn to no ink at all.

Oh…there I go again…that’s not the point is it!

 

Altima is still selling reasonably well for a now dated design and the next major model re-design for the Altima hit’s the streets in seven weeks.

You may not think it makes sense for Nissan to invest in the “Titan platform” but Nissan is far from giving up on the full sized pickup truck market. For at least many years to come, there is going to be a market for pickups and big SUVs; what many seem to fail to understand; especially with Titan sales, is that Nissan doesn’t have to sell huge numbers to still make a reasonable profit from them…why do you think, even, as you say, with Titan “sales falling every year”, that Nissan was the most profitable vehicle manufacturer in the world last year?

As for hybrids, while Toyota has been very successful with them, hybrids are a fad and will never last; there are far better technologies out there that manufacturers are already working on. Nissan will have a handful because everybody else will have a handful but they aren’t the answer long term.

 

I've stayed out of this thread, but I have to say it is getting tiresome seeing you rub GM's financial hardships in the face of a bunch of GM enthusiasts, while working for a competing company and singing its current praises.

It's a free country, and mostly a free board, so of course feel free to do so. After all, your signature is a thing of beauty. :blah:

Anyway, we'll see how Nissan looks in a couple of years once Ghosn's "turnaround" phase is over and the effects of yanking everyone from California to TN start to sink in...

Perhaps you are being put on the defensive because Pacer is being a little harsh toward the Titan, which you own and which is built by the company you work for. I've seen other posts by you where you recognize the shared threat that is Toyota, and I know you have been an F-car enthusiast in the past.

Just a few thoughts. I'm not looking to jump into a flame war here. After all, you are right. GM lost big money last year (though this year looks better), while Nissan earned.

It still frightens me to see the vast disparity in costs per vehicle that GM faces vs. Nissan, Toyota, and Honda (much of which has to do with union wages and health care).

As for the Titan, I think it is strange looking outside, but not horrible. The interior, though, is just bad (as is the Frontier's, and most Nissan interiors, IMHO). The engine makes impressive performance numbers (I always believed it to be underrated, but I would have guessed that it makes even more than these supposedly accurate new numbers). I'm sure the five speed auto helps too.

Anyway, I'm more concerned with the upcoming Tundra, mainly because of all the schmucks who will buy it just because it is a Toyota...

 

Nissan most assuredly WAS NOT the most profitable vehicle manufacturer in the world last year.

That would be Toyota.

Source:
Toyota - $12,119,000,000
Honda - $5,273,000,000
Nissan - $4,565,600,000

2005 profitability reports.
Fortune Global 500

See, you're going to have to keep the discussion to your (admittedly low-value) opinions, because every time you make a claim that can have data associated with it, you're wrong.

 

I guess my point is they better be careful not to follow the same path GM did in the late 90's

 

The figures I had indicated that Porshe had the highest profit per car. I can now see that Nissan does very well in the profit catagory.
That was 2005 and now 2006-General Motors Corp. revised its first-quarter results Monday from a preliminary loss of $323 million to a $445 million profit after changing the way it will record its obligations as part of a health care agreement struck with its workers last year. Most of the losss was due to buyouts. So if you take that away, they still lost money but not like what your indicating.

Look at how your taking the way I spelled tItAn! Your not happy with that, are you. So who is acting like a 2nd grader? Boldster my argument? The fact is Nissan did not meet it's sales expectations for the tItAn so that is a FACT and I don't need to bolster anything.

Nissan makes make only one engine for the truck and it is the entry level, mid grade and top od the line motor. So your are saying that it is not fair to compare the 372 to the rice's 5.7? I don't know why you would bother as their ratings are really not that good for such a high tech motor. I mean you have 3 more cams and 16 more valves than the low tech GM enigines but really don't make anymore power.

 

A-****ing-men to that. Go group hug your Nissan buddies.

Unlike the other import-biased individual in this subforum, I have yet to see anything in your posts that is constructive or helpful, let alone positive. Nothing but an endless stream of "GM is in the toilet," or "Nissan is numbah ONE!" or various justifications and rationalizations about how your opinion is the only one that's absolutely right.

Let's get the facts out on the table:

1. You work for Nissan.
2. You own a bunch of their cars.

Given this, you are extremely biased, because not only is Nissan paying your mortgage, but you've bought into the product.

You may even be getting paid by Nissan or their advertising firm to evangelize their product. There are companies that do nothing but this. It's known as forum seeding, or forum steering.

There's no law against this, of course, and you're free to have your opinion, whether it's paid or not. But I think someone needs to review your posts and see if you're just trying to get a rise out of the (admittedly) GM-biased majority here.

 

the titan is a real truck it just falls short of the gm line up of trucks though im sorry to say that. when it gets a redesign who knows but right now it just isnt.

when the titan came out it was being compared to trucks that were on the market for a while to so why cant it go the other way now? also consumers dont care about reviews from 3-4 years ago and trucks they cant even get any more they care about the vehicals that are on the market today.

 

Thanks, Joe...I appreciate your comments.

I don't “love” the Titan's look either (although it’s grown on me) and if I had to base a decision only on looks I'd say it's a toss up between Dodge and Ford with Dodge probably having the overall edge; at least in half-ton form.

I haven't really liked GM's pickup look for some time (I felt they went from being the best looking pickup out there a few years ago to an "also ran" in terms of looks now)...I'm not saying they are ugly or bad looking; the looks just don’t' do anything for me.

Ghosn once said something I though very profound. "there are no problems for a car company that good products can't fix"...that's a little simplistic of course but while things like the move of the North American headquarters to Nashville from LA, etc all have an effect, what really matters is whether people buy your product and whether you make a profit off of it when then do.

I've been a "GM guy" for a very long time...I remember when I saw my very first stingray and fell in love with cars (a brand new 1963 at a Pennsylvania turnpike restaurant parking lot); the first car I “remember” in my family was a 1963 Bonneville convertible (white with blue vinyl interior) and my uncle’s brand new GTO (red with the chrome package; white vinyl interior and tri-power)…I could go on and on. The point is, despite my criticisms of GM; there is no one inside or outside of GM or on this board who would be sadder to see them fail than I would.

 

I can't believe I read this whole thread.
Time for me to throw my tinderbox into this flamewar.

If we MUST talk half-tons... I'll put a 1975 F150 Trailer Special up against ANYTHING Toyota, Nissan, or Honda has out today - anything. Top-dog, bottom-feeder, whatever.
8' bed - check. (factory stock too BTW)
460 cubes of authoritative 4-bbl Holley-fed V8 - check (factory stock too BTW)
C6 auto with cooler and shift pack - check (factory stock too BTW)
9" rear, traction-lok, 4.11's - check (factory stock too BTW)
dual batterys - check (factory stock too BTW)
135 amp alternator - check (factory stock too BTW)
tranny and steering coolers - check (factory stock too BTW)
4-core radiator - check (factory stock too BTW)
A/C, Stereo, windows, blah-blah-blah. (factory stock too BTW)

It'll pull your HOUSE.
Only drawbacks - no overdrive, and 8 mpg empty/7.5 pulling.
Other than that - it's tire smoke at will, and go like h*ll!

So Toyota and Nissan are making trucks these days, huh? Good for them. They've had a good 35 years to benchmark some fine equipment from their competition, and they are making ground now.

When they come to play, I'm sure I'll be ready for them.
Until then, 1/2 tons don't really even register on my radar anymore...

Here's 48 bales @ 60lbs each in the bed with another 150 or so on the trailer (we get up @ 200 bales with every full load depending on the length of the bales from the bailer)...


And here's a cool 5800 lbs of pea-gravel in the bed (2 scoops from a Bobcat skid-steer, and I had to roll over the scales to leave the sand/stone company - you buy it by the ton). I specifically took this picture because it is the only time I have ever bounced off the overload springs in my truck while driving - I thought that was noteworthy.


I've stated before that I use trucks to WORK, SUV's to haul the family and cargo, and use cars to drive (to the office, errands, for fun, etc). Hence, I readily admit that I have no interest whatsoever in the new Nissan or Toyota offerings. I am however, smart enough not to ignore them <and to> watch what they are doing - hence why I read these threads. I just want to add to the contingencies that there are those who "drive trucks", and then there are those who DRIVE TRUCKS.

For those who want to say they drive a truck, and will use said truck for grocery-fetching, moving a lawnmower, buying a new fridge from Home Depot, moving the occasional sofa or bed, and pulling a bass-boat to the lake a few times a year - well, here's a new option for y'all. look, listen, and pick your poison.
For those of us who WORK a truck, there are still only 3 choices.

 

Then why don't you buy their products?

Vote with your wallet.

 

A bunch of fear-mongorers. These same "experts" said the same things about Nissan 10 years ago.

Bottom line is, the market has spoken. Guys know what they want in their pickups. Nissan apparently is not delivering; at least, doesn't deliver nearly well enough to get the loyalists to look elsewhere.

 

Ok; I guess I missed it and assumptions are now "facts"!

How many of my posts of the past five years have you actually read? Please feel free to review all of them - and if you actually knew anyting about me or all the vehicles I've owend in my lifetime my total of GM's offerings would hold up against anyone on this board, including S.S.

I'm here as a person with my opinions and nothing more and my opinions don't change just becasue of who (you assume) I work for...just because some on this borad don't like the opinions doesn't invalidate them.

And yes, GM's sales have been and are in the toilet as you put it and if there is any real danger to GM it's those who would rather ignor that than deal with it.