Zakly the balance sheet is what's driving it.
And that is why they have got to do a half decent job at it ....to ensure we buy nissan again. They know that like I have said b4
They don't want to make them last forever why would they ......they need to sell us more
The spend level of a nissan customers is short . I.e. First owner buys car and services it but nissan spend on warranty . Generally 3-5 years. Then buys a new one
Second owner may use dealers and parts another 3-5 years but aspires to buy new "caching"
The third owner uses after market parts and never visits service department. So nissan don't care .
On top of that car manufacturers only have to support vehicles for 7 years after production stops. I.e. Supply parts. Also you will notice when a manufacturer brings out a new model they are basic as the production run continues and other manufacturers bring out new your older models get more toys to keep them selling and at the end they have everything. All the luxuarys. It's just a game.
Now if the product lasted for ever non of this would help them sell more......
Look at the position of nissan in the market of pick ups. Value is what they are trying to achieve. Majority sales. Not the most expensive or necessarily the best . Ford wild track expensive, vw anorak Toyota expensive Mitsubishi , fiat, issusu San Yong now nissan is good with all the toys and you can have a sunroof now . To me looks like a good package with the new rear suspension.
The nissan tows lots , has nice rear suspension , leather, toys and not the most expensive but a good over all package. Try getting a sunroof from the others and all the other toys.
So I ask again how long should it last. The 12 year warranty was to entice the third owners to buy to promote second sales and ultimately new.
My opinion only but I bet I am right.
Ok it went wrong let's look at the problem rust in a designed crumple area. Metal being stretched into a complicated shape and designed to bend in an accident. Then squeezed the manufacturer to build it to a price to maintain margin at nissan . I suspect the chassis manufacturer looked at saving a bit to maintain his margin as well possibly a cheaper steel or a missed rust preventative process or maybe it was further down the line . The steel manufacturer at the processing plant putting in a bit more scrap or not heating the scrap enough to burn out the impurities and it all added up to this mess.
Back in the late 50s Vauxhall suffered in this way . I knew the designer of the rust spots on the pa crester , velox and the f victor. They rust proofed the doors with lead based paint. Some of the lead came from old batteries and the acid wasn't burned off so the paint was a little acidic and it caused rusting. This want known at first by Vauxhall but they suffered the reputation of the cars rusting b4 they left the production line.
Look at other products apple for example taking the Mick out of date and not supported after 4 years
After thinking about all this how long should a pick up last and are they ever abused/ overloaded / not serviced?
Please don't think I am for nissan I am not I just get the drivers behind the actions. I have budgets and want success at my work and I have constraints. They are different to yours and the next bloke but we all want VALUE.
