Daily Driving a NISMO - negatives of ownership?

fuct

im at 61k daily driven miles. my commute is only 5 miles to work. i average 17.6 mpg.

if im cruising on the freeway with the cruise control on i see 24 mpg.

OP considering your previous cars the Nismo will be SUPER loud and uncomfortable.

i still love mine but i really need a beater. after three years the tires and gas add up$$$

Crayon

At only 8k miles in, I'm already starting to see this. At least the tires part... gas here is cheap.

Also, the idiots in my town that park next to me when I'm far away are starting to add up$$$. I swear, I can park like 10 spaces away, next to a curb, and I'll come back with a scuff. Just got a brand new one on the rear right of my bumper. Fortunately it's light enough to buff out, but still.

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Hotrodz

My commute is short, 6 miles each way but I take trips to Vegas and Phoenix which are 110 and 180 mile respectively. There are definitely more comfortable cars, but few which are funner to drive and you will receive more compliments than you can stand. Tires will make a big difference of noise level for sure and as far fuel economy goes...well for me it wont matter anymore... FI Twin Turbo installed and at the dyno right now!!!!

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JaviZ

Right on Bob!

And OP, not sure if the same applies in Jersey but I can't go anywhere without a little rice bucket or Mustang trying to pick a fight with me. First few spankings you give them will be fun, after that its just plain annoying... be prepared!

DCNISMO

MILFS in Accords and minivans will hate you, and cut you off every chance they get. Cops will follow you too. Every WRX will want to race you.

NismoZ70

Love your username! It's actually my license plate

forza370z

OP, as much as I love my Nismo you have to be aware of the following...

1. Gas millage is 20-22 like most people have said here. Unless you drive like a grandma.

2. It's also true the suspension is stiff and the tire noise could be annoying.

3. This is the most thing you should be concerned and I am surprised nobody has brought it up yet... The nismo is even lower than the regular 370. The front bumper is longer and only 3" off the ground. My driveway has a mild incline but there is no way for me to get onto it. Seeing you are from NJ, the nismo is going to be a snow plow. Your front bumper is gonna take a lot beat be prepared. And after the snow storm you will have even less access to certain places because the snow and ice is piled up everywhere(even you spend good amount of money on winter wheels and tires).

That being said, if you are cool with those things Nismo would be a fun car to have.

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09 PW 370z Nismo | K&N Drop Ins | HKS Hi Power | Berk HFCs | Work Meister S1 3P | Project Kics R40 Neo Chrome Lug Nuts | KW V1 | SPC rear camber arms/toe bolts | Southbend Stage 3 daily clutch | Southband 19Ib Steel Flywheel | ZSpeed CSC

mfeinst

I have been DDing my Nismo since May 2012 -- it's my only car, and I'm in eastern PA. Here's the skinny:
1. Bone stock, the tires suck (noisy) and the suspension is very stiff. Swap out for better rubber and put in some new shocks, sways, and springs to soften the suspension. Not only does the performance improve, which is typical for such mods, but the ride comfort changes drastically, which is very atypical for such mods. It's crazy how much more pleasant the car is to drive now.

2. I'm gonna get heat for this, but I drive this thing in winter with summer tires (which I absolutely do not recommend, btw) While the northeast has it's crappy weather, it also has an extremely efficient network of snow removal and salt distribution. Main roads are usually cleared very quickly. That all being said, if the roads are icy and you don't have winter tires, though, don't drive it that day; it's not safe and very stupid. I have missed 1-2 days of work this year because I wasn't about to risk my safety to get to work in these conditions. Snow in the northeast is unpredictable; some years we get almost no snow, others we get tons. Not worth fussing over if you like the Z. You'll find a way to work it out.

Having a second car with AWD helps (as does family close by with alternative modes of transport, like a GT-R with summer tires, a 911 with summer tires, a Mustang with summer tires... oh wait, wrong season)

3. I get 17.7 mpg all around, and I use the fun pedal without regard to mileage. Honestly don't give a hoot. I'm about to go forced induction, also. Bye bye, three digits next to the MPG!!

4. Ground clearance. After removing shipping spacers from the factory (dealer should do it before vehicle delivery but are notorious at forgetting), the car sits about 4.5" off the ground at stock height. Going up even moderately steep driveways requires a good diagonal approach, a careful right foot, and a complete disregard for the bottom (not visible) part of the front bumper. You will scrape; it doesn't bother me as long as the visible, painted parts are ok. If you lower it, speed bumps and minor highway dips/bumps at higher speeds can cause a little ground contact (with Swift springs, you're looking at about 3.25" of clearance in the front. See below.




Again, though, swapping out the suspension and adding new tires are the best things you can do to make this car far more livable as a DD. I don't regret going with the NISMO one bit, and the pure pleasure I get from driving it as well as the attention it receives makes it a killer ride to have.

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forza370z

^^Wow you are brave to drive your nismo using summer tires. Lol. Just be careful when the temperature is below 40. Because summer tires will lose grip in low temperature.

Also you are right about the stock height of the nismo. I was wrong. It IS 4.5" off the ground. Even so, I couldn't get onto my driveway no matter what angle I tried. But I am still planning on going lower haha... I have a truck for DD so I don't care.

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09 PW 370z Nismo | K&N Drop Ins | HKS Hi Power | Berk HFCs | Work Meister S1 3P | Project Kics R40 Neo Chrome Lug Nuts | KW V1 | SPC rear camber arms/toe bolts | Southbend Stage 3 daily clutch | Southband 19Ib Steel Flywheel | ZSpeed CSC

AQUAMAN

I've had my Nismo for just over a year now. Average trip to work is only about 10 miles. However I do take several road trips a year from Lubbock to Austin (~370 miles each way) or Houston (~520 miles each way). Even on those long road trips I'd rather be driving my Nismo than my old Altima

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mfeinst

Not sure if it's bravery or stupidity -- Yeah the tires just turn to hockey pucks below 40 or so. I just go light until they're a little warmed up from highway driving and I usually don't have issues. Last winter I got stuck coming out of a side street because there was a slick patch of snow/ice on the road. A cop came over and very graciously pushed the car for me while I gave gas to break it loose. Really nice guy --- except he started by pushing on the spoiler rather than the bumper (and this was a big dude who had some strength) and I was like nooooo! He said I had a real sharp ride.

This car is really unique on trips; it can get tiring but when you realize that it pulls in 6th on a rural freeway, it's very easy to wake yourself up again. I drove this back and forth to college on several occasions, from Philly to St. Louis, which was about 900 miles each way. I did it over two days and it was long but peaceful.

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forza370z

Ouch Lol. I hope the spoiler didn't break off.

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09 PW 370z Nismo | K&N Drop Ins | HKS Hi Power | Berk HFCs | Work Meister S1 3P | Project Kics R40 Neo Chrome Lug Nuts | KW V1 | SPC rear camber arms/toe bolts | Southbend Stage 3 daily clutch | Southband 19Ib Steel Flywheel | ZSpeed CSC

DEpointfive0

The only thing I have noticed is how chappy your guys' gas mileage is. 21MPG at 85MPH??? Jeezus, are you guys in 4th and 5th the whole time? Same with 21-26 at 55-65MPH. That's terrible. On the freeway it you're really on CC at 75MPH, you should get 26+ let's say a COMFORTABLE 25. On my drive from TX to CA averaging 85 on CC stopping whenever I wanted with a bit of city I did 28.4 miles. I was doing 500 miles between fill ups.

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_ace_

I've DD'd mine for several years now. It's like everyone's said:
1. Tire noise is loud
2. Suspension is stiff
3. Ground clearance is limited
4. Winter is a weak spot with several solutions available. I have an AWD backup car.
5. Don't expect Civic-like fuel economy

Also, if you get very sticky (fun) tires, you'll be replacing them often with such a long freeway commute. I spend about as much on tires as I do on gas. If you're thinking to get all-season tires, I would just buy another german car.

On the upside, it has plenty of torque, is reasonably comfortable, and climate control and such are nice, and I like the look of it. I didn't expect this, but the car gets compliments from random strangers about every week. I do track days now and then, and that's really why I bought it over a more comfortable/practical car.

forza370z

21-26 - because race car.

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09 PW 370z Nismo | K&N Drop Ins | HKS Hi Power | Berk HFCs | Work Meister S1 3P | Project Kics R40 Neo Chrome Lug Nuts | KW V1 | SPC rear camber arms/toe bolts | Southbend Stage 3 daily clutch | Southband 19Ib Steel Flywheel | ZSpeed CSC