Hmm, everyone raves about traction control saving them, etc. I've never had a problem with my base and I always kept TC off on all the other performance vehicles I've owned. My TC is my right foot...

 

i have a 06 base and i dont miss it. dont get me wrong, i usualy go 1st 3rd 5th in the rain, but i dont want traction, its funny and ive heard bad things

 

i got a base, which i don't drive in winter months, but in the rain, you should drive careful enough that you really don't need the traction if you had it. Me, no regrets whatsoever.

 

how do you guyd go about making turns (at what speed) in dry/wet .. on a rainy day, going 80mph, would it be ok to switch 3 lanes quickly in the freeway or will it hydroplane?

 

Is that a serious question?

Yeah, no problem crossing 3 lanes of traffic at 80mph in less than 300feets, in pourring rain with semis everywhere. Cuz' I got VDC so I'm invulnerable!

6swhite350z, TCS and an aftermarket LSD is two different things. Tzuten is right, electronics are pretty useless if the driver doesn't use his car's power wisely.

 

 

ya sorry for that stupid question.. just never driven a 300hp rear wheel drive car before without traction control and what not

 

Just be smooth and take it extra slow. Sometimes, what we feel is extra slow is still too fast...

I was uneasy too the first times I drove my Z. Went from a 165hp AWD car to 300hp RWD. No more flooring it blindly!

Listen to your car, the sounds, the vibrations, the torque in the steering (lighter = loosing front grip). Try to minimise your inputs, either steering, gas or brakes.

Look far ahead, remembering to follow your lane (ie don't cut straight thru traffic!) and above all, look where you WANT to go, not where the car is sliding to. This is how people drive their car into the single lamp post of a deserted road. They slid and focused on the one obstacle they didn't want to hit... and hit it.

 

i had a 1994 3000gt N/A.. so that was 222hp, but front wheel drive.. not sure if it had traction control or anything...? whatever, that was my first car, handled good for what it was..

now have a 2005 altima 2.5s... 175hp front wheel drive.. dont know if it has traction control either...? whatever, probably doesnt need it..

also a 2005 rx8.. rear wheel drive, 238hp.. but it has DSC. no slipping or sliding or anything..

ive test driven an 06 350z base.. warm day, no rain.. it was awesome - just doin all my hw now before i buy it in june

 

As long as you understand traction and the dynamics of RWD you will be fine.

The 350z is a very safe car, and the base model is no exception.

 

bought my enthusiast used for about $1000 more then an equivalant base model in terms of condition, year and mileage. for that 1k i got

1. LSD
2. Xeon headlights
3. TCS
4. Homelink (i use it everyday to open the gates to my neighborhood)
5. Cruise Control

NO brainer for me, it was worth every penny more then a base.

 

i dont need homelink.. and i never use cruise control.. and i believe the 06 base comes with xenon headlights (someone correct me if im wrong).. the only reason im considering the enthusiast over the base is for LSD and TCS.. this is gona be my daily driver.. approx 350 miles a week

 

06 base model indeed has xenon lights. You dont need homelink.. and don't care about using cruise control.. then Base Z is all you need. (remember the base is the lightest of all)

 

Yeah, but keep in mind the '06 base is a lot heavier than the previous years.

Either way you go it's a good deal, you can't really go wrong.

 

Nope, 3000GT didn't have traction control. I had a 98SL, so I know. Actually reading this thread on this forum to make my own decision on purchasing a used 350Z. Leaning towards the base, thanks to this thread, as I will definitely mod the thing, but the other models seem to really have nice add-ons straight from factory. What's the price differences between all models (base, enthusiast, touring, etc.)?

 

i noticed some people complaining about their factory sound system on this forum. i'm gonna guess the trim was enthusiast. cuz i just got an enthusiast as a rental from hertz (they actually got the car for me from nissan i think cuz they usually don't have Z's for rentals). but i did notice that my base had a much more crisp sound. i could be wrong but i don't hear much sound/music coming from the front speakers n tweeters of the enthusiast. i'm gonna miss not having the controls on the steering wheel and the auto-dimming rearview mirror when i get my base back but i'm still very happy with it.

 

Look at it on the broght side, you can install a MOMO wheel no ploblema.

 

+1

Direct driver control FTW.

I never want power steering, windows, seats, doors, air conditioning, traction control, ABS. Never. Maybe A/C sometimes, but when it's on, you sure as heck know.

 

haha never thought of it that way... plus HOW FAR IS YOUR HAND FROM THE VOLUME CONTROL ANYWAY!? man we're getting lazy.

 

for the new 06... . they are priced as follows:
base: 27650
enthusiast: 29350
touring: 32450
track: 34550
grand touring: 35,580

these are just MSRPs. you can get them for hella cheaper. for the new 06 base, ive seen them go for 25,888. enthusiast for about 27,900 or 28000

shop around for the new 06s, they have a lot of upgrades

as far as used pricing, depends on the trim, and mileage. but most people selling them dont get what they want. just check ebay, about 80% of the Z's dont get sold b/c they are asking too much. better off financing a 06 base, IMO

and me.. i started this thread.. and i think im gona go with the enthusiast. im not gona mod the car, so i can care less about the mod-friendly factor. just need tints, clear bra, pop charger, and MAYBE exhaust (but highly doubt it). I mainly want the enthusiast for the traction control and VDC.. im not gona put a price on safety. though I am a good driver, others are not, and others cause me to swerve around them, come to a panic stop, etc, and i cant afford to give up my life, my passenger's life, or just crash my car in the first place

sorry for the long reply, but hope it helps