Sti owner planning to add 370z to garage
 

Hi all,
i'm looking to get a used low mileage 370z.

what are your thoughts on buying a base with sport package (need the limited slip diff, big brakes) and upgrading the suspension, maybe a cobb access port for some added power. ---or ---- buying a nismo? my feeling is that a base with sport package and a few $$ in mods can easily outperform a nismo for much less $$. does this sound about right?

also any thoughts on the other two cars i'm considering are welcome:
- cayman S
- corvette
if anyone has good experience to write a direct comparo, that would be helpful. right now the Z is in the lead due to best bang for the buck.

btw, i currently have an 05 STi Autocrossing '05 Platinum Silver Metallic STi - IWSTI.com: Subaru WRX STI Forums

i plan on keeping the STi as a winter car, and the Z, cayman s, or vette, as a fair weather / autocross car.

Thanks,
Mark

Hey Mark,

I had two STI's before my Z and I can tell you a few things since I was in a similar position not too long ago.

Cayman S would be a good car too, but its not as fun and way way more expensive. Vette...err I don't like them. Drove a Z06 and I thought it was too big and disconnected from the driver.

The Z is a lot of fun and you are right, the Nismo is not worth it. A base + sport + mods will be way faster than the Nismo fairly quickly so if you are planning to mod, then don't get the Nismo.

You're going to have to change your mentality a little bit. This car responds better to hardware mods rather than software like our STI's did. A nice AP stage2 map for the sti was awesome, but you will get nowhere near the same gains on the Z. I suggest you start with long tube intakes and full exhaust if you do get the Z.

If I were you....I'd sell the STI and mod the crap out of the Z....wait that's what I did...couldnt be happier.

Yeah... don't get the Nismo if you plan to do any mods.

thanks for the good advice. sounds like the nismo wouldn't be the right fit for me, so i'll concentrate on finding a used Z w/ sport package, then plan on upgrading swaybars first, prob springs and/or dampers 2nd, and power 3rd.

i still need to keep the sti as a winter car (need AWD going to VT every weekend in the winter), as well as for towing my superjet in the summer. the sti will turn into my 'sport SUV' and the Z will be the nice weather car.

after i get the Z i'm sure i'll be reading the forum for hours and hours looking for best mods for my goals.

thanks again,
mark

Once you have all the bolt ons you want, the AP is great to maximize your gains, AAM sent me a canned map for my mods and the power increase was really noticeable, one guy here even gained 22ft/lbs with the Cobb. Best bang for the buck with this car for the first mod is Test Pipes/HFC's, I gained 15whp just from HFC's alone.

eBay usually has plenty of used 370Z's, I would start putting some of them on a Watchlist and monitor pricing. Now that 2010s are out, pricing on 2009s should be rocking.

Hey Kirv! Have you got numbers on the 301hp STI vs the 306hp Z (qtr.-mile, etc.)? What's the torque on the STI? Greetings from sunny/rainy Puerto Rico!

Nothing but a z thang baby!