Nismo 370z Nismo review
 

Hi Folks. Long time z-owner here (since 2007 anyway).

I recently got to test/review a 370z Nismo for a week for Ebay Motors blog. I did a write-up and a photo shoot.

Not sure if I can link to it from here (forum rules?). I took the Nismo to Zcar garage in San Jose and had them do a baseline dyno and overlay the Nismo graph with the graph from my 2007 350z (lightly modded vq35HR - bolt-ons and Osiris Uprev tune). Of course that's not the whole story.

Anyway, loved the Nismo. I hope I did it justice. Trying hard not to want to run out and buy one.

M..u..s..t.. R..e..s..i..s..t...

Review: 2014 Nissan 370Z® NISMO®, Searching for Z Nirvana | eBay Motors Blog

Skimmed through it because I don't have enough time to read it..but you are recommending people to wait till 2015 for a new model to drop? You speak as if you work for the Z team at Nissan.

There is not a single piece of evidence pointing towards your statement. No pictures, no announcements from nissan, nothing. And the 2014 Z is simply perfected. Whoever is going to buy the first year model of a next gen is likely to experience problems because we all know how first gens are. Plus let's not forget the price tag on new models also.

One thing I didn't see was a clear list of the mods to the 350. Your recommendation that people buy a 350 and mod it completely misses the point that those same parts could be used on the new car and then the 370 would be faster again. You've got to compare stock vs stock or it's almost meaningless. Also, were they both dynoed the same day? If not, you can pretty much disregard the results, especially since we're talking about 6 whp.

Finally, modding the car might not be an option for those who want to keep their warranty coverage intact or live in places that give you hell about modded cars.

It's well written, but your bias is showing very clearly through the whole thing.

I always thought the NISMO z had the sport package brakes. He makes it sound like they are different. The tires are different so that could make the car feel more grippy

The brakes are the same. You're right- the tires are going to be responsible for any difference he felt.

Nah, no Nissan affiliation. I'm a technology professional in San Jose, CA area.

I Agree with you.. I mentioned to see what the z35 brings and if you don't like it, get a z34 model for a song when the new one's hit the showroom. 350z Nismos were going for ~$32k when the 370 came out.

I actually despise the fact that Nissan hides the next-gen z info. I much prefer the way BMW lets you know what's coming. Of course the first-gen cars are more are prone to bugs which is why I waited until 2007 to purchasea 350.

For folks that lease vehicles (I'm not one), they prefer to buy earlier so the residual is still high (still the current model) at the lease's end. But agree most should wait until at least the second year so you know what you are buying.

RE: The 370Z needs 400 horsepower, plain and simple. Or it needs to shrink considerably.


I agree.

Check my sig :-) I know it doesn't work for the article - there's only so much room for the article.

Sure, but a used 350 could be picked up for half the price of a new 370. some folks might be price-conscious.



Was just working with what I had. Regular vs Nismo is tough to compare as well, even if they are stock.

They were both Dyno'd in similar conditions - temps and relative humidity. Only 6 WHP? Check the area under the curve. Peak power comparisons are for bench racing.



Yes. I agree wholeheartedly. All viable points

Thanks... I may seem a bit biased, but If I did not already have a 350, I'd get the 370 hands-down. I'm a z-fan and I think Nissan could have done a few things better on the 370z, which is why I'm critical of it.

z34 > z33 any day.

z33's platform was best as a G35C.

Yep - same Akebono brakes and the sport model, but this one had Nismo brake pads. Didn't mean to make it sound like they were different.

The difference in braking for the Nismo over the sport is there is much less body movement on the nismo - roll, pitch, dive. Meaning less weight transfer to the front wheels under heavy braking, and don't forget the larger 285 rear tires in some new Bridgestone RE-001 tire which is new to me.

thats funny cause the base with sport package has shorter braking distance than the nismo's that ive read early on.

So your article in which you review a 2014 Nismo came to the conclusion you should buy a 7 year old modded car? The very same car that you conveniently happen to own? And we shouldn't have to check any sigs for important relevant info the article completely omits. If you're using it as a decision making point you need to have it clearly stated in the article.

Or, search for some dyno charts with Nismos with similar mods.

Also, that's one of the higher reading dynos for a stock Nismo I've seen. It has no bearing on anything, but that's really optimistic.

this review minds me of the best motoring review where them 350z fanboz were :crying: over the 370z and basically said the 350z was better.

look where bestmotoring is now... down the toilet. :icon17:

Didn't even know ebay motors had a blog.

No comparison between the two in my opinion. The z34 was a good evolution of the z33 in all areas. I do wish the Vq37 had the smoothness of the Vq35hr though.

If Nissan didn't have the GTR, I don't think the 370z would've been as neglected

I detect a bit of defensiveness...

I did not say or mean to imply that one should buy a 7-year-old car and mod it. I said If you *already* have a 350, mod it.

I said if you don't have a z, I suggest waiting to see what the z35 brings.

I also asked if you want Nissan to mod your 370 for $13k or if you wanted to mod your own (meaning your own 370).

step1: if you already have a 350z cut the frame by about 4inches to shorten wheel base.

step2: now lets cut the frame again, and add over an inch in width...

step3: lets get rid of them orange brembo's and get some real akebono's on there...

Not defensive at all. I don't own a Nismo. I was pointing out a few of the flaws in your reasoning and writing. If you had stuck to reviewing the car you claimed to be reviewing, and eliminated your personal bias, the article would read a lot better.

It reads as a justification on why he has his 350z with mods and how it is "better" than the newer model, ie 370z.
Honestly, your review was not a review, it was just a personal experience of the car and how it compared to your current Z. Not an actual, get under the hood, check the pros/cons, or understand why Nissan changed what they did for better or worse.

in all fairness it is a BLOG... :ugh:

Exactly. If you go in with a preexisting bias and then come out with a conclusion that confirms that bias, you've accomplished nothing. I will commend the OP on getting free use of a 2014 Nismo for a little while, but just because you can write a few paragraphs for eBay does not make you a reviewer.

And had the OP gone more into depth about the mechanical differences, there is no way you can come to the conclusion that a 350 is in any shape, way or form a better car.

well, i suppose one could cut the frame 4" shorter and add 1" in width to start off?... :ugh2:

350z to 370z conversion DIY: tools needed: hack saw and a few pliers

ibtl

Did you guys read the part where I said the 370z is in a whole different league from the 350?

Right... not much we can do about that.

You sure that increase in width or track is from the chassis? Maybe it's body or wheel offset?

Yes, the 350z Brembos suck. As do the weak wheel bearings, which I mentioned in the article.

Yes. You said things like that, and then picked the other car. So in addition to being biased, you've muddied the waters. Throw in an ad for a 3-series and it's a Car and Driver article. :rofl2:

Point taken. If it was my own blog, I might have written it differently.

I assume they gave some restrictions on content of the review, right?

Oh, now that's uncalled for. How 'bout a Top Gear UK article? :icon17:

I can see that somewhat. And don't get offended, I could have said a Top Gear USA article, but then you would have had to swear vengeance upon my family. :rofl2:

Not sure what you mean by "picked the other car". I bought my 2007 350z new in 2007, when there was no 370z.

Given the choice today, I'd get a 370z and mod it.

It was a comparison between two cars. You went with the 350. I'm not talking about your personal life, I'm talking about the review you wrote.

It does read like a personal blog. And not sure you are going to get a whole lotta people agreeing on your opinions here..since this is like.. a 370 forum..

Also someone shopping for a Nismo will 99% probably never go with a 350 and use the extra money to modify it..

Yes, that would have been extremely offensive... So thanks for that.

To the 370Z community...just wait till the next Z come out, you're gonna be the new Z33 community! The article is basically saying the newer car is "new" and just that! Nothing more you guys have had this argument over and over "base vs Nismo" since day one. The Z33 and Z34 being so close you really can't take the high nose attitude to the previous platform. With the exception of the 03-06 models those are hard to own without going FI.

Same argument between a base 370z and a Nismo 370z is the same as Z33 vs Z34. Looks are subjective because many of you are blind *low blow*. Agreed we've beaten this topic over and over....but you can't stand there eyes open and not say a 07/HR HR with a tune is basically a 370Z in terms of performance. Bench racing and still the gap is marginal either 1/4 or on the track!

1. jmarcel88 -------- 09 Base ----- 7AT 12.938 @ 108.31 mph 1.972 60ft
1. Pat Bateman ----- 07 Base ----- 6spd 13.150@107.62mph 2.027 60ft

All that performance talk is all subject to the driver at the end of the day...hoping the Z34 doesn't over heat *low blow*. Brakes!!! aren't akebonos heavier? Doesn't the R35 still use Brembos as the manufacturer? Where is this great Akebono perfromance when it comes to their flagship vehicle?

It's all Nissan's Snake oil....after the 07/08 Z the Z34 should of been out the gate better! I still can't understand how they would have overheating issues and other blunders when they had 03-09 to test/improve/learn with the previous Z?

The Nismo models...ugh...talk about not limited edition....took 4-5ish years to bring the Nismo 350z. Snake oil at work they bring out the z34 Nismo at debut of the platform! Really Nissan, better yet they reset the numbers each year so that some lucky douche can say he/she has XX numbered z34 of whatever year!

Even more so they only gave you guys a racecar in 2012! Confirming the dare I say the misuse of the Nismo decal in a sense the claimed parts aren't race breed parts derived from the track.

What do I know, I'm just a Z owner and nothing more....to close, the article is briefly stating that at $43,020 MSRP do you really want to make it a TRACK CAR?

You decide!

Oh God please no. The z35 is UGLY AS ****

Nissan Z35 at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show picture #1 - Cars Specifications

i didnt know this thread was still open.

:yawn:

That's what us z33 guys say about the 09 Z34 base models :tup:

I just saying wait till a new bunch of douches claim they have the GREATEST Z to date!


Hasn't gotten unruly yet :rofl2:

If your 350 is so wonderful and the 370 so awful, why are you here?