"Z" Overall Reliability/Issues/QC ??

[Bumflik]

https://www.carscoops.com/2026/02/s...c-gearbox-is-quietly-failing-without-warning/
Just came across this. Every auto manufacturer has issues here and there.

 

[up4speed]

Standard Z vs Nismo is a night and day difference no matter even how many mods you make.

Honestly I was blown away how much grip the Nismo has and how it attacked corners. I've owned a Clio RS200 Gordini, Megane RS265 and GR Yaris Rallye and all those are monsters in Alpine type of roads, so much that GR Yaris was uncatchable by M2's and M3's. But I was not expecting the Nismo to be that planted and that capable in the tighter corners, even the steering is on another level in terms of feedback and how pinpoint precise it is compared to the GR Yaris (feels very numb). Nismo's Gearbox is fast when warmed up and feel like the gears ratio is just right. I've driven my cousins M2 F87 and compared to the Nismo it's more playful and feels a little more raw but while the Nismo with a HKS exhaust is more awake now, but it doesn't want to play as much it just wants to get things done with perfection. Something I find scary as I don't know when it's gonna break loose and how it's going to react but I'll find out on the track soon it's limits (it is my first RWD car by the way).
GR Yaris R will be faster for sure leaves M3 and M2 for dead in tight twisty roads, it's lighter more nimble in a place like that but the Nismo is quite impressive incredible grip levels, more than I ever expected. So I expect the GR Corolla to be very similar probably less capable in very tight twisty areas but I know for a fact it's more planted in high speed corners than the GRY.

Enjoy your new purchase regardless awesome car no doubts mate, with one hell of an after market.

@wooferocau if there is a man that can attest for the Z Nismo it's this gent his hit the track and from what I know no issues correct @up4speed ?

Thanks, and yes, I do a lot of track days. Zero problems so far (knock on wood) It's 100% stock other than brake fluid and brake pads. It is a very capable car out of the box. If you put in "traction" mode, it won't do anything unexpected, and rotates nicely. Keep in mind, it's a rear wheel drive car, so very different driving style than a front wheel drive or all wheel drive vehicle on the track. If someone is reckless or using poor driving skills/inexperienced, I suspect it can bite you hard. But I never felt the least bit uncomfortabble playing at the limit. However, I do have an excess of 35 years of track driving (autocross in the 80's and early 90's Road course in the 2000's), and 6 years of teaching (2004 - 2011) , so I'm very comfortable going fast. I can tell you that all the passengers that I took so far on the track with the Z have all been VERY impressed with what the car can do, and how effortless it seems (smooth driving has something to do with that, lol). The car will consistently pull 1.2-1.4 G's on the turns (stock tires) so not a slouch.
It's not the fastest car, but it just feels really good, and at home on the track. The one thing I can complain about, is that the car is too heavy, and I really feel the weight when pushing it. The car does a good job at handling the weight, but weight is weight, and weight is always bad. That's one thing I really miss about my BRZ, it felt so light and nimble. Also not a very fast car, but I'm a stickler for feel.
The Nismo would be 100X better if it was 700 lbs lighter, and about 100 hp more. It would be an unstoppable beast then! But then again, it would be way more dangerous to drive by people with little experience. I can tell you, my other car has 661HP, and its slightly over 3,000lbs, and it kind of scares the crap out of me sometimes, lol. But I don't track that car, so it has way more power on the street than I could ever use. To be honest, in my opinion, I think the Z Nismo has more than enough power for street driving. I never thought to myself "this thing needs more power"

 

[Moto_Rotty]

Hey Bryan, could you give a little more detail on the upgraded Spare tire sub you did? It’s sounds like it was as easy as a plug and play? I curse the sound system every time I drive but don’t want to start ripping things apart to improve sound. Thanks.

Sure!

I installed this sub:
https://rockvilleaudio.com/products/rockghost-v2

And it also needs a hi-low converter:
https://www.amazon.com/NuIth-Conver...e-Amplifier/dp/B09MT92KVY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa

It was a quick and easy install. Really improved the bass without breaking the bank.

 

[David Montgomery]

I have a 24 Performance that that I bought in October of 2024... coming up on 18k on the clock. I daily mine.

Only LEGITIMATE complaint: No Remote Start.

The rest are just trivial bullshit you'll find wrong on any car on the planet if you drive it enough. The rear camera? Yeah it sucks but you're not watching a movie on it, you're backing up for 12 seconds and you have mirrors and sensors.

The sound system... pfsh. Go get a luxury car, not a sports car.

I LOVE THIS CAR. My only legit personal complaint.... it's not a full sized truck... I have had sports cars as toys, but I have to keep reminding myself I have to call a friend now if I need to pick something big up from the hardware store.... at least until my 53 f100 is done, lol.
, lol.

I agree with this completely. I love this car. I love my 81 Turbo too. I'd love it if they both had remote starts. Strangely enough, I wish the headlights had the "Follow me" function. It's nice to be able to light the corners at a spirited pace at night. For the truck, you should pick yourself up a nice used Titan. It is the most underrated truck on the planet. I have a 19 Titan PR I bought new, now with 80k miles. It has towed a 7000-lb camper all around New England and New York, as well as on a trip from New Hampshire to Florida and back, and it is still running strong. It is also my winter vehicle, but gets the same pampering that the Z gets, so it's not a winter beater.

 

[David Montgomery]

I've noticed radar cruise fails in heavy rain, or tight construction areas with improper shoulders. Never been an issue because I want to take over in those conditions anyways. There is a slight delay between conditions clearing and the dash warning going away.

I had a BMW X7 where the radar failed in the rain as well. I have a QX-60 that does the same thing. That said, my 2019 Titan radar never fails (my eyes are the radar).

 

[Xylander]

The Nismo would be 100X better if it was 700 lbs lighter, and about 100 hp more. It would be an unstoppable beast then! But then again, it would be way more dangerous to drive by people with little experience. I can tell you, my other car has 661HP, and its slightly over 3,000lbs, and it kind of scares the crap out of me sometimes, lol. But I don't track that car, so it has way more power on the street than I could ever use. To be honest, in my opinion, I think the Z Nismo has more than enough power for street driving. I never thought to myself "this thing needs more power"

This is more or less what I'm building, except im about doubling the horsepower and shedding around 400lb.

 

[Xylander]

I had a BMW X7 where the radar failed in the rain as well. I have a QX-60 that does the same thing. That said, my 2019 Titan radar never fails (my eyes are the radar).

The sensor should turn off in the rain, yes? That's how it's functioned in other cars I've owned that have this feature.

 

[dogunbound]

I will add my own personal griefs with the car.

1) Rear axle click. I got it covered under warranty, but it's crazy they haven't fixed something that was originally on the 370z
2) Insufficient brake cooling. I cook the shit out of my brakes driving the piss out of it. I've rebuilt the calipers twice now. Next time it burns up the dust boots, imma just leave it and rebuild my calipers on a 5 year span.
3) I've had no power issues occasionally. I think the turbo recirculation system somehow gets stuck open? I know i'm not pointing out the right part, but it's so occasional I don't really care about it.
4) I'm nervous about the oil pressure solenoid failing. I'm putting in a delete kit as soon as my warranty expires.

Side mention, but isn't a grief of mine: I've heard about the head cracking issue, but I have doubts that'll ever occur. I think this is a rare edge case of maybe a not so well built from factory vr30ddtt? Idk tbh.