Nismo 370z vs. Standard 370z - Same aftermarket parts, any performance difference?
 

I've always wondered if 2 people purchased the follow cars:

A) Nismo 370z - 350 hp
B) Sports 370z - 332 hp

and each of them starts modifying their cars with the following upgrades...

A) Nismo 370z
-Stillen G3 Intake
-FI Exhaust (Replace the OEM Nismo Exhaust)
-HFC (Replace the OEM H style downpipe)

B) Sports 370z
Stillen G3 Intake
-FI Exhaust
-HFC

Aren't these 2 cars essentially the same car in regards to performance since Nismo 370z harvest the extra 18 HP is from it's Exhaust system and a minor tuning?

Or will the Nismo still better performance because it was factory tuned differently?

Correct me if I'm wrong but is this case like a STi vs a regular Subaru WRX and a Subaru STi, or a regular Civic vs a Civic Si it is not the same car in performance unless you either buy a different engine block or a different turbo, etc.

Keep in mind, I'm not talking about Suspensions or the Aero kit as there are a few things that don't neccessary focus on the Engine performance which the Nismo has over the Sports 370z that I'm aware of.

if you want to mod.. go with the base model.

:werd:

Cats on both cars are the same btw. The F.I. will replace both the axle back and H pipe on nismo and y pipe on base.

Does the Nismo have a more aggressive tune? Anyone know? I've always wondered that.

i thought it needed the extra 18 crank hp for the added weight...

I think you need an extra crank or two.

There is the somewhat functional body kit... Getting a Nismo body kit or Amuse Kit will put you back a few grand. But if I'm being biased the stock + sports is the way to go if you're going to mod. It's a better value. The price difference between the cars in mods for the base + sports will yield a better performance car than the Nismo.

I only got the Nismo because I like the body style. I don't plan on ever changing it.

Search seeing this was an on going discussion.

get a nismo though!

HAHA, good one!

I totally dig the Nismo body style. In my dreams is to own a fully loaded Nismo 370z like the one they offer in Japan, and then mod it. I know I'll get a lot of flame for saying this because of all these extra accessories which are seen as dead weight + not the most efficient way to spend my thousands of $$$.

I do also wonder if it's tuned more aggressively and if both cars with the same bolt on, the Nismo still have better performance due to the factory tune.

thought the base was churning better performance data than the nismo.

hey, cute dog avatar you got there, scruffy. :tup:

yah, definetly needs another cylinder to keep up with the base.

I don't see this as really relevant, because even if it is true, why wouldn't you get a tune after installing parts? I'm only waiting to get my tune because I still need to get test pipes and CAI to make it worth my time and money to do so.

Even if you just want the Nismo body style you can get an exact replica body kit(minus the wing) and wheels for cheaper than it costs to buy(Or so I've read on here). You would have to get the wing from Nissan or someone who owns a nismo and is willing to give it up.

But if you consider all the time to install the parts, or the money you will pay someone to do it for you, you might just soak up the difference and buy a Nismo.

So in the end you are buying how the car looks, and a little plaque between the seats, since basically everyone mods their car.

Having said all that, I paid 38,5 for mine and don't regret it for one second, and if I had a second go at the decision, I would make the same decision.

I think it's pretty relevant. I mean, a tune can change the personality of an engine. Just wondering if the Nismo gets any of its hp from a chip as well as its different components.

Also, I thought there was a fairly decent replica wing out there, or close to it.

Nismo wheels are fairly easy to find. Brand new, they'll run over 3 grand. If you're patient and lucky, you can find them used on here for less than that.

But I agree, by and large. If you want the Nismo, shell out for it.

Wow, really didnt expect too see another one of these threads pop up from a member whos been registered since this car's been available, but since I am trying to help before the lock...here goes nothing...(please search)

http://www.the370z.com/nismo-370z/29...nce+nismo+base

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...nce+nismo+base

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...nce+nismo+base

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...nce+nismo+base

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...nce+nismo+base

^^^

+1

better member than myself, he provided the links for you!

Thanks for all these links, honestly, I wasn't trying to branch out my thread to be about body kit, and other stuff. I've read those threads and I'm only curious about the tuning aspect of it and to see if both cars were to have the same mods, it would pretty much means both cars are now starting from having 332 hp and + whatever performance gain the aftermarket provides.

For example:
Nismo 370z:
350hp delete OEM Nismo Exhaust (-18 hp) = 332 hp and then (+18 hp for FI CBE) = 350 hp

Sport 370z:
332hp delete OEM Exhaust and then (+18hp for FI CBE) = 350 hp

Or will the Nismo 370z still have bit more HP because of the tuning?

Not trying to beat a dead horse but, I just showed 5 links of about 40 which returned from a quick search. I have seen this topic discussed before but I think I've steered you in the right direction. Hope you find what you're looking for.

No, both cars HP will vary since mods have been added and not tuned. Having a car slightly tuned before mods i.e. Nismo doesn't mean it carries over. I believe that's what you asking.

Either way the body kit will hold the Nismo back in a straight line race, it's like .1 in 1/4. On a course the Nismo vs Sport is marginal with the same driver, unless said course has high speed turns/braking areas. Then the Nismo will shy forward.

Plus if you retune each car with all the same mods, they will be tuned the same way and this new tune will negate the old Nismo tune.

It is believed the 18 HP increase is from the S-Tune exhaust and a mild tune.

I've read most of the 5 links you posted and majority of them pretty much sums up the same thing, but it doesn't neccessary answer my question. In general, they all just say, if you want to mod it, go with a base/sport as oppose to a Nismo because of blah blah blah amt of money you're gonna spend or how the Nismo body kit is a waste of $$$ b/c it's ricey or whatever. - I'm not interested in that as I am not trying to figure out which car to buy. I already own a Z.

My question is "theoretical". I am not trying to go about find out whether it's worth it to buy either a Nismo or Sports with my limited budget and see which one fits me better.

I'm purely wondering if one to get a Sports 370z (let's just say) did all the Nismo suspension upgrade, body kit, etc you name it, but still running on stock ECU and original engine. So the only thing that's identical to the Factory Nismo. Should they have the same HP if they both has the same exhaust system (whether if it's Nismo exhaust or any other aftermarket one)?

One thing we know for sure is that Nissan claimed: Nismo got their extra 18 hp from Exhaust and a tuning. But is the exhaust alone +18hp? or is it from a little bit of both?

To your question in post #23...answer is YES, seeing you can get the Nismo tune from the dealer.

There was a thread of a member who got "hooked up" from the dealer with the tune.

Ok since you don't want to click specZ's links, let me summarize:
-Both cars have identical VQ37VHR engines.
-The nismo has unique bells and whistles including bigger wheels, a stiffer suspension, a really nice looking body kit + wing, and a nicer exhaust.

This isn't like say...a mustang or a corvette where different trims have entirely different engines and are built differently.

All Z34s are identical deep down. You can replicate/exceed the nismo's performance in a base with a few bolt-ons. Those same bolt-ons will provide the same gains in a nismo (assuming you don't replace nismo-specific parts) and the Z34 is fun because it lends itself easily to modding.

The nismo's extra power comes from the exhaust and a different tune. Not that big a deal.

It's a bit of both.

Ok you can close thread now.

Thanks, that was helpful.

If you throw in a tune like uprev plus bolt-ons then they become the same as far as HP goes.

It really is not relevant. The reason being, if you mod both the Nismo OR the Stock Z, you'd still want to tune it after to get the gains from the mods...

Thus the Nismo tune get's thrown out the window.

Buy on looks, not performance.

Generally. you get about 6ish hp from the nismo exhaust. The ecu is the same but tuned differently. The extra 12ish hp comes from a in house tune that is NOT provided aftermarket. you can yield the same hp by getting a basic magnaflow exhaust $700 and a basic tune $700. so for 1400 you can yield identical results on a $34k base+sport. the best part about any tune isnt the amount of hp it creates, but the lengthening of both tq and hp
bands.

but dude is right... it has been over-covered from all aspects...

Nismo sticker=20hp

Thanks for sharing this information. tuning ECU is that's not really a world I understand.

Sorry for asking such a dumb question, but is it safe to say that if I had Nismo 370z and replaced the factory Nismo exhaust and replaced it with another exhaust the net gain in HP would be close to no difference?

I think the important question to ask yourself is "why would you fly with the sparrows when you could soar with the eagles?"


Same mods + same tune should generally get the cars in the same ballpark. Some claim the VVEL tuning is more aggressive on the Nismo, though I am skeptical.

Actually, I asked a similar question in the exhaust/intake forum and didn't get an answer. Specifically, "is there a direct comparison in hp gains between the factory nismo exhaust and various aftermarket equivalents (FI, Greddy, Stillen, Berk).

Still haven't found anything concrete. Although I did find a guy who had a FI exhast that switched back to the nismo because the hp gains were "negligable" o_O

At any rate, I've put the exhaust at the end of my bolt-on upgrade list behind my already installed intake, HFCs and headers. Not crazy about the exhaust note on the nismo but that's cosmetic.

Stillen G3 intake already installed, berk HFCs and Stillen ceramic headers up next + uprev tune. Question though, if I decide to go with something other than the nismo exhaust after that, will I need yet another tune?

I would get the tune after all the bolt-ons are done.

Exhaust is probably going to have to wait a while though. Doing the headers/cats is a decent chunk of change and I hear your low-end really suffers if you don't tune immediately. Right now I'm looking at around $2500 for headers/cats + install and uprev. Add a FI exhaust and that becomes 4k.

Still haven't answered my question re: HP gains between exhausts. If it's just a look/sound/feel issue, I'm not overly concerned. If you get an additional 20 hp over the factory nismo exhaust, that's a different story (hyperbole but you know what I mean).

Also my girlfriend will kill me if I fill the house/garage with uninstalled car parts.

I think most of the HP claims are close to the same, but they can all put whatever they want. Just looking at all the exhaust FI has the least amount of bends, straighter should equal better flow.

Right but there's the kicker. I'm surprised no one has compiled dyno results for various exhausts with a similar baseline. Exhaust note is neat but probably not worth an additional $1500