quattro digest, Vol 1 #4537 - Re: Nissan vs VAG - was:coilpacks

[Wylie Bean]

Larry, et al,
I may not agree with your point, but I'll be the first to defend your right
to have the opportunity to make it.  I'm a big fan of choice, and thank God
I've got the opportunity to make my own.  There's no way to compare a Sentra
or an Altima to an Audi, because they're vastly different in both price and
execution.  I'm still sticking with the idea though that if I had to go out
and spend $27K on a new Altima 3.5, I'd be looking for a 2000 A6quattro,
period.  Maybe even a higher mileage 2.7T.  I've both driven and ridden in a
G35 and Z, and quality and fit/finish may be close, but IMHO isn't up to the
level of what is generally regarded as the leader in interior
design/execution...Audi (not just my opinion either).  Now if you consider
gizmos, the Japanese may have it over Audi, but if I want gizmos, I'll shop
at Brookstone or The Sharper Image.
I'm as open-minded as anyone, but I'm also going to state my position and
live with it, no matter how many people disagree.  That's their prerogative,
and yours.  I wouldn't even think of standing in your way if you wanted to
buy, lease, rent, whatever, an Infinity or a Lexus....you just won't find me
in line behind or in front of you.  I'd have to say that Infinity is at
least on the right track, as their cars do have an enthusiast edge...more
than I can say for Luxury EXport to the US...and don't even bring up the
IS300.

Wylie
ps, if i had to go mainstream japanese, it'd be a Mazda, last generation RX7
most likely.  The last truly unique (read not a copy of something German.
The new Z is a very bad rip-off of the TT.  Cripes, it even made Forbes
magazine) car out of Japan.

----- Original Message -----
From: <l.leung at juno.com>
To: <quattro at audifans.com>
Cc: <TheRingmeister at triad.rr.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2003 12:41 PM
Subject: Re:quattro digest, Vol 1 #4537 - Re: Nissan vs VAG - was:coilpacks


> Wylie,
>
> Nissan is coming out of a period of barely surviving. The new Altima
> is one of the first new products (designed on a budget) and the Sentra was
on the older budget. First off, considering the price point of either of
those cars, an apples to apples comparison is somewhat difficult to make
with Audi and them, as the Nissans are priced somewhat below even the VW
line. So, in comparison, Nissans are little hot rods a little short on
refinement, but large in space and performance technology. Luxury is
somewhat behind the VAG products. However, the newer Nissans are nowhere
near the "tin cans" you describe, they have stiff monocoques, and
particularly in the Sentra, they work quite well in terms of over the road
performance, and unlike the little hot rods from D-C (read Neon) they have
durability to boot. (The Maxima has just been redesigned, so no knowledge
here). To bring the cars up to price point, consider ANY of the new FM
chassis cars. I haven't driven one yet, but I did get a ride, and the
quality, fit, finish and technology is certainly a !
> near equal if not better in some areas, than the Audi's. Both are
excellent, but just like froggy (Lethal Weapon 3 AIR) they are different. In
terms of performance, the G35's, 350Z and the new FM based SUV Crossover are
quite impressive, and undercut any Audi of similar performance in terms of
price.
>
> Now, I am not a fan of Nissan, but I also am not going to dis what are
equal but different automobiles that are coming from them. Think back to the
mid-late '80's Audi's in terms of fit/finish/reliability/performance per $
and you can see, if you are objective, that Audi was in no better position
than Nissan is now, and I'd actually say Nissan is in a better place. It
took the A4 to bring Audi back into sensibly priced cars for what you got.
>
> Instead of dissing a new philosophy of products, embrace them and accept
their differences. (I'd include Mazda here). Remember, choice is good.
>
> LL - NY
>