A 2-Day Tour with the New Fairlady Z NISMO – Heading to Shikoku

The Fairlady Z NISMO was delivered in early February.

Until now, I had only driven it about 700 km, but finally decided to take it on a 2-day tour. Considering the destination and time constraints, I chose Shikoku. In particular, National Route 195 is a memorable route I’ve come to love after driving it in the past with the Boxster, Carrera 4 GTS, and 964. Aiming for Kochi, the tour with the Z NISMO began.

After a long time driving the Fairlady Z on a long trip, the first thing that stood out was the ride comfort.

Rather than being stiff, the previously mentioned poor vibration damping became very noticeable. On the way from the Hanshin Expressway’s Kita-Kobe Line toward the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, the car kept lightly bouncing on the subtly uneven tunnel surfaces and slightly rough patches. While the ride is smooth on flat roads, even minor surface irregularities cause vibrations that don’t settle quickly.

By the time I reached the Awaji Service Area, I honestly considered turning back and taking the Boxster instead. However, feeling that I hadn’t yet fully understood this car’s true value, I pressed on toward Shikoku.

Discoveries on the Naruto Skyline – Contrasting Characteristics of Throttle and Brake

Crossing Awaji Island, I stopped by the Naruto Skyline.

Here, I switched to Sport and Sport Plus modes to really test the Z NISMO’s handling. The first thing I noticed was how tricky the throttle control was. The response didn’t match my intended pedal input.

Sometimes pressing halfway felt like a 0.7 response, other times pressing fully felt like only 0.8. Especially in Sport Plus mode in 2nd gear, the relationship between throttle opening and engine RPM felt jerky. This characteristic, which had been discussed in a tweet on X, became clear to me firsthand.

On the other hand, I was impressed by the braking performance. Not only was the stopping power excellent, but the control was outstanding. It’s a type controlled more by pedal force than stroke.

The brake system, which I felt rivaled Porsche’s, offered such a refined deceleration experience that it was genuinely enjoyable. Through driving on the Naruto Skyline, I also made new discoveries about the shift modes. Sport Plus felt overly sensitive to the throttle, making Sport mode more enjoyable on winding roads. However, in AT mode, the car often shifted up continuously at unexpected times or held gears longer than necessary, showing poor communication. Unlike the intelligent feel of Porsche’s PDK, I found manual mode with my own shifting more comfortable.

Changes on National Route 195 – True Nature Revealed After 1000 km

After passing the busy early sections, the mountainous winding roads where Route 195 truly shines appeared.

With light traffic and pleasant medium-speed corners, I had the chance to fully enjoy the Z NISMO. And around 900 km, the car’s character began to change. The previously stiff suspension gradually became more supple. Of course, some of this was my body adapting, but even accounting for that, the change was clear.

By the time I passed 1000 km, the ride was still firm but the bouncing vibrations didn’t last as long. The damping seemed to have improved by about 10-20%. This was likely due to the damper oil warming up, the removal of burrs in components, parts settling together, and the tires reaching optimal temperature. While it still didn’t match the suppleness of a Porsche Cayman T, the tense feeling of a brand-new car had faded. This was a new discovery after surpassing 900 km.

The Essence of the Fairlady Z NISMO’s Driving – A Mogul Ski-Like Experience

I tackled National Route 195 in Sport mode with manual shifting, mainly using 3rd and 4th gears.

Since the car was still in break-in, I kept to mid-range RPMs. What became clear was the car’s fundamental driving character. When I first drove it on the Royu Driveway as a new car, I felt it was “unstable, lacking road contact, and hard to grasp,” but this time the impression was completely different. By consciously “flexing” the suspension and tires while driving, the car began to respond vividly.

The relatively high-profile tires on 19-inch wheels (SP SPORT MAXX GT600) flexed nicely through corners. When driven in winter at delivery, these tires felt rock-hard and even unsafe on regular roads, but with spring’s warmer road temperatures, they delivered excellent grip—at least better than the PS4S or PZERO tires often fitted on Porsches.

In left and right curves, deliberately applying load to the right or left front wheel through steering allowed me to feel the satisfying rebound force created by the suspension compression and the flexing high-profile tires. After realizing this, Route 195 became truly enjoyable, and I even repeated sections for a second run. It was also a moment that made me realize how unreliable my initial new-car assessment had been.

If I were to compare it to skiing, Porsche’s driving feels like slalom, while the Fairlady Z NISMO feels like mogul skiing (bumpy slopes). Porsche offers a carving turn that smoothly responds the moment you steer, whereas the Z NISMO delivers the fun of navigating moguls. Judged by Porsche standards, it might seem less appealing, but it offers a completely different kind of driving enjoyment. This first day of touring was full of new discoveries like “So this is what it’s really like” and “It hides such great qualities.”

A Car That Grows on the Driver – The True Nature Revealed Through Driving

The most impressive thing from day one of touring with the Fairlady Z NISMO was how the car’s personality changed with mileage.

Traits I disliked as a new car gradually improved after surpassing 1000 km. Whether the car itself changed or I adapted to its characteristics, it’s probably a mix of both. While this car’s flaws become obvious when driving casually, when driven with proper suspension load, it surprisingly tracks the road well and feels rewarding to drive.

Many sports cars reveal their true worth through driving experience.

Especially cars like the Z NISMO with firm suspension require mechanical parts to settle and break in. At the same time, the driver must understand the car’s traits and learn how to operate it accordingly. This tour was also a process of me gradually learning how to “handle” the Z NISMO. The excellent brakes, unique throttle behavior, and driving style that leverages suspension and tire flex all revealed this car’s unique character. It’s a completely different approach from Porsche, but that made for fresh and enjoyable discoveries. I’m looking forward to what new insights day two will bring.

This Trip’s Route Map