OEM front bumper on my 2007 Enthusiast got smacked today. Will have it fixed under insurance coverage.

Considering replacing it with Nismo V3 front bumper. Will probably cost me an additional $500 out of pocket over an OEM replacement.

My only interest in this is for performance. Couldn't care less about how the Nismo bumper looks.

So the question is, will the Nismo bumper add $500 worth of downforce and performance on the track (DE right now, maybe TT in near future, WTW unlikely). If not, I'll keep the $500 and put it on a racing seat.

 

Not at all, not till you install a splitter, also a splitter in much harder to install with the V3 bumper vs a V2.

 

Personally, I would go with the V3, although if you end up doing TT, it will cost you a couple of "points". I thought they were pretty inexpensive. How do you get to $500 difference?

 

He also needs the undershroud for the front if he gets the V3 bumper.

 

In the product image the V3 looks like it has a built in "splitter" which is actually just a flat "lip". I assumed it would do the same thing as a splitter.

If it doesn't help by itself then it is definitely not worth the money to me.

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/61208532@N05/8685015268/" title="Untitled by terrasmak, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8396/8685015268_25517812e9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Untitled"></a> this is a splitter, and it extends to the crossmember.

 

The Nismo bumper fascia is about $550 which is about $200 more than the OEM fascia, but as mentioned, the V3 requires the under shroud piece which is another $400+. And I'm talking about factory ABS parts, not aftermarket.

Anyway, it sounds like the V3 isn't going to provide any significant performance benefit by itself and the additional expense would be best spent elsewhere.....I've never driven on anything but street tires and I'd like to try some RS3's or the new Goodrich G Force Rivals and that $500 bucks will get me 1.5 of those

 

seems like you got it figured out. Like you said before, get yourself a racing seat.

Just got a bride diga, totally worth it.