Motortrend tests 2015 Nismo 370Z
 

2015 Nissan 370Z Nismo First Test - Motor Trend

Wish they had done a test video at Laguna Seca with Randy Pobst, I always like those. Comments after the article are a little brutal, but I kind of agree with some - great car when it came out and Nissan has done nothing since to up its game. Meanwhile the land barge 2010 Camaro develops into the real deal 1LE. :shakes head: And $46k? For that kind of money the typical Z lover could buy a BMW M235i and have something that is faster and worlds more livable (maybe I'm biased since I did just order a M235i, probably won't be keeping the Z)

Not surprised about the review. MT, Road & Track, Car & Driver never liked the 370z so they never really have anything informative to say.

I remember the 2009 reviews to be pretty enthusiastic

Im curious why the braking is 8 ft worse. Does the new nismo use different tires?

Wow, you really like that M235 that's actually not made by the M division better than a Nismo? Doesn't look like much to me, but hey it's not gonna be in my garage either so happy trails.

It's true though. Adjusting those seats is a pain in the butt. Seriously, unless you're the only one driving it then it's not a big deal. Take it in for an oil change or let somebody drive your car and it'll be a bitch getting it back into position. Once they're set, they're awesome.

I've been tempted to upgrade to one myself but I can't justify the price. $46k for that car is ridiculous. It's $7-10k overpriced in my opinion. The GTR price keeps going up, but with good reason. Constant improvements, that can be proven. The Z however, now shows slower than the previous year and the price goes up. smh.... Obviously the seats aren't cheap and that may be a $4-6k factor, but still...

Until the Z gets more torque and a 400+hp power plant it's just not for me. If they are able to achieve those numbers they can't increase the price or it'll sit on lots. Competition is leaving them in the dust for the price point.

And it doesn't look like its 0-60mph or 1/4 time improved with the new 3.9 rear end. 3400lbs? Why did it go up in weight?

The Nismo Z needs to be TT from factory. I've been saying it for a long time now but it'll never happen because then who in their right mind would buy an ugly 4-seat GT-R if the Z was just as fast?

3400lbs is not far off from what a 7AT/NAV Z weighs IIRC

Ok, so they listed the weight for one that is equipped with a 7AT? Because the stat sheet says 6mt... I remember the 09-14 Nismo's were 3350lbs.

They have a lot to say about clutch feel, so I'm sure (despite some of the pics) it was the MT.

I'm wondering if the new gearing isn't as much of an improvement as one would think on the track.

Either that or it is literally just barely compensating for any extra weight from the few amenities it has (still more than last iteration of Nismo, or so I thought).

I think tires and all that are the same -- poorer braking and slightly worse laptimes make me think it's either the gearing is now numerically better but functionally worse or it's gained 50 lbs somewhere from the leather and nav and maybe different final gearset?

Hmm.

Not trying to start my whole frothing mad rant again or anything, but I am curious as to how the AT fares by comparison -- it too has different gearing than the standard 7AT Z.

Or, hell. Maybe they had either a hotter day or a fatter driver (or both) than the last time.

i was also looking at the m235i but it looks like just another bmw on the road. there are soooo many bmws on the road. when you see a 15 nismo Z heads turn. simple as that.

That is true. I think 13.5 1/4 time is a bit slower compared to the previous years. I'm sure the AT can get closer to 13 flat.

Nissan would not dare make the Z anything like the GTR... The GTR is there flagship car and would never put it in danger of being second best....

I love my Z. Love driving it, love that I don't see a million day. But you can't deny that you have to accept some rough edges to own one. And it ain't all weather. The M235i is far more livable day to day. And it's fast, I bet faster than a Nismo Z. From the test drive it drove fantastic - agile and tight. I'm sure after awhile I'll find faults but I can tell you right now it dances!

As for the "real" M comment I only care about the driving experience, I'll leave it to the fruits at the BMW forums to argue whether this is a "real" M or not (although if one just looks at the spirit of the M car I suggest that it is the ONLY M car BMW makes right now!)

Can personally confirm that the 15 Nismo Z makes heads turn on the highway and downtown. The Z is an already uncommon car compared to 'stangs and 'vettes in my area, and the redesigned bodykit brings more attention because it's new. Most plebs don't pay attention to Nissan outside of an Altima and maybe the Titan, so a few have even asked me if it's a new model.

Now for the pricing and performance? Yea... Nissan has gone off the deep end with charging so much for so little. You can get a more powerful car for less. That being said, call me an elitist prick, but I'm somewhat prideful because the car is overpriced, it lowers the likelihood of it becoming a common sports car. I get petty egotistical boost from not seeing a single Z -- let alone the 15 Nismo -- after driving a few hours on the road.

Somewhat disappointed to hear she's the slowest of her sisters, but seeing how I don't bother with racing or tracks, not something I'm gonna lose sleep over. Not a professional shifter, so TBH that tenth of a second difference is meaningless because if it came down that kind of lightning fast driving reflex, it would take me extra tenths longer. :p

</thread>

:iagree:

M3 performance without the price. I loved my Z and still enjoy seeing them. Was time for something new. The Z served well. The Randy Pobst review of the 235 sold me as well as my multi hour test drive.

Hopefully the next Z will be worth investigating and owning. The literal BMW forum butt pain over the M235i is hilarious! The broken and confused egos over the naming is pathetic lol. BMW named it and the world ended lol. I keep telling them to fly to Munich and fix it.

I would have bought it no matter. M means nothing to me. It's a name. I bought it because the drive was superb. I could care less what anyone thinks about my ride. In Germany the 235 gets plenty of attention. I'd own it if it didn't. What people look at or don't look at is their problem.
The Nismo review seemed honest. It's a known car but showing its age. Nice package but I paid less for my M235 44k as a demo model end of model year 2014 production. Sticker was 50k+

well the 'M'235 is just the 135... although they offer x-drive on those thing and i can only imagine how retardedly fun it is (i have had the luxury of a 335xi). there are rumors about a M2 as a true 'm-series' which will be interesting to see how such a small car works.

as for the reviews... well... i would never compare this car to an entry luxury brand. if you want apples to apples compare it to 'reasonably priced' sports car... such as the camero/mustang/genesis area... again everything is subjective. i personally like lack of technology so i can focus on what the car is supposed to do... DRIVE!

You realise the 2 series is significant change from the 1 series. Go drive one. It will surprise you. M235i is a superb driving car.
The renderings of the M2 look very aggressive. Will be interesting to see it and the new Z in the near future.
Tech doesn't bother me. One does not have to employ it at all times. The Z is not that low tech to begin with.

I tested a M235i recently and enjoyed it. Very nice car, good balance, just the right size. A lot of fun.

It's essentially the rebranding and marketing that got you there. I'm not saying it's a crappy car by any means but it's just rebranded new generation of the 1 series to the new '2-series'. Well their entire line up actually being rebranded to accomodate for sedan vs coupe. I do think the 2 series > 4 series personally though in terms of looks. I haven;t driven either one so I cannot say how they perform... but very easy on the eyes!


The thing about tech for me is it's great to have but also a distraction from my driving experience. even the triple cluster on the Z (as useful as they are) threw me off a bit as I have never had those guages in any other car I've driven. It's all about preferences... I actually liked the 08 335xi as bland as the internals were because it gave you just enough information but not overwhelming enough to take away from the driving. I have driven a 13' 335xi with all the bells and whistles... again great car but I'm just not a fan of some of the new technology being implemented into cars. Call me old school :happydance:

This is also one of the reasons why I was leaning toward the Z because of the rawness in the car. I like it raw!

It's not a simple rebranding any more than a 370Z is just a rebrand of a 350Z.

What makes you think a factory TT Z could touch a GTR in performance? People are not even putting up GTR numbers with a TT Z rated at 600 hp. I guess it is impossible for Nissan to make a TT Z in the 400-450 hp range because it will smoke a GTR...

:facepalm:

The Z car is not Nissan's halo car like the GT-R. The Z32TT was, back when JDM cars like the Skyline GT-R weren't marketed in the U.S. But the Z32 TT's price reflected its "halo car" status, and Nissan and the other Japanese car manufacturers saw the waning market for twin turbo sports cars and had to pull out.

The Z was originally meant to be a cheaper alternative to the Vette and more in the same league as the Camaro or Mustang or any 2-seat affordable sports car. Nissan is returning to that mission. And I doubt Nissan will ever make the Z the halo, monster sports car it once was like the Z32 TT.

I still pine for the Z32 TT.

I envy your 235 but the GTI is a wrap haha

I think it's a pretty honest write up too. There's really not that much different with the car... it's a refresh at best. And we all already know it's a lot of money for the performance. But I've heard of folks getting a few thousand off retail on even the '15 Nismo so that makes the $$$ a bit more palatable. I was hoping the lower final drive would help the performance a little more. I may be more disappointed about that than anything else. And I think we all get a lot more excited about the seats than anyone else. I do still love them even if they're a pain to adjust and completely manual. I'd like to have a set.

This writeup is ok, until it gets to the closing remarks - then it becomes a completely terrible writeup.

Author compares the car to a BRZ and a base Mustang in an effort to illustrate how he feels the car is overpriced. That is completely retarded. If you want to compare base to base, then let's talk about the base Z being $29k vs a $25k Mustang or $25k BRZ. Not a base Mustang or BRZ being compared to a NISMO Z. Completely stupid, mailed-in comparison.

A Mustang GT with Track pack is the only Mustang out there right now similarly equipped to a NISMO Z (LSD, Forged wheels, upgraded brakes and seats), and then you're talking nearly $40k if not more (I don't recall off the top of my head, but it's a hell of a lot closer comparison than the clown that wrote the article).

I don't have a problem with any of the other stuff he said in the article. What pisses me off is, like so many other people that bash the Zs pricing, this guy is right in line with terrible logic in comparing the Z to any other car - not understanding the market in which it sits, and furthermore, he is not educated enough on market segmentation, product portfolios, or product differentiation. A base Mustang with an open diff and Ford Fusion wheels and brakes should be priced $15k underneath this car. There will be enough evidence to support that if you were to test drive the two next to each other on their figure 8 track.

I cannot stand misinformation due to laziness, and this article is a prime example of why.

I sort of agree with parts of the closing sentiment. Im really looking for a good solid daily driver next year I can autocross and really use like a normal car ( which is something I cant with my current car) not to mention I want to get back into a Z after 6 years off and not just any Z but it must be a NISMO.

I really like the looks ( although it needs the previous year wing) but mid 40's for the performance it offers really makes the part about fun but hard to justify buying ring true.

we are so close to the end of the Z34 life cycle and Nissan knows they have to really rethink the platform to stay competitive or honestly become competitive again. so I love the car would kill for one in black but its hard to pull a 45-46K trigger on mediocre performance from a car that is in the final lines of its swan song. If I could drive one everyday I would pick it over most cars under 60-70K but having to pay the price of admission for what it is..is a little tough to swallow. another problem is there is hardly any dealer margin in these cars. dealer cost to MSRP is like 4K. I can get one of these for straight dealer cost and it is still pushing over 40K at that.

If anything this makes me horribly regret getting rid of my 2007 NISMO 350z.

almost have to wait and see what a Z35 or Z35 NISMO offers at this point


and again that is hard to say as I really want one of these cars and my heart says yes but I step back and think about it and the logical side tells me to sit tight and wait

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.

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.

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

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...

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.;)

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.

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

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!:driving:

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.

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.