Ghosn hints at killing Nissan Titan

[alaska_titan]

A Dodge Ram-based Titan?? Holy $hit...that's the worst thing I've heard in a while.

I sell trucks for a living (Chevys) and I talk to lots of truck shoppers and rarely hear any of them mention the Titan as one of their considerations. It's as if many people don't even know it exists. Although that makes it a lot easier to sell a Silverado if I pretend the Titan doesn't exist.

I get lots of people comparing to Tundras and Rams but few Fords and even fewer Nissans.

[rgregory1965]

Dodge Titan.or Titan Ram

This sucks....But look on the bright side....we will soon have classics.

[Herbpov]

Holy s**t Batman, this could be a goldmind to Nissan dealers. Aftermarket parts will be very limited so if want your Titan repaired you WILL have to get your parts from NISSAN DEALERS. They will be STEALERSHIPS then.

[Elias60]

You give up on the Titan when you have done everything you can to make it a success. Its obvious that Ghosn was just testing the waters with the Titan. I didn't see an all out attempt by Nissan to make the Titan successful, what was the long term plan of action. They had to know it wasn't going be an overnight success esspecially with the high price of Oil.What was the demagraphics of the Consumers they were shooting for? You do a half a$$ job with marketing you get half a$$ results.

We have the best pick-up on the market by far you can't pull the plug now, Nissan needs to learn from their mistakes and build on it.

[TitanBlue]

Originally Posted by Buildwonder

It's my understanding that Ford is already planning on releasing a diesel F-150 for model year 2009. They beat everyone to it. However, diesel fuel is so high right now and there's no sign of it coming down soon. Double-edged sword if you ask me. Not to mention this: why the hell do you need more HP and torque than what's available for 1/2 tons anyway? Increasing power won't increase towing capabilities by much. The 1/2 ton chassis can't take much more than it's already capable of towing. Increased fuel economy yes, but at what cost? $5000 upgrade to a diesel motor and matching tranny? Doesn't add up, IMO.

Nope, not for more power. Less Power, more Torque, 40% better mileage. Cost of Diesel engine is becoming less of a premium, some cars are only 1,200-1,500 more now. As Diesel market grows, cost will go down more. So, it is becoming feasable to do. It is all economy driven, not about speed.

[BigA]

Originally Posted by konigfritz

All of this is speculation. Just remember that.

I do think we need to get all the forums together and send a mass group of emails/letters to Nissan N. America. telling them how much we love our trucks.

I just sent mine via the Nissan website, don't think it will do much but it doesn't hurt.

[Herbpov]

Another TT member just lost their front diff today. And Nissan wonders why this truck won't sell.

[hooligan]

Originally Posted by Buildwonder

Everyone needs to look at this from a business perspective. Why in the world would Nissan continue to build a vehicle from which it makes little or no profit? I love my Titan as much as the next guy and was giddy with anxiety to see its' newest incarnation in '09 but at the same time the buying public has pretty much taken a sh*t on the Titan. 60,000+ units so far in '07?!? That's horrible! The full size truck market is and always will be dominated by the Big 3 and that's a plain and simple fact that any of us can clearly see. Getting a devout Detroit truck buyer to buy "foreign" is a daunting and apparently fruitless task. Even the Tundra has approximately half of Dodge's third-place sales. I hate to think of the Titan's demise just as the rest of you, but we can't honestly say that we didn't see it coming. As far as the Titan diesel goes, forget about it. You'll never convince a hard-core diesel fan to go "foreign". Look at the trouble GM initially had with the Duramax being connected with Isuzu! Even Toyota recognizes that. Yes folks, the day is coming I think and myself personally am going to buy as many aftermarket parts as I think I want because that too may eventually dry up. The aftermarket industry barely supports the Titan as it is anyway compared to domestics. I know my post will probably be flamed and I'll be labeled as a pessimist. I'll label myself as a sad realist.

which is why i'm keeping my OG 04 forever!!! hopefully when its all said and done, she'll be ready for the baja 250, hahahaha!!!

[Buildwonder]

Originally Posted by TitanBlue

Nope, not for more power. Less Power, more Torque, 40% better mileage. Cost of Diesel engine is becoming less of a premium, some cars are only 1,200-1,500 more now. As Diesel market grows, cost will go down more. So, it is becoming feasable to do. It is all economy driven, not about speed.

I would be curious to know what the sales numbers are for the diesel-powered Jeep Liberty. The platform itself is a big seller for Jeep but I wonder what the percentage of buyers went for the smelly one. That could be somewhat indicative of how 1/2 ton diesels would do. Actually, I take that back. Knowing the mentality of truck buyers, they would probably scramble to their favorite automakers' lot at the release of a diesel 1/2 ton that was priced right........oh well.

[Herbpov]

Here's a real kicker for ya. On Dec.11 2007 Nissan announced that Nissan North America to build Suzuki Pickup starting in 2008.

[daptech]

Originally Posted by Herbpov

Here's a real kicker for ya. On Dec.11 2007 Nissan announced that Nissan North America to build Suzuki Pickup starting in 2008.

Looks like it will be a rebadged Frontier.
-
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 11, 2007) – Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) announced that the midsize pickup truck it will produce for Suzuki Motor Corp. will be based on the Frontier midsize pickup and built at Nissan’s manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tenn.

[HudsonValleyTitan]

Originally Posted by SlikRick

Titan sales are up this year compared to all other Nissan truck units. This is a link to Nissan total sales for 06 and 07. http://www.nissannews.com/corporate/...03114649.shtml

I read that to say Titan sales are down 8.8% from last year. Comparing them to other Nissan trucks is meaningless when other companies are selling 300k+ trucks a year.

[niceun]

First off, I'm very brand loyal. Now on my second Titan. I've owned well over two dozen different Nissan models through the past 20 years. We have owned very few brands other than Nissan, all except our Toyotas were inferior(and were traded in).
If I buy a Nissan, it gall-danged better be Nissan through and through. I didn't buy a Dodge to get a Nissan engine and vice versa. Most of this news is speculation now, but what is Nissan thinking? If they put the trusted Nissan name on a redesigned Ram, the sales will exceed the 100k goal? Or, they build a shared platform with the same drivetrains(ala Isuzu I series/Canyon/Colorado) but different exterior will be the godsend?? How many Isuzu I -series has sold compared to the GM midsizers?
I don't think any informed shoppers will find that the 'new' product will be any more brand worthy or reliable with 'world market parts' on it. How do you think the die hard Dodge fans will take it when they find their truck is even 10% 'Japanese'? I hate to say this, but it shames me to think I've been loyal all these years to a namesake and now it may be shared with a sub-par rival. If this transpires in the wrong direction, it will break my whole trust and I will be going elsewhere with my next purchase. Sorry for the rant.

[2007 TITAN LE]

The funny thing is that the Titan has sold more units than any vehicle in the Infiniti division. Even more than the G35 sedan. I am sure they will not stop making any of the Infiniti units just because of low volume if they are still probitable. Nissan must be losing $ or making very little on every Titan sold.

[HudsonValleyTitan]

Originally Posted by niceun

First off, I'm very brand loyal. Now on my second Titan. I've owned well over two dozen different Nissan models through the past 20 years. We have owned very few brands other than Nissan, all except our Toyotas were inferior(and were traded in).
If I buy a Nissan, it gall-danged better be Nissan through and through. I didn't buy a Dodge to get a Nissan engine and vice versa. Most of this news is speculation now, but what is Nissan thinking? If they put the trusted Nissan name on a redesigned Ram, the sales will exceed the 100k goal? Or, they build a shared platform with the same drivetrains(ala Isuzu I series/Canyon/Colorado) but different exterior will be the godsend?? How many Isuzu I -series has sold compared to the GM midsizers?
I don't think any informed shoppers will find that the 'new' product will be any more brand worthy or reliable with 'world market parts' on it. How do you think the die hard Dodge fans will take it when they find their truck is even 10% 'Japanese'? I hate to say this, but it shames me to think I've been loyal all these years to a namesake and now it may be shared with a sub-par rival. If this transpires in the wrong direction, it will break my whole trust and I will be going elsewhere with my next purchase. Sorry for the rant.

Take the best of both the Titan and the Ram and put them together. Imagine a truck...we'll say the Ram, which is a sharp looking truck IMHO. Now....give it a larger cab like the Titan, drop in the Nissan engine, tranny...along with goodies like a spray-in bedliner, side lockbox, utilitrak system, power rear window, dampened tailgate etc. I know I'd certainly look into one. I understand though how you feel. I love my truck as do most owners, but this venture, if there's any real validity to it, can work. Remember how well the Quest/Villager venture went?