Mini Cooper to 370z
 

I'll be joining the ranks in a couple months,with a new Z, so I will formally introduce myself here then.

As the title states, I have a nicely modded 06 cooper S.
That being said I am considering the Base Z with the sport pkg.
I had also considered the NISMO but not sure if I can justify the price for what you get and for what I'll use it for. (daily commute AND very spirited driving).
Mini offers the JCW Pkg that somewhat mirrors the upgrades with the Z and NISMO, but again pricey for what you get.

I have modded mine with aftermarket and its probablly close to the same at 1/2 the price of the factory package without the badging and aero kit.

Would it be fair to say what I'm looking for in the Z sport package and lightly modding as I go on, satisfy my needs OR is the NISMO just that much better right out of the box and worth the $$.
Re sale in 5-6 years may also play a factor as my Mini has actually kept a very good market value, even without the JCW upgrade.

Thanks for your input and I'm sure the NISMO owners will unite on this subject but I'm still looking for opinions.

It is a matter of opinion. You can get a close approximation to that sick body kit aftermarket, and you can easily tune a sport Z to outpace a stock nismo Z. But if you're looking for that whole package, the stock nismo has it all wrapped up, plus you get a build number, if that matters to you.

I love all Z's equally. For me, it was no dilemma. I bought base because I wanted to mod.

Unlike JWC Mini, the Nismo is not really faster than a Sport Package Z. The Nismo has a more aggressive exhaust, wider wheels, stiffer & slightly shorter springs/dampers, a body kit and Nismo labeling. If you like the Nismo it's probably worth it and you will get some of that money back when you sell or trade. I got the Base Model with the Sport Package because I liked the look and couldn't justify the cost of the Nismo. Years ago I had a similar choice between a 99 Camaro Z28 and a 99 Camaro SS, that time I went with the SS so I've gone both ways on this issue.

Remember, you won't get your money back on your mods so make sure you are doing things you really want. If all you end up doing is making a Sport Package into a Nismo copy you might as well get the Nismo in the first place.

The nismo is about 6k more over base+sport. The nismo isn't light years apart from the base/touring when it comes down to performance. You do have a bunch of minor changes like exhaust/tune/suspension/body kit/rims/tires/interior stitching, but still nothing that will boost the nismo that far. All the extras the nismo comes with are basically light changes that aftermarket parts can do much better.

If you are planning on doing body kit/rims then those two alone will cost just as much if not more than the nismo's package. So if you love the nismo's look, buy it because the body kit + rims alone is worth it. If you don't like the nismo's look then I suggest the base+sport.

Down to it, between the two packages, it is about which one looks better to you.

^ I would have to agree with all of the statements above from the others as well.

The Nismo vs base/touring has been debated several times on this forum too and proved to be a great read. In fact, this thread might once again :stirthepot:

As someone said earlier, I love all versions of the Z and would not have minded getting the Nismo version. But in the end, I like the more "subdued" look of the non-nismo Z. Again, comes down to personal preference, but don't choose based on performance, as they are pretty much equal.

Whatever you choose should be based on looks, residual value, modding plans, and exclusivity.

The NISMO holds a good bit higher value for KBB and dealerships for those planning on trading in. As for a few years down the road, we'll see what people are willing to pay for it. As history will tell us, people are willing to pay a couple more G's for a NISMO such as the 350. G35 included.

I would test drive both. To me I think the Nismo's ride is a little to firm for everyday driving. I really enjoy my Nismo I just wouldnt want to drive it on long commutes to work everyday of the week.

dont let the ride sway you from the nismo...you can always uprgrade the swings and/or struts relatively cheap compared to the cost of the car

Very good feedback all.
I could do without the big spoiler on the back,
and I'm more into handling, so I think the sport
package is the direction I'm moving to. Exhaust and tune
would soon follow.
I look fwd to using this forum more in the future.

I've owned both a touring/sport and a Nismo. Look up a post titled "some input would be great" or something similar. It was only about 2wks back. I did a full assesment on both. Short summary, I prefer my old touring/sport compared to my current NISMO. The NISMO is I believe slightly faster however I don't think magazines have been able to show it as the NISMO is not very easy to launch well due to the stiffer suspension. I think from a rolling start the NISMO would pull on the regular Z but not by a whole lot. The suspension is very stiff for DD. Mod for mod you will not make a NISMO Z out of a Base Z for cheaper. Aside from the extra power the Nismo also has a much tighter suspension. Suspension mods costs money. Also, yes you can make a base Z just as fast or faster than the NISMO but the NISMO will always have the edge unless you get a tune. Getting a tune requires finding a reputable tunner and spending $$$ on the tune and dyno time. Some are lucky to have good tuner near by where others don't. So keep that in mind.

Lastly, on paper the NISMO costs much more than a base sport but in real life you can get a NISMO Z for pretty cheap. The sticker on my NISMO was 45k, I got mine for 35k. It was essentially the same price that a touring sport would have cost me. I think if you shop around you'll find the real price difference between a base sport and a NISMO to only be 2-3k. Which one to get is up to you. They both have pros and cons. In the end you win either way as they are both Z's.

Did anyone else look at this and immediately think front wheel drive, or is that just me. lol

Hey welcome aboard.

My best advice is to just test drive both and see which one you like better.

The nismo aero is functional and to duplicate it with aftermarket body pieces, wings etc that match up to the car and look/fit as good as OEM will be pricey.

However, if you don't like the way the nismo looks compared to the base/sport pkg Z then obviously go with the non nismo.

Powerwise, the nismo has a slight edge but the two really begin to even out once you start modding.

In sum, just get the one that makes you happiest and enjoy it.:driving:

Look at the options you can't get with the NISMO. If you can live without leather seats and nav and like the looks of the NISMO than get it. If you want a nicely optioned car that you can mod better than the NISMO than look at the non-NISMO Zs.

I also came from an '06 MCS highly modded, and my mistake was lowering springs that made the ride quality very jarring...which is the main reason I got rid of it despite loving almost every other aspect of the car.:ugh2:

My advice: get the base + sport package and try not to mess with the struts/springs (awesome stock ride quality; it's okay to add swaybars, though) or ride height (which you may need to maintain for some speed bumps)...then do whatever mods you want.

I think you'll love the car as much as I do!

Good luck, and welcome! :)

lol, i thought pun was intended. :icon17:

:welcome:

Welcome! I had an R53 MINI at one time... Pics of yours?

Only because you asked. Dont want to litter this site with Mini stuff you know.

‪2006 Mini Cooper S For Sale‬‏ - YouTube

I had an 07 mini cooper s that i completely LOVED!!!! i traded it in for a 2010 pw nismo 370z about a month ago! My nismo is a daily driver and i completely love it! I miss my mini cooper at times though because i used to "mario kart" everywhere I went lol and now i'm not used to the bulkiness of the 370 but i still love it and later in life i'm sure i'll buy another mini!