What Nissan 370z to get?

[exar333]

So, It's time to pick up a new car and I am eyeing the 370z as my next purchase. My choices include:

(1) 370z Touring Edition (no nav; manual TR)

(2) 370z Touring Edition w/ Sports package( no nav; manual TR)

I have the opportunity to get either at or below invoice, and I can pretty order whatever car I want (on the lot or have one shipped).

Option #2 is at the top of my budget for a new car, and option #1 would be around $2500 cheaper without the sports package. I do love my current car, but I really miss leather seats and I really want my next car to have them.

With option 1, I get smaller wheels (18 instead of 19), less powerful brakes, and no syncro-rev feature on the manual. Since I live in MN, I probably will need a set of snow tires anyway, and it isn't easy to find snow tires in the 19inch size (or cheap).

Option 2 really gives me everything I want, but the larger brakes and tires/wheels will make it more expensive down the road for replacements. I like the application of the syncro-rev, but I don't know if it is worth it or not in the long run. Also, it is just another thing that could fail in time, and need repair/replacement.

Please don't post "the 370z look sucks; 350z rocks" or anything like that...I really like this car, and would welcome any insight from the people here on what they think might be the best way to go.

Thanks all!

Update: I purchased a blue 370Z touring edition with factory tint and the aero package. The dealer picked up almost all the cost for the extra options, as this was the closest car to my area that was in the color and trim I wanted.

The car is amazing and I love it! My plan is to add a 1.5 or 2 LSD and an oil cooler sometime next year. When my factory warrenty expires in 3 or so years, I am thinking to upgrade the brakes and wheels. If it's affordable, I would also love to throw a turbo and upgraded clutch/flywheel into the mix as well. I would like to keep this car for the "long haul" as a fun car to drive around and enjoy as an occasional track car.

 

[EightySix Four]

Originally posted by: ExarKun333
So, It's time to pick up a new car and I am eyeing the 370z as my next purchase. My choices include:

(1) 370z Touring Edition (no nav; manual TR)

(2) 370z Touring Edition w/ Sports package( no nav; manual TR)

I have the opportunity to get either at or below invoice, and I can pretty order whatever car I want (on the lot or have one shipped).

Option #2 is at the top of my budget for a new car, and option #1 would be around $2500 cheaper without the sports package. I do love my current car, but I really miss leather seats and I really want my next car to have them.

With option 1, I get smaller wheels (18 instead of 19), less powerful brakes, and no syncro-rev feature on the manual. Since I live in MN, I probably will need a set of snow tires anyway, and it isn't easy to find snow tires in the 19inch size (or cheap).

Option 2 really gives me everything I want, but the larger brakes and tires/wheels will make it more expensive down the road for replacements. I like the application of the syncro-rev, but I don't know if it is worth it or not in the long run. Also, it is just another thing that could fail in time, and need repair/replacement.

Please don't post "the 370z look sucks; 350z rocks" or anything like that...I really like this car, and would welcome any insight from the people here on what they think might be the best way to go.

Thanks all!

I love the car as well and if it had beed around when I was shopping, I'd have bought it instead of what I did. I'd personally have to say if (and only if) you can afford it get option number 2. It sounds like that has everything you'd actually like and at the end of the day that's what matters in a car like this.

How are you getting it so cheap?

 

[punjabiplaya]

I'm really looking into one too and can't decide between the sports pack or not either. But I think if you can afford, get the sports pack. The other thing the sports pack has is a limited slip diff. I say go for it!

 

[EightySix Four]

Originally posted by: punjabiplaya
I'm really looking into one too and can't decide between the sports pack or not either. But I think if you can afford, get the sports pack. The other thing the sports pack has is a limited slip diff. I say go for it!

I didn't know the non-sport pack didn't have an LSD.


Get the sport pack.

 

[theeedude]

Sport pack or walk.
I mean if I wanted an RWD car with no LSD, I'd get a BMW 3 series

 

[stag3]

i was looking myself, but the sports, non touring
i need the lsd and brakes/suspension goodies
dont need bluetooth or leather

to each his own

 

[Kromis]

Sport sport sport!

DO IT!

 

[exar333]

Thanks for the great suggestions!

A co-worker's husband of mine is very good friends with the sales manager at one of the local Nissan dealerships. I had a chance to speak with him and he gave me the pricing he can do for the car, which was very attractive.

In the end, I feel that if I don't spend the extra 2k or so, I will regret not having all the features I wanted and have some minor buyer's remorse. Kind of like when you settle for a $1500 TV and not the $1900 that has a few key features you want. In the end, the "upgrade" bug would probably bite me, and I want to be 100% happy with my purchase.

I completely forgot about the LSD. This is my first really "enthusiast car", so I don't have a lot of experience with it. What are some experiences you have had with it? Is it more of a "track feature" or do you find it useful in semi-everyday driving?

 

[bargetrav]

LSD helps your launch, without it, you'll get the "one wheel peel"

That is going to help on the street or track.....

 

[cheezmunky]

an lsd is useful at the track or in low-grip conditons (snow or mud). A conventional diff will try sending power to the path of least resistance, which is fine during normal use, but causes problems when one wheel is spinning. It will transfer power to the spinning wheel and you'll get no traction. This rarely happens unless your driving on snow/ice/mud or in hard cornering (hard enough for one wheel to leave the ground).

That said I think the money is worth it for the synchro-rev, if nothing else, along with the bigger brakes and lsd.

 

[EightySix Four]

Originally posted by: cheezmunky
an lsd is useful at the track or in low-grip conditons (snow or mud). A conventional diff will try sending power to the path of least resistance, which is fine during normal use, but causes problems when one wheel is spinning. It will transfer power to the spinning wheel and you'll get no traction. This rarely happens unless your driving on snow/ice/mud or in hard cornering (hard enough for one wheel to leave the ground).

That said I think the money is worth it for the synchro-rev, if nothing else, along with the bigger brakes and lsd.

LSD's also make corners much much funner

 

[Knavish]

Since I live in MN, I probably will need a set of snow tires anyway, and it isn't easy to find snow tires in the 19inch size (or cheap).

Forgive the ignorance, but I thought many people buy snow tires pre-mounted on a new set of wheels. Wouldn't it be a pain to swap the tires out when the weather changes rather than just swapping out the wheels?

...coming from someone who lives in the southeastern US...

 

[exar333]

The issue is that the brake calipers are so large on the sport that any rims smaller than 19 won't work. Yes, I would have a different set of wheels, but I don't want to have to have a whole redundant brake system too...

 

[stag3]

so where are you located? can your friend hook up someone else interested in a Z also?

 

[lsd]

What are you planning to do with the car? Will it be a daily driver? Weekend cruiser? Weekend tracker? Weekend dragger?
If it's a DD or weekend cruiser, get the one with the most comfort/cool options, you don't need a lsd. You can do without with in the snow with a good set of winter tires but the lsd does help a lot..
If it's a weekend tracker get the cheapest one you can get, from what I hear it's a Vlsd so you're better off buying an aftermarket clutch or gear type lsd. You don't want the heavy optional wheels either.
If it's a weekend dragger get the one with the lsd, as the Vlsd works okay in a drag set up.

 

[exar333]

It will be more or less a daily driver. I only live 2 miles from my office, so I don't really put very many miles on any car I have. For hellish winter days, there is always my gf's car .

I really would like some of features of the touring package like nicer stereo, leather, and power everything (heated seats are nice in MN too).

My car will be more of a cruiser than a tracker or dragster, but I would like to eventually turn it into more of a track car once the warranty is done. I hear an oil cooler is pretty much required for any track use, and I would probably get a turbo for the engine as well + a new manifold. That's down the road though...

 

[ballmode]

Whatever you can afford with the sports package

 

[shabby]

Get the sport package, you'll regret it down the road if you don't.

 

[mwmorph]

If it is a daily driver, get the first car. The sports package may be cool but the 370z isn't exactly comfortable to drive in the first place. On real roads, going to work and back, the sports package will actually sap the fun out of the car IMO because it just bounces over every imperfection in the road. It's not civilized and the sports package is more hard and jarring than supple which will detract from it as a DD unless you're really hardcore about feeling every bump, dip and crack in the road for the next 50k miles. I've driven a few 350Z track, I've driven a 370 with the sports and IMO the annoyance I got from 90% of the normal driving outweighed the fun from the 10% of backroad driving I do.

If this is a weekend drive, go sports package.

 

[punjabiplaya]

Originally posted by: mwmorph
If it is a daily driver, get the first car. The sports package may be cool but the 370z isn't exactly comfortable to drive in the first place. On real roads, going to work and back, the sports package will actually sap the fun out of the car IMO because it just bounces over every imperfection in the road. It's not civilized and the sports package is more hard and jarring than supple which will detract from it as a DD unless you're really hardcore about feeling every bump, dip and crack in the road for the next 50k miles.

If this is a weekend drive, go sports package.

2 miles tho

 

[SSSnail]

Always get the sports or performance package for any car, then add whatever creature comforts you want to that as long as funding allows.

 

[Koing]

You don't need any upgrades for it to be a decent track car. Sure if you upgrade things you can go faster but it's more worth it to get more track time on the car and lessons by instructors then any upgrades imo. Only upgrade after you feel that your beyond the cars limitations mate imo. Save the extra £££ for track and lessons

Good luck with your purchase

How hard can be car be in sports package form? Harder then a S2000? I use that as my daily driver (non commuting though, pedal power for that ) and I love how it handles and how stiff it is.

Koing

 

[exar333]

I only test-drove the sports package and the ride seemed pretty decent; maybe I will also try out the non-sports package to see if there is a large difference.

My preference would be to have the sports package, but at least I can see how each one feels and compare the ride abilities.

the ~$2500.00 for the sports package is looking really good. LSD, better wheels/tires, syncro-rev, and others. Thats a lot of tech for the money. I guess the question is if the extra money is worth it for the creature comforts....I do like the Persimmon leather though...

 

[BassBomb]

Trust me as soon as you start modding your car, you will have wished you already had those options

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: ExarKun333
The issue is that the brake calipers are so large on the sport that any rims smaller than 19 won't work. Yes, I would have a different set of wheels, but I don't want to have to have a whole redundant brake system too...

you sure about that?
i would research and see if you can fit 18's around those rotors.