Motortrend tests 2015 Nismo 370Z

tnav

I find it crazy to read over and over how the Nismo is always slower than the base model tested the first year the car comes out, same was the story with the 350z.

The 235i is a hell of a car, but it's a sports coupe, to me the feel you get from driving the Z is unique and not to be compared with anything else out there.

I am finally done (so I think) with upgrades on my car and I can't get enough of it, the car feel so sick I can't describe it. I did drop $5k in upgrades. I think if I wanted to upgrade a BMW with similar parts, it would probably run me a good 50-100% more. I absolutely love older M cars, and all the new Coupe and Sedan BMWs, but none are sports cars, I don't care of any all-purpose cars.

njobe89

i dont think it's worth the money they are charging. a lot more people could buy if they liked it and thought it was worth the money they are charging.

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2 plus 2 times 2 = ? ... hint, it's not 8

Stillen CBE, Stillen Gen 3, TP's, Uprev tuned - 324whp/264tq

dislimn

I almost bought an m235i but decided I'd rather have a 370Z AND a WRX.

Jordo!

If I am not impressed with the Z35, I'll probably get a gently used '15 Nismo at some point and then just tune, add better shocks/springs, etc. and that will fix it.

I think at the end of the day, Nissan never quite gives it enough extra power or grip to overcome the heavier body kit... so it tends to be equal to or less than the sport pack in real world performance despite the better bracing, exhaust, and such.

Which is kind of a shame...

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Enjoy it. Destroy it.

Duc_Z09

IMO these kinds of cars are purchased with your heart, not logic.

Logically I should have bought that Mustang GT that was 2 years newer, 15k miles younger, and $2k cheaper. But here we are.

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2009 370z #206 (all mods are Home Depot)
2009 Ducati 848 (full Ohlins, Termignoni, etc)
2003 Grand Cherokee (long arms, big tires, 4.56, lockers)

ElVee

1. The author falls apart, as mentioned already, at the end when he compares the Nismo with base Genesis and Mustangs as well as the BRZ. Did he not notice there is a 370Z base model that competes more favorably? Fail.

2. The Z hasn't had a major update since 2009. When it came out, it beat the Mustang/Camaros that were out, the BRZ/FRS wasn't on the horizon, and was compared favorably to the Porsche Boxster, Corvette, or Z4/TTS while at a cheaper price point. All of these other cars have had very major updates since then, and rightly have passed the stagnant Z by. No surprise there, but it's a minor fail to miss that bit of history.

The Z, even without the Nismo package, still turns heads today, though. But unless you have money to spare or spend your spare time at a track (or just have your heart sold to it), the Nismo is priced too high for what you can do with it on the public roads.

Then again, comparable BMW and Audi and even Hyundai vehicles still hover in the same range and sneak higher. If you're still cross-shopped favorably with your limited production vehicle, why bother making it a huge priority to sink dev into? The vehicles the Z is compared to have changed and shifted around, but it still has a market.

dislimn

True story: Even a 10 year old 350Z makes someone look like a baller.

Montez

I like your post, but in 2009 the 370 did not compare favorably to the Vette performance wise. The C6 was/is a much better performer!

RicerX

He's talking in the scope of value for dollar, methinks - performance isn't the only piece of the puzzle.

If you're talking build quality, I'd take any Nissan over any GM, CVTs included. If you're talking Z vs Corvette on interior, I'd even take a non-Touring Z over any C6, especially when you figured in new-for-new pricetags in 2009. The C6 Corvette's interior was complete and utter garbage for a $50k+ car. You thought Subaru interiors reeked of plastic?

Then when you get to performance and think about how much more car you're getting for the extra money it takes to get into a Corvette from a Z (in 2009, because that's what he was talking about), I found it to be marginally better. I'd take a Porsche with the extra money, but when it comes down to it, for some people, the Corvette may be like looking at pre-Kanye Kim Kardashian compared to, say, post-cocaine Lindsay Lohan in anything else sporty. It may just do it for you in some ways nothing else can.

Roll tide.

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KrisL

Drove my 15 Nismo off the lot on 09/15/14. Have driven it every day since. It puts a smile on my face every time I drive it and I can't help but take a moment to check it out every time I see it parked somewhere. I get compliments from random people at least 2-3 times a week.

Was it the most cost effective purchase when looking at performance to dollar ratio? Absolutely not. But I have fun every time I'm in my car, which I've never been able to say before. No regrets.

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2015 NISMO Tech 7AT Pearl White

| Fast Intentions TDX CBE w/ 18" Res | Fast Intentions HFC | Stillen G3 CAI | UpRev |

Nargrakhan

True Fact: Every time a 370Z is started, an immaculate conception occurs.

ElVee

You're right. That's certainly my bias coming forward, as I've disliked the Corvette until the C7. But it does seem like plenty of people start out with the Z as a cheaper alternative to the Corvette, until they realize they can not only afford it but they do want the power.

cigarclifford

Greeting's KrisL,

nice to see and read your post today and were all glad your here with us on
the 370Z forum. Your post reminds me of my own situation. Although it
was way back in July of 2010 I purchased my 2010 Pearl White Nismo, I'm
at about 72,000 miles and as well the smile and the pride of daily driving
my Nismo never diminishes....We are all here on the forum because
we all love and enjoy are 370Z sports cars, be it a base, stock, modified,
or a extreme build we all share the same passion at the end of the day....

forum brother -Clifford

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-Clifford

Mt Tam I am

Only when I am at the track do I feel the need for a C6 powerplant. I'd love the thought of 100+ more HP, but on the street my Z competes very well without.

The article was a mixture of apples to apples and then to oranges as has been pointed out by others. The Nismo has often lost to the base sport for some reason, and this seems to be more of the same. As so often occurs the newer model is heavier than past iterations.

The part I do not understand is that the yen has been devalued and the car got more expensive in dollars.

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Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber

Montez

Gothcha man!