Hello everyone,

I have posted this on the technical board but thought that I should post here too.

I currently own and S2000n and now looking into a 350Z. The problem is that I'm not sure of what to consider, the track or touring model.

Now I know that the touring has power/leather seats and quite luxurious and the track has the forge wheels and brembo brakes. What I want to know now from those who own or have driven either car or both are the following:

What is the difference in performance between them?

Is the suspension much better on the track model? Will it handle better in the twisties or high speeds than the touring?

Is the braking like night and day, track being better?

Why would you buy or the track model?

Please inform me of other issues regarding my inquiry that my questions did not cover.

Thanks for the info.

 

ImmortalisD,

Thanks for the info. I was thinking the same way, but since I have not driventhe car yet I would not know fact from fiction.

To those who have further knowledge on this, please ring in. I'd like to get a real good idea about these models. Thanks again.

 

touring owner here...

I love it, leather is great, not too soft, not too hard. heated seats are great. side bolsters hold you right where you need to be.

bose has great bass, havent gotten the bose fix yet tho. its no super system, but its good quality for a stock system IMO.

as for performance, you looking at maybe 40lb difference(I think its less) between the 2, mainly the difference is in the rotational mass of the rims. brakes will probably reduce 60-0 by like a foot, unless your on the track and you begin to deal with brake fade.

everything else is the same. the track might handle better as a result of lighter rims allowing faster suspension. but thats as far as it goes.

if you swapped the rims on the touring(which I plan to) then youd be even with the track, you might even be able to do better since there are lighter rims to be had than those on the touring(I think their 17 or 18lbs) you can find 18s for as low as 16 if you really want to.

 

I clearly chose the Touring over the Track model. I have been driving sports cars for over 30 years. I've owned other "Z" cars before.. i had a 1970 & 71 240Z and a 1974 260Z. They were fun to drive and very easy to work on. I'm now 54 years old. I have no intention of taking this car on the track. When I owned my other cars, I drove Lime Rock, Summit Point and Bridgehamption.. It was fun but it just beats the hell out of the car.. Living in the North east, I wanted the VDC for the bad weather.. I wanted the heated seats as I have them in my 1995 Volvo and I just love it on a cold morning.. I wanted the better stereo ( I had the amp replaced last week and I'm 100% satifified) with the 6 CD changer.. I wanted the lighted visors.. I could have done without the leather seats but they are very comfortable. As for the Brembo brakes, for street and highway driving, the stock brakes are fantastic. They will stop the car on a dime.. So.. You have decide.. how are you going to use the car?? I'm very happy with the Touring model.. After waiting almost 8 months, It was well worth it..

Steve (k2we) Dobbs Ferry, NY

 

k2we/ares:

Thanks for your insights. It looks like for my intended use of the car, touring is a better model for me. Having the perfomance basically the same and braking very close to similar in street or highway use, having the amenities of the touring model appeals to me. The heated seats would be nice during the cold winters here in NY.

Another question though....If I were to buy a touring today, will it have any problems that some have experienced with their Z:

1. Bose amp problems. What's the problem?
2. Grinding the transmission, difficulty shifting into certain gears.
3. Whining tranny (not sure but I thought I saw it somewhere here)
4. Anything else?

Have these problems been addressed? Would I have to worry about these if I buy now?

Let me know. Thanks.

Mark

 

Hi mark, Since we seem to live close to each other, why don't you give me a call at 914-693-3669 and I'll be happy to answer any questions you might have.

With the exception of the Bose problem ( had the amp replaced and I'm 100% satisfied) I have not experienced any of the other things your worried about. I've had my car now for 2 months and it's the best sports car I've ever owned.

A friend took a ride in my car last week and called the other day to say he traded his 1999 Miata with 4500 miles on it for a Redline/Touring with 6 speed.. He'll have it on Thursday.. If the weather cooperates, we'll both be at the get-to-together at the Nassau Colosium on Sunday.. He lives in Great Neck..

Steve (k2we) Dobbs Ferry, NY

 

k2we,

Hi, I think your entire message did not go through.

 

if you get a car off the lot right now, Id expect the bose problem to be there, but they can fix that easy enough. if you order now, it should come fixed from the factory. I just figure cars on the lot now were built over a month ago, before they could be fixed.

I dont have the grinding tranny, or hard shifts, or any of the other stuff you mentioned. but the way I look at it, should there be a problem with the origonal models(I saw the grinding as being under 1000vin, im 1661) then you could possibly grind your transmission to hell. and then you get a nice new shiny transmission under warrenty. so Im not scared.

 

I understand what you are saying. Thanks ares.