How are there not more of these on the road?!??

[Meg_Z]

I sold my 2011 GT500 to fund my 2024 Nissan Z purchase, I have owned a lot of cars, I am 49 going on 50, and done the German car things, owned a Nissan Z32 TT for 20 years, and came back to Nissan. I liked my GT500, but it was like a couch on wheels, it didn't do it for me. I had the car for about 6 years and but 3k miles on it, I have had my new Z for about 6 months, and it's got 2700 miles on it. It's my second car, but I use it as often as I can, and it's been a blast. I love everything about the car, I feel like people don't understand this car, and once a real car person drives one for a while, they understand what the Nissan team was going for. My 2024 Z performance 6MT is very well balanced and does everything I need it to for a fun weekend car. I don't need a 800hp car at my age, I want a fun, refined car that can put smile smiles on my face everywhere I drive the car, and that is that the Z does for me.

I got hooked on German cars while stationed in Europe and for the longest was a BMW guy having owned five of them and also Audi and Mercedes to boot. It’s sad how much money I’ve wasted on cars wish had that money back now! Also like you I am not really a brand loyalist. I’ve owned cars from almost every major and a niche brand too. As I’ve gotten older what I want or maybe need in a car has evolved. I don’t need a loud obnoxious car anymore and the Z fits that criteria. It is our third car and I consider it just like my Indian Challenger a three season vehicle.

 

[kevinbonds]

I got hooked on German cars while stationed in Europe and for the longest was a BMW guy having owned five of them and also Audi and Mercedes to boot. It’s sad how much money I’ve wasted on cars wish had that money back now! Also like you I am not really a brand loyalist. I’ve owned cars from almost every major and a niche brand too. As I’ve gotten older what I want or maybe need in a car has evolved. I don’t need a loud obnoxious car anymore and the Z fits that criteria. It is our third car and I consider it just like my Indian Challenger a three season vehicle.

Don’t even get me started on my Audi RS4, I’m never going German again!

 

[Bumflik]

I'm 48 as well, and my Z story might seem odd to someone who doesn't get enthusiasts like ourselves. I've got a great job, but don't consider myself rich. I can't afford a 911 or a McLaren or anything like that... but I've had a nice assortment of cars. Mustangs, Corvettes, Hellcats, German stuff, Italian stuff, British stuff, etc. I traded a 2023 Challenger Redeye Widebody in on this Nismo Z.

That's where most people go, "whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!"

I'm a track rat at heart and for the majority of my teens to early 30s, that's what I focused on. I've been active on the drag and big power scene for a number of years, and frankly I'm bored to tears of it.

I'm dailying this Nismo Z just as I dailied the Redeye before it. I don't allow garage queens in this house and every car we own gets driven, right down to the 2 classics we have. I don't keep cars for posterity or sentiment... and I'm not a brand loyalist. There's far too many great cars to experience to only drive one make.

The main reason I'm dailying this Z is to get to know it. I don't have any experience whatsoever with the Z platform. Although I'm a passable mechanic and a good engineer, I'm a much better driver. So, I'm going to get to know the car well before I start monkeying with it.

Good man! I love how you said every car you have is being driven and not being worshipped as porcelain garage queens!!!

 

[FantaZee]

I have owned a wide range of sports cars and driven many more. Now that I have had the Z (performance manual) for a week or so, It is the best sports car I have driven on the street, hands down. It doesn't have 47 suspension and traction modes like the vette did, and it isn't quite as "go-karty" as the miata, but it has everything I could want in a street focused sports car with a driving experience that is incredibly low effort and intuitive, yet still rewarding. Having been in a Supra and a BMW 240i, neither compelled me to consider them. Mustangs are cool but they are a dime a dozen.

All that is to say, how is this thing not more popular? It has so much more character than the competition. All the negative feedback I see about the rehashed chassis and lack of tech is all a bonus in my book. It makes the car more pure, and provides more feedback to the driver. I guess we will have to enjoy these cars in relative secrecy. I have only ever seen 2 other ones on the road here in central Florida. I haven't even gotten to unwind it into the real power yet and I already love the car. Was it just priced wrong? Marketed wrong? I really don't get it, especially considering the mod/upgrade potential.

I live in East Orlando and have seen only 3 in the wild besides mine. They were at the various local Cars and Coffee event in the Central Florida area. I found the owners of the respective cars and they asked the same question…why is everyone sleeping on this great car?

I have owned a wide range of sports cars and driven many more. Now that I have had the Z (performance manual) for a week or so, It is the best sports car I have driven on the street, hands down. It doesn't have 47 suspension and traction modes like the vette did, and it isn't quite as "go-karty" as the miata, but it has everything I could want in a street focused sports car with a driving experience that is incredibly low effort and intuitive, yet still rewarding. Having been in a Supra and a BMW 240i, neither compelled me to consider them. Mustangs are cool but they are a dime a dozen.

All that is to say, how is this thing not more popular? It has so much more character than the competition. All the negative feedback I see about the rehashed chassis and lack of tech is all a bonus in my book. It makes the car more pure, and provides more feedback to the driver. I guess we will have to enjoy these cars in relative secrecy. I have only ever seen 2 other ones on the road here in central Florida. I haven't even gotten to unwind it into the real power yet and I already love the car. Was it just priced wrong? Marketed wrong? I really don't get it, especially considering the mod/upgrade potential.

 

[mikecarpage]

Does anybody have numbers on how many were actually built in 23, 24 and 25? Google is telling me 2000 to 3000 per year. Which is literally nothing compared to common cars.

True, but it’s hard to know with Nissan. They won’t release production figures...... Sales can give an indication of production numbers but aren’t definitive.....

A better way to gauge production figures by year is to reference VINs. Sales by year will include a previous, current, and next model year.

Even if going off VINs, it's still hard to identify color combination specific build numbers - that's what I'm interested in.

 

[Xylander]

Good feedback, sounds like my experiences. The only brand loyalty I have is with Datsun/Nissan, hence came back owning a new Z, it has SO much heritage DNA and a simple car, really, nowadays. I've owned and time attacked locally Subaru STi, M3, Mustang GT PP2, even a Mazdaspeed Miata, now a Cayman S. Why don't you try your local track days instead of just straight line drags? Track days are usually 4x20 min lapping sessions for the day and have different classing groups based on experience, generally pretty safe pushing your cars. Check the reviews on your local orgs. Plus your Nismo Z is already setup well for this, it's a great OEM package, can upgrade later if need to, BBK, coilovers, tune, etc.. I do suggest a good alignment or even better a corner balance. Have fun with it and report back.

All good info, but I'm historically more of a GT2 SCCA class builder/driver than a T3 touring class or amateur weekender. When I put this thing in for a track conversion, it'll likely be of the stripped down, one seat, full aero/chassis upgrade for a GT2 mod build. But, that's a ways down the road for me, as I already have a Lotus Emira built for SCCA Unlimited class duty. Just finished the build last month and testing hasn't started yet. I hope to get it on the track in the next few weeks to start dialing it in for next year's race season.

The plan is that this Z will take over once the Emira is retired... for me, that's usually about 3-4 years.

 

[ZillaZ]

Not trying to start a war, genuinely curious if there are other options out there with similar stats that is price-competitive with a Performance Z. Before purchasing I spent a while searching and it seemed like starting price on most competitors was $15k+ higher.

For a *new* import, no.

 

[Xylander]

Good feedback, sounds like my experiences. The only brand loyalty I have is with Datsun/Nissan, hence came back owning a new Z, it has SO much heritage DNA and a simple car, really, nowadays. I've owned and time attacked locally Subaru STi, M3, Mustang GT PP2, even a Mazdaspeed Miata, now a Cayman S. Why don't you try your local track days instead of just straight line drags? Track days are usually 4x20 min lapping sessions for the day and have different classing groups based on experience, generally pretty safe pushing your cars. Check the reviews on your local orgs. Plus your Nismo Z is already setup well for this, it's a great OEM package, can upgrade later if need to, BBK, coilovers, tune, etc.. I do suggest a good alignment or even better a corner balance. Have fun with it and report back.

Oh, I do track days. I'm a former SCCA licensed instructor with over 5,000 hours on my racing license. I generally competed in SCCA GT, Sport, and Unlimited classes in the past. I led a team that raced a pair of GT350Rs for a couple of years before switching to the C8 platform for 2 years. Today, my personal track car is an SCCA modified 2025 Lotus Emira in the Unlimited class. This Z, if all things go to plan, is going to give me about 2 years to get to know and understand this car before I either mod this one or buy another and Unlimited mod it for when the Emira gets retired. I usually only get 2 years out of a chassis before it needs to be totally refurbished, at which point I usually sell it to another team or revert them to stock and auction it. I say usually, but my last Lotus Elise Cup R (2012) went 6 years before it was thoroughly trashed. In comparison, one of our GT350R chassis cars was pretty much needing a chassis rebuild after only 2 racing seasons with no structural impact damage to speak of. It just wore itself out and the chassis was wholly out of balance by the last 2 races of the season.

 

[trackratZ]

Oh, I do track days. I'm a former SCCA licensed instructor with over 5,000 hours on my racing license. I generally competed in SCCA GT, Sport, and Unlimited classes in the past. I led a team that raced a pair of GT350Rs for a couple of years before switching to the C8 platform for 2 years. Today, my personal track car is an SCCA modified 2025 Lotus Emira in the Unlimited class. This Z, if all things go to plan, is going to give me about 2 years to get to know and understand this car before I either mod this one or buy another and Unlimited mod it for when the Emira gets retired. I usually only get 2 years out of a chassis before it needs to be totally refurbished, at which point I usually sell it to another team or revert them to stock and auction it.

Impressive history, thanks for sharing that! And yes those consumables, even at regular non-competitive track days tires and brakes bring up costs quickly. I go thru my DOT GY F1 3Rs on the Cayman S pretty often and they're not rotatable. So, what are your future plans for the Nismo? Interested in your progression. I'll do baseline runs next year here locally, suspension, tires, brakes first.

 

[Xylander]

Impressive history, thanks for sharing that! And yes those consumables, even at regular non-competitive track days tires and brakes bring up costs quickly. I go thru my DOT GY F1 3Rs on the Cayman S pretty often and they're not rotatable. So, what are your future plans for the Nismo? Interested in your progression. I'll do baseline runs next year here locally, suspension, tires, brakes first.

I started a thread here on the build plans. I'm currently in the middle of starting the build on this car... and it's admittedly mental. For the next 2 years, it'll operate as a street car. It's in the shop as we speak with the entire interior disassembled and is going through a bit of surgery. I'm adding a ridiculous ultra high end stereo (14 speaker Focal speakers, digital modulator, 2x 10" Focal subs) and paying Yamaha Music to tune the vehicle for sound deadening, eliminate road noise, and enhance the sound quality. I'm not trying to brag here, but this system and anechoic upgrades are well in excess of $20,000.

I can't stress this enough, what I'm doing is mental. The mods on this car are going to end up costing more than the MSRP when I'm done. Usually when I go this heavy into a car, it's like the $250,000 Mustang we built for a GT class car. At least the price is semi justified in that you're creating something of a track weapon of mass destruction. But this one is being built for obscene levels of fun and enjoyment as a daily. I got the idea to build this car over a year ago, but I wasn't going to pay $72,000 for a Nismo Z. When they finally accepted my $58,000 offer, I got the car. I've owned lots of track cars, so I wanted to build a car that's just plain mental. That being a track focused car and more or less turn it into a hair metal screaming GT car, spare no expense.

But, once this interior work is finished, it'll likely go to the performance shop sometime spring 2026. My goal is to get around 700ish whp on 93 octane, complete with no compromises to safety and bulletproof reliability. So, that's going to end up being a near total drivetrain replacement from the trans to the rear diff including axles and a fairly standard set of engine mods (turbos/downpipes/exhaust/fuel mods/tune).

I'm ranting, so I'll quit. But, to be honest, the one and only reason I decided to that stereo upgrade above is because I have never heard what a $20,000 car stereo tuned by Yamaha engineers sounds like. So... I bought one and am going to find out. For science.