Ok its time, I will hopefully have a Z within a month. Is it better to get a base and add aftermarket LSD or just get the enthusiat with stock lsd. If you have an enthusiast is it harder to put in an aftermarket lsd because of electronics? Thanks

 

I went with the base and will probably be adding LSD (+ a 3.9 FD ) within the next few months. You can swap in a better aftermarket LSD for the price of the difference between a base and enthusiast (or a little more depending on which LSD you go with).

Thats said you can certainly get away with out LSD in a regular street car.

 

I said no to the base and a big yes to the enthusiast, the reason being not only the factory LCD but I like the steering wheel mounted controls and cruise control (although very rarely used). Also even though you add LSD it's still registered as a base and will also be sold as a Base, so to get your money back you would have to remove the LSD and sell it by it's self if you ever sold the Z. it's your car and your Cash so do what feels right.

Cheers

Kevin

 

Thats what I was thinking, for the price difference of the cars wouldnt it be better to get the base and AM LSD. I think I saw one of the vendors selling cusco for under 1200. Does anyone know if an LSD is a pain in the *** to put in.

 

Personally I'm going to have mine professionally installed. I don't know about your abilities but I don't think I have the experience or the equipment to do it myself.

As for the other options in the enthusiats package I've never used the cruise control on any car I've had and I'm planning to keep the car for a pretty long time so futur sale wasn't a huge issue for me.

 

I got the Enthusiast over the Base for 2 main reasons:

1) HID's
2) VLSD

BTW, at the time it was only about $1000-1500 more to go from the Base to Enthusiast. People on this forum will probably complain about the factory VLSD for being "not so great (for racing)" but i think for normal owners and power levels it does the job.

 

From what I've read installing an after-market LSD is not more difficult to when dealing with a model that already has one. Regardless of putting an after-market LSD into a Base or Enth.. chances are you will not get your money out of it unless you uninstall it when selling... but my focus now is while I'm driving the car and how it performs while I own it.

FYI, I have a base and am going with the Central 20 3.9 and the Cusco 1.5 LSD, both of which I bought brand new at very good deals in the classifieds section (hint hint). There are some great vendors on this site as well.

 

LSD has nothing to do with electronics.

 

Also, HID is standard in all 06 and 07 models.

 

Enthusiest all the way. Cruise control keeps you from getting tickets when cruising, or coming home from the clubss, saved my a$$ more than once.

 

Enthusiast:

LSD, TCS, Cruise Control & Audio System Controls On The Steering Wheel, HomeLink Universal Transceiver, Cross-Drilled Aluminum Pedals.

 

To the other points raised...
TCS may prove helpful but I've had no problems yet (knock on wood). Adding bigger stickier tire and LSD will help, but it's no substitute.

I drove my firends Altima that has steering wheel controls and I accidentally hit them all the time... it drove me nuts so no regrets there.

I never use cruise control. I like to actually drive my car.

I do wish I had homelink but I've read that the mirror rattles like crazy and it's something you can buy later. If you have no garage... no need.

The pedals are nice and the Nissan ones are a pain to install after the fact but there are lots.. and I mean lots of after-market alternatives.

I'm not hatin the enthusiast.. that what I actually wanted originally. But no regrets over getting a base.

 

True, but at the time i was shopping for an '05. Is the OP buying new or used?

 

^Dunno.. that's why I threw it out there.

 

To the Enthusiast Model.
+LSD
+TCS
+AUDIO CONTROLS ON STEERING WHEEL
+CRUIZE CONTROL
+ALUMINUM PEDALS
+A FEW OTHER FEATURES

Can't go wrong!!

 

I went with base. I actually traded in my is250 for it. I hear you can get a better aftermarket LSD for less than the price difference.

Steering Wheel controls, I like it on my IS250 but that was an automatic and I like to hear the engine sing so I don't really use it that much.

Cruise control, had it in all my previous cars and I don't think I ever used it for more than 5 minutes, even on 4+ hour vacation drives.


Biggest reason for going base, I cannot stand any type of electronic stability control.

 

This thread has been done 100 times before. Good to see that nobody has changed their mind yet. I still prefer the lighter base over the enthusiast. I don't like VLSD and I would not use cruise control even if I had it. It made no sense for me to get an enthusiast. Once the car is paid off and no longer my daily driver, I will start making it less streetable and more fun. No sense in paying for extras that I will not use and eventually remove anyway. I got what suited me best, and you should do the same.

 

It's a personal perference. I went base because in '04 the enth model only had the speed controls in the steering wheel on the right side. It was not balanced looking. Now, for -06 ^ it might be a consideration.



It looked better without it and this is an in town or mountain road car for me.
Never use cruise control on this one.

I take my Firebird on long runs and it does have cruise control.

As for the LSD. I'm going with Quaife $1460 http://www.forgedperformance.com/sto...cat=261&page=1 and since I have a BASE I do not have to buy an optional flange kit/stub axles etc... as I would with the factory LSD.

I like my stock headlights a lot and they are cheaper to replace when they go out. I do plan on adding driving lights to fry the night sky. That will be only a $100 or so.

 

It all depends on personal preference IMO. I choose the Base model because I knew I was going to mod the car and it is lighter.

 

Good link thats a good price.