Trading in for a Nismo Manual??

[aknoz]

I don't know man, I've driven the GR86, C6 corvette, Nd1 and Nd3 miata, and the Z's mechanical jitter is really the sauce. Downshifting into 2nd gear or revving the top of 3rd and shifting is too good. And the Z's felt really really mechanical, even more so than the 370z Nismo manual I drove. Also quick little Fyi, Nismo is more than a name for the Z's and really Nissan's performance division, check out the 350z forums, a lot tend to agree that a modified Nismo is "better" than a modified Base; obviously if there are constraints make do with what you have. But coming from a guy who has both and regularly drives them to the point I have a combined 30k miles in them, the Nismo manual will really be where it's at, the turn in, the steering response, the steering feel is already to die for in the Nismo. And the Nismo get's goodies like stiffer transmission mount and engine mounts from factory things that a seasoned track veteran should understand the importance of. Just driving the Nismo there is significantly less wheel hop and not much disconnect between shifts, often times in my Z sport over a rough part of road, if I try to shift it almost feels disconnected or peculiar. The Z is a very modifiable car, but let's not pretend like Nismo didn't engineer the car to also be better; the car is almost 3% more rigid, in the automotive world even a 1% difference is enough to justify a tiny 4 cylinder turbo vs a v6. 3% different keeps your caster angle in check, your mid corner usability of the tire in check, or even the suspension slop. But sadly with Nismo's changes, the car is only as good as the driver, to a huge extent. A great driver will visibly notice the differences immediately, while a more so amateur or or casual driver might say it's the "same car" in retrospec to the "lower models" and then blame it on alignment or something along those lines. From my own personal experience, whenever I drive my Nismo, I dare say it feels more engaging then my Z Sport with a 6 speed really. If I feel that way after driving manual cars and driving the wheels off my current Z, then I'm sure Nissan and more so Nismo have done something right. Obviously if I get the chance- test driving is what's really important, but I have really high hopes it'll be exactly what people and what I want. Also if ever, if a track instructor were to choose between a Nismo and performance/sport Z, I'm 1,000,000%; for how they are, for how they feel, and from the factory without needing 100 different mods. I'm sure that they'll choose the Nismo over for the purposes it was intended for.

Sources : https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/8-things-nissan-changed-for-the-new-z-nismo/

I don't like the shifter on z pops and moves itself during acceleration or de-acceleration. So old school lack of refinement. Don't see that crap in gr Corolla or mustang gt.

Nismo z is well tuned for track no doubt.
Nismo started auto not manual for z must have their reasons.

As the original post stated if manual is worth the coins and drama in z nismo. My answer still no for me.

 

[heritageownerKurosawaz400]

I don't like the shifter on z pops and moves itself during acceleration or de-acceleration. So old school lack of refinement. Don't see that crap in gr Corolla or mustang gt.

Nismo z is well tuned for track no doubt.
Nismo started auto not manual for z must have their reasons.

As the original post stated if manual is worth the coins and drama in z nismo. My answer still no for me.

The very same mustang GT that’s known for transmission issues and nis aligned shift forks? It’s also worth noting shifter types like Cable type shifters, direct mount shifter etc, the Z’s has all the jitter because it’s direct mount. Meaning all the mechanical feel with not much dampening, while the Mustang’s is just a remote mounted shifter, meaning there are supports that guide the shifting rather than a directly mounted shifter. So it doesn’t feel as mechanical but is smoother and noticeably quieter. Again it’s all preference, but be sure to understand what’s happening underneath as well- as it might just be an inherent characteristic rather than a “flaw”.

 

[tractng]

I am sure there will be people complaining its slower than the AT Nismo unless there is a surprise.

 

[trackratZ]

Rear end gearing will probably be different, maybe even gear ratios in the tranny. What about the exhaust/muffler? Thought I read earlier one of the reasons the current Nismo wasn’t optioned with a manual was weak synchros for the added power? Why I'm interested in what will be delivered as a complete package. The current Nismo’s suspension and brakes are already track worthy, even the soft Dunlops are nice.

 

[aknoz]

The very same mustang GT that’s known for transmission issues and nis aligned shift forks? It’s also worth noting shifter types like Cable type shifters, direct mount shifter etc, the Z’s has all the jitter because it’s direct mount. Meaning all the mechanical feel with not much dampening, while the Mustang’s is just a remote mounted shifter, meaning there are supports that guide the shifting rather than a directly mounted shifter. So it doesn’t feel as mechanical but is smoother and noticeably quieter. Again it’s all preference, but be sure to understand what’s happening underneath as well- as it might just be an inherent characteristic rather than a “flaw”.

To me that's a flaw. Because of that direct linkage, owners who rest their have on the shifter all the time will cause premature wear. This was discussed in great details before. Good luck!

 

[heritageownerKurosawaz400]

Rear end gearing will probably be different, maybe even gear ratios in the tranny. What about the exhaust/muffler? Thought I read earlier one of the reasons the current Nismo wasn’t optioned with a manual was weak synchros for the added power? Why I'm interested in what will be delivered as a complete package. The current Nismo’s suspension and brakes are already track worthy, even the soft Dunlops are nice.

The same way they beefed up the automatic, I really hope they give the manual the same treatment. The 6 speed alone should feel better overall because of the stiffer engine mounts and transmission mounts but I still hope they improve the manual in someway.

 

[Crownleyian]

Nahhh unless a manual makes me more of a man..!? Don’t think so! I know I’ll be faster on track with my Z Nismo and not have that 5% probability of money shift.
Love my manuals and the Nismo Z was my first auto but if I had the choice I’d still get the auto. After getting into sim racing I’ve gotten use to it and enjoy it in manual mode, but I get why some people want a manual don’t blame you, it is that little more engaging but if you want to chase laptimes it’s a no brainer.

 

[Thefunk]

Sticking with my Performance 9AT. Going for the Nismo from the Performance in my opinion is like going from an RTX 5080 to an RTX 5090.

 

[FSUZ33]

Did some rough math on another thread, but considering the $11k discount I got on my ‘24 ($8.5k dealer + $2.5k Nissan) that takes trading off the table for me. Again, guessing on numbers, but looking at $20k or more to swap to what appears will be an identical car with MT, although it would be brand new. Changes, upgrades and new colors may make it more enticing, but that much of a premium for me, as of today anyway, is too steep.

i admit, even though it was AT-only, I was in for the NISMO from the start. I had written it off, then noticed early 2025 they were still available with good discounts. Not much trade-in value on my ‘05 Z33, so the discount is why I have mine today. I just didn’t see myself paying more than $70k out the door for anything at the time, including the NISMO.

 

[chadhunley]

Since Nissan tweaked the 9 speed for the 2024 Nismo, you would think that they may have something different for the 6 speed with the future one.

 

[Bumflik]

If I were u, I would not take a bath in trading auto for manual nismo.

Z manual transmission feel and engagement does not feel solid and positive like gr Corolla, civic type r.

If u don't know what I am talking about go test drive them.

Honda gearboxes are the best i had (2)FK8s

 

[trackratZ]

Did some rough math on another thread, but considering the $11k discount I got on my ‘24 ($8.5k dealer + $2.5k Nissan) that takes trading off the table for me. Again, guessing on numbers, but looking at $20k or more to swap to what appears will be an identical car with MT, although it would be brand new. Changes, upgrades and new colors may make it more enticing, but that much of a premium for me, as of today anyway, is too steep.

i admit, even though it was AT-only, I was in for the NISMO from the start. I had written it off, then noticed early 2025 they were still available with good discounts. Not much trade-in value on my ‘05 Z33, so the discount is why I have mine today. I just didn’t see myself paying more than $70k out the door for anything at the time, including the NISMO.

That math makes total sense, very hard to avoid big hits initially on resales of small volume sports cars nowadays. Only if the Nismo Manual will also get discounts later on I’d consider it. No way spending $70K+ for any Z for what it is.

 

[papozalsa]

Since Nissan tweaked the 9 speed for the 2024 Nismo, you would think that they may have something different for the 6 speed with the future one.

That 9 A/T in the Nismo is a MB transmission

 

[chadhunley]

That 9 A/T in the Nismo is a MB transmission

Yes, but I think Nismo got a license to tune it.

 

[Vintage]

I'm in love with my Red Nismo and it's used as one of my daily drivers, but I probably would of went for the 6spd if it was available at time of purchase. I'm still undecided if I'll keep it. Tuff choice as the 9 spd tuned auto works so well. It will most likely come down to if Nissan offers a limited edition Nismo or new color that I really like. Cheers