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

[CPerdomo]

I put a set of Michelins on mine and it takes a lot of that road vibration out. Those Dunlops have really stiff sidewalls.

Thanks for the info. Could you provide more info? I will do the same once mine are done.

 

[CPerdomo]

I think once you’ve added all the mods, beefed everything up, tuned it, added a body kit… etc. Cost wise you have spent the difference with a 1yr old Nismo if you include your own labor.

There are other issues to contend with:
Insurance- You need to declare all the mods & so then you’re legal.. but they prob still won’t cover the full cost of replacement. And then the policy costs more?
Value- The mods prob don’t add any resale value. Except maybe to another modder, if they wanted exactly what you did. You always sink more than you can ever get back.
Pollution- You can’t do most of that in CA… or any states where it needs to be CARB legal.

You got exactly what you wanted and you’ve built a Z race-car. But it’s still not a Nismo.

Once you decide to sell your Z... which one do you think will hold its value more? an untouched Nismo or a heavily modified sport?
The Nismo of course. These people want to "cover the sun with one finger"...

 

[alienpoker]

Once you decide to sell your Z... which one do you think will hold its value more? an untouched Nismo or a heavily modified sport?
The Nismo of course. These people want to "the sun with one finger"...

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.

 

[Peteyboii]

I think once you’ve added all the mods, beefed everything up, tuned it, added a body kit… etc. Cost wise you have spent the difference with a 1yr old Nismo if you include your own labor.

There are other issues to contend with:
Insurance- You need to declare all the mods & so then you’re legal.. but they prob still won’t cover the full cost of replacement. And then the policy costs more?
Value- The mods prob don’t add any resale value. Except maybe to another modder, if they wanted exactly what you did. You always sink more than you can ever get back.
Pollution- You can’t do most of that in CA… or any states where it needs to be CARB legal.

You got exactly what you wanted and you’ve built a Z race-car. But it’s still not a Nismo.

This is all fact
And as someone who loved modding I found the exact one I want
But at the price point and risk of it being a lemon build, it's hard to pull trigger
I'm sure others relate
He's asking more if not the same as a new model,.even tho he sunk thousands into it

 

[HWill]

Once you decide to sell your Z... which one do you think will hold its value more? an untouched Nismo or a heavily modified sport?
The Nismo of course. These people want to "cover the sun with one finger"...

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

 

[Xylander]

In general, a modified car, regardless of brand, loses 30% more value than a stock version. This is true almost universally across all makes and models. It's one of the prime reasons there are so many dirt cheap Hellcats right now (nationwide average price is $40k for 2020 and earlier models). That's because, easily, 60-70% of them are substantially modified.

I imagine the same will end up being true on the Z as well. Most people looking to buy a car aren't purpose shopping for someone else's science experiment. The Nismo's will hold value better than their downtrim cousins, but again, in general, the Z is not exactly a collector's car. It's not going to be a money maker, ever. If such things are important to a person, they need to go look at Porsches.

 

[kevinbonds]

In general, a modified car, regardless of brand, loses 30% more value than a stock version. This is true almost universally across all makes and models. It's one of the prime reasons there are so many dirt cheap Hellcats right now (nationwide average price is $40k for 2020 and earlier models). That's because, easily, 60-70% of them are substantially modified.

I imagine the same will end up being true on the Z as well. Most people looking to buy a car aren't purpose shopping for someone else's science experiment. The Nismo's will hold value better than their downtrim cousins, but again, in general, the Z is not exactly a collector's car. It's not going to be a money maker, ever. If such things are important to a person, they need to go look at Porsches.

This is too broad of a statement. There are two types of modified cars, there are riced out cars, with low quality mods, shit body kids and other interior mods like stickied on carbon fiber and other crap that def lowers the value. Then, you can take a car that has thoughtful mods, from top tier aftermarket companies, and receipts for the work. These cars can fetch a premium and often do in a niche market. Of course, if we are talking trade in value, but that's another story. I have sold several cars I modified, including a supercharged 350Z and fetched a premium when I sold them.

 

[Xylander]

You always see this type of justification on a brand performance model. For those that have been modding for years it doesn't add up. You want to compare a stock Nismo to a Stock Z then you win, give the difference in money to a stock z owner to modify and u lose and they will have cash left in their pockets and a lower payment.

I would have gotten a Nismo if it was manual, still might look at them when they come out. For me, someone that doesn't keep vehicles stock it is not the best choice dollar to performance. Even the Performance loses on the dollar to performance compared to the Sport with a competent modder.

Easy to say but it's not true. I lose, how? I got my Nismo Z new for $61,000. It's a turn-key track ready car, and I've used it in that respect. Let's say a Sport costs upper 40s. That gives you around 15 grand to beat a Nismo. About half of that is going to go into 4 new wheels and tires. You can tune it (1,500 or so), do the bolt on treatment, add a couple sway bars or something and you're capped out.

But, it's still probably got the stock heat exchanger, probably the same stock brakes that can't take 2 hot laps before needing to retire. It's only got half the cooling of the Nismo.

So, what exactly is said Sport modded Z beating me at? Straight line speed? Maybe. Around the track? Not a chance in hell. Not unless you spend another 10-15 grand on cooling, brakes, drivetrain work.

You and I build cars much differently. I bought the Nismo as a track ready foundation for a 700-800hp track monster in the Unlim class. I don't like the idea of buying the cheap car to mod out of an expensive hole. Most of the money you spend gets you to that Nismo trim in performance, for roughly the same money, but with no warranty. For me, it's counter intuitive becauseI am actually reusing a lot of what the Nismo came with.

But yes, if a person is just wanting to show off between stop lights, a budget build Sport can be quick. Race car grade, not so much.

 

[Xylander]

This is too broad of a statement. There are two types of modified cars, there are riced out cars, with low quality mods, shit body kids and other interior mods like stickied on carbon fiber and other crap that def lowers the value. Then, you can take a car that has thoughtful mods, from top tier aftermarket companies, and receipts for the work. These cars can fetch a premium and often do in a niche market. Of course, if we are talking trade in value, but that's another story. I have sold several cars I modified, including a supercharged 350Z and fetched a premium when I sold them.

Yes, modifing a car makes it a very niche vehicle. There are some people who will pay up for a modded car, but most people and dealerships absolutely will not. Trying to auction a modded car will show you just how bad the actual value is. Just because someone made a bad decision and paid too much money for a modded car in a private transaction doesn't mean all modded cars can be worth more.

Use myself as an example. I sold a 2015 Mustang rated at north of 1,300whp for $60,000 with 58k miles on it. It brought roughly double the value of a stock Mustang GT. On the surface, it looks like it got a premium. Heh. Just the engine in that car cost $60,000 to build. It also had a Magnum XL race trans, titanium custom milled axles, Ford Racing diff, CF driveshaft. Not sure off the top of my head, but the suspension work on that car would easily have ran $15-20k if it weren't for the fact that I owned said race shop. Long story short, I spent well in excess of $100k modding that car... so total cost of the vehicle was close to $150k after you factor in the cost of the car.

And it made $60k... and it was our 2017 SEMA car.

For the astute among you, you'll note the Cervinis hood and spoiler. We contracted with Cervinis to produce that hood and spoiler for this car. I believe they call it the Ram Air hood. Cervinis used this car to mock up and develop that line. What you see on this car, was all provided free from Cervinis as these are the prototype pieces. The rear quarter and side scoops are functional. In the Cervini's catalog, those are static stick-on scoops.

 

[kevinbonds]

Yes, modifing a car makes it a very niche vehicle. There are some people who will pay up for a modded car, but most people and dealerships absolutely will not. Trying to auction a modded car will show you just how bad the actual value is. Just because someone made a bad decision and paid too much money for a modded car in a private transaction doesn't mean all modded cars can be worth more.

Use myself as an example. I sold a 2015 Mustang rated at north of 1,300whp for $60,000 with 58k miles on it. It brought roughly double the value of a stock Mustang GT. On the surface, it looks like it got a premium. Heh. Just the engine in that car cost $60,000 to build. It also had a Magnum XL race trans, titanium custom milled axles, Ford Racing diff, CF driveshaft. Not sure off the top of my head, but the suspension work on that car would easily have ran $15-20k if it weren't for the fact that I owned said race shop. Long story short, I spent well in excess of $100k modding that car... so total cost of the vehicle was close to $150k after you factor in the cost of the car.

And it made $60k... and it was out 2017 SEMA car.

Yes, your points are valid, but you are on the wrong end of the bell curve on the mustang. Yes, when you spend ungodly sums of money on a mustang, which is a mass-produced car, then yes, you will get killed on resale. I was speaking more about moderate mods, not big motor and trans builds.

 

[Xylander]

Yes, your points are valid, but you are on the wrong end of the bell curve on the mustang. Yes, when you spend ungodly sums of money on a mustang, which is a mass-produced car, then yes, you will get killed on resale. I was speaking more about moderate mods, not big motor and trans builds.

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.

 

[HWill]

Easy to say but it's not true. I lose, how? I got my Nismo Z new for $61,000. It's a turn-key track ready car, and I've used it in that respect. Let's say a Sport costs upper 40s. That gives you around 15 grand to beat a Nismo. About half of that is going to go into 4 new wheels and tires. You can tune it (1,500 or so), do the bolt on treatment, add a couple sway bars or something and you're capped out.

But, it's still probably got the stock heat exchanger, probably the same stock brakes that can't take 2 hot laps before needing to retire. It's only got half the cooling of the Nismo.

So, what exactly is said Sport modded Z beating me at? Straight line speed? Maybe. Around the track? Not a chance in hell. Not unless you spend another 10-15 grand on cooling, brakes, drivetrain work.

You and I build cars much differently. I bought the Nismo as a track ready foundation for a 700-800hp track monster in the Unlim class. I don't like the idea of buying the cheap car to mod out of an expensive hole. Most of the money you spend gets you to that Nismo trim in performance, for roughly the same money, but with no warranty. For me, it's counter intuitive becauseI am actually reusing a lot of what the Nismo came with.

But yes, if a person is just wanting to show off between stop lights, a budget build Sport can be quick. Race car grade, not so much.

I think you are missing the point trying to justify your build when you don't even really need to.

There has always been a 20k -23K difference between the Sport and the Nismo. Anyone that can't put 20k into a Sport and not make it better than a stock Nismo shouldn't be modding.
And a lot of the parts you add will be way better than the stock Nismo parts.

This is about comparing the dollar to performance based on MSRP or new vehicles.
When you throw in how much u bought yours for, it doesn't factor.

If one was to use what they actually paid for a car for a dollar to performance measurement throughout, then you would still probably lose cause there is always someone that gets a better deal.

I can't comment on the Mustang after having a few. LOL

 

[Xylander]

I think you are missing the point trying to justify your build when you don't even really need to.

There has always been a 20k -23K difference between the Sport and the Nismo. Anyone that can't put 20k into a Sport and not make it better than a stock Nismo shouldn't be modding.
And a lot of the parts you add will be way better than the stock Nismo parts.

This is about comparing the dollar to performance based on MSRP or new vehicles.
When you throw in how much u bought yours for, it doesn't factor.

If one was to use what they actually paid for a car for a dollar to performance measurement throughout, then you would still probably lose cause there is always someone that gets a better deal.

I can't comment on the Mustang after having a few. LOL

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.

 

[trackratZ]

Interesting back and forth. The new Z, Nismo or not, are not niche cars and overpriced to begin with. There is no way you could recoup or even make money when selling. Forget going that route, drive the cars, mod it as you like and enjoy. The ONLY hope is for a super low-mile factory stock in the unique, weird colors like the hotdog or the rootbeer brown colors, stashed away garage queens. No fun. So, low miles and ownership history with maint records are big pluses. Maybe minor suspension upgrades, and I'm not talking coilovers, are acceptable, but that's it, engine untouched.

We know that over the years manual cars always command more, that analog driving experience is going away

 

[Dying Star]

Screw a resale value, don’t take care of your car for the next owner, enjoy it however possible now. I’m thinking about selling my watches and action figure collection to upgrade every single nismo available part on their website. It’s a risk, sure, but at the end of the day, I’m enjoying it for the moment.

sometimes I wished I got Auto, but my adhd deserves manual