The long version

The buyer here already knew what a 370Z or 350Z felt like and wanted more power without losing the manual, a narrower and more committed audience than 'wants a sports car.' It shows in the take-rate assumption baked into the spec sheet — a stick shift as standard, not an option protecting margins — and in a resale curve that depreciates like a normal enthusiast car rather than getting hoarded. Cross-shopped constantly against the Supra, the Z wins buyers who specifically wanted three pedals, and those buyers use the car the way that choice implies.