How Much Harsher is the Nismo Ride?
 

As the title says, how much harsher is the ride in a Nismo compared to a Z w/ the sports package? FYI, I love a harsh ride. I've never been in car that was too rough.

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being very stiff, borderline harsh, here are some comparos off the top of my head.

'12 370 Sport: 7
'12 370 Nismo: 8.5
'10 GT-R Prem: 9
'14 GT-R Track: 8.5
'11 Mustang 5.0: 5.5
'10 Camaro V6: 5
'12 Camaro SS: 5
'13 991 911 Carrera: 5
'13 Subaru WRX STi: 5.5
'10 MB GLK350: 3

Yes, I have driven all of these at one point or another for extended periods. Let me know if you want further specifics.

my nismo rides really rough. it's as the above said, 8 out of 10 or so. It's the roughest car I have ever driven. My bro has a 07 mustang shelby gt and that thing is smoother. However, I like the easy my seats feel, how I fit inside my car and how the handling feels better

Very stiff and ruff..... But it makes up for that with handling like a champ and having comfortable seats :-)

My nismo is my daily driver and I have no problems with that

When I first got it I thought it was pretty bad. My wife even said to me "for $43k you couldn't have gotten a smoother car". However over time either I just got use to it or it was broken in or maybe both but it's not bad now. It's my DD between April and November as well. I don't really even notice the harsh ride anymore

It's rough. There's no doubt about that. You'll get used to it after awhile. The handling is awesome w/out aftermarket suspensions components.

People, especially females, that ride in my car notice the unforgiving ride right away - and they don't like it. Dudes usually respect it for what it is, but dates/girlfriends/wives probably won't know what it is and won't care.

I don't notice it much since I'm used to it, but it's worth it for the handling regardless. A passenger-coddling luxo-cruiser this is not - no leather, no legitimate stereo, no seat heaters, etc. I'm surprised the thing has A/C, honestly.

What I found funny is that, when I replaced my stereo, I discovered they deleted the small rear speakers. I was just like, "Really Nissan?" How much weight could that really have added?

I would guess it's because the base head unit doesn't have enough juice for 4 speakers let alone 6.

Unless you are going to track the car, the Sport Package suspension seems like the best of both worlds, firm but not harsh.

Just my .02

Sterling

Idk for me its really not that bad for me...it's actually comfortable....then again I've always driven cars with stiff aftermarket suspension. ..

The Nismo is a sports car and it is not going to ride like a Cadillac.

there are patches of freeway or similar in Houston where the road undulates. (alot of little bumps, haha) anyways when you hit these spots you will be apologizing to passengers. its not comfortable, but as soon as you drop a gear and get on it a little bit your passenger will forget the harshness.

i helped mine out by swapping just the rear shocks out with stock sports shocks. made a huge difference with the buck board feeling. it rides and handles very good now.

The problem lies in the non adjustable struts. This car would have been a lot better if they allowed even 4 settings to adjust. I prefer coil overs to the nismo suspension

The great stiffness of the chassis helps alot, hard to describe but when i drive over a really bad road in my '96 jeep, there is a ton of noise, like crashing and creeking and banging, makes me cringe. If i go over the same road i the nismo, its very quiet, you get a low 'thud' sortof noise, but in the nis you're physiclly bobing up and down alot more.

Its stiff but daily driveable, nothing extreme. Im in the weird croud that loves the stiff ride, and how it communicates ever dip and crevice in the road to you.

LOL! If u think NeesMos ride ruff, then u need to get N2 another car...omg...:rolleyes: The sportz pack shox r way....2 soft...pathetic...

lol
 

I have two Chevy 2500 (3/4 ton) pickups, one with air bags(2006) and a 2013 with no mods. I tow a 15K camper with it, neither truck rides as stiff as my Z.

My 2010 NISMO is STIFF, but I'm used to it and like the ride/performance.

Is it stiff?

After 12K miles I am starting to show signs of CTE.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

:roflpuke2: That sounds more like a 1976 Dodge Power Wagon!!!!!!!!!!!

Wuss! :icon17:

:icon18:
yep..I avoid downtown houston period lol....It was a ruff ride at first compared to my 350z but I got use to it..I dont really notice it until my wife gets in my car and I notice how much she's shucking and jiving in the passenger seat lol :tup:

:icon18:

That's a good one. I try to drive "comfortably" when I have a passenger, but have noticed the "shuck-n-jive" happen every so often. I can't stop laughing at that.

OP:

The NISMO is definitely stiff riding. I can't say that it is harsh, but it is not very forgiving on busted roads. That being said, a 240SX/S13 Fastback with JIC Magic FLA2 Coilovers is far worse on the same chopped up roads.

Certainly a stiff ride, but it makes up for it beautifully when you hit some pavement with 'dull' imperfections. Only moderate to severe road imperfections seem to cause some shaking about in the driver's seat.
I watched a few reviews before buying and was jaded by how many test drivers hated on the 'back breaking' suspension. Test drove it and had to disagree - its a sports car; of course its stiff. But nothing back-breaking, IMO.

Yeah exactly, although not a Nismo owner, my wife felt that my 370z with sport pack was like being in a cadillac compared to my previous ride a 13 speed 3. Now, that was a bone crusher.

I had a 11' base sport and now a 13' Nismo. The Nismo is definitely a significant increase in ride stiffness. So much so, I checked three times for the spring blocks. I don't mind it so much as I do see a measurable improvement in handling over a base sport.

It's so good to know that a few people think the Nismo is worth more that just an exsensive body kit. :tiphat:

Yup, it's harsh but she handles really well.

The Nismo has significantly less understeer and body roll, but the real problem is when you go over bumps during acceleration that the car cuts throttle thinking the wheel has broken traction, it slows you down tremendously.

You can nag all you want about flooring it on public roads, but truth is we all wind it out every so often and I notice the TCS flickering over every bump.

When I posted that very observation years ago, I was ridiculed. Granted, I purchased an 09 NISMO new. I got to ride in an 09 Base Sport and an 08 NISMO 350z within minutes of each other. I was surprised at how very similar the NISMO Editions handle in comparison to each other.

I would say that the differences between Base/Touring Sport and NISMO 370z are way more than just looks. The statement against a NISMO 350z would hold significantly more weight.

My friend bought a fully loaded 370z touring edition.. I found the Nismo to be much stiffer ride.. both handle good but its obvious the Nismo feels more precise.

I was ready to write off getting a 370 after driving a base model compared to a Mustang GT and then I test drove the Nismo and bought it the next day.

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The springs are non-progressive -- progressive springs vary their firmness depending on chassis load -- more at heavier load.

This means there is no variation in spring firmness under light chassis load. Put another way, they are as firm going through a parking lot as they are on a race track.

In spirited driving, they are adequate, though not excellent, and in daily driving are better than the regular Z, but quite harsh and jarring over even light bumps (cobblestone roads, speed bumps and the like, can be grueling).

The major advantage is that they are better than OEM for performance, but IMO, are a bit unpleasant for every day driving, relative to the regular Z springs or to a nice sporty progressively wound set, like, say, the Swift R's.