Nissan to revive the Datsun brand with a $3000 entry level car aimed at emerging markets (ie, NOT in the US).
Watch the video for a peek into the Nissan DNA Garage.
Nissan to revive the Datsun brand with a $3000 entry level car aimed at emerging markets (ie, NOT in the US).
Watch the video for a peek into the Nissan DNA Garage.
[sigh] No pics
These might be sold around me, I could give a review.
All you'd have to do is sell $987 in parts and you'd have yourself a $2013 challenge car.
Ok, so this is supposedly some of what they are going to do to make it cheap:
The more I read the article the more it's pointing to cheap appliances. Especially when I read this:
Today, the Datsun project has a core team of 15 full-time members—including a former dishwasher marketer at Hitachi Ltd
Unless you guys are spending time in China or India, you won't be able to get one. My guess is that if we find a way to import them, they won't be street legal.
JoeyM wrote: Unless you guys are spending time in China or India, you won't be able to get one.
And I imagine you won't really want one of these cars. (this is not the new Datsun)
....but that is exactly the market it is competing in....the new datsuns will be going head to head against stuff like the tata nano
In reply to SyntheticBlinkerFluid:
I'd drive it, I could use a commuter car that doesn't cost 17k new...
because racecar
SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: Ok, so this is supposedly some of what they are going to do to make it cheap: - Manual Windows - Drivers side and Rearview mirror only - Cheap Interior Plastics - 2-Cylinder Engine - Manual Trans w/no Auto option - One or No Airbags - Manual Pump Brakes (i.e. no ABS) The more I read the article the more it's pointing to cheap appliances. Especially when I read this:Today, the Datsun project has a core team of 15 full-time members—including a former dishwasher marketer at Hitachi Ltd
I like all except the two cylinder engine. Unless it is like half an Offy.
SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: Ok, so this is supposedly some of what they are going to do to make it cheap: - Manual Windows - Drivers side and Rearview mirror only - Cheap Interior Plastics - 2-Cylinder Engine - Manual Trans w/no Auto option - One or No Airbags - Manual Pump Brakes (i.e. no ABS) The more I read the article the more it's pointing to cheap appliances. Especially when I read this:Today, the Datsun project has a core team of 15 full-time members—including a former dishwasher marketer at Hitachi Ltd
I see a busa swap 
So add two cylinders and you have a Dodge Omni 
SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: Ok, so this is supposedly some of what they are going to do to make it cheap: - Manual Windows - Drivers side and Rearview mirror only - Cheap Interior Plastics - 2-Cylinder Engine - Manual Trans w/no Auto option - One or No Airbags - Manual Pump Brakes (i.e. no ABS)
Remember, what you think of when I say "$3000 car" is not what they think of when I say "$3000 car." "They," in this case, are people who are used to putting three people and luggage on a moped. These $3000 cars don't compete with cars as we know them, they compete with mopeds.
I gotta believe that the crash safety is much higher than a moped but much lower than a Civic.
David
Let's see...I own a bugeye sprite. This has to be better than that no?
NOHOME wrote: Let's see...I own a bugeye sprite. This has to be better than that no?
No.
The sprite is better.
I guess the question is will they make a really awesome sub 10k car in the states? I have one brand new family hauler and a beater to drive for myself. I would consider buying a brand new car as my personal daily driver if there was a fun to drive, stripped down, manual transmission car out there for less than 10k
dabird wrote: I guess the question is will they make a really awesome sub 10k car in the states?
No, they won't. I could be wrong - I hope I am wrong - but I don't believe it will happen. To sell a car in the USA, first you must do two things:
Add in a bunch of expensive stuff required by law: Air bags, traction control, stability control, tire pressure monitoring systems, emissions equipment (catalytic converters, etc.)
Add in a bunch of stuff that people expect in a car: Everybody here wants to have a radio (preferably with blue tooth or a jack for an mp3 player), window defrosters, air conditioning,
Those things add to the cost, and they add weight (...which makes the already weak drivetrain seem even worse.) You have to replace the little two-stroke to run in the US anyway, so you add engine with a little more guts and....well, you are pushing 12K
A base Versa is 10,990, so the can at least get close. Now just figure out how to make a fun good looking car at the same price point
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