In The Best Possible World... (Nismo -vs- 370Z)
 

IN that world, the NISMO edition/version would...

Have leather seats instead of cloth;

Have a better stereo system instead of 4 speakers, etc. (not that I'm EVER content with Bose...as they say in my Acura forum..."No highs, no lows... must be BOSE").

I'm not huge on navigation or having a certain shock-jock available (who I used to listen to religiously when I was stationed to an intelligence army base just outside DC) BUT, a single CD player ?!

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I'm torn between the interior and the exterior of the two models.

ON one hand, the slightly-extended front end of the NISMO is, well, just better. The slightly-altered rear end is just, well, better. The whole 370Z would have been just FINE if I hadn't seen the better design NISMO did. Now, the 370Z, in comparison, just seems boxier.

BUT, the NISMO doesn't offer the same kind of interior "luxury" as the straight 370Z.

Le sigh...

Nismo is not designed to have any luxury, it is meant to be a barebones coupe with "performance" upgrades. If you are really wanting to luxury features get the touring coupe and go aftermarket for your performance needs.

Aside from different color engine covers/seats/dashboard plackard, What is it specifically that gives it 350HP vs the standard 332HP?

Nismo exhaust aside, is there anything like a different fuel map or something so we could reflash a stock to have the same plan but start out higher than a normal stock?

Or is that completely retarded? :bowrofl:

Leather seats can be a relatively inexpensive fix, although you get what you pay for. You give up the Nismo embroidery though, which may not mean anything to you.

The stereo/nav options are extremely easy to upgrade. $600-3000 can get you a big upgrade in sound/functionality, including Bluetooth, navigation, and a dvd player.

The body kits are supposedly starting to be sold by dealers. We have a thread floating around saying ~$250 for each bumper, not including painting/installing (if the bolts don't line up with stock).


You have options out there to make the Nismo more luxurious or to make the Touring's exterior a little more stylish.

While I agree with your comment, let's really dig into it a bit.

LEATHER says, to me, "tough" "kick ***". Just as leather does with Harley Davidson. Not wimpy cloth.

Now, as to luxury stereo...yeah. I agree. You want a "race car" or a "luxury sports car"? Here's my comment:

I'd gladly forego the "luxury" stereo system IF, for example, the NISMO edition bumped up the HP ANYWHERE beyond 50-75 HP above the 370Z. THAT, my friend, makes it stand out a lot. Much more than, say, 17 HP gain. (or whatever it is).

Even the Type S edition of the RSX differs from the base edition by 55 HP.

That's good information. And thanks. BUT, my point was that as a NISMO production, it should offer something that REALLY makes it stand out...without having to augment it by aftermarket. Nice to know there are alternatives.

But Nismo does not just mean HP bump, it is all the little things that make it worth it (or not for some):
~HP bump
~Suspension upgrade
~I know there are some added support pieces in the engine area I believe
~Different wheel/tire setup

I can see how leather = better, it was the one thing I wanted in the end but everything else in the touring was not worth it so I opted just for base.

Even us current Nismo owners aren't going to argue with you there, but it is what it is. Even the 2010's are coming out of production with non-earthshattering differences between the base and itself.

I'd be afraid that with the addition of 50-75+ more hp and performance parts, the price gap would widen even further.

Cloth seat grip better than leather.

But, my Augusta friend, they take a car from Nissan and take it to their factory. And make adjustments, don't they? Why not take the "leather seats"?

While I might understand their reluctance in making the price increase too far above the top 370Z line, 18 hp gain (or whatever it actually is) isn't, IMO, enough to say... "we've turned the car into a race-fan's best dream and therefore foresaken certain luxurys in the interior". For that to occur, it needs to put out somewhere around 375 FHP. IMO.

Don't mean to be ruffling feathers.

Well, unless you're driving naked. Then leather grip > cloth grip... :roflpuke2:

Just go to Katskin and get what ever you want. Thats what I'm doing.
Katzkin Leather Interiors

winner