Tried searching but didn't really find what I was looking for.

Aside from the Brembo's and 13 more HP and 18" Volk's is the Track edition worth it? I would be doing lapping days at Hallet and X-crossing the car, so I know how important brakes are.

Also what do you guys think of the S-tune suspension and sway bars?

 

think about this, how much would new exhaust, new rims and brakes would cost you in an 05 base?

 

Ah, one of the big debate!

If you're into autoX, you won't need the extra endurance of the Brembo brakes. You will want to swap the suspension also. As for the Rays wheels, they are not wide enough for supah wide autoX tires.

Lapping on a full track is something different. Tracks do not require the same stiff suspension to be fun. Running a soft setup is not that bad, you'll still have plenty of fun with the stock suspension. The endurance of the Brembo brakes will then be welcomed.

Is warranty important to you? How much mods do you plan to do? It basically gets down to how much money you are ready to spend. The Tracks parts can be sold to amortize your'spendings.

My 05 Track is bone stock, I mount race pads when I go to the track and that's it. It's not a race car and I intend to keep it that way.

 

+1 for the Track, even in autocross brake modulation is much better and you will not be bumped classes like you would if you bought a enth. base etc and did a brake BBK.

 

don't forget to add an LSD

 

to make an 05 base = an 05 track you will need:

xenon headlights
LSD
aero kit, rear diffusers
lightweight forged wheels
brembo brakes
aluminum pedals
VDC
ability to rev to 7200 and make 300hp
I think the track model has less soundproofing tar, but not 100% sure
slightly different tires

 

To me its worth it, others prefer building their own "track" models. You have to decide if its worth it to YOU on your budget....cant go wrong with any Z, unless its a base model, and/or its an auto imo

 

you also get cruise control and homelink mirror over the base

 

the point is that if you are building a track car, those thing are all useless.

xenon headlights.... useless
aero kit.... useless
light forged wheels... too small anyway, need 9" or 9.5" 17" or 18"
brembo.... lot's of better bigger brakes
aluminum pedals... who cares
autodim mirror... totally useless
VDC.... useless on a track
7200 rpm and 300hp.... ecu reflash + plenum spacer can get you there
tires.... too small
etc....




here in Canada we only get the fully loaded touring manual and automatic... track model is not even imported anymore as there was no demand.

and it's a pain in the ***, I have ton of stuff I can't care less about. curtain and side airbags, cruise control, xenon, bose system, autodim mirror, leather seats, etc... I wish we had the base. Best model = base

 

i personally would take the track for one reason - there are very rare. i think nissan imported less than 3000 track models since the Z debut in late of 2002.

although i wish i had bought a track- because then i wouldnt need to waste the time or money buying what would make any other model comparable. plus warranty- i love warranties!

anyhow, your buying a Z either way. i think thats all that matters to me, .

john

 

I have a base and love it, I plan on adding mods eventually but even though its a base, its still a beauty and great car to own, but I know alot of guys here have the touring and track and most likely love theirs just as much, they all say Z on them now dont they

 

Track because it's the rarest. I see all kinds of other models, especially clueless girls in AT tourings around here in Southern California. They all wonder why my Z has "colorful" brakes and different wheels.

 

HELL NAWWWW stick with the enthusiant

 

The reason I ask, is I want to go back to having a fast street car, even though it would take another 20k on top of the track model to keep up with my current toy. (Which I will be keeping)

 

LOL....you're on to something my friend!

 

I just ordered an 05 ultra yellow 350Z enthusiast model (6 speed). Didn't go with the base model as I wanted the Xenon headlights. I have to wait 2 months now for my car to arrive from the factory as they ran out of Ultra yellow :-(.

Didn't go with the any of the higher models because of the useless ugrades already on them and the VDC. I read that the VDC can mess with upgrades on the car such as suspension, RIMs, and any other suspension related modifications.

Planned upgrades are Fabulous body kit, Veilside version 3 wing, Volk Racing rims (have not decided which one yet), and RSR GTII exhust. Will think about what to do next after these upgrades.

Will post some pics after I get my car!

 

who cares if it's rare or not. does it drive better? If you buy a car based on it's rarity, than you are a poser and missing the point entirely. Rarity is not synonym of better car. So rarity is as useless as those autodimming mirrors.

Track model is not that rare anyway...

 

If the lapping days are high speed track events, I would highly recommend the track model because of the Brembos. I have a performance model and my friend has a track and we both run track events with the PCA. He has never had brake problems where as I do. I used to smear my pads and boil my brake fluid which would lead to tremendous brake fade. I upgraded my front brakes with a big brake upgrade kit. I still have problems in the rear because the rear now burn up right away and I could boil my brake fluid. I fixed the boiling of the brake fluid but I still haven't found a solution for the rear without upgraded that also. In other words to do a four wheel big brake upgrade I would spend near a total $4000 dollars that alone would raise the cost of my performance model to the cost of a track.

 

Yes it is that rare. In fact only 11% of the Z's you see will be a track model. This helps a lot with the residual value of a car. Although I have no intentions of ditching my car anytime soon ... its good to know that it is still holding its value quite well.

Does it drive better? YES it does. The lightweigt wheels actually make the car feel better while driving it. The brakes, as mentioned above feel better to me on the street, and are KNOWN to perform MUCH better at the track. So evidently ... it does drive better. Also the seats (non-leather) are grippier (vs. a touring) and it has a lower Cd ... so over the next 46.5 million miles on the highway ... my car will save enough gas to buy me another Z

 

the rotational mass of the heavier brakes actually makes the advantage of the lighter wheels almost irrelevant. Drive a model on 17" and it will handle better because the brake+wheels have a lower moment of inertia. Also, the track wheels staggered setup generates the most understeer of all Z models. The brakes are cool but not flawless, lot's of track people are ditching them for better brakes. You can lower the cd on base model too... just add a couple of pieces. The seats are the same as in the base model if I'm not mistaken (cheap)... :P

value of a car is how well it's kept and the milleage it has on. The model variant is not very relevant. .. generally the high-end models are the one who lose the most value. a 40k car that loses 10% value has lost more value than a 20K car that has lost 15%. I wouldn't be surprised if the trackZ, loses the most value... reason it's rare is because no one wants it (as I said, in canada it's not even imported anymore).

The REAL nice thing about the track model is the 2005 engine.