I have an 06 base and don't regret it at all. I do have a beater and a 4x4 for the snow though. I usually don't drive it if I know its going to rain, not because I don't have TC, but because I like to keep the Z as clean as possible.

When I have been caught in the rain, I just drove it carefully and not tried to do anything crazy. I think some of the people getting saved by TC/VDC are doing things they shouldn't do in bad weather in a sports car.

 

05 base here. never owned a car with tcs and never will. ive been in the army for 9 years now and ive lived where it either snowed all the time or rained all the time and never been in an accident (knock on wood), you just gotta remember to not drive like a dumb*** in bad weather especially with a high powered rwd sports car.

 

I have a 2004 base and don't regret getting it. I have heard that the base is the lightest model. Correct me if I am wrong...

 

i agree with FrankieZZ...the base model doesn't have computers controlling wheelspin or anything like that...YOU as the driver get to tame the beast

 

wow.. so much input.. thanks people.. i wasnt expecting this much info overnight..

as far as modding, i probably would not mod it, other than maybe an intake and diff tires (not wider or anything, but diff thread n what not).

cruise control. ive had it with every single car ive ever had, and never used it once, pointless and boring..

i was asking about traction control cuz i dont want to crash such a beautiful car. my 3000gt didnt have traction control (i think- it was a 94 N/A) but it was front wheel drive, so whatever. i just never have had a RWD car with over 200hp and 200 tq

just trying to be on the safe side here

 

05 base owner. I Luv the power slides, fish tailing madness i get when i apply 1/2 throttle in 2nd gear through a long tight curve. Not sure if it would be as fun with TCS. I have approx 10k miles and need new rear rubber.

I would like HID's though.

 

into an abstract shape, after it leaves the road and hits a tree.

 

The base works great as a modding platform. You pay nothing extra and put only what you want or need and the sky is the limit.

Save your money IF you plan to mod and buy a base. If you are not going to Mod then get what you want already on the car.

VDC and Traction control are over rated..just learn the correct way to drive and be smart!

 

I got a 05' base a year ago and haven't regreted it once. I didn't want traction control or VDC. Just another thing you have to remember to turn off.

Wished it had cruise control, but I haven't missed it yet on the many 3-5 hour trips up and down FL.

HID's were a must in my book, So I spent a few hundred on an HID kit from JUN that was plug and play.

I haven't modded it like i'd like to but bone stock with the base for the last year has been nothing but fun. Just drive carefully in the wet, which you should do with or without VDC! Only times i've gotten in trouble was when I was driving pissed off and got a little gas happy, just keep your wits about ya.

 

I have base in snow and rain with all season tires with no problem. Just gotta know when to speed up and when to slow down in diff weather. also U can get HID mod kit for $200 from ebay.

 

All I got to say is, It saved my life on more than one once, When I think about it now if i got a base I'd have to always drive carefuly when turning a corner. I hear a lot about people without it spinning out and crashing. Its a must for us guys in Colorado I would think. But hey if you can drive fine without it you got my props, I don't hate!

 

hmm.. ok this is either a love it or hate it feature.. so maybe i can test drive both cars at the dealership.. take some nice hard corners with both.. and see what i like

you should have seen my test drive on my rx8.. guy led me into twisty turny mountains in valencia (i got it from galpin mazda).. he let me do all sorts of things.. then i bought the car that had 4 miles on it with no test drives

 

I can't speak for ice/snow (as I don't get much of that here) but I've driven in some of the heaviest rains in the world for a while now (especially in the last few weeks) and I've never had a slip/traction problem. I am running 275 rears but they are kumho MX (which are crap in the wet).

 

04' base right here

My only regret about getting the base is the LSD. The stock sucks anyways, but its better than no LSD. I have the money for an aftermarket, but i keep spending on smaller mods instead. I need more focus hah. Otherwise, Jun's HID kit your base up... and you should be fine.

 

does the 03 touring come with lsd?

 

They all do except the Base...

 

To get a better lsd then the stock one how much does it normally cost for the lsd unit and getting it installed?

 

I love the 06 base since it has the HIDs, heated mirrors and some other features I wanted. I do wish it had an LSD and cruise control, but the extra morning for the enthusiast did not warrant those two items.

 

No regrets. My 06 base does fine in the rain. JUst have to drive careful on bad weather conditions with or with out LSD. Plus the 06 has HIDs ...

 

NO regrets here either. 06 base. First of all, i'm cautious as hell anyway driving in the rain and most ppl should know how much throttle ur car needs w/o spinning out. but i can't lie... i'm pretty paranoid w/a rearwheel-nonTC-highpowered vehicle so i'm extra careful.as for cruise control... i love driving too much to cruise.