nismo Vs base/sport

GZ3

Only if you plan on keeping your Nismo stock forever vs other base/sport pkge stock forever Z's would this even have a little merit. Its the SAME ENGINE with a little more free flowing exhaust and a light tune. Its a drivers race man, SORRY... There also plenty of WAAY better exhausts and suspension mods out there than can be had then what the NISMO is equipped with...they are on the same playing field...like it or not... you paid a ton of extra cash for for sup par exhaust, tune, suspension tweaks. Most people who REALLy want to turn the Z into an all out track car dont go for the Nismo, they get a base and build...

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09 GT-R
12' 370Z 7AT HANDED DOWN
12'+13' 5.0 SOLD

Cell

Don't be ignorant about it. Just about ALL nismo owners bought the nismo because of the different look, not the exhaust, tune and suspension tweak. Just about all of us can care less for the exhaust, tune and suspension tweak.

People that plan to heavily mod the exterior should buy a base or touring and those who aren't modding the exterior has the option to buy the nismo. I love how the nismo looks. It is ten times better looking than the base. Of course looks is very subjective. Not just that but I and many other Z owners would never go for aftermarket body kits considering all the fitment issues you get. Nothing beats factory fit and finish.

I also had a chance to drive a base/auto with sports package. The feel is totally different from the nismo when it comes to turning and handling. As for the auto transmission, that thing is horrid with it's 2 second delay in response.

GZ3

Not being ignorant, just real about it. Its a nice looking body kit, i'll agree, but there are plenty of aftermarket companies that have exceptional fitment on body kits...this is not specific to the NISMO's body kit. Never drove the auto so can really comment on that. But other than the #plate, the exhaust, tune, bodykit, suspension tweaks...its still a 370Z nothing special out of the ordinary...all the above listed that make the nismo what it is can be had for thousands less and better performing. Its not like there is a real substatial difference in the car like there was in the 350z vs 350z Nismo where it actually had re enforced body panels and frame structuring...NO...just add ons to a normal 370z

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09 GT-R
12' 370Z 7AT HANDED DOWN
12'+13' 5.0 SOLD

Cell

Just like I said though, none of us cared for the performance that we got from the nismo. We all know it is minimal. Aftermarket parts can increase performance by much more. We all know that.

I only paid about 6k more over base+sport for the great rims and body kit. Just going aftermarket for great rims +tires + body kit + painting + lowering it just to make it look right cost way more than 6k. 6k is worth it for me for a better looking car. If it was 15k more for all that then I would of never bought a nismo and just gotten a corvette.

Nismoracer

13.4 average in the 1/4 and that's bone stock no drop ins nothing? Well that's bout right with a good launch. I agree the Nismo feels different than a regular Z. I drove an auto with the paddle shifters and for some reason the engine noise was way louder than the Nis. Don't know why. I can't get to the track as much any more but I do have a Gtech pro. Like you said if you get a good launch feather the clutch it goes. My best 0-60 4.9 sec. My average 5.3 sec. Still trying to master the little things to know how she likes it. I raced a non nismo rolling not from a dead stop. I smoked him bad, several car lengths. We went again, pulled ahead and stayed ahead. We went one more time he jumped ahead and I could not catch him. I noticed he had no mufflers on. It wasn't that loud. I thought it would be way louder with no muffs.

280z/300zx

Owned a touring sport 6-speed up until it was totaled. Would have got another one but couldn't find one in the right configuration and couldn't wait 3mo for a special order to come in so I went with a Nismo. At the end of the day, in a perfect world, I would rather have a touring sport over the Nismo. Mainly because I actually like the regular 370z look vs. the Nismo (although it's still nice). Also I enjoyed all the bells and whistles that my touring had. Now taking out the bias I have towards each car I will give my quick overall review

Touring sport: A lot more comfortable and easier to live with as a DD. Doesn't feel as quick as the Nismo or have the snap that the Nismo has. Also, while it sits overall higher than the Nismo I had more problems scrapping the front spoiler compared to my Nismo. Going to work in my touring sport there were certain driveways that no mater what angle or how slow it would still barely scrap; in my Nismo these same driveways aren't a problem at all.

Nismo: Really rough ride compared to the regular 370z, to the point it's almost annoying. Now I'm not a wuss, I've owned a 280z with upgraded suspension, no sound deading material, bare bones for the last 10 years. I used to drive this car as a DD in the past for several years. I don't think I would mind the roughness of the Nismo if it wasn't for the added rattles that came with it. Car is perfectly quiet but hit some rough road and the trunk goes a rattling. The car is also noticeable quicker on the butt dyno. I honestly didn't think it would based off everything I read but after I test drove it I was really surprised. It's not a big enough difference to make you go wow but it's noticeable. I'll also add that after adding exhaust the Nismo is even more noticeably faster. On my touring sport I had the FI 18" CBE w/ CF mufflers. Made a huge difference. Luckily I was able to salvage the exhaust and transfer it to my Nismo. Man did the car wake up. On a performance level I would take my Nismo with exhaust over my touring sport any day. In a perfect world I'd like a touring sport with the performance of the Nismo from the factory.

I have to agree, you can get a regular 370z and add equivalent mods to the Nismo and come out cheaper as well as better. But for someone like me who doesn't like to go crazy on mods anymore and would rather have something out of the box, the Nismo is great. Saves you the hassle of having to add a body kit, find a reputable body shop, hope the pait matches, hope the panels line up, etc. Saves you the hassle of finding a tuner and hoping he knows what he is doing. Saves you the hassle of worrying about warranty, etc. Also, if you were like me, you didn't really pay too much more for the Nismo. A touring sport would have cost me 35k (basically invoice), I got my Nismo for 37k. Not bad considering. Both are great cars in their own respect, I honestly think it comes down to what the owner is looking for.

FL 4Motion

This is a great thread, lot's of new fresh info and opinions here....

Nikkolai

The reason that it was substantial on the 350Z is because of the body from factory. The 370's whole chassis rigidity has been increased compared to the 350Z so there was no need to go extra on a Nismo model.