Discussion Point - Infiniti

[Mr Eps]

hey guys - i've read a lot of umming and arring over this topic in motor journalism but this time it seems pretty "go-ahead"

Nissan is branching it's infiniti wings out to australia... again...

Infiniti was in aus between 1991 and 96 selling the Q45 back then at the hefty price of $150,000

the brand was withdrawn subsequently and sales ceased

2010 nissan aus are looking to expand the brand to australia - for round 2

what is everyone's thoughts on this?

[(OO)SKYLINE(OO)]

The Nissan enthusiast will know just to buy a V35 / 36 Skyline.

[mickey]

ah will that mean the end of imports of that variety? considering infinity could import the skyline rebadged accordingly? Mean the end of the line is with v36/37's.

[Mr Eps]

edit: Mickey - Exactly.

the nissan enthusiast will also know that this will mean the V36 will no longer be availabe to import unless a specific date

the nissan enthusiast should also remember the shitstorm that nissan caused when selling the ADM gtr - "strictly NO support for fringe dwelling importers"

the nissan enthusiast will also know that this will mean for owners that selling their JDM will become difficult... and the V35 value may plummet... but furthermore

and observation i'd like to make

^^^lexus sc430

but to the "toyota enthusiast" this is a z40 series soarer. made by toyota - sure the branding changed to lexus even in it's local japan after 2004... but as the soarer, these cars have depreciated steadily...

as they should.

meanwhile in australia - a 2001 sc430 still fetches aobut 40-50 grand!!! same with the lexus is200 / toyota altezza... in japan - worth what they're worth. they're a fairly basic sedan. but in aust - OMG A LEXUS WORTH HEAPS

will the arrival of infiniti in this country mean the end of the import skyline enthusiast - the same way the branding of lexus somewhat signalled the end of the affordable up-spec toyota enthusiast?

also - do you think inifiniti will survive as a brand in australia? this would be a huge pain - it would signal the end of the ability to import... and raise prices to extortionate levels - with luxury car tax also. IF the brand fails... it will mean they're squeezing out a huge market demographic that actually WANT these cars - selling to people who won't listen to their branding?

Edited March 30, 2010 by Mr Eps

[Mr Eps]

furthermore - what if the brand re-negs AGAIN and pulls out of australia AGAIN

you watch how much the infiniti was worth when infiniti was in aus... bought for 150K and depreciated steadily... then when the brand withdrew... japanese import Q45 (same car - just imported) were attainable for much cheaper - meaning genuine infiniti owners suddenly had their rug puleld from under them

what happens if the brand fails (which i personally think it will - there's imply too much competition at their proposed target market with heirachy of branding from mercedes / bmw etc) what happens if the brand fails AGAIN and aust goes back to importation of the V36/37 skylines?

the owners of adm infiniti will be incredibly pissed. and with excellent reason

[(OO)SKYLINE(OO)]

Lexus has done something right.

If there is a market for Infiniti, then they will survive, but it all depends on the buyer.

If they know it's just a rebadged Nissan then, they will go for Nissan.

Having said that, some will want the local support for servicing.

Look at Eunos = Rebadged Mazda's.

Having said that, Lexus are just rebadged Toyota's, but they market the car in a way that consumers will believe in the product.

[Mr Eps]

lexus /today/ as in this /very day/ are no longer re-badged toyotas.

being that lexus is now in japan - means that there are no more "soarers" they're now "sc430's"

there are no more altezzas they are now IS / LS series cars

etc etc basically the cars are no longer being marketed as toyotas at all - only lexus's... reason being... the branding of the Lexus's are far seperate to toyota's other cars - realistically it makes sense in that regard...

such as the LSF - apparently toyota will be losing money on every unit sold JUST to make a name for themselves in that market - the technology put into modern lexuses is enough to warrant carrying a seperate brand to toyota

infiniti i don't think offer a product seperate enough to say "nissan" to warrant having a seperate branding - however the concept of locally purchasing a fuga is enticing to some... it would mean a pain in the arse for importers' and exporters' businesses who use the imported nissans primarilly as their bread and butter

you mentioned that "certain people will still go for the nissan"

if infiniti were to launch in aust - it would mean that you CAN NO LONGER go for the nissan unless the car is a specific build date a-la the R35 GTR jdm... Nissan australia i beleive would make it very difficult to import skylines any which way they could - because they want you to buy THEIR product... not japans less expensive - possibly superior feature packed version of it...

at most point however i just think it's rude that nissan is muscling in on a market (presitge car buyers who have to be persuaded away from bmw / benz / audi) giving itself an uphill battle to market it as a brand to those people meanwhile and pushing aside a market of people who are faitful to the nissan skyline - or nissan badge that are willing to import their own cars and deal with headaches *just* to drive something unique - a market that for YEARS nissanAU had turned their backs on anyway - call me a whinger but it's a rude thing to do to this market...

[(OO)SKYLINE(OO)]

lexus /today/ as in this /very day/ are no longer re-badged toyotas.

being that lexus is now in japan - means that there are no more "soarers" they're now "sc430's"

there are no more altezzas they are now IS / LS series cars

etc etc basically the cars are no longer being marketed as toyotas at all - only lexus's... reason being... the branding of the Lexus's are far seperate to toyota's other cars - realistically it makes sense in that regard...

such as the LSF - apparently toyota will be losing money on every unit sold JUST to make a name for themselves in that market - the technology put into modern lexuses is enough to warrant carrying a seperate brand to toyota

infiniti i don't think offer a product seperate enough to say "nissan" to warrant having a seperate branding - however the concept of locally purchasing a fuga is enticing to some... it would mean a pain in the arse for importers' and exporters' businesses who use the imported nissans primarilly as their bread and butter

you mentioned that "certain people will still go for the nissan"

if infiniti were to launch in aust - it would mean that you CAN NO LONGER go for the nissan unless the car is a specific build date a-la the R35 GTR jdm... Nissan australia i beleive would make it very difficult to import skylines any which way they could - because they want you to buy THEIR product... not japans less expensive - possibly superior feature packed version of it...

at most point however i just think it's rude that nissan is muscling in on a market (presitge car buyers who have to be persuaded away from bmw / benz / audi) giving itself an uphill battle to market it as a brand to those people meanwhile and pushing aside a market of people who are faitful to the nissan skyline - or nissan badge that are willing to import their own cars and deal with headaches *just* to drive something unique - a market that for YEARS nissanAU had turned their backs on anyway - call me a whinger but it's a rude thing to do to this market...

That was pretty much what I wanted to say.

You last sentence summed it up how I would see it too.

Infiniti basically want to say "Buy our exclusive Brand!"

Well I wasn't born yesterday and I do know what it is... A Nissan.

[180fan]

That was pretty much what I wanted to say.

You last sentence summed it up how I would see it too.

Infiniti basically want to say "Buy our exclusive Brand!"

Well I wasn't born yesterday and I do know what it is... A Nissan.

That might be true for the majority of the people on this site, and other people who are into imports, but the general public isn't going to know Infiniti = Nissan. Especially since they will be selling cars that Nissan never sold over here.

I think Infiniti could do pretty well over here, if their prices aren't bullshit high.

Edited March 31, 2010 by 180fan

[(OO)SKYLINE(OO)]

That might be true for the majority of the people on this site, and other people who are into imports, but the general public isn't going to know Infiniti = Nissan. Especially since they will be selling cars that Nissan never sold over here.

I think Infiniti could do pretty well over here, if their prices aren't bullshit high.

You got a good point there Brian!

I see where your coming from.

But as you know, if you are going to buy a car, you'd do research on what you are buying.

Well that's just you and me and any other person with common sense... IMO.

I would be love to see how they justify a high price (That's if they do sell it at a high price)

But still interested to see how much they go for, AUS $.

Yeah for sure they can do good over here in AUS and be great to see some smooth looking V35 / V36 cruising around.

[Iron Chef]

I'd give my left nut for an FX50...

[neotropic]

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The transmission is a 7-speed automatic with Adaptive Shift Control and solid magnesium paddle shifters.

Standard features include fog lamps and Bi-Xenon headlights, a DVD based navigation system, Around View Monitor parking aid, self-healing scratch resistant paint, Intelligent Cruise Control (Full Speed Range), Distance Control Assist and an 11-speaker Bose stereo system.

[Mr Eps]

okay - case in point. the price of the JDM R35 GtR... versus the ADM GtR. or..... USDM GTR versus ADM even

that's branding it as a NISSAN

you look at how exxy the current gen maxima costs against it's rivals of camry, 380, commodore and falcon..

imagine what having the word "infiniti" written on the boot would allow them to charge... =|

infiniti is a high priced brand... but - then again on the other hand as many bad points i can see about it.. (in my opinion)

i also must say - it's about TIME that this happened...

[Marlin]

I'd give my left nut for an FX50...

Me too! I've been hangin on to my Hemi powered Jeep to see if these FX50's are coming. I want one. Bad.

[iseekool]

I'd give my left nut for an FX50...

Seen it in Taiwan - Definately stands out from the crowd, wisper quiet too. But there is something about the looks that is kinda "tacky"/cheap (probably too Americanised???) - Can't quite put my finger on it.

Looks don't match price maybe (I'm not questioning the mechanicals)....

[bluejeans]

.. seriously..

that looks f**king awful!

[RB25PWR]

I think it looks pretty hella tbh

[iplen]

People buying Lexi can still see the link to Toyota, and really all that does is reassure them that the car they are buying will work forever (current american stuff ignored) and they are getting alomst BMW cred, with Japanese quality, therefore great value. (for the people buying them)

Infinity will still be sold through Nissan Dealers presumably (cost of doing anything else is rediculous) So people will be walking in to buy an Infinty thinking "3 litre Patrol, they blow up, D40 Navara they lunch clutches, D22 Navara, they used to blow engines, Now they have no grunt, R35 GTRs, they blow gearboxes... And getting any of that fixed under warranty is impossible on a good day"

So would that ispire you to buy a REALLY expensive Nissan? I am a Nissan fan, but let's be realistic, the rep is not great at the moment because they are still a company with a very limited budget trying to be as great as they once were, and corners are still being cut.

[iseekool]

every car maker has its flaws. *not here to bad mouth any brands*

Toyota ain't perfect either - mid 80s cars blew head gaskets (5 and 7M engines), noisy diffs in the ke70s, dodgy diesel estimas, faulty brakes on some late model cars - There's many more issues that toyota owners come across (i'm no expert in the subject) - but I find toyota seems to hide this stuff under the rugs (this is a personal opinion BTW). Toyota "seem" to be the bees knees of Jap cars because they generally have pretty good customer service and support to fix their f*ck ups. But to say they "last forever" or "never break" down is BS IMO. Jap cars in general are roughly similar to each other as alot of components are outsourced to other manufactures eg. lights, suspension etc. Japanese companies also follow the "Continuous improvement cycle" - so each model/revision release tends to get better.

Euro cars don't seem to stand up well to the Australian climate - interior degrades fast, electronics are dodgy, cars need to be "pampered" in comparision to their Australian and Japanese competitors.