When examining the third-quarter 2025 sales figures, I was struck by the increase in Nissan Z sales this year. A few months ago, we suggested it might be time to make a very low offer to see if it would be accepted. Well, quite a few people seem to have followed that advice and drove away happy in a new sports coupe. Nissan Z sales have more than doubled since the beginning of the year, and by looking at dealer inventories, I think I understand why: Nissan dealers are putting money on the table, and there’s significantly more if you’re willing to settle for a 2024 model.
Take this 2024 Nismo, for example. It’s finished in Stealth Gray over Graphite and has a base price of $65,090 before options. There are $7,500 in dealer incentives available. A 2025 Performance model (with the manual transmission, I should note) at the same dealership shows only $2,900 in dealer incentives and $2,500 in direct Nissan rebates. Looking at various dealerships, it appears that incentives are consistently better on the 2024 models. This isn’t a surprise, is it? Old inventory costs dealers money, and they want to get rid of it.
So, what is a model year? On paper, it doesn’t seem so bad. But consider this: most car manufacturers start producing the new model year between July and October of the previous calendar year. In other words, some of these vehicles are probably close to two years old. Although many new cars sit on dealer lots for months before being sold, two years is a long time, especially if it has been stored in a high-traffic area.
If you’re not scared yet, let me try once more: the Z is about to get better. Nissan has confirmed that it will correct one of the Nismo’s biggest flaws: the lack of a manual transmission. Although the automatic isn’t bad, it’s not the type of transmission we want paired with this turbocharged six-cylinder. The manual should have been there from the start, and it soon will be. By opting for a 2024, you’re not only committing to an older car but also to the existing formula. Choose wisely!