oscarmayer00

Sales of the 350Z sports car declined substantially, falling 23 percent to 1,728 vehicles sold. This could be because it's not new anymore but I'm sure the tire feathering issue has something to do with the falling sales of the 350Z


02.01.2005, 01:01 PM

Nissan Motor Co. said Tuesday that U.S. sales increased 15 percent in January as trucks and sport utility vehicles continued to fuel the automaker's resurgence.

Truck sales jumped 43.3 percent to 38,398 vehicles while car sales fell 4.1 percent to 38,186 vehicles, dragged down by lower Altima sales. All percentages are adjusted to account for two fewer selling days last month than in January 2004.

The Pathfinder SUV posted the largest sales growth at 6,359 units, more than triple its year-ago sales. The Titan pickup truck also posted strong sales, along with the Murano and Armanda SUVs.

Sales of the Altima sedan, Nissan's best-selling vehicle, dropped 8.8 percent to 17,095 cars. Sales of the 350Z sports car declined substantially, falling 23 percent to 1,728 vehicles sold.

Nissan-brand sales rose 17.1 percent to 67,871 vehicles while sales of the company's Infiniti luxury brand lagged behind, increasing half a percent to 8,713 units.

American depositary shares of the Tokyo-based automaker rose 7 cents to $21.25 midday trading on the Nasdaq.

wildone_106

great! Less at the stop light!

sentry65

iTrader: (11)

might be because there's a lot of competition now.

People are realizing the Z isn't all THAT fast of a car and costs a lot to make run faster.

I know it's a different class car, but the corvette has to be eating Z sales. The corvette just keeps getting better, and the Z really hasn't changed since 2003. Oh yeah 300hp and a revised suspension that still doesn't solve the tire feathering.

The engine is close to maxed out.

There's a lot more other cars out there now and also on the horizon you got cars like the new supra and the next gen V6 lotus not to mention a whole bunch of other sedans that are almost as fast as the Z like the maxima and altima for instande. The only thing the Z really has going for it is looks at this point....

FairladyZ

Couldnt agree with you more! Less you will see driving around on the street.

I think part of the reason is pricing. If you look on lots and check the stickers they are expensive. Around where I am at your hard pressed to find an enthusiast (one like you want) and I rarely if ever see a base. All I see is touring and roadsters.

sentry65

iTrader: (11)

yeah i'm tired of seeing them too.

I actually saw a track model the other day parked at fedEx!!! they're so rare

King Tut

iTrader: (1)

I wonder how much the feathering and transmission problems are a part of that number. I plan to increase those truck sales later this year with an 05 Frontier V6 6 speed. w00t .

HyperSprite

iTrader: (6)

It's a low production car, keep in mind they want to make it sound big, the difference is only about 400 cars from the previous year.

400 Mustangs could fall off a train and Ford would not even notice.

Chris

kasims

When I purchased mine a couple of weeks ago, the sales guy said they were very motivated to move even the 05s out. I think many of the 05s were sitting in the lot longer than they had anticipated. In the end, it worked to my benefit, as I got mine for about $400 above invoice.

sentry65

iTrader: (11)

what is this in relation to?

Is this % drop a monthly drop from last month? from last feb? From last quarter?

I was under the impression that nissan builds 30k Z's a year worldwide with the US being the largest buying market.

how many Z's are sold a year in the US?

How many Z's are currently on dealer lots?

mdacko

iTrader: (3)

less Z's = ok w/ me

i dont want it to become a common car like the TT which i see like 10 of a day

Zcool

Those are sales figures for the month of Jan. Could be only a seasonal down turn but I think it might be do to the fact that the 2005 model doesn't look any different from the 2003, 2004 model but cost more. People want their new cars to look new, not like a 2 year old model.

The Brickyard Rat

iTrader: (1)

One month's sales are not indicative of much.

Art Vandaleigh

iTrader: (16)

Remember winter sales months are going to be lower than all other months in the year.

JonsilvZ

Thats good news. Dont want it to become common like the Maxima. Goes to show the Z itsnt for everyone. Now where is their TT Z with 400hp?

02MaximizedVQ

In my opinion the 350Z should have come with 300hp by now. The average horsepower per vehicle is skyrocketing and 287 is just not that much anymore.

I think that may have something to do with the dip in sales. The car is still gorgeous. If you haven't bougth a Z yet, slow sales numbers work in your favor. I may go inquire what my local dealer can do on a remaining 04.

02MaximizedVQ

But it also said overall sales increased 15% in January, so theoretically, the 23% drop of Z car sales is a true indicator that the car is in a slump.

tjr

don't panic!

December sales were just the opposite, 2301 units, + about 20-30% (sorry I can't find the exact percent, but I know the exact amount because mine was that 01).

December had a spiff to close out the year and was a strong month that would annualize out to about 27,000 units. I think the total for the year dropped about 23% - but this is a post excitement rate Nissan can live with.

tjr

sorry,
only some of my info from memory is good - here's the December Link to sales

http://www.nissannews.com/corporate/...04102108.shtml

and the January link

http://www.nissannews.com/corporate/...01092400.shtml

zillinois

iTrader: (6)

Half the country was buried in 12"-36" of snow in January. Sales probably should have declined 50%.

BigMoeTaki42

Wow, sports car sales declining in winter. Who woulda thought that'd happen?