Mod Recommendations

[weissk93]

Hi,

I have a 2024 Nissan Z Performance (Automatic, Gunmetal Grey, Black Interior). I love the car and considering purchasing out the lease so I can do some mods.

There are so many different mod options out there it is a bit overwhelming. Ultimately, I will need to go to some sort of performance shop in the Metro Detroit area for help as I am not technically inclined.

At the very least I want to swap out the tires with Michelin Pilot Sports, better exhaust, and a tune. Maybe install sway bars to tighten the suspensions a bit. I do not think I need coilovers.

If my goal is to get OEM+, what would you recommend?

 

[goeagles11]

1. Sway Bars are perfect for OEM+ feel. They get rid of body roll and the car will feel more planted and sporty in the corners. You only need to do the front sway bars, it's also an easy install.

2. Exhaust - the exhaust on the Automatic Z's is pretty good. I would only modify this if you really want a louder sound otherwise I'd keep it the way it is. I drove a Z with a boost logic exhaust and AMS downpipes and it was so loud the dash was rattling and it felt like I was driving my brothers old 90's Acura Integra. If you're looking for OEM+ you're probably best with doing lower resonated downpipes only and keeping the stock exhaust. This will give you a nice low tone rumble.

3. Tune - a tune will give you a lot more torque which will also mean your going to struggle with traction if you go full throttle at low speeds. I personally tried out a Z1 hotbox which is pretty inexpensive and can be removed and installed in 10 minutes without a trace if you don't want to void warranty when you go visit the dealer. The hotbox simply raises the boost a couple PSI to give you more power and works well. If you're adding multiple other mods though I would get a real tune and not this.

4. Tires - Always the best mod you can do for a RWD car. I upgraded my tires to Michelin Sport 4S's and had a huge improvement in traction. I could accelerate while turning without losing traction and do launch control accelerations without spinning at all.

In the end I always like to keep a car mostly stock, I'd recommend upgrading to the NISMO if you want a more sportier feel. The other important thing is to not spend too much $ unless you keep the stock parts and can swap them back yourself because when you go to trade in the car you're not going to get any of the $ you invested in mods back. You can legitimately spend $20k in parts & install and the dealer won't give you any added value for that.

 

[weissk93]

1. Sway Bars are perfect for OEM+ feel. They get rid of body roll and the car will feel more planted and sporty in the corners. You only need to do the front sway bars, it's also an easy install.

2. Exhaust - the exhaust on the Automatic Z's is pretty good. I would only modify this if you really want a louder sound otherwise I'd keep it the way it is. I drove a Z with a boost logic exhaust and AMS downpipes and it was so loud the dash was rattling and it felt like I was driving my brothers old 90's Acura Integra. If you're looking for OEM+ you're probably best with doing lower resonated downpipes only and keeping the stock exhaust. This will give you a nice low tone rumble.

3. Tune - a tune will give you a lot more torque which will also mean your going to struggle with traction if you go full throttle at low speeds. I personally tried out a Z1 hotbox which is pretty inexpensive and can be removed and installed in 10 minutes without a trace if you don't want to void warranty when you go visit the dealer. The hotbox simply raises the boost a couple PSI to give you more power and works well. If you're adding multiple other mods though I would get a real tune and not this.

4. Tires - Always the best mod you can do for a RWD car. I upgraded my tires to Michelin Sport 4S's and had a huge improvement in traction. I could accelerate while turning without losing traction and do launch control accelerations without spinning at all.

In the end I always like to keep a car mostly stock, I'd recommend upgrading to the NISMO if you want a more sportier feel. The other important thing is to not spend too much $ unless you keep the stock parts and can swap them back yourself because when you go to trade in the car you're not going to get any of the $ you invested in mods back. You can legitimately spend $20k in parts & install and the dealer won't give you any added value for that.

This was a very thoughtful answer. Thank you very much. Couple questions when you get a chance. Some of my questions, may be stupid. Again, I am not technical just looking to learn.

1. Is there a reason for front sway bars instead of (and) the rear?

2. Any specific downpipes come to mind? You made a good point about the inside sound of the car. I did not think about it that much. I guess what I am really looking for is more fuller (deeper) tones which I guess is what a downpipes could accomplish for me.

3. The plug in play tune is interesting. Would there be any compatibility issues if I switch downpipes? I watched the video and it specifically says "factory downpipes".

4. Everyone says the same thing about the tires. I wonder if I just switched them out first before I did anything else if that would fix some of my issues with the car.

Seems like if I just do the above it is going to be way cheaper than I thought to do this which is nice!

 

[ShearMe]

Put an AWE Touring exhaust on mine. Gave it better growl while simultaneously reducing the 2k rpm drone on the highway. AWE has designed their system to easily convert between the track and touring version which is a nice bonus for anyone that wants it loud for an event but tame as a daily.

From what I've read, aftermarket lower downpipes mainly improves the exhaust flow for tuning purposes. Uppers are a difficult procedure (increasing labor costs) for not much gain. Haven't heard specifics on what lowers do to the sound other than "it sounds better" which is a lazy explanation at subjective experience. I would personally not do lowers unless also changing the intake - improve how the engine breathes all the way start to finish.

My stock rear tires were bald in the middle by 10k miles, and the fronts were getting low. Replaced with Michelin Pilot Sport 4s because everyone seems to recommend them. I don't drive at the limit enough to appreciate huge differences, but they do seem to improve handling.

 

[AlanZ]

Put an AWE Touring exhaust on mine. Gave it better growl while simultaneously reducing the 2k rpm drone on the highway. AWE has designed their system to easily convert between the track and touring version which is a nice bonus for anyone that wants it loud for an event but tame as a daily.

From what I've read, aftermarket lower downpipes mainly improves the exhaust flow for tuning purposes. Uppers are a difficult procedure (increasing labor costs) for not much gain. Haven't heard specifics on what lowers do to the sound other than "it sounds better" which is a lazy explanation at subjective experience. I would personally not do lowers unless also changing the intake - improve how the engine breathes all the way start to finish.

My stock rear tires were bald in the middle by 10k miles, and the fronts were getting low. Replaced with Michelin Pilot Sport 4s because everyone seems to recommend them. I don't drive at the limit enough to appreciate huge differences, but they do seem to improve handling.

Do you mind posting an exterior and interior sound clip?

 

[ShearMe]

Do you mind posting an exterior and interior sound clip?

I have an AT which doesn't let you rev it, unfortunately. Not sure a phone can capture the audio well enough over the road noise while driving. I'll try on the way to dinner tonight but no promises.

 

[ShearMe]

Do you mind posting an exterior and interior sound clip?

So it does rev a bit when it's cold outside. Took a year off the engine light just for you. Driving clip is from the cup holder so sound isn't amazing but you can still make some of it out.

 

[AlanZ]

So it does rev a bit when it's cold outside. Took a year off the engine light just for you. Driving clip is from the cup holder so sound isn't amazing but you can still make some of it out.

Wow! Thank you so much man!
I want to get an exhaust so bad but I promised my wife I wouldn’t mod her. Couple of questions ..
1. That’s the 3” touring awe exhaust with stock down pipes?
2. Do you feel that it’s too loud to drive through your apartment complex?

I love turning my stock z on and not bothering my neighbors like how I used to with my old Z’s.

Did you purchase directly from awe?

please keep us posted on how your liking the exhaust in the future !

 

[ShearMe]

Wow! Thank you so much man!
I want to get an exhaust so bad but I promised my wife I wouldn’t mod her. Couple of questions ..
1. That’s the 3” touring awe exhaust with stock down pipes?
2. Do you feel that it’s too loud to drive through your apartment complex?

I love turning my stock z on and not bothering my neighbors like how I used to with my old Z’s.

Did you purchase directly from awe?

please keep us posted on how your liking the exhaust in the future !

1 - Yes, 3" pipes, everything else stock, which causes some minor scraping on huge highway bumps. Another user had his shop weld on some sacrificial pads.

I had a local motor sport shop (nissan specialist) put on HKS pipes initially because they had it in stock from an unfortunate situation with another customer. That system was much louder and the drone was just unbearable on the highway. They let me put the cost of the HKS towards the AWE touring pipes and I just paid labor three times as a learning experience.

2 - The touring config is not too loud at all. Volume-wise it is probably close to stock, but the AWE has more character. My initial goal was to make highway drives more livable. I succeeded and the street driving being more fun is a bonus. A warm day with the windows down makes me wish we had more twisty roads in DFW.

 

[weissk93]

1 - Yes, 3" pipes, everything else stock, which causes some minor scraping on huge highway bumps. Another user had his shop weld on some sacrificial pads.

I had a local motor sport shop (nissan specialist) put on HKS pipes initially because they had it in stock from an unfortunate situation with another customer. That system was much louder and the drone was just unbearable on the highway. They let me put the cost of the HKS towards the AWE touring pipes and I just paid labor three times as a learning experience.

2 - The touring config is not too loud at all. Volume-wise it is probably close to stock, but the AWE has more character. My initial goal was to make highway drives more livable. I succeeded and the street driving being more fun is a bonus. A warm day with the windows down makes me wish we had more twisty roads in DFW.

Thanks.

How is the interior sound when it comes to feel? First resolve suggests I just do down pipes as full exhaust may make things too shaky.

Also I wonder if compatibility with something like the Z1 Hotbox?

 

[ShearMe]

Thanks.

How is the interior sound when it comes to feel? First resolve suggests I just do down pipes as full exhaust may make things too shaky.

Also I wonder if compatibility with something like the Z1 Hotbox?

I'm not sure what you mean by feel and... shaky? There's no deep bass vibrations if that's what's meant. The Z has an RPM idle spot where a resonance in the cabin happens, which I noticed more with stock pipes than AWE. On my car this rpm range is rare to hit, like, only in summer with A/C on, while parked, and with the nose pointing down hill... ha. I imagine a louder set of pipes would make that idle spot worse just like the HKS made 2k on the highway worse.

I'm also unfamiliar with specifics of the hotbox. For technical products I always say the best people to ask is the manufacturer. Their website states it is only compatible with stock cats, which are inside both upper and lower downpipes. Z1 doesn't mention intake or cat-back pipes.

 

[weissk93]

I'm not sure what you mean by feel and... shaky? There's no deep bass vibrations if that's what's meant. The Z has an RPM idle spot where a resonance in the cabin happens, which I noticed more with stock pipes than AWE. On my car this rpm range is rare to hit, like, only in summer with A/C on, while parked, and with the nose pointing down hill... ha. I imagine a louder set of pipes would make that idle spot worse just like the HKS made 2k on the highway worse.

I'm also unfamiliar with specifics of the hotbox. For technical products I always say the best people to ask is the manufacturer. Their website states it is only compatible with stock cats, which are inside both upper and lower downpipes. Z1 doesn't mention intake or cat-back pipes.

Fair on the hotbox. I relooked at the first reply. Basically he I saying that if the exhaust is too loud or powerful it will cause interior rattles.

 

[ShearMe]

Fair on the hotbox. I relooked at the first reply. Basically he I saying that if the exhaust is too loud or powerful it will cause interior rattles.

Oh, yes that was my experience with the HKS pipes. AWE Touring has resonated midpipes and overall quite tame.

This is still a Nissan product, afterall. The interior dash has some rattles even just cruising.

 

[weissk93]

Oh, yes that was my experience with the HKS pipes. AWE Touring has resonated midpipes and overall quite tame.

This is still a Nissan product, afterall. The interior dash has some rattles even just cruising.

Great so it sounds like the AWE Touring is a good option if I am just going for OEM+ build.

 

[AlanZ]

Oh, yes that was my experience with the HKS pipes. AWE Touring has resonated midpipes and overall quite tame.

This is still a Nissan product, afterall. The interior dash has some rattles even just cruising.

I never would have had awe on my list. Until your videos that is. If I were to go with an aftermarket exhaust I might go with this. I might just wait until a Black Friday sale from awe though since I’m in no rush.