Need some info from the seasoned, please

[KainZ]

Hello All,

I'm brand new to the forums as a participating member, been reading for a couple months now. Still fairly new to the whole car seen, so my knowledge base is lets say still growing, heh.

Although the issue I'm having is I'm looking between a 2011 Honda Civic Si Coupe and the current 2010 Nissan 370Z Coupe (I'm aware the 2011 is coming soon and will probably be looking at that as it comes closer to my time of actually laying the money down on the table).

Which ever car I buy I'm looking at putting a turbocharger for my FI mod. And possibly building the engine as I go and money becomes available to do it.

However, I'm not clear on which vehicle would get the best response from the above mentioned mod and my hard earned cash. I'm really liking the Z and as many have already stated there are Civics in every garage for miles. I do like the prestige that not everyone has a Z. So it's definitely winning me over in the looks category.

I'm currently overseas in Iraq and going home on R&R leave this month and wanting to probably test drive the Z. (As I've already driven a boosted Civic Si 09). What's making the choice hard, is my best friend is a Honda nut from A-Z, no real issue there. Just all the advice he gives is that Honda is the best and that any other choice is rubbish or won't see the same returns for the same mods/money spent. And a few other friends are in the other category that the 370Z and other cars are more appealing and can give the same numbers (whp).

Except it's not all about WHP at the moment, as the new car will replace my daily driver for awhile. I want something I'm not going to feel embarrassed about being seen in. My best friend wants me to buy a used Civic to save money for a turbo kit and I told him the last few we looked at a year ago were gutted and ravaged inside and out, and his response was "but they had built engines and could easily have a boost kit installed". I had to remind him the interior was crap or gone, the engine has no emissions equipment on it, so I'd have to get that added before going to the DMV and I really don't feel like inheriting someone else problems for my next car.

I know I've read that a few members are ex-Civic (or Honda) owners, and I'm really looking to see what the comparable differences are. I mean I can look at the spec's and see the obvious, but what about power to handling between the two? Overall feel between them? Speed and whp gains through mods? I'm already assuming mods for the Z will be more then the Honda, I'm not really concerned about this aspect, as I'm not looking to do it all right away but step by step as I learn more about cars in general and the 370Z as I went along modding it.

Well if you're still reading this long winded post, I thank you for your endurance and hope to get some honest feedback that can help with this choice, thanks in advance.

Kain

ps. sorry if this seems really silly.