Anti Nismo sentiment

Equinox

Wow that is some great input and I really do appreciate it.

I do know of more than a few instances, but I don't think I want to start linking incidents when pretty much the reasons, as well as answers, have been stated here by you folk.

I do very much understand the dissapointment on the idea and execution of the Nismo, and if I may expand on that in search of your opinions.

First on the performance. The supposed horsepower increase of the 350hp Nismo, compared to other 370z of 336hp? Nissan advertising this power difference, and car reviewing organizations were having trouble actually proving the claim. The dynos were almost identical to other models (although I have yet to see a side by side base dyno), and the performance times were not any better, and sometimes worse.

I have noticed when I baseline dyno'd my Nismo at 2000 miles on a dynojet, it was a mere 274whp. Later when I dyno'd the car at 6k miles I had already installed a catback system, and the whp jumped to 302whp. I am unwilling to say all the increase was due to the catback exhaust. I have reasons to believe that all the VQ engines breakin and provide more horsepower with a few thousand miles on them. I'm willing to account for a lot of the terrible performance times done side by side with other 370 models was due to a lack in break-in mileage. I wonder if Car n Driver will ever revisit a performance comparo with a 10k mile Nismo and 10k mile sport package car.

For the ride quality... there is a huge stink about the car being too harsh for daily driving, as well as not performing any better in slalom and time attack, thus not showing improved handling. I'm willing to believe that this is due to majority of the cars tested probably had the shipping spacers still installed on the springs of the car. If you haven't read the thread yet, a lot of Nismos if not all, were sold to customers, and reviews, with the shipping spacers in the springs still installed on the car. This made the springs incredibly more harsh than intended, as well as took away a lot of the progressive characteristics of the car, worsening the handling to sub-sport package numbers. Just a theory though. Revisit comparison on a verified no-spacer Nismo that is broken in with a like mileage sport package?
Nismo Z Suspension: All Nismo 370Z Owners Check Here FIRST!

Personal note about the suspension: My car was in fact sold to me with the spring shipping spacers still installed on the thing, only the two front springs, but a lot of people have had all four still on. I imagine my rears fell off if anything. When I took off the spacers the car seemingly handled better (I have no numbers to prove it) and the ride was less harsh, but still stiff enough to put off some people expecting a 40k vehicle to ride like a Lexus/Bimmer.

I will admit, the Nismo is just a base package 370z with sport brakes package, branded sport wheels, a heavy spoiler, new bumper, "premium" OEM 'meh' struts and sways, "premium" OEM 'meh' exhaust, a mythical ECU tune that becomes pointless once you start modding and wipe the tune for a more aggressive one, and nismo badging and red stitching everywhere. After paying 40k for the car, I will admit I was bitter that I had base cloth seats, and a base stereo with no option of GPS - Which is why I got bride seats, and a GPS nav system, lol. Damn you touring!

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