I'm trying to get new 2006 350z, now I'm stuck betweem base and enthuathist, thing is money lol. enthuathist is a bit expensive. now The base 06s all come with xenons now and 18" wheels, they don't come with tcs. I know what tcs does I'm just curious, should I get base ?

 

You don't get the lsd with the base model either. Don't get base.

 

Read the posts by Base owners which begin something like this...

Hi. I drive a 350Z Base. How much is HID?
Hi. I drive a 350Z Base. How much is cruise control?
Hi. I drive a 350Z Base. How much is LSD?

 

If you buy base, like davidv said, you'll be looking to buy LSD, and if you buy enthusiast, you'll be asking how to take TCS out of the car!

 

I'm not sure if LSD is standard on the Base or not, but I doubt it... Maybe since they are adding Xenon and 18s to the base?! I wouldn't buy a base without LSD.

As for TCS, I turn mine off everytime I start the car, so it isn't necessary IMHO.

 

And Touring owners want to disable VDC permanently.

 

i dunno why you'd want to ditch it
my tcs has been valuable on more than one occasion

 

i agree...turning it off doesnt make you a better driver, but a safer one.

 

Actually all 06 base' come with bi-xenons and 18" wheels. I think the main thing to ask yourself is "do I want lsd and cruise control with stereo and cruise buttons on the steering wheel?". If you dont care for these items, get a base. If you want them get a enthusiast but try to lower the price. I got my 06 enthusiast for 900 under invoice so i'm sure they will play with numbers.

 

My TCS screwed me on (more than one) occasion...

Things such as 1) cutting your throttle unexpectedly while trying to merge in front of a big-a$$ mother effing truck causing you to almost become road kill 2) cutting my throttle while trying to correct a slide, which led to a continued slide/spin into a guardrail... and no, the TCS did not prevent the slide like "it should" 3) cutting my throttle when trying to embarass some punks in their ghey Audi TT 1.8t and thus you barely win the "stoplight contest", etc. and make their ghey TT look better than it actually was.

I turn it off. Even in rain. I've not had one even close call since...

 

TCS has saved my *** a few times. Glad I have it.

 

DISCLAIMER: I take no responsibility if you turn off TCS and crash...

I played around in parking lots, wet and dry, for about a week with TCS off before I drove that way on the highways and by-ways...

 

It's got a purpose which is not linked to racing. If you were really better off without it for every day driving, my guess is that it would not have been built into the car.

 

I have a track which has VDC instead of TCS but I do find the TCS portion handy from time to time. Sometimes when it is wet outside or if you are driving on a loose surface like gravel the TCS can save your *** and keep you from spinning the tires. Just like any traction control system it can always be turned off when you want to have a little fun. I think it makes the car much safer to at least have it there as an option. If it were my choice I would get a Z that has it. Especially if you live in a place that gets a lot of rain...

 

Enthusiast has much more than just LSD & TCS. Go to the Nissan site & look up the list. The Enthusiast will cost you less than $2 Gs more than the Base.

 

if you are sweating over 1-2k then you should prolly buy an 05 used or another car, because I see many gas posts in your future. Do I really have to put in expensive gas? How bad is 87? Etc... Buy what you can afford, if you cannot afford it wait a few months and save some more. Esp. cause we got some snow on the way here on the east coast.

 

I spun out right after I bought my z. I turned TCS off and almost hit a wall taking a freeway onramp. TCS on all the time with very few exceptions.

 

Enthusiast is a better deal...

with 48 month loan, about $42 more per month...

with 60 month loan, about $34 more per month...

a small difference in a monthly budget, $1.10 to $1.40 per day

JR

 

VDC / TCS = For driving in the rain.

Does more harm than good on dry pavement. IMO

If you get a base, I'd factor into the cost a Nismo LSD + install price.

 

Just out of curiosity...does the LSD make that big of a difference over not having one at all? I mean i know it helps a bunch but is it significantly noticable in any kind of gains?