Will the new Altima outsell the Camry?

[Inspector Detector]

I've been reading a lot of reviews lately on Nissan's or should I say Renault's new 2013 Altima. And Nissan makes no secret that they're gunning to be the new top dog or try to outsell the best selling car in the USA aka Camry. From what I see of it, the Altima is a well thought out car too, with more HP and MPG and less fat on its ass too. That's all good and well but it's going to be rough to get the Camry faithful to give up their bulletproof Toyota.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/new...ego-2012-06-28

[GahannaKid]

Simply producing a good car isn't enough to upset the reigning champion. Toyota would have to royally screw up while Nissan would have to produce a home run. Toyota isn't going to lose the crown to Nissan anytime soon.

[HK]

Not likely, I'd say the upcoming 2013 Accord may have a better chance at that. However, Toyota would do anything to keep the title as it is a great for marketing.

[masa8888]

I think it will follow the same path as Hyundai with its Sonata. Sales will rise sharply the first couple years and it'll be called "best in class." It'll then taper off and settle for 3rd or 4th place behind the Camry and Accord (and maybe Fusion).

[deagle]

well, how does the new altima compare ? if its neck and neck, performance, interior quality and all, and the price is slightly lower, then yes it can outsell the camry

[cryption]

[BostonB6]

Should be very interesting with this coming to the party in 2013 too.

[emmettlodge]

Is it better than the Camry? Probably.

Will it out-sell the Camry? Not a chance.

[Aonarch]

Is it better than the Camry? Probably.

Will it out-sell the Camry? Not a chance.

Agreed.

Also the Fusion should do well.

[Inspector Detector]

Agreed.

Also the Fusion should do well.

I'd declare the Fusion and it's Aston Martin looks victorious over the rest of the competition when it comes to styling now. The new Altima's styling isn't bad but it really doesn't break any new ground either. especially when you look at its Maxima inspired headlights.

[FissionMailed]

The Fusion looks absolutely fantastic, IMO. Really liking the Ford corporate grille.

edit: Oh, wow. Apparently the SE Fusion with the 1.6 EcoBoost can be had in manual. I may have to go drive one.

[cryption]

The Fusion will win the class, followed by the Camry then maybe the Altima. I am undecided on the Accord ....

[a2a4raddo]

as usual, the Accord and Camry will be the top two sellers. The only car that may outsell the Camry is the all new Accord next year...but it will be short lived and the camry will become the number 1 seller again the following year as has happened in the past.

The new cars may beat the Camry and Accord 1, 2, or maybe 3 months out of the year...but YTD......will still be owned by Honyota Camcord.

[VarianceVQ]

The Fusion will win the class, followed by the Camry then maybe the Altima. I am undecided on the Accord ....

No, it won't. Even Ford themselves have said that. They don't have the manufacturing capacity.

[emmettlodge]

No, it won't. Even Ford themselves have said that. They don't have the manufacturing capacity.

What does MFGing capacity have to do with winning a class?

[VarianceVQ]

What does MFGing capacity have to do with winning a class?

We're talking about what will outsell what, are we not?

[emmettlodge]

We're talking about what will outsell what, are we not?

I thought "winning the class" meant being the best car. You said that the Fusion would not win the class because they wouldn't make enough of them. But wouldn't it not matter how many they made, to win the class?

[VarianceVQ]

I thought "winning the class" meant being the best car. You said that the Fusion would not win the class because they wouldn't make enough of them. But wouldn't it not matter how many they made, to win the class?

Considering the actual basis of the thread, I took "winning the class" to mean "winning in sales".

It would help if he clarified what he meant, I guess.

[emmettlodge]

Considering the actual basis of the thread, I took "winning the class" to mean "winning in sales".

Oh, I see.

[Olisser]

March 2012 US sales:
Altima- 41,050

Camry- 42,567

Given that the new altima is a much better car than the car sold in March, i'd say that the altima is definitely capable of out selling the camry.

[cryption]

We're talking about what will outsell what, are we not?

I didn't mean outsell - I was referring to being the fav. car. All the magazines will pick the Fusion. I predict it.

I should have been clearer - sorry.

[Gus Polinski]

March 2012 US sales:
Altima- 41,050

Camry- 42,567

Given that the new altima is a much better car than the car sold in March, i'd say that the altima is definitely capable of out selling the camry.

Concur. Now that it looks like a mini-Maxima, it should do very, very well. Esp. when the other class leader, Accord, is still on it's 5 year old design. That should give it a leg up its first year.

[BetterByDesign]

This is the car that beeps when you are filling the tires with air right?

[Inspector Detector]

This is the car that beeps when you are filling the tires with air right?

That's a great idea, especially if you lose your air pressure gauge. I really wish they had something like that on my motorcycle. The rear tire on it is a bitch to get to.

[scsuh]

This is the car that beeps when you are filling the tires with air right?

yes, but how is this a bad thing? i feel like every car should have a feature like this. saves time an hassle, especially when you're using an air pump without a pressure gauge.

[emmettlodge]

That's a great idea, especially if you lose your air pressure gauge. I really wish they had something like that on my motorcycle. The rear tire on it is a bitch to get to.

[disclaimer: I know nothing about motorcycles] - Couldn't you fit a TPMS sensor to the rear rim?

[FissionMailed]

yes, but how is this a bad thing? i feel like every car should have a feature like this. saves time an hassle, especially when you're using an air pump without a pressure gauge.

It isn't a bad thing, and won't be until VW puts it on all their cars.

HUH? WHAT'S THAT? MY HORN? WELL, IT USED TO HONK WHEN MY TIRES WERE AT THE RIGHT PRESSURE, NOW IT'S JUST A QUIRK. HAVE FUN IN YOUR SOULLESS JAPANESE CAR

[VarianceVQ]

yes, but how is this a bad thing? i feel like every car should have a feature like this. saves time an hassle, especially when you're using an air pump without a pressure gauge.

But it adds eleven billion dollars to the cost of the car and makes people dumberer, bro.

(To hear the detractors tell it.)

[scsuh]

March 2012 US sales:
Altima- 41,050

Camry- 42,567

Given that the new altima is a much better car than the car sold in March, i'd say that the altima is definitely capable of out selling the camry.

exactly. i think people fail to realize how close sales numbers are in the mid size sedan race. the altima definitely has a good chance if nissan can keep their sales momentum going.

[Cooley]

The Camry will stomp a sales mudhole in all its competitors and then walk through it, unfortunately. Even the unintended acceleration thing barely slowed sales down.

Nissan's moving old model Altima's out with heavy incentives. Drive by a Nissan dealership with the windows rolled down and they'll throw a set of Altima keys in your car!

[turkey_club]

The Camry will stomp a sales mudhole in all its competitors and then walk through it, unfortunately. Even the unintended acceleration thing barely slowed sales down.

Nissan's moving old model Altima's out with heavy incentives. Drive by a Nissan dealership with the windows rolled down and they'll throw a set of Altima keys in your car!

so far from true....

[turkey_club]

This is the car that beeps when you are filling the tires with air right?

^^^^^ works at the tire guage plant!!!

[rimtrim]

I've been watching Nissan's overall strategy, and I think the Altima will be a good indicator of how far they can push it. The strategy seems to be to study what features "value oriented" buyers really want, and leave out everything else. That worked great for the Versa, while competitors like Ford were engaging in wishful thinking about a boom in premium subcompacts that never fully materialized.

The Altima seems like it might be a harder sell, because it doesn't have a significant MSRP advantage over competitors like the Versa does. Although, it may be the case that Nissan is willing to sell lots of base-model Altimas, because their costs are low enough that they can be profitable at that price. With Ford for example, even when they offer a basic model, they never seem to want to sell many of them, probably because they're money-losers. I imagine the base $23k '13 Fusion won't be common, while Nissan will have plenty of Altimas on the lots at that price.

A quick "spec sheet test drive" shows that the Altima has 6 air bags while most competitors have more. The Altima has steel wheels on lower trims while the '13 Accord and Malibu are switching to 16" alloys as standard. The '13 Accord in general is supposed to be really loaded with features, even on the base model (no word on price though).

Nissan seems to be gambling that buyers won't notice or care about these differences. In the subcompact segment that was a safe bet, and it worked out very well for Nissan. I'm not sure if midsize buyers will be as forgiving. It will be interesting to watch the numbers come in.

-Andrew L

[BetterByDesign]

yes, but how is this a bad thing? i feel like every car should have a feature like this. saves time an hassle, especially when you're using an air pump without a pressure gauge.

When did tire pressure become an issue that required a system to tell you its low then another system to tell you how much air to insert?

Are you folks also fans of rain sensing wipers??

[Gus Polinski]

When did tire pressure become an issue that required a system to tell you its low then another system to tell you how much air to insert?

Because green.