Nismo = cheese-mo

spearfish25

He he he...I was thinking the same thing. However, I'm 5 for 5 with people agreeing so far .

xfrgtr

Jealousy.......

frost

Yeah, that's it

It's not that the parts look boy-racer, or that the exhaust nets you a whoppin 5 hp while others net you in the teens, or that it's way overpriced for what you get, or that you cant get nav with it.

whoady4shoady

Exactly. I mean if I wanted that type of look I would go for a civy SI or speed3. No offense to anyone who has those, I just dont like that look.

theDreamer

I look at it this way, Nissan is trying to create an exclusive item which the general public can afford but they really have no clue what they are doing.

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fly yellow

I'm not a fan of the NISMO, but I don't fault Nissan for making it. We need to remember that this is Nissan, not Mercedes, BMW, or Audi. This is a company that sells cars starting at just over 10K. I'm just happy that Nissan is still pretty commited to performance cars in an age when so many "everyman" car companies are scrapping them.

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whoady4shoady

Great post SB.

theDreamer

Agree, the best way Nissan could go with the Nismo line is making what everyone thinks it is, a track base car. Cut the weight (seats, rear, etc.), a nice solid boost in HP, but the most important is the handling, it needs to be a very large step above the standard coupe, oh and an oil cooler.

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Pushing_Tin

Also agree, maybe it's because I'm in my 30s now, but the NISMO looks way to boy racer for me to appreciate. If it were just a little more expensive I would understand, but there's no way it's worth the premium that Nissan wants for it.

sensi09

I think some of your guys expectations for the Nismo models are a bit too high. I honestly think it's quite a nice package from the factory.

Looks are subjective, but along with the bodykit, you get wheels, intake, exhaust and a tune. There are other parts included, but if one were to try and build a base model Z in the same manner as the nismo, costs would far exceed the Nismo's MSRP. All in all it represents a good value IMO.

Could you build a faster Z or a better handling Z, sure, but everything done right from the factory with a warranty to boot is very nice to have. Even if you like to mod, I think the nismo would make a nice starting platform.

The Nismo may be marketed as a more "track-ready" Z, and with the improved suspension I think it is, but more "track-ready" or not, Nissan still makes a compromises for a daily driven car and the overall market.

There are many comparisons to M-models and AMG, but there is roughly a 15-20K price difference between say a moderately equipped M3 and a fully loaded 335i coupe. Could Nissan build a Z with more exclusivity and power, I'm sure they can, but really who is going to spend 50K plus on a Z. Bang for the buck is one of the main draw-points for the Z, so if you take that away, there are other options I'd consider. Some people have made comparisons to a GT3 and even a GT3RS, but again look at the price differential and eek, lack of power gain with the 3 and 3RS.

spearfish25

Nissan worked a miracle in the 370Z, offering performance and quality that I never imagined possible in the $30k price range. Heck, that's why I ended up buying one on a whim.

If Nissan could extrapolate this achievement into a higher HP variant based on a detuned GT-R motor, upgrade the suspension package, wrap some leather into the cockpit components, substitute some brushed aluminum for plastic on the interior...you'd shift the bar up yet again. This $60k, twin-turbo, 420hp "real Nismo" 370Z would then be compared to $90k 911s instead of $60k Caymans.

GMZ

I couldnt agree more! I paid less for my 370 than I did my 04 350 Enthusiast and the 2 dont even compare.

sensi09

A 420hp 370Z sounds nice, but would you spend $60+ on a Z?

To turn around the argument, you could spend 15K on a base Z and get a built TT with 400-500whp.

But yes a Nissan car aimed at the 911 would be interesting. The GT-R targets the 911 turbo and the 370Z targets the cayman....so another model could slide right in. Not sure it would sell though.

A TT sounds nice, but for a something aimed at the regular 911, I'd like a V8 370Z or perhaps and non-turbo GT-R

spearfish25

If Nissan could up the quality factor another step, I'd consider $60k on a Z. The TT V6 would be an easy step for Nissan given it's a motor in their lineup already. However, I'd happily take a V8 Z. Imagine the exhaust note on that baby! (drool)

SnakeBitten

My expectations is to have an oil cooler for a track model especially when the factory tells you you will need one on the lower models "if" you track it. For the Nismo Z not to come standard with an oil cooler for the premium Nissan charges, is a slap to its customers imho. Everything else mentioned can be up for debate of course

As for the i/e/ and tune Ill concede that Nissan is going to promote its in house Nismo products understandably so i dont expect them to use the best aftermarket [in terms of cold hard numbers] i/e and tune we know are available. But they could have at least matched the performance numbers some members are "easily" getting. The i/e/h tune numbers from guys like Semtex, RCZ put the Nismo Z's tweaks to shame and I know they didnt spend anywhere close to 10-15k premium for that.

Check the latest tests fo the Nismo Z vs the regular Z and it aint faster. Why bother paying for a dud. Harsh but until a test validates the 10-15k premium over the other Z models thats what the Nismo Z essentially is. One can spend that 10-15k premium money and make a much better track Z and still keep their warranty imho. Im not looking for unreasonable products. Im sure Nissan has comparable performing products they could have used

1. KW Variant 2-3 suspension for example

2. Dual exhaust/header/intake and tune of your choice

3. Oil cooler of your choice


Add em up and not close to 10k and you will run rings around the Nismo Z thats tested not faster than the normal Z. I still have money left for front brake upgrade or light weight seats. Imagine if I dealt with volume sales for those components like Nissan, Id save even more per item over a model line imho. Just thinking out loud.

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