Question About Future Buying (Nismo)
 

Seems like there is a lot of competition going on with the automakers.
First we have the V6 Mustang which now produces more HP, Chevy's Z28 Camaro, etc... I'm pretty sure Nissan has its radar on sight with them!

I have finally made my decision to wait until next winter to buy a 370Z - I'm probably going to opt for a Nismo but I'm aware of the competition.

I don't know my history with the 350Z but should I wait for next year to see if Nissan will drastically improve the 370Z and the Nismo in terms of performance?

Sure, we get a new color and some some cabin air filter and what not, but with the 350Z's history, will the 370Z get the same treatment in terms of performance? If I have to wait past next year's winter to go buy one, I will. And before anyone call me out on the performance comment, I mean stock specifications and not upgrading with Nissan's accessories aka catback exhaust.

One last question, this has nothing to do with the question above but rather the color. Which color requires the least amount of washing and cleaning to look good? And if you never waxed before or do not plan to, will it be okay?

If you're really thinking of waiting another year to buy a z because you think nissan may increase the hp you may never buy a z. Once they increase the hp in the 370z, the z35 will only be 2 year away or less.

Nissan most likely won't upgrade the engine until the 4th model year if ever. And when they do increase the power it will most likely be by 10-20 hp.

Silver requires the least amount of care and I usually wash my z every 6 months. But when I wash it I use zaino and take a couple hours.

There will always be something better and greater in the future. I would suggest that you get something that you can enjoy now. You can always add power later! Good luck!

I agree with the above. There is always going to be something better. Also i dont think there will be a major increase in HP.

First, the V6 Mustang may produce more power than the current Z but it does not mean it will be faster (Straight/curve/etc.). The V6 Mustang is meant to compete against the V6 Camaro for the economy car.
Second, the Z28 Camaro is still yet unconfirmed, one day they say it is on and the next it is not. I would really not bet on a still rumored car being produced, and only look at what they currently have.
There will always be something faster produced the next year from someone, but what you need to do is find the car that fits you today and when you buy do not worry about other cars.

Sounds like all you want to do is say you have the fastest car, not the car you like the best

HP does NOT equal fastest car

Nismo isn't worth buying just for a few extra HP, you can do that on your own, the wheels, aero package, interior, and spoiler set the Nismo off.

The Nismo IS NOT faster than the regular Z34 really. It's faster around the corners due to the upgraded suspension and wider tires. I bought my Nismo for the upgraded suspension, body, and wheels. I did not put much faith into the extra 18hp that it claims to have.

sidenote: the stock Z is faster than the new mustang, both v6 and GT (not 500).

They have a vid. on youtube that tests the ford mustang gt against the 370 and genesis the Z killed them in all categories....

yeah, saw that vid, it was hilarious. the stang lost the 1/4 by like a second-ish; the hyundai was 2 seconds or so behind.

Road & Track just compared 7 or 8 cars for "best factory drift car" and the Z came in 3rd behind the M3 and Vette. The only reason the Z was 3rd was due to the VDC locking up upon braking (while turned "off") and a shitty e-brake.

Usually, this conversation happens on gaming forums when somebody is debating buying a new computer now vs. a year from now. People that think that way should never buy because they'll always be disapointed they didn't wait.

lol yeah i'm with ya there. i've been working on getting a Z since they came back out in 03. i got really lucky with my timing as the Nismo had just been released like 6 weeks previous. i wasn't even shopping for one at the time but i happened across one at a dealer a month before i purchased :D

that vid was hot stuff :tup:
i think white is easiest to keep
might be the area but most white cars I see looks clean until you stand in front of it

Is Nismo a good buy if you are not looking to mod your car in any way?

And why is that the regular 370Z is faster than the Nismo one? It doesn't make any sense! Is it because of the automatic transmission? I have heard numerous stories how the auto is faster. I wonder if the Nismo ever gets an auto, will it beat a regular 370Z?

I'm concerned because ever since the Camaro SS beat the 370Z Nismo around the Laguna Seca track (I guess this track caters around straight line performance cars since the track is mostly "straight lines"?), I had doubts. Anyway, I have checked this one site that posts lap times to justify the purchase of the Nismo - I'm hoping the Nismo will post more times against the SS and beat all of the times.

Oh and the color issue. I'm leaning towards white. :)

If you want to mod then buying the Nismo is not the best bargain.
Also the Nismo 370z has gotten some negative hits because of the tires they used, some are saying that is the reason for the less than stellar results.

A Camaro SS is nice, if you are into straight line racing. Yes it can do well around the curves, but the bigger body, weight, etc. is a turn off for anything other the straight line. Also, that laguna seca lap was a magazine result, not saying good or bad but anything from a magazine should be taken with a grain of salt (even things that favor the 370z). What you need to do is take a day and schedule a test drive for the Z and Camaro SS back to back and try to hit all the same points during a test drive. Not just the performance/handling but also the little things you use while driving.

make sure you sit inside a Camaro first too. i've read some people post that they were sold on one until they saw/felt/used the interior.

I have always been more of a fan of Japanese sports car so I don't know if I will ever buy a Camaro SS. Although I agree that I must give the SS a try just to see how it feels. By the way, I'm 6 feet and 240 lbs (body builderish), and I must say that the 370Z Nismo and the base models were absolutely shocking in terms of comfort. I honestly thought I was going to be cramped but I wasn't. It was actually comfortable!

Nissan should probably take a page out of Chevy by squeezing in just a little more hp for the manual transmission if the auto is almost always beating the manual.

So, has next year's models been finalized? Like you guys said, the Nismo's performance has not been spectacular. Will Nissan/Nismo make any quick changes to the tires, etc... or is it a seal deal for next year?

I think the only changes for 2010 are minor ones, no power changes.
Changes are like heated side mirrors, in cabin air filter, etc. I am 6'4" and fit great in the Z, I was shocked I was able to drive this around with any issues.

The issue with manual v. automatic is that one of the main comparisons is straight line speed. I will say even the Mustang auto is almost faster than the manual (V8), the reason is because a computer can shift faster than a human ever could. Also, with things like DSG, and double clutch and all that it has turned a new light on for "automatic" transmissions. I put that in quotes because we are at the point where you are doing all the work, shifting up/down but you lose the clutch pedal only. Without getting much into an auto v. manual debate there are advantages & disadvantages to each and will be a never ending debate (just like oil).

Don't forget the awesome USB port!

But the heated side mirrors, in cabin air filter, etc... are only available to the 370Z and not the Nismo, right?

Also I heard that the Nismo does not have any oil coolers. I think they should install them for the 2010 year models. :(

why do u worry about all the small details?.. if you like the car (any car for that matter) just get it and enjoy it... you will love it regardless of all that small things (although it would be nice to have everything)...

No idea on the changes actually, not sure how the current Nismo is listed (2009 or 2010). Also, do you plan on tracking the car? Nissan has already made an official statement about the oil topic, seems pretty clear.

The OP is overly concerned about minor variations in statistics.. i.e., the HP number of the car, as if that really means anything. He's also fishing for guesses about future changes to the car.. as if anybody can actually respond to that in an authoritative way. It's all guessing.

The Z really isn't for him. He should buy the car with the highest rated horse power that he can afford for straight line performance and forum bragging rights, as anything else will feel inferior to him. It's borderline trolling really.

:bowrofl: couldn't have said it better myself

:iagree:

Hmm maybe in the future. I just read the statement about it but could not figure out why Nismo wouldn't install the coolers in the first place when the car is pretty much a track based machine.

I thought I already made it blatantly clear that I do not want the SS? And forum bragging rights? Sorry, I just find those who project their own envies and secrets a bit lame. :)

I have worked hard to buy something I really want. I want to get the best out of something before I regret in the future. There is absolutely no reason to call me a troll.

well if you keep waiting for the perfect car it's not coming, if you want a great car the Nismo is waiting

Do we have Nismo dyno numbers that show the 18hp increase or is it vapor, vipor?

:icon18:

i didn't say it wasn't more powerful, i said it wasn't faster.

Dude, best bet is to test drive them both and see which car you prefer.

Unless you plan on tracking your ride, you're probably not going to notice an increase or decrease in 18 HP or some other number.

When you're talking about cars with 300 HP, another 18 HP is not really going to make a "world" of difference.

On the other hand, if you need a four seater (i.e, kids, pets, third wheel who always invites himself along, etc...), then that's more likely to play a role in whether you get a four-seater (Camaro, Mustang, BMW 135i, or G37), or if you're willing to sacrifice space for styling (370Z or Vette or a used Lotus).

Need, Budget and Styling Preferences will almost always trump whatever any magazine says about who is faster or who has more HP.

Martin

There's a thread around here somewhere that shows the Nismo dyno at 295-301, which is about 16-19 above baseline Z dynos (279-284). That doesn't translate to the track very well, as the 0-60s and 1/4 miles are either tied, or leaning to the non-Nismos advantage.

As many people have stated, getting the Nismo for performance above the base is silly. Getting the Nismo should be for the laundry list of other upgrades/features.

performance as in handling, not speed. these aren't mustangs people, they're designed to TURN. :driving:

My post wasn't directed towards you or your comments at all. Sorry for the confusion.

i know, i was just simplifying for the dunder-heads

no matter when you buy pretty much anything it will be outdated in a year... I would say wait if you really want or save some $$$$ on a leftover 09 and put 6 grand into it and you will smoke maros and rustangs

or you can buy a 07 grand cherokee srt8 off of me adn smoke em stock :)

as like i said the 09 370z in comparrason testing beats a gt premium rustang...

ewww a jeep. no thanks, i like my trannies to last longer than a few years.

Confused, Viper and Matt...

So, let me see if I understand:

Standard 370Z quarter mile and 0-60 times are about the same (or the NISMO is a bit slower).

Don't buy the NISMO for power, buy it for performance (suspension).

The NISMO DOES show (on average) about what it boasts in terms of HP gain on dyno.

-------------------

Now, where does the auto tranny fit in here? Is it faster than the manual? (if so, I'm having to turn my whole belief system upside down... LOL)

Yes, in the first head-to-head done by a major publication, the Nismo came up .1 seconds slower on the base's times, I believe. However, the tests were done before break-in of either car, and a later test showed the Nismo slightly better than the base after break-in. It's dependent on the driver, so who really knows how much faster or slower the Nismo is.

If you want this Nismo for increased speed and power over the base, you'll be disappointed. The Nismo has a fantasticly designed exterior including the bumpers, side skirts, and spoiler that some people love, and others hate. The Nismo has a great looking interior. The Nismo has incrediblely tuned suspension, albeit not the most comfortable as a daily driver. The Nismo has some GREAT features, but it's not as big of an upgrade compared to the Mustang's V6 vs GT500.

Dynos of the Nismo show it to be exactly what it should be, 18hp above base.

The automatic is a very well built transmission on the Z. It's a 7 speed with around a .5 second shift delay when sport shifting (via paddles or gear shifter), which is twice as fast as other "performance" automatics. 0-60 times show it slightly faster in the quarter mile, and usually right at or better than the 6MT on the 0-60s.

Again, the driver's ability plays a big part in it. I can shift faster than .5 seconds in my 6MT, but other drivers may not be that comfortable with the MT.

In other words, don't get the 6MT (only option for the Nismo) if you're under the old assumption that an automatic is slower. They both get the same gas mileage, and nearly the exact same performance. Me? I think driving auto is boring, but after riding in a 7AT, I completely changed my mind! My next car might very well be an auto if it's built like the Z's auto.

you tell him Einstein! :tiphat:

Can someone post this video up to find it easy? Also, i'm at work and somehow the videos on this Forum don't get blocked ;)

Drag Race - Genesis Coupe, 370Z, Mustang GT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77MstcS02Z8
[YOUTUBEHQ]77MstcS02Z8[/YOUTUBEHQ]