Is Nismo Really Worth It?
 

I have been wondering this question a while as well as have been searching
the forums for a while for a solid thread about this. So what is your personal
take on this question? If you could go back would you have went Nismo, or if
you are Nismo do you wish you didn't shuffle out the extra dough? Try to
convince me!

-Nick

Search this forum and all your answers are there.

Will do, I really don't mind searching.

[/thread]

If you're gonna leave it stock then it may be worth it to go Nismo. If you're gonna mod and replace everything then obviously you're paying for stuff you're just gonna replace so go base model.

short answer: no

unless money killed your family and you want revenge.

This. You get factory coverage of your parts if that's important to you. I'd personally drop just some HFC's in it and leave the rest alone.

Care to explain what advantages the NISMO has over the Base/Sport when both are left stock?

OP - if it was there would be one in my garage today.... but that's just my opinion.

to answer the question in the post, no.

no

yes

no it isnt are you crazy? What makes you say yes?

I think the only real plusses are it's looks (I happen to really like it) and rarity being limited production. Besides that, it's a waste IMHO.

Believe me, I really really tried to like it, but in every test I've seen, it does equal to or worse than it's sport package counterpart, which even fully loaded costs less that the "bare bones" Nismo. It only theoretically performs better.

The car makes so many compromises for the sake of perfomance, but then doesn't actually perform. It's really perty though...

i own a nismo. i say its worth it. yes is stiffer ride but i dont mind it. i love the wheels body kit everything.
the plain 370z i dont like and the nismo has the whole package. Also the exahust tips just look awesome. is up to you and what you like.
p.s i dont regret it. never will.

Thanks for all the replies everyone!

Nismo costs around $5-6k or more than a base with sport package. You know what you can get for $6k?

Stillen G3 intake: $550
Catback Exhaust with HFC's: $2000
KW Variant 3 Suspension: $2000
Stillen Race Oil Cooler: $600

I've run out of ideas and there's still about a grand left to use. Not only is this the better route, but you will outperform the nismo on track or street because you are making more than the nismo's 350hp, and you have a better suspension set up. Not to mention the oil cooler to keep you out of limp mode, which the nismo doesn't have.

Unfortunately, no matter how you cut it, the nismo 370z is fail.

My first post here and I have been reading this forum for awhile. I am only interested in the NISMO for the simple fact that I feel it looks far better than the other models. I feel the front bumper on the non-NISMO Z's is stubby and the fangs are just not my thing. If I bought a base with sport I would need to get the Sunline Auto bodykit which is like four grand without install. I don't like any stock wheels and I bet I could get $2000 for the stock NISMO wheels and maybe $600 or so for the exhaust. I plan on getting a NISMO with SSR-Type F's, light weight catback, and KW V3's. IMO the NISMO is well worth the extra $$$.

:shakes head:

It's worth it if that's what you want. This rule applies to basically anything in life.

i don't think it's a question of is it worth it, it should be a question of is that what YOU want. oh damn, i kinda said what 1down said, it's gettin late sorry

For me is worth it, after seen it in person it is just so much better looking than the regular one. But I plan to leave it stock in the looks department, I love the rims. For power just add HFC, G3 intake and oil cooler. I dont plan to track the car so the suspension should be fine as is.

As someone said, if you r not gonna change major things the model gives you (rims, body kit, exaust) then it is a good value. :driving:

Uh... lets see if I can remember...
350 hp, 276 lb-ft of torque, 3.7-liter V6 engine (vs 332hp and 270 torque)
NISMO-tuned dual exhaust with H-pipe configuration
NISMO 19" super-lightweight forged alloy wheels by RAYS® (just a stylistic difference from Base + Sport)
NISMO aerodynamic body design (mostly visual, with a tiny bit of reduced drag from the chin spoiler I think...)
NISMO-tuned suspension
NISMO front strut brace and body dampers
NISMO signature interior trim (NISMO written on the floor mats or something)

Save for a turbo. Lol. Yeah the nismo isn't worth it.
If u bought a NISMO u will say its worth it cuz u just shelled out $40k
But if u haven't bought yet. Look at a base sport pkg vs a NISMO.
Then look at the countless mods out there. Self modding pays off.
Better handling, better ride quality and more power self modding. :)

Indeed very true point, but to me its not worth it although. As it has not proven to be a stellar performer vs the base with sport package (Nismo is suppose to be about better performance for the most part), I would use that extra cash elsewhere.:tup:

I think this is the best response in my opinion so far. I was all for the nismo
but am changing my mind, especially because the extra monthly payments!
The 370Z is flashy enough without the body kit, and beefy (and in my opinion)
ugly spoiler. I will also be modding the car so it seems that when I buy to go
base-sport simply because the LSD.

Like I said...what advantage does the NISMO have over the Base/Sport? Not difference...

The whole "Buy a Base and mod it" argument to justify the difference in price makes little sense. Sure, a Base will out-perform a NISMO with the price delta spent on modifications, but then again...so will a Honda Civic. Or a 335i vs. an M3. Or a base Corvette vs. a Z06. It's a moot point.

Focus on comparing the cars stock, which in that case all the evidence presented supports the argument that a Base/Sport Z out-performs the NISMO as they are. Not taking into consideration price, I think many people would have still chosen a Base/Sport over the NISMO.

But then again, the 7AT outperforms the 6MT in bench test racing. :D I have to assume they will eventually figure out what the problem is with the NISMO. On paper, the 18 hp bump more than makes up for the slight weight gain. The poor acceleration results have been attributed by some to the fact that every NISMO we've seen tested was far under recommended break in miles. What they can't explain is the handling, that's NOT effected by any break in period. Stiffening the chassis doesn't normally cause lateral grip to drop from .97-.99 to .91-.95. In fact, I've never seen this result, ever. I still suspect there is something wonky with the tires used on the NISMO.

I agree completely.

I was thinking more along the lines of I'm gonna mod anyway so why should I pay more money for things I'm gonna replace. In that case even going base + sport is a bit of a waste instead of just base only.

But I don't know if OP is gonna want to mod.

Let me start with, I have a NISMO.

I was not interested in the 370z when they first came out. I just didn't liek how they looked. The math, was great though, 350z plus some horsepower, bigger engine, wider, but shorter and lower. That is a great idea! I just didn't like the looks. Then the Nismo came out and fixed the looks problem, and I bought the NISMO 2 weeks later.

If I could have, I woudl buy a sport base model, and just put the NISMO body kit and spoiler on it, and just get some nice wheels- but everyone will tell you it's nearly impossible to get the NISMO body parts, and if you can, they are outrageously priced. Something like 5k for the bumper, 2k for wing, and so on. So I did the only option of a 370z with styling that I liked - I bought a NISMO.

Do understand though - the NISMO is a base sport with red stitching, nismo plate badge, nismo on the CLOTH seats and floor mats, a body kit all the way around, a spoiler, some nicer wheels, some marginally better springs and struts and lateral stabilizer, and engine cover. It is NOT a touring. The radio is a base model (But the radio is modular so you can take it out and put whatever you want) the seats are not heated or powered, and are CLOTH. There is not roll out hatch shade, you can't get it in blue or yellow. Also, you can't get factory nav. It is not a touring. It's a base with factory race parts from Nissan Motorsports.

As for the verdict. I LOVE IT. (I replaced the cloth seats and radio, lol)

Correct. And it's not bench-racing...no one with a 6MT has yet to match or beat the times a few people with 7ATs have run. The quickest Zs thus far have shown to be automatics.

Perhaps as time goes on and more people make to a drag-strip providing more conclusive data. This will either disprove or further solidify this sentiment.

The break-in excuse is cute, although laughable. We still have yet to see baseline dyno-charts to compare, so I'm still curious to see where that 18 extra HP is. I'm guessing the ECU tuning and exhaust either does nothing or shifts the power around in the rev-range to effectively do nothing. The deficit in handling, both in terms of grip and slalom-speed, can definitely be explained by tires, but suspension-tuning also has a lot to do with it. Yes, I have a lot of faith in NISMO, but u can't just stiffen the suspension (careful...the suspension is stiffer, not the chassis) and automatically expect to have a better handling car. Throw in the fact that the Yokos perhaps don't perform up to the level of the RE050As and you have your answer.

as you can see in my signature, I only manage 274whp at 2000 miles.

YES! I Love it! HaHa

The NISMO is worth it. Some people can't afford it, they have a hard enough time paying for base w/sport package. People hate on what they can't have.

:rolleyes:

Nismo
 

They say it's no good for autocross...inside rear lift issues...but awesome on a road course. Can't be a good daily driver, no way, too stiff according to what I've read. Can't demo the damned thing, so I should just shut up now.:tiphat:

FWIW, I can live with the stiff ride, lack of creature comforts, and premium price if it performed, but apparently it really doesn't.

Look at is this way, lots of car companies have made stripped down track models, i.e. Honda type R's and S2000 CR and premium performance models like the M3 and z06 that someone had pointed out. But one thing they all had in common was that they had numbers to back it up and justify the added "harshness" of those models.

If the Nismo did serioruly outperform the base sport, I'd be wiling to spend well above it's current list price cause I really dig the looks. But unfortunately, the Nismo 370z project seemed to be more focused on marketing than engineering.

If I could go back and do it all over again I would be able to justify the Nismo for the Body Kit and Wheels alone. The suspension is too stiff for some (not me,) and the custom stitching is just a nice touch.

LOL, sure...people can't afford a $40K Z, evidenced by how many Touring/Sport and navigation-equipped examples you see on this forum. :bowrofl: :bowrofl:

This is not the matter of people "hating" on the car because it was out of reach. If you have yet to notice, a fully-loaded Touring comes out to a bit more than NISMO and there are plenty of those here. Any other example where you have a better and more expensive trim-level of a given model, though...I would agree with your sentiment. You do see some sense of resentment due to cost putting the car out of reach and senseless excuses to justify the purchase among the more immature crowd arguing 335i vs. M3, base Corvette vs. Z06, A4 vs. S4, etc. However, what those all have in common aside from the Base/Sport vs. NISMO argument is that one is undeniably a better performing car.

Your first post on the forum was a fail. :)