We want the best.
Sometimes, maybe, we should be happy with what we can get.
Today’s example: the current Nissan Z.
What if just went away–again? I think that would make most of us sad.
The latest Nissan Z debuted with much excitement and fanfare: fresh styling, twin turbos and a new GT4 race program.
And then the stock Z fell apart on track.
From our initial report: “But this is a track review, so we have to start off with a word we’re not excited to use to describe the new Z. That word is disappointment.”
The new-for-2023 Nissan Z felt good up until about 80%: solid steering, flexible sightlines and willingness to trail-brake.
With speed, though, confidence went away. “The Nissan Z becomes nervous and just doesn’t feel as fully locked down as a car in this class should be,” Tech Editor JG Pasterjak wrote. “We think the biggest issue with the Z is a severely under-sprung chassis. This allows weight to transfer very, very slowly, meaning the chassis takes a while to take a set in the corners.”
The throttle action, he concluded, also wasn’t a willing partner. Corner exit suffered–severely. At the Florida International Rally & Motorsport Park, the Nissan Z ran with the automatic-equipped Subaru BRZ: 1:23.44 for the Nissan and 1:23.16 for BRZ. And the Nissan commanded about $20,000 more.
What about the Toyota Supra, a car more in the Nissan Z’s price category? We ran a 1:19.59 in one of those. Not even close.
Some recent time with a 2025 Nissan Z, though, makes me realize that, despite its shortcomings at the limit, it makes for a very fine street car. It’s comfortable and, as they say in the biz, driver focused. Well-bolstered seats are easy to get in and out of. The steering wheel has a thick, comfortable grip. The pedals are properly positioned for heel-and-toe work. No giant screen.
And our test had a real, live, six-speed manual transmission. With a clutch pedal.
Forward visibility is clear. The views over the shoulders, though, is a bit impeded–blame those thick C-pillars.
And then the power. Nissan claims 400 horsepower. Our testing yielded 350 at the wheels with a flat, usable torque curve. Quick enough.
And it looks good.
I could daily it and be happy.
Is great the enemy of good?
That might sum up our time with the latest Z.
Comments
Tom1200
UltimaDork
1/20/26 1:21 p.m.
This is where I'm always at on this:
Throttle action aside overall there is nothing wrong with the Zs on track behavior.
I have an inordinate amount of time on track in softly sprung cars; their biggest fault is more the expectations of the nut behind the wheel then the car itself.
Basically you have to wait forever for the thing to take a set; you either except it's just part of the car or get frustrated with it.
For the price the Z should turn better lap times but most people that buy one that's not an issue.
“Celebrate things that are good just because they are good.” -Mark, from Savagegeese YouTube channel
If “falls apart on track” is a criteria, then some of the most beloved cars of all time are in the same camp as the Z.
There’s a reason all of those favorite aftermarket suppliers and tuners exist, some of the better ones support this publication and forum.
One “darling” is the Miata. In stock form, every generation pitches and rolls around almost like a dinghy in the North Sea. I found that to be “ok” on the street for a while, but the best thing I ever did to my car was to order the relatively conservative stage 2 suspension (shocks/sways/springs and bushings) from Flyin’ Miata. FM’s comment about that setup was that it was the suspension the Miata should have had straight from the factory. After nearly 200,000 miles, I can say I agreed with FM’s assessment.
There are too many other very good street cars to list that are in need of some (to a lot of) help if serious track duty is to be undertaken: cooling systems, intake systems, exhaust, fueling, brakes, … this forum knows how the list goes on and on and on.
The Z has had issues with track use, but it’s not alone. Cars much more expensive than that have had owners post online about “limp mode” engaging after as few as two or three hot laps in what are supposed to be performance cars.
I *think* I’d be happy driving a Z as designed on the street and if I decided to track it, well, that’s what the aftermarket is for.
j_tso
SuperDork
1/20/26 1:38 p.m.
If the Z went away we'd get a new Silvia/SX, right?
Right?
I'm glad it exists, even if I'm not in that market. The 2027 refresh fixes my main visual complaint.
I like to categorize cars like the Z as "Not a bad car, but just not as good as something else."
On its own, it's a great car. But put it next to something like the Supra, and it's just not quite as good.
I'd certainly take one if values took a dive.
I would have bought a Z if I knew this facelift was coming (I like the aesthetic and apparently they made the brakes/suspension better on every trim level) and I thought that Nissan would survive until the end of the decade. A lot of complaints about the Z can be solved with aftermarket parts pretty easily. The Nismo Coilovers (which I hear are produced by Ohlins?) and LSD would pretty be my first go to.
Tom1200
UltimaDork
1/20/26 2:46 p.m.
Coniglio Rampante said:
One “darling” is the Miata. In stock form, every generation pitches and rolls around almost like a dinghy in the North Sea.
I raced a Showroom Stock C NA Miata; they move around much more than that.
Duke
MegaDork
1/20/26 3:00 p.m.
Considering that I have seen fewer than 10 of them since launch in real life, it would have no effect on me whatsoever.
In reply to Duke :
You've seen 10?
I've only seen two and I work down the street from the biggest Nissan dealer in our area.. I've seen more GT-R's in person than the new Z
I think the Z is so pretty. I love the interior, especially in those colors. In fact, the car pictured in the article (blue with blue interior) is exactly what I'd buy. I'm not buying anything right now, but the Z would be at the top of my list, and I just. don't. care. how fast it turns a lap. Thank you Grassroots Motorsports for recognizing that. If I want it to go fast on the track, I'll make it into a race car. I love the Supra, but something about it being a BMW Z4 just made it lose its luster a little. This thing is all Nissan, and Nissan should be rewarded for taking the risk of continuing to build a sports car without relying on other manufacturers to split the risk (of course, Toyota can be applauded for... you know... building sports cars in whatever way they can stomach doing it--I'm not opposed to that).
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