Breaking News Thread

[Flynbyu]

There is some truth in the matter.....The Big Three built cookie cutter cars with sub par quality. The Big Three didn't listen to consumer needs, and consumers bought other brands.

~Brian

[Peelz]

I agree. I feel guilty for my stance on the subject for the last few years. But, "the proof is in the pudding." I always catch hell for being a nissan driver. My views came about from my days at dealerships. Direct observation of big 3 quality gap. People here say just buy american, and Japanese eople aren't paid as much....etc. Doesn't matter. A. Most built here. B. Same or better quality.
Had th gap not been so bad, I might have thought different.

My 98 nissan has 110k with no more than front brakes and a battery in ten years from new.
And.. I only change my oil twice a year or 8000 miles.
Brother 05' S10 with 33k. Won't start in the cold, heater doesn't work already.

I feel bad..but I am just sayin.

Big trucks, I feel a bit differently. I am still considering a full size eventually from possible big 3.

[Flynbyu]

Nissan made a deal with Dodge to build trucks for them, but I don't know if it's on hold since Chrysler is in trouble.

~Brian

[Peelz]

Nissan made a deal with Dodge to build trucks for them, but I don't know if it's on hold since Chrysler is in trouble.

~Brian

good question. I think that deal was made so Nissan can get their hands on the diesel engines, not build all the trucks. Just heavy duty chassis. Too much development cost to design a whole new platform.

[Flynbyu]

As of April 2008:

Nissan VP of communications, Frederique Le Greves, has provided a few more bits of news to PickupTruck.com about Nissan's next generation light duty pickup.

No decisions have been made yet about changing the truck's name. Internally it is being referred to as the, "next-generation Titan," says Ms. Le Greves.

Nissan is still planning to build the Armada full size SUV after 2011 at its Canton, MS plant, where it's built alongside the Nissan Titan today.

"The next generation Armada is not coming before a few years. But Armada production will continue in Canton alongside the [future] light commercial vehicles," says Ms. Le Greves.

Ms. Le Greves notes Titan production will end at Canton in December 2010 and will start at Chrysler's plant in Saltillo, Mexico in January 2011.

It's Nissan's intent to offer multiple engine choices in the new truck. Some motors may be sourced from Chrysler and shared with the Dodge Ram.

"The fact that we are partnering with Chrysler on Titan will help us to offer a bigger range of engine choices to our customers, but we have not decided yet which engines we will take from Chrysler," says Ms. Le Greves.

Nissan only offers a 5.6-Liter V8 engine in the Titan today.

Nissan would also like access to Chrysler's new two mode hybrid powertrain that will be available in the Dodge Ram starting in 2010.

"We hope that we can look at that (as part of Chrysler's engine offerings), says Ms. Le Greves.

The two-mode hybrid system was developed through a four-way partnership among BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, and General Motors. It will also be available in GM's full size pickups starting in the fourth quarter of 2008.

[For additional information about the Chrysler-Nissan tie-up, check out Autoblog and Jalopnik.]

Update #4: 04-15-08 05:07 PT

Mississippi's Star Clarion Ledger offers further insight into what Nissan is thinking about its new manufacturing partnership with Chrysler.

Dominique Thomann, Nissan North America senior vice president for administration and finance, says although it's likely the half-ton will be based on a Dodge frame, Nissan will design the pickup. Some styling, performance and other key Titan elements will be retained, though Mr. Thomann said he didn't know if the name would be kept.

Update #3: 04-14-08 17:19 PT

No word from either Chrysler or Nissan whether the new Nissan truck will share the same coil-spring rear suspension that will debut in the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500.

Update #2: 04-14-08 15:45 PT

Chrysler LLC President Tom LaSorda says powertrain options for the new truck will be discussed at a later date. Nissan will take the lead on an announcement at that time.

Update #1: 04-14-08 15:03 PT

A Nissan conference call has just concluded. Nissan execs say the new truck will be a replacement for the current Titan half-ton pickup.



Just in that Chrysler will build a full size light duty truck for Nissan by 2011. The pickup will have a "unique Nissan design". Word of such an alliance first came to light in December 2007.

The joint press release says the new truck will be built in Mexico at Chrysler's Saltillo plant, where Dodge currently builds its three-quarter and one-ton pickups and commercial chassis cabs.

Chrysler will move some portion of its HD Ram production to its St Louis and Warren, Michigan truck assembly plants to make way for the new Nissan pickup.

Saltillo's current product mix is:
Dodge Ram 2500/3500 Quad Cab and Regular Cab, Dodge Ram Mega Cab, Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab, DX Chassis Cab (Mexico Market), Dodge Ram 2500/3500 Box-off, Dodge Ram 4500/5500 Chassis Cab, Sterling Bullet Class 4/5 Chassis Cab (for Sterling Truck, a subsidiary of Freightliner).

St. Louis North's current product mix is:
Dodge Ram Standard and Quad Cab Pickup (Models 1500, 2500 Light and Heavy Duty).

Warren, Michigan's current product mix is:
Dodge Ram 1500 Standard Cab and Quad Cab SLT/Laramie/Laramie Sport and Dodge Dakota Standard, Club and Quad Cab pickups, Mitsubishi Raider Standard, Club and Quad Cab pickups.

Last week Nissan announced it would start producing three new commercial vehicles for the US market. To do this, Nissan said it would cut production of the Nissan Quest minivan and Infiniti QX56 full size SUV at its Canton, Mississippi plant, where the current Nissan Titan is built.

By the end of 2008, the Nissan Titan will be the oldest full size truck in the segment, with all other models having undergone major revisions or received all new designs. A new Titan was expected for the 2010 model year.

It's ironic how this new deal leverages production economies of scale, similar to Nissan's agreement with Suzuki to produce the upcoming Equator midsize pickup.

Press Release Below:

AUBURN HILLS, Mich / TOKYO (April 14, 2008) – Chrysler LLC and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today announced two new agreements for the supply of products between both companies. In January, Nissan agreed to supply Chrysler with a new car based on the Nissan Versa sedan for limited distribution in South America on an Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM) basis in 2009.

This new OEM exchange benefits both companies through range extension and the utilization of global manufacturing capacity. Highlights of the new agreement:

Nissan will manufacture an all-new, fuel-efficient small car based on a unique Chrysler concept and design. This new segment entry for Chrysler will be sold in North America, Europe and other global markets in 2010, and manufactured at Nissan's Oppama Plant in Japan.

Chrysler will manufacture a full-size pickup for Nissan. Based on a Nissan unique design, this truck will be manufactured at Chrysler's Saltillo (Mexico) Assembly Plant. In order to accommodate this product, Chrysler will shift volume from Mexico to its U.S.-based assembly plants that produce pickup trucks. Sales of the pickup in North America will start in 2011.

This latest OEM supply agreement extends a long standing product exchange relationship between the two corporations, with Nissan affiliate JATCO already supplying Chrysler with transmissions since 2004.

"Forging the right tactical partnerships is critical to the long-term success of Chrysler," said Tom LaSorda, Chrysler LLC President and Vice Chairman. "It also builds on the Company's inherent strengths, including the ability to respond rapidly and creatively to emerging opportunities."

"In January, we said we would continue to look for additional OEM opportunities with Chrysler," said Carlos Tavares, Executive Vice President, Nissan Motor Company. "This latest agreement builds on Nissan's proven track record to deliver win-win product exchanges with multiple manufacturers around the world," continued Tavares.
Since the signing of the first OEM agreement in January, the two companies have also agreed to maintain an open dialogue to explore further product-sharing opportunities.

~Brian

[Peelz]

Even the "foreign companies are going "foreign"  

"Ms. Le Greves notes Titan production will end at Canton in December 2010 and will start at Chrysler's plant in Saltillo, Mexico in January 2011."

good read, thanks.

[Flynbyu]

Nissan had a lot of issues with the Titan when it first came out.

Brakes, cooling system, and electronics.

My neighbor had one declared a Lemon by Nissan under Arkasnas Lemon Law.

~Brian

[Peelz]

Nissan had a lot of issues with the Titan when it first came out.

Brakes, cooling system, and electronics.

My neighbor had one declared a Lemon by Nissan under Arkasnas Lemon Law.

~Brian

I heard that before. But, mine is nearly the same design they have been cranking out since mid 86.

If it  ain't broke don't fix it...

[Flynbyu]

My neighbor had his stereo replaced, the bedliner reshot, rotors turned every oil change, and the radiator replace three times. It was in the shop for a month the last time before it was declared a lemon.

~Brian

[Magz]

I have a 96 Camaro with 160,000 miles and all i have done to it is Batery, alt. ( because i have a sound system) changed fluids, and a whole lot of Tires.
but i always figured mine was the odd ball out, i got a dependable one.   

[Flynbyu]

Typically, the Camaro has been a good car. Especially the car you own.

A friend of mine has had to replace the heater core and the transmission in his '94 Z28 once. He drives it like he stole it though.

~Brian

[Peelz]

Camaro...another case of if it ain't broke don't fix it...but they eventually tried to "fix" it and failed. SHould have stayed a cheap entry level muscle sports car. But they took it upmarket.

My neighbor had his stereo replaced, the bedliner reshot, rotors turned every oil change, and the radiator replace three times. It was in the shop for a month the last time before it was declared a lemon.

~Brian

WOW

[Magz]

We'll see how the new model is.
Bryan can you get me any type of discount for a pre order, or when it's out next year?

[Flynbyu]

We'll see how the new model is.
Bryan can you get me any type of discount for a pre order, or when it's out next year?

We are only getting 5 Camaros for 2009. We've pre-sold all of our orders for $5000 over sticker, and all of them are V8's.


Sorry!

That car is going to be impossible to get for most people, or at least until the new wears off. I'll be excited to see a 300 hp V6!

~Brian

[Magz]

so what you saying is go into the dealer with 5K over sticker to get one.
how many have you pre-sold is it only the 5 you're talking about?