As a daily, would you go for a manual trans or the Nismo auto?

[HWill]

The reason I'm bringing this stuff up is because you were talking about "premium" mods and quality builds vs. rice builds. I'm just pointing out that I don't think I've sold a used car for more than the sum of its parts + time investment. A lot of shadetree guys tend to skew the figures by saying, "All you need is $1,200 and you'll be as fast as a (insert other car here)." What they don't tell you is that $1,200 gets you a part in a box and a weekend of busted knuckles and 10 hours of labor if you're lucky. Most buyers aren't going to pay you for your time either with a modded car.

It's just been my experience that buyers with disposable income aren't disposing of it on modified cars. We can discuss the merits of the Z being overpriced at some other time, but like it or not, the Z is just not in the same demo as the 370 or 350 was. It's also the reason why it doesn't sell. It's not a bad car, it's just priced with some serious competition (Dark Horse, 718 Cayman, M2/M3, C8). All of those are ballparked around where a Nismo comes in, and their non-special lower trims like the 5.0 GT compete with the Performance pricing. The buyer demo in that $50k+ price bracket is not the same as the demo that buys cars in the $30k range. What was possible for a 350 or 370 isn't applicable with the new Z, similarities be damned. To own one, you can't be a 20-something with a part time job anymore. As such, the new Z is priced in that group that stereotypically doesn't stomach modified cars. I don't care how much someone mods one perfectly, to the target market for that car, it would be like trying to sell a 3-legged horse to a racing stable.

No where in my post am I talking about "premium" mods and quality builds vs rice builds. LOL

Please show me where I said anything like that!

You are assuming way too much and adding a lot of unnecessary rambling to try to prove a point. Nothing in your post makes any sense at all.

 

[KrackaC8]

It's a vehicle/toy/hobby, not an investment strategy.

 

[Peteyboii]

You do realize you're talking to the guy who's sitting on a $80,000 build for his Nismo Z right? Heh. I'm not building it though, Multimatic's SVO team is building my engine and trans.

I get your point though, but I will just trump you with stock all day long. A stock vehicle will sell for more, on average, than a modded car. Mod the same car, the same way 10x and you might win on 1 or 2 transactions. Plus, it'll take months to sell it. The stock cars sell in hours to days.

I would take your point if we were talking cheap cars. A lightly modified FR-S or GR86 is one thing... it's a $20,000-$30,000 car. But, once you push past $50k, the buyer demo shifts from mouth-breathing 20 yr olds to 40-somethings with more money and options to buy. 20 yr olds want the loud pipes and riced out nonsense and they get fixated one one or two cars... 40-somethings don't. The problem with that 40+ demo is that they don't discern what's rice and what's not. It's all rice. All I'm getting at is modding a $50k+ car is going to end up making it a difficult sale, at any price because the demo generally does not buy modded cars.

That doesn't mean some 25 yr old tech wunderkid won't do what I'm doing and chunk a whole other car into the build price, just to build an 800whp unlim track monster. We're not the norm... and even I would never buy someone else's modded car. But, I am just about 50, so there's that.

I found a modded one I loved but my family and peers basically forced me out of buying it, my fav colour and with every mod is want to do to mine

The main reason was warranty and how the car was treated?

That car is still sitting on the market today

 

[alienpoker]

No where in my post am I talking about "premium" mods and quality builds vs rice builds. LOL

Please show me where I said anything like that!

You are assuming way too much and adding a lot of unnecessary rambling to try to prove a point. Nothing in your post makes any sense at all.

I think his point about “busted knuckles” and a “part in a box” is valid. You need specialist knowledge to mod correctly. Also that the demographic for these cars is changing. More likely youngsters would buy MX-5 Zupras or BRZs.

My take: Even if the parts are expensive and installed professionally, you are unlikely to get back the total amount spent. Not invested, in almost every case it’s just been spent. But hopefully you went in eyes open.

The main part of his post that makes no sense is that a Porsche 718 Cayman, BMW M2/M3 or Corvette C8 costs what a Nismo does at $61K tops.
You’d need to substantiate that & it isn’t possible to make that case really. They all start north of $68K. The Porsche more than that retail. That’s base model. Once you add any decent options, you get closer to $80K. Try to negotiate a discount from there…
Nissan wants to sell you a Nismo, and will throw options at you (lifetime oil changes, extended warranty, SWAT, etc). BMW or Porsche dealerships won’t care. At all.

 

[CPerdomo]

Correct. A low milage well maintained stock Nismo. It still depreciates massively from when you bought it new… but you knew that up front. All new cars do, some more than others.

"Cover the sun with one finger" I’m not familiar with that saying. Is that:
1. ‘can’t see the forest for the trees’ Meaning missing the bigger picture? OR
2. ‘The Elephant in the room?’ Meaning trying to ignore something that’s fairly obvious to everyone.

Anyways, we digressed from the original thread. And the discussion of Nismo/Fismo has been here since the first tuner days with the 370Z Nismo VQ37VHR So- I bought the 2025 Z Nismo and will take the hit trading it in on a 2026/27 Manual Nismo if it’s miles better than the 9AT by then. But honestly- so far I’m not missing a Manual trans which I’ve had on every Z previously. It’s tuned for economy in Standard for running around town or hiway cruising. But it’s still an absolute beast in Sport/Sport+ mode and fun if you stomp on it. Then you watch as the gas gauge drops. Still a Win-Win to me.

I'm exactly in the same boat you are.

"Trying to cover the sun with one finger" is a Spanish saying these sayings never translate well into other languages. It basically means trying to do something we already know would not happen or it's not real...

 

[Chris60]

I have a question & a comment -

How is the pedal spacing on the MT? Test drove an auto, would love a manual, but have wide feet (Size 12 Duck Width -4E). No manuals close by to test drive and would hate to do a fly & drive back or shipping and be disappointed.

Comment- Over the last 45 years the cars I enjoyed driving the most had manual transmissions. I just feel more engaged and in control of the shift points. Love downshifting to slow down. After a while it's not even a conscious thought and becomes reflex action. The few times you may think "It would be nice to have an automatic in this situation" will be tremendously outweighed by the fun and enjoyment a manual brings. My biggest issue with manuals was my occasional attempt to "clutch" an automatic by tapping a wide break pedal with my left foot.

 

[CPerdomo]

A very interesting article regarding the difference between Nismo and the other Z.

Key things that set the Nissan Z Nismo apart

 

[alienpoker]

I'm exactly in the same boat you are.

"Trying to cover the sun with one finger" is a Spanish saying these sayings never translate well into other languages. It basically means trying to do something we already know would not happen or it's not real...

Thanks. BTW - I can get 27+ mpg in Standard on the hiway ( and stomping on it to pass, too). Prob could do better. City is more like 20+.

 

[CPerdomo]

LOL resale on both is not good. Nismo's don't hold their value any better than the regular Z.

Wrong. According to Nisan data, Nismo will hold way more than the regular models. This is actually applicable to any brand. We can see that today when one is looking for any collectible.

 

[Dying Star]

So help me understand something, their part selling process is freaking confusing for all the wrong reasons, they sell you the parts but are tied to the dealership inventories that are distributed from the hub nearby.

However, I understand that nissan parts USA website sells every single part that comes with the car, but when I go to the nismo parts website, I see every single nismo like sway bars, carbon fiber covers, arms, rods, etc,

I see that a fully maxed out Z1 build can go for like 50-80k on top of what we paid, but has anyone tried buying the entire catalog for their performance Z? Correct me if I’m wrong but I’m stuck trying to find the parts number to order them directly with the dealership using my buddies discount but it’s tedious

I know Nismo is just a brand, but for me it’s the warranty, especially with my previous experiences with Nissan

 

[HWill]

I think his point about “busted knuckles” and a “part in a box” is valid. You need specialist knowledge to mod correctly. Also that the demographic for these cars is changing. More likely youngsters would buy MX-5 Zupras or BRZs.

My take: Even if the parts are expensive and installed professionally, you are unlikely to get back the total amount spent. Not invested, in almost every case it’s just been spent. But hopefully you went in eyes open.

You don't need specialist knowledge LOL, just commonsense.

And you will almost never get money back on mods.

Wrong. According to Nisan data, Nismo will hold way more than the regular models. This is actually applicable to any brand. We can see that today when one is looking for any collectible.

Actually this is not true when looking at any source for resale value. They are pretty even as far as what you lose compared to MSRP.

 

[CPerdomo]

Thanks. BTW - I can get 27+ mpg in Standard on the hiway ( and stomping on it to pass, too). Prob could do better. City is more like 20+.

Yea... using the regular mode and driving calmly saves lots of gas. In all honesty, the Nismo AT is like having the best of both worlds.

 

[CPerdomo]

Actually this is not true when looking at any source for resale value. They are pretty even as far as what you lose compared to MSRP.

I checked that information with Nissan before exchanging my performance for the Nismo. Of course, how accurate and true the info is?... we'll see. But even today; there is a big difference between getting a classic Mustang v8 versus a Shelby...

 

[HWill]

I checked that information with Nissan before exchanging my performance for the Nismo. Of course, how accurate and true the info is?... we'll see. But even today; there is a big difference between getting a classic Mustang v8 versus a Shelby...

Not sure what the Mustang v8 versus a Shelby has to do with this conversation.

If you're basing your information off of a trade that has no real data to show the value of each. A dealer can always give you more for a trade then they would if you were just trying to sell the car.
The will just offset it with the price of the car you are buying from thiem.

And if you are going by what the dealership told you then yeah, they sold you more than a car.

The resale is really a moot point and one that should really not have been brought up. Fact is the Z in any model doesn't hold its value. If you have a Z it shouldn't matter how much you got it for or what. The one thing everyone needs to consider is that there is always someone that got a better deal.

But since we are on the weird topic of resale, the Nismo might taking hit when a lot of people are trading them for the manual.

 

[Xylander]

I think his point about “busted knuckles” and a “part in a box” is valid. You need specialist knowledge to mod correctly. Also that the demographic for these cars is changing. More likely youngsters would buy MX-5 Zupras or BRZs.

My take: Even if the parts are expensive and installed professionally, you are unlikely to get back the total amount spent. Not invested, in almost every case it’s just been spent. But hopefully you went in eyes open.

The main part of his post that makes no sense is that a Porsche 718 Cayman, BMW M2/M3 or Corvette C8 costs what a Nismo does at $61K tops.
You’d need to substantiate that & it isn’t possible to make that case really. They all start north of $68K. The Porsche more than that retail. That’s base model. Once you add any decent options, you get closer to $80K. Try to negotiate a discount from there…
Nissan wants to sell you a Nismo, and will throw options at you (lifetime oil changes, extended warranty, SWAT, etc). BMW or Porsche dealerships won’t care. At all.

All I can say is that I owned a 2023 M3 and got it for $69k. The MSRP on my Z was $72k... but I paid $61k after it sat on the lot for 440 days. But yes, a base 718 Cayman is a bit more expensive, but it's within $10k of the Nismo Z and a C8... I've owned 2 (2LT and a 3LT HTC). The 2LT cost me $71k new, the 3LT was $84k.

So yes, a Nismo Z's main problem is that it's within striking range or similarly priced to some serious competition. People in this buying demo, like me, typically aren't brand loyal. Heh, as the saying goes, "...until you buy your first Porsche." But I'm not a dentist, and tend to shirk marquee status cars for the exact opposite reason people typically buy them for. I like oddball cars. Like it or not, the Nismo Z is an oddball unicorn of a car that you never see. I've also got a 2016 Holden SS-V left-hand drive Ute. I think there a dozen or so in the country.