No…and Nissan’s NISMO Z is proof.
But let’s look at Nissan’s base Z for a minute before we get into the NISMO’s extras, OK?
The Z is a genuine two-seat sports car. Not a “sporty” car, but a real sports car with a 400 HP twin-turbo 3.0 V-6 and either a rev-matching six-speed stick or a nine-speed auto and 18” alloys. It should get you to 60 in around 4.5 seconds. Not a bad start…and a real performance bargain for under 45K.
But if you want just about everything except a number on your side, jump up to a 65-70K NISMO and go huntin’.
You’ll get another 10 HP out of that six…a total of 410 now, and more torque, too, but that’s just where the NISMO starts.
P255 x 40 x 19” summer performance Dunlops will be connecting your 410 HP to the asphalt…and big 15” 4-piston front and 2-piston rear brakes will be bringing you back down to legal speeds as needed. And that rubber will be mounted on lightweight 19” RAYS alloys.
You’ll be sitting on heated Recaro leather and have 8-speaker Bose Premium sound…if you’d rather listen to the radio instead of your 410 HP.
Launch control is yours, too, as are stiffer springs and dampers, limited slip, a chassis stiffening bar in the rear, a spoiler, tighter steering, enhanced cooling, special trim, and your choice of “normal”, “sport”, and “Sport+” settings that bring quicker downshifts and overall sharper responses. Oh…and you’ll have a beautiful sound coming out of those two big pipes in the rear, too.
0-60 will take around 4 seconds with the 9-speed auto and a hair longer with the 6-speed manual. Top speed is electronically limited at 155, and mileage is rated at 17 City and 20 Highway.
Track Trophies? Those are up to you.
Again…if you’re looking for a genuine performance sports car, Nissan’s Z NISMO is the real deal.