Hirohawa

There are a lot of threads about how sales are down for the Z. Interesting info on how it's competitor the GTR is doing. From insideline.com:

Just the Facts:
Nissan's U.S. sales were up 31.6 percent in February — but GT-R sales dropped 46.5 percent.
Nissan sold only 38 GT-Rs in the U.S. in February, with the revised 2012 model just beginning to arrive at dealers.
Nissan's U.S. dealers so far this year have delivered only 60 GT-Rs.

FRANKLIN, Tennessee — Nissan is still waiting to see a pick-up in sales of its range-topping GT-R supercar. With the revised 2012 model just beginning to arrive at dealers last month, the automaker sold just 38 GT-Rs in the U.S. in February, down 46.5 percent from a year ago, even as Nissan's total U.S. sales volume jumped 31.6 percent during the month.

GT-R sales in the U.S. last year plunged 42.8 percent to 877 cars, with deliveries in December slowing to 38 units, dropping even further in January to only 22 units.

Nissan unveiled the 2012 GT-R in November at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show and said U.S. sales would start in early 2011. In addition to a new Black Edition, the GT-R gets more power, plus some functional and cosmetic tweaks for 2012.

The 2012 GT-R Premium is priced from $90,950 and the 2012 GT-R Black Edition is priced from $96,100. Prices include a $1,000 shipping charge.

In the first two months this year, GT-R sales have totaled 60 units, down 56.5 percent from the same period in 2010.

90sundevil

If I were in the market to replace my 2008 Z06 I would not even consider a 2012 Z06 at the price they are charging today over a 2012 GT-R. The GT-R is a better car across the board in performance, technology, build quality, materials and not to mention the quality of the dealerships.

2snakes

I would never buy a rice spitter i dont car how quick it is.. I like to have my money stay here. That car is not made here it is made in japan. Just my OP.

BSSN

+1

I'll take anything out of Bowling Green over something that took the slow boat from Japan. I have shaken hands with the people at Bowling Green. All I saw from Japan was a video of some guy stuttering about how "launch control" was really "mud/snow mode" or some such BS.

I've owned a Japanese car. 2002 Infiniti G20. Pile of crap in EVERY WAY compared to a GM of the same era. I know because I had 2001 F-body, and it was a pile to, I admit, but a better made pile with better materials, and I never thought I would say that about a 4th gen F-body.

NORTY

Had my first experience with a GT-R last Friday night at the drags. There were quite a few ZO6's (both C6 and C5's) to compete. This was 8th mile. The best mph for any Corvette was 92mph. The worst mph for the new GT-R was 98mph. One of the C5's was blown (12.5PSI) and makes 760HP.
The GT-R took off at the line and the ZO6's just sat and spun...

Those of you that are all "buy American" need to look at the Corvette a little closer...

BSSN

I'm not a streetlight racer, and the Z06 was never meant to be one either. I'll enjoy my Z, thanks.

AFVETTE

The reality is this, folks can buy really mint ultra low mileage pre-owned Z06's for $40K. Even pre-owned GT-R's are still selling for in the $80's.

Tom

BSSN

To be fair, mid 60's is a good place to start looking for clean GT-R's.

BenDiem

Interesting article... It just goes to show you that most of the auto industry is indeed hurting. Specifically, the GT-R and the Z06/ZR1 price range is upper middle class. This demographic is shrinking in America. This explains why the Z06, GT-R, Viper, and ZR1, and all of the other "semi-special" cars in this price range, are sitting in dealer lots.

Ferrari, Lambo, Aston Martin & Maserati appear to be doing fine. This market is in a different demographic, which was not hit as hard during this recession.

Long & short, it's not the car (Z06 or GT-R &/or which car is better), it's the consumer that no longer has the financial means (discretionary spending) to spend frivolously. The rich get richer and the middle and upper middle class got smaller, & as a result, took the brunt of the recession. As the eternal optimist, this too shall pass, eh?

My two cents.

BB

AFVETTE

Your right, cheapest I found on cars.com within 500 miles of my zip was $62,900 for a 2009.

Tom

dsevo

I think its funny how so many on here talk about never buying a Japanese car, but are OK wih buying from a company that was given gazillions in tax payer dollars. Doesn't make much sense to me.

QUAKEJAKE

Careful, Someone out there might "resent" your statement Oh and
BTW: A big part of the enjoyment factor is, as we are American ,So is the Corvette.That is cause for great satisfaction in my world.

QUAKEJAKE

At $60-$90K. I did ,at many. A Corvette Z has resided in my garage for the past 3 1/2 years.

QUAKEJAKE

Given or loaned?

Radguy

I've seen low mileage '09s recently selling for as little as 56K (on the NAGTROC website). Their resale value is plummeting just like the Z's.

FrankTank

Another GTR thread... I guess we were about due since it's been a few days.

spicytuna

One of the worst things that could happen to the Corvette is for a car like the GT-R to disappear.

Think of the 80's when the Japanese brought us cars like the 300ZX, RX-7 and Supra. If it weren't for those cars, there's a very good chance that the C4 would've been the last Corvette ever made. Just read "All Corvettes are Red" if you have any doubts.

3 Z06ZR1

92mph is not very fast in the eighth.
Plus an eighth mile track is not worth the drive to do. For is all 60ft.
I'd love to "experience a GT-R" with my Blown ZO6 on a airport
runway. Well see how that 98mph " eighth works for them!

LS1LT1

100%

LS1LT1

Oh, and the Japanese car companies don't take money from their government/tax payers?
C'mon, don't be so naive.
It's called Japan Inc.
The Japanese government makes damn sure that their own corporations are very protected and well taken care of with various subsidies and safeguards. Don't believe me, go try opening up a business in Japan or exporting something there from here.
Makes plenty of sense to me.





Much of it was loaned (and getting paid back too), that's what so many ALWAYS fail to mention.