Can't decide
 

I'm going to be ordering my 2012 370z in January and I can't decide between a base with sports package and a nismo. It's going to be a 6mt with gun metallic no matter what, but the hard part of deciding is on the financial side. I'm an e-3 in the marine corps and have been saving for it since I saw it in '09. I'm going to be financing it for 60 months and the price difference a month would be about $100. My down payment is very large, so no, I'm not just some ignorant person in the military that is buying a car that is way too expensive. Obviously the price of insurance will go up too if I get the nismo. I would just like to get some people's opinions on the subject. Let me know if I left out any necessary information.

Sorry if this has been discussed before.

A big part of the equation is whether you plan on modding it, and if so, what level of mods you plan on going with. If you want to swap to aftermarket bumpers, exhaust, coilovers, etc then the base+sports pkg is the route I would go. If you want to leave it stock and just throw some wheels and lowering springs on it, then go for the Nismo.

One thing that I never understand is people that buy a Nismo and put cheap coilovers on it... So please don't do that! lol

As far as mods, I would probably get an intake, tint, tint/paint headlights/taillights, and if I got the base with sports I would get a full exhaust. Obviously another big factor is to set mine apart from others in town. There are only 4-5 base in town and 1-2 nismo.

the nismo body kit / spoiler is very nice... that's about it

Plus a rougher ride.

So how much are your payments going to be then? Because unless you are married you dont make alot of money as a lcpl and the majority of your paycheck is going to go straight into car payments and inssurence. Also where are you stationed at? It says northern california in your profile but i dont know any bases up there unless you are at that school house in monteray or working i&i

277 a month for the base
380 a month for the nismo

240 a month for my insurance for sentra and 370. Sentras payed off.
It says North Carolina. Camp Lejeune.

If you like the look of the Nismo exterior and you like the stiff ride, get the Nismo. But if you plan on doing a lot of body or chassis or exhaust mods buying a Nismo is a waste because you will be throwing away the things that make a Nismo special.

If you like the base model with the sport package as is or you plan a lot of mods then get the base with the sport package, you'll save money.

If you buy a base w/sport package and add a lot of mods to make it "like a Nismo" you probably wont get any of that money back when you sell it. If you get a Nismo and don't mess it up you will get some of that Nismo money back when you sell it.

To me it all comes down to is this, do you really want/lust/need a Nismo or are you trying to decide what's the best value? I think the best value is the sport package but the Nismo will be more special. For me the Nismo wasn't worth it but if you really, really just gotta have one then you better get it because every month when you make your payment you'll say to yourself "for only another $103.00 I could be driving a Nismo".

I think I'll just stick with my choice of getting the base with sports package, but now I can't decide if I want the touring with sp or not. Oh the choices. It's killing me.

If you are buying a Z for the looks, go for the NISMO. It's the most badass looking car on the road...period! BTW, it seems to be a fast and fun enough car.

I would have regretted buying a base model after 2 years of owning mine.

I agree with what the others on here have said. Basically if you like the look of the nismo, buy it because of that. The mods it comes with are better than the other models (rougher ride also) but if your going to mod it yourself with parts, then those will be better than what the nismo comes with. The cost difference between nismo and the others is well worth it for what you get though, regardless of what others may say, since the rims alone are close to $4000.00, then the body kit, and others it comes with...