Another 'Which one' thread
 

Okay, I know that there's a hundred 'do I buy this or that' threads, but I'd like to hear from the Nismo, Roadster, and Touring crowd to compare. I love all three-the Nismo for its looks and performance, the Roadster for top-down fun, and the Touring cuz I'm old and like my cars comfortable.

So, I'm trying to decide which one I want. I love the Nismo, but think I should buy a Touring for the leather and Nav, then modify the body/engine. Or I could buy the Nismo and put in the stereo and settle for clothe. Then again, that seat A/C is pretty amazing in the Roadster.

Love to hear from somebody that's gone through the same issues and made a decision.

Thanks for any advice,
Mike

The difference in comfort packages between the touring coupe and roadster are small -- the cooled seats are cool, but nothing keeps you cool with the top down when it is 103. With the top up, the air conditioner is powerful enough that I find I don't need the seat coolers turned on -- so they are neither here nor there for me except for April and October when we have our two months of San Diego weather ;). The choice between those two should be on whether you want top down motoring or the bit of extra performance you get with the coupe.

Good advice and good points.

Well, I say go for the nismo if you can live with cloth interior, here's why:

1. stereo can always be upgraded to better than OEM and you can even get nav in an aftermarket head unit.

2. The aero on the Nismo is functional, and since it's from the factory, it's going to fit better than most aftermarket stuff out there, plus you know it's been tested and proved to work at improving downforce.

3. the wheels are nice.

4. a bit more power

5. limited production (not really that limited but they do include a numbered plaque).

6. Has improved suspension already.

7. It's a Nismo and that's just ******* cool.

8. conclusion: get the Nismo. :tup:

Just a counterpoint, but since the base or even the touring has performance numbers documented to be on par if not superior to the nismo, I'd get the touring due to the fact that it would be a lot more expensive to add those missing parts than it would to add a couple of performance parts (which is not really necessary given the facts stated above).

Dynos show the Nismo is putting more power to the wheels.

OP: If you think you're gonna do any mods at all, I'd skip the Nismo unless you absolutely LOVE the body kit. Otherwise, after coilovers, exhaust, intake, new rims, etc...you're gonna be mad you "wasted" 6k on Nismo seat etchings.

the nismo performance parts are sub par in comparison of what you could upgrade to if you had touring. The aftermarket performance parts guys out there have very good things out there for a decent price - people who have nismo parts are selling their parts for the aftermarket parts.

not everybody wants to mod tho, they may like the fact that it has better stuff than the touring and will leave it at that.

Yes it has more power but it apparently is heavier than the standard version causing it to have the same 0-60 time making the extra power useless.

I would just get the standard car with the touring + sport packages.

I test drove the convertible at francorchamps and I noticed alot of extra wind noises especially at 90+ mph.

so I was glad that I didn't pick the convertible

As an aging driver too, I tried both NISMO and Touring sport package, not the convertible.

I drove a street legal autocross track suspension 280 Z for years. So I know stiff. I went to a 300 ZX with an adjusting suspension, and thought it was a luxurious ride by comparison.

Both the NISMO and touring have stiffer rides than 300 ZX on soft adjustment. The NISMO reminded me more of the 280 Z ride, and since the touring sport package posts better slalom times and the same 0-60. I went with the touring. It has creature comforts such as heated leather seats that are not purple cloth. The NAV is only interesting to me for the music box feature, since I know where I am going most of the time.

Whatever choice you make you will end up with a fun car! Good Luck.

touring/sport/nav/kickplates/floor mats/6spd and you are out the door for less than the nismo. The interior of the Z, even base, is miles ahead of the 350z, with the touring package/nav, its really a nice interior. take advantage of it.

Fully loaded touring/sport/nav VS. a Nismo:
Do you want leather seats, navigation, and a stereo system? or do you want a body kit, different wheels, and different suspension?

and, dont' get me wrong here, if someone gave me a black painted nismo body kit, i'd put it on in a heartbeat, but i'm 22. I really love the way it looks, but its a little ricey, and if you're an older guy, it might look not very age appropriate.

True, there is nothing the touring or Nismo package offers that you couldn't do yourself that is of actual value. You could do leather seats, a stereo, and nav for cheaper than Nissan offers. Additionally you could add coilovers, stiffer sway bars, rims, and a bodykit on your own. The thing to do is pick what you WANT to do mods-wise and go from there.

You will get much more pussy with the roadster. Without question. :tiphat:

/\ Hey, I'm a a slightly older guy and my wife and I love the way the Nismo looks. Honestly the best thing about the aero like I said earlier is that it's functional (it ain't rice if it's functional), which is important to us since this car will be tracked regularly. if it weren't for that, we'd probably have gone with a touring/sport pack/nav etc.

unless you look like the elephant man you'll get all the *** you can handle no matter what model you buy.:ughdance:

Don't get me wrong...the coupe is a great looking car. But chicks dig roadsters. Putting the top down allows for a great many more possiblities than the coupe offers. :driving: