Is Nismo Really Worth It?

Equinox

Let me start with, I have a NISMO.

I was not interested in the 370z when they first came out. I just didn't liek how they looked. The math, was great though, 350z plus some horsepower, bigger engine, wider, but shorter and lower. That is a great idea! I just didn't like the looks. Then the Nismo came out and fixed the looks problem, and I bought the NISMO 2 weeks later.

If I could have, I woudl buy a sport base model, and just put the NISMO body kit and spoiler on it, and just get some nice wheels- but everyone will tell you it's nearly impossible to get the NISMO body parts, and if you can, they are outrageously priced. Something like 5k for the bumper, 2k for wing, and so on. So I did the only option of a 370z with styling that I liked - I bought a NISMO.

Do understand though - the NISMO is a base sport with red stitching, nismo plate badge, nismo on the CLOTH seats and floor mats, a body kit all the way around, a spoiler, some nicer wheels, some marginally better springs and struts and lateral stabilizer, and engine cover. It is NOT a touring. The radio is a base model (But the radio is modular so you can take it out and put whatever you want) the seats are not heated or powered, and are CLOTH. There is not roll out hatch shade, you can't get it in blue or yellow. Also, you can't get factory nav. It is not a touring. It's a base with factory race parts from Nissan Motorsports.

As for the verdict. I LOVE IT. (I replaced the cloth seats and radio, lol)

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JoeD

Correct. And it's not bench-racing...no one with a 6MT has yet to match or beat the times a few people with 7ATs have run. The quickest Zs thus far have shown to be automatics.

Perhaps as time goes on and more people make to a drag-strip providing more conclusive data. This will either disprove or further solidify this sentiment.

The break-in excuse is cute, although laughable. We still have yet to see baseline dyno-charts to compare, so I'm still curious to see where that 18 extra HP is. I'm guessing the ECU tuning and exhaust either does nothing or shifts the power around in the rev-range to effectively do nothing. The deficit in handling, both in terms of grip and slalom-speed, can definitely be explained by tires, but suspension-tuning also has a lot to do with it. Yes, I have a lot of faith in NISMO, but u can't just stiffen the suspension (careful...the suspension is stiffer, not the chassis) and automatically expect to have a better handling car. Throw in the fact that the Yokos perhaps don't perform up to the level of the RE050As and you have your answer.

Equinox

as you can see in my signature, I only manage 274whp at 2000 miles.

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Nismo_370

YES! I Love it! HaHa

Clean370Z

The NISMO is worth it. Some people can't afford it, they have a hard enough time paying for base w/sport package. People hate on what they can't have.

theDreamer

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370Zsteve

They say it's no good for autocross...inside rear lift issues...but awesome on a road course. Can't be a good daily driver, no way, too stiff according to what I've read. Can't demo the damned thing, so I should just shut up now.

BalanBro

FWIW, I can live with the stiff ride, lack of creature comforts, and premium price if it performed, but apparently it really doesn't.

Look at is this way, lots of car companies have made stripped down track models, i.e. Honda type R's and S2000 CR and premium performance models like the M3 and z06 that someone had pointed out. But one thing they all had in common was that they had numbers to back it up and justify the added "harshness" of those models.

If the Nismo did serioruly outperform the base sport, I'd be wiling to spend well above it's current list price cause I really dig the looks. But unfortunately, the Nismo 370z project seemed to be more focused on marketing than engineering.

vipor

If I could go back and do it all over again I would be able to justify the Nismo for the Body Kit and Wheels alone. The suspension is too stiff for some (not me,) and the custom stitching is just a nice touch.

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JoeD

LOL, sure...people can't afford a $40K Z, evidenced by how many Touring/Sport and navigation-equipped examples you see on this forum.

This is not the matter of people "hating" on the car because it was out of reach. If you have yet to notice, a fully-loaded Touring comes out to a bit more than NISMO and there are plenty of those here. Any other example where you have a better and more expensive trim-level of a given model, though...I would agree with your sentiment. You do see some sense of resentment due to cost putting the car out of reach and senseless excuses to justify the purchase among the more immature crowd arguing 335i vs. M3, base Corvette vs. Z06, A4 vs. S4, etc. However, what those all have in common aside from the Base/Sport vs. NISMO argument is that one is undeniably a better performing car.

Your first post on the forum was a fail.

blue660r01

LMFAO. Gtfo of here with your 2 useless posts. I own a $35,000 350z.....I am sure I couldnt afford a 370z. I AM hating on it and my next car is on the way. Brand new m3. Stop hating on people who know what they are talking about and realize that things arent worth the money. Everyone likes Nissan here, the 370z people WILL modify. There is no use in paying over 10k more for simple crap that you can get for half the money just because its Nismo.

The fact is most people who want a Nismo want it cuz of the looks and will modify it anyways. Its just a TOTAL waste of cash. Any moron could own a base Z....if you dont realize that you dont belong on the forum go hang out with the rest of your teen friends whos mommy/daddy pay for their cars.

Steven

I say if u want it and can afford it, sure its worth it!

BalanBro

Also,

Nismo 350z > Nismo 370z

That is how it should have been done (at least performance wise).

chief_Roka

Most people can afford 39k if they are already spending 35k. That doesn't make sense.
And the reason why the sport package is such a good deal is that the break and wheel package by themselves are legit enough for aftermarket in quality.
The akebono's are worth 4500 stand alone. And the wheel package 4000 stand alone.
The suspension can be improved some but is still excellent. The brake kit only needs a pad and line upgrade. The Z sport package is the best in the biz right now and is more than worth it.

In the end if u buy a NISMO, obviously u think its worth it.
But if u gotta ask if its worth it on a thread. Its probably not.
The break in numbers on the NISMO are 5.2 break in numbers on the sport package were 4.9 and 4.7 after break in. Very few reviewers hit that 5.1 on the sport. Usually craapy mags like edmunds got 5.1. Car and driver and motor trend hit that 5.2 simultaneously and crappy reviewers hit 5.4. Though u can't fully trust mag numbers. It does tell a story.
That body kit. Subjective.
That 7400rpm. Could be beat with an 8100rpm ecu tune very cheaply and get superior gear ratios on both stick and auto. The auto is faster than the stick.
The sport is faster than the nismo. And a 2000 buck suspension package can out do the nismo.
Nismo brake pads are probably the only thing u can get from nismo that u can't get better somewhere else. The G3 intake alone will give u the extra 18hp ($650 w/install) the exhaust will get 29hp all through. That a $2400 investment total good for about 360hp and an extra 800 gets u 8100 rpm tune to get better gear ratios. Starting to look bleek already.
You can go for the factory mass produced body kit. Kool.
But from wat I been seeing coming out of mine's, branew, sunline racing, bomex, zele and others. They have great looking body kits without all the super extra over hang which imho is a flaw in a car that's combined for street and track. The NISMO bodykit on the road is just a track only kit. You can have nice body kits with less extra overhang and maintain performance functionality and keep the Z's compact look. (Which is wat 1st attracted me to begin with.)

crand002

Coming from someone who has had a lot cars with body enhancements even high end Japanese bodykits cannot compare to the fit and finsh of the OEM counterparts. Not to mention paint matching metallic colors is hit or miss.