mec011

tl;dr: Nismo 350Z or 370Z Touring/Sport Pack? Want a car that feels like an event/special every time I drive it... Pretty much sold that's a Nismo 350Z. Special Snowflake stuff below.

Well, after putting nearly 100,000 miles on my 2004.5 Touring 6MT (Traded it in at 189,xxx) I've been with out a 350Z for almost 5 months, and not been thrilled with the replacement car. (Saturn Sky Redline, 5spd Turbo Convertible, fun but too small, low and it's all tire, not a dynamically fun car) I've finally settled on the Nismo 350Z as a worth replacement, I think.

My 2004 was slightly tweaked: Nismo Exhaust, Suspension, Sways and a 5/8 Plenum Spacer. I ran the GT/Nismo wheels in the summer. Power was, as Rolls Royce would say, "adequate" for my tastes, and I loved the way the car handled.

The interior wore out a little worse than I'd have wanted, but I didn't mind being in it or driving it long distances (I survived a bi-monthly 12 hour round trip for 2 years).

All in all, I was very happy with the car.

I've driven a Nismo 350Z before, and felt that my 04's setup was fairly similar, although the Nismo seemed more connected or nervous, also a bit quicker on the butt dyno (I'm sure due to the HR vs. DE, that or the +100hp body kit...). I don't plan any major mods, Nismo Intake, maybe exhaust, I loved the S-tune exhaust sound, seems there are mixed reviews as to how well the factory Nismo compares, but I'll see long term.

I've had a go in the 370Z Sport Package and the Nismo 370Z, they're both really great. The 370Z Sport reminds me of the 240Z in percived size, seating position, and overall feel and drive in a way the 350Z doesn't. That said, the interior of the 350Z and its mechanical "immediacy" - aka, NVH - sure match the 240Z! The Nismo 370Z is also an amazingly well done car, and something I'd like to own in the future, no doubt.

I've ended up here, my budget is around $20k. I could go over a bit, would rather be under.

Nismo 350Zs seem to hover between $20-23k at around 50k miles. I've seen a handful below $20K with higher miles, most of those seem to have some sort of story.

I've seen a few 2009 370Z Sport Packs, both Touring and Base around $21-23K with ~50k miles, and tons at $23-25k with lower miles.

I've seen lots of 2009/10 Nismo 370Zs between $27-30K, most with low miles.

If anyone has had a lot of time in any pair of these cars, care to comment? Obviously this ends up being a personal preference thing, but maybe I'm not think of something I should be? I also feel that I'm over the regular 350Z, I had one for nearly 5 years longest car I've owned ever, but I'm sure I'll love the Nismo 350Z for what it, especially as it's the only 350Z that really appeals to me at this point, so I'd like to know if others who had both felt that it was something special beyond the regular 350Zs?

Another interesting question, does anyone think the Nismo 350Z is poised to drop off a depreciation cliff? The 80k miles cars seem to all be below $20k, more like $18K, again some seem to have some stories, but... I wonder if I should suck it up a bit longer and wait to see if they go lower before buying one? I feel like I'm almost stuck in deciding if I should spend the $4k difference between the two ends of the mileage scale. I certainly don't want to spend beyond about $22k, I'm just buying low mileage that I'll drive off quickly.

Whatever I get, I plan on driving, it's going to be a daily driver, I keep my cars maintained and as clean as I can for a DD, but I will rack up the miles, just because I want to drive it. I feel like the Nismo 350Z will always be an event when I drive it, I'm not so sure the 370Z Sport Pack will be?
I think the Nismo 370Z would also be an event every drive, but is just to far of a stretch for today, financially, it's $6-10K more than I want to spend, and that's a significant change in car payment!

Thanks for any thoughts, just want to feel like I'm headed in the right direction. I'm ready to get back into another modern Z!!