Survey for Master's class

I am working on my Master's degree and am currently writing a Marketing Plan. The idea is Nissan should build a RWD car to compete with the BRZ/FR-S. Please take the survey and be honest please. Thanks.

Survey Link Aaron

What if you made between 70k and 90k?

completed

also done

Done

I responded twice. The second time because I did a bit more research on the IDx concept, and what I read I found very discouraging. I would not buy a car with a CVT, especially not a lightweight sportscar. That is completely missing the point of what is appealing about the Toyobaru.

In reply to Beer Baron:

agreed, and I was sure to mention the importance of a manual transmission in my survey. I was thinking while filling out the survey that if the Toyobaru was out when I was last looking at cars, I may have chosen it over my RX8. It isn't really in the same market segment, though, (especially now that the RX8 is history) since the toyobaru is smaller, cheaper, with less power, etc... Now that I have a baby on the way I'm happy to say a rear facing child seat fits in an RX8.

I'm wondering if anybody can survive in the same segment as the Toyobaru, though. How many small cars have failed against the miata in the small 2 seat convertible segment? I think Nissan is one mistake away from failing should it choose to take on the FR-S. CVT would certainly be a fail-making mistake. It might appeal to some people concerned with fuel economy, but how many of them would choose the FR-S over, say, a Prius? Or a Honda Fit? People want the Toyobaru because it's fun. Make the IDx more fun. Fast isn't always more fun, better mileage isn't always more fun, luxury options aren't more fun, but rear drive, a stick shift, simplicity, and low weight is tons of fun. That was the recipe that made my brother get rid of his chain of Harleys and super duty trucks in exchange for a miata.

Ew, CVT?

No longer want.

In reply to Rufledt:

Agreed. To compete with the Toyobaru, a new car would need to be at least as fun, and offer a little something extra that it doesn't. It could be different or better styling. I think the only way to win against the Toyobaru is to be at least as fun, and either more economical, or more practical (better trunk and back seat).

The Toyobaru is not all alone in what it does. It is situated to compete against the Miata, Mustang, and Genesis coupe. It learns the idea of fun from the Miata, while offering a better handling package than a base Mustang, and much more economical than a higher end 'Stang or Genesis.

For the IDx to work, I think Nissan would have to go one of two directions: make it smaller, cuter, and lighter than the Toyobaru, but with a functional backseat to be more practical than a Miata (510 route); or make it a hair larger than the Toyobaru and offer it in shooting-brake or cavernous fastback form (240sx route). It looks like they are trying to go the 510 route, but that thing looks fugly. It is not cute. It looks like the bastard child of a 510 and new Challenger.

I fixed the 80k segment sorry about that, I also added a few more questions. Thank you guys for the feedback in the last questions. As a father with 3 kids this car probably won't be in my garage anytime soon, but I would love to see it built. It doesn't have to be the IDX but the FRS really helped Scion over the past few years. I am trying not to get to into the weeds about manual vs. CVT transmissions. I agree though Nissan would be shooting themselves in the foot to produce this with only a CVT. I really appreciate the time you all are taking to complete the survey. I will have it up to about Friday, then I have to start analyzing the data.

I still see the toyobaru as not quite competing with the Miata, mustang, or gen coupe. It's more practical than the miata, and way smaller/lighter than the 'stang and gen coupe. Plus it's far less powerful than the 'stang/gen coupe.

The IDx would need something special, I agree. More space than a toyobaru wouldn't be hard, perhaps a little lighter would make it even more desirable. Maybe a cool rally version of it painted like this:

Red, white stripe on side, black hood, fender flares. Might look awesome.

and as for CVT vs. Manual, they can offer both. Most cars have auto/manual options, why not keep it going?

Yeah, it competes with all those cars, but doesn't really put itself head-to-head with any. It carves out a nice little niche in what people want as compared to what is already offered.

I think the real niche someone needs to fill would be the fun, simple, RWD car with enough space in back to fold down the rear seats and throw a bike or a full set of tires in the back.

I was thinking almost the exact same thing. Cut costs and weight as much as possible, try to price it under $20k. That would look real tempting for a young guy without too much cash to burn but wanting a performancy car.

Question- why wouldn't mazda make a shooting brake version of the Miata? 2 seats, plenty of space in the back for crap since it wouldn't need to store a folding convertible top. I'd seriously lust after something like that. It might not sell well to non enthusiasts, though. Sad. Even a shooting brake version of the FR-S that doesn't change everything else about the looks like that hideous BRZ concept would be awesome. Then it'll have 4 seats for people, with the option of folding the rears down for mega space in a small, fun, economical car.

I finally got to sit in a frs at the auto show this weekend. Im not a tall guy, but when I had the driver's seat adjusted correctly the seat back was about 1 inch from the rear seats, not even enough room for my 2 year old without her car seat.

I was also disappointed that scion had 2 cars at the show and BOTH were automatic.

survey submitted.

Note to Nissan: please, whatever you do, make sure that a traditional manual gearbox is offered on this car!

There is a place in the world for CVT transmissions, but sporty RWD cars are not that place!

Done.

Done. I wish this was a more popular segment. A 1 series BMW is the ideal size and type of car I would like but is out of my price range. It would be nice to have some alternatives.

Better gas mileage, more utility, cheaper.

I'd like a liftback, but with more interior space that the BRZ/FRS.

The Juke Turbo 1.6 turbo would be fine, but I'd also be happy with the Versa Note's 1.6l as well. I don't need power to have fun.

Cheap is key. This car would need to be on par with the Nissan Note/Versa and Nissan Sentra in terms of entry level pricing.

filled out. I like the IDx, but wish it were more like the 510. Nissan can't say that it would be too boxy to interest customers. (they sell the cube, after all) I'd love to see a pre-stripped version from the factory.

Done!!

Done, although I would like to add that I would like to see more manual transmissions offered in new cars.

Done!

Done and done.

Done.

I'm surprised I bought a WRX. Although I can afford to drive a new car (and we do have the Leaf), when it comes to fun, it is very rare for a new car to offer reasonable bang/$. I don't need to to be an utter rocketship, but it needs to be light, fun, and have "enough" power, whatever that is.

Since I'm not really inclined to buy an FR-S, or a Mustang, or a Miata new, anything I do consider is not competing with those so much as with an E36 or E46, or an updated earlier Miata, or an engine-swapped E30.

I do have a lot of other projects/interests, so I think it's possible that at some point I might want my fun/autocross car to be a new one for a while, just so I can focus on my six million other projects. But it would have to be a very compelling deal in addition to being a very compelling car.