Hello,

I have been looking around for a Z and I have found myself asking myself this question: Do I want a new '04 enthusiast or a used '03 Touring? The prices for these tend to be close to each other between 28-29 most of the time.

While the leather and the bose are nice, I dont think they are absolutely necesssary adn I could always get them later. What I am mostly concerned about is the transmission on the cars.

Does anybody see a difference or a preference here?

 

Nissan is honoring their factory warranties very well. This is waay to personal of a decision for me to say more than this.

For me...personally, I like to buy very slightly used. Makes me feel like I got more for my money. I am picky about the car that I buy too. I bought my Performance for a good discount at the time. It had 6K miles on it and was owned by an older doctor who decided he didnt like how small it was. He sold it and bought a Grand Cherokee.

 

I'd personally go with the new enthusiast. I found an '03 Track for the same price as a new '04 Ent. Just reading the problems that a lot of board members had with the '03's, I decided to go with the '04.

Just my .02.

 

I also went with the 04 vs the 03 just because I like the idea of making sure the break in period is treated right.

 

I went slightly used 03. Picked up a fully loaded Touring with 14k on it for $25,800 at a Nissan dealer. Aero package and all... The previous owner was a middle aged man who upgraded to pathfinder for size, not a mark on the car.

Of course i think the snow we are getting helped with my deal, other dealers are still asking 30k for used Tourings.

 

Id do the touring. No offense to anyone who has them, but i think the 17" wheels make the Z look terrible... so if you do get the Enth., Id swap the wheels before I even put a second take of gas in it...

 

Go new I say. Go new!

 

I totally agree with that one. Plus tire pressure is nice

 

IMO I like the 17's better than the 18's(not the Rays).The 17's have the 3 squares that go witht he Z logo and door handles and the 18" are Maxima wheels.I would rather have larger wheels but I perfer the style of the 17's better.The tire presure guage would be nice though.

 

I got a used 2003 Touring Model 6 speed...Black, with Orange leather interior...aero package and every available option with 4K miles on it for $30,000 @ 2.9% financing...75 thousand mile bumper to bumper warranty.......

 

I thought only the perf. came with tire pressure gauges... ??

 

performance, touring, track all come with tire pressure monitors

 

i agree as well something about those 17 inchers that just isnt appealing, the 18 inch 6 apokes look much better. My dealer traded mine out when I bought my enthusiast with a slightly used performance demo. 4th car I've purchased from them.

 

Go with the new Enthusiast. Same engine & drive train as Touring; just fewer bells/whistles.

This is a no brainer in my opinion.

 

some of the options that a touring has and IMO, that makes the touring a better bargain than the Track model:
leather
power seat
heated seat

A Track doesnt have all this but the brembos and rays, which if you add up, the above cost would be more than the brembos and rays

if compared to an Enthusiast, there are alot more

 

new enthusiast, get after market leather if you love leather.

For that matter, I would get a used enthusiast, after market leather, after market stereo and a supercharger if I had to do it all over again.

 

If it's a touring in good shape and has low miles (<10k), get it. The 2004s have almost all of the same problems as the 2003s...and any problems you do have (save for feathering) Nissan will fix.

Enthusiasts are a great deal, but I think in the long run the touring model will be more desireable b/c of its added equipment.

People will call them just bells and whistles...but hell, everyone these days expects bells and whistles.

No brainer.


NzZ

 

i would go for the new enthu.
but then again you should think about whether or not you're gonna get aftermarket stuff for your car. if you're gonna go aftermarket then get the enthu. , but if you are gonna keep your car stock then get the touring.

 

I definitely like leather and better sound system but they essentially add 2-3kk from enthusiast to Touring. Dealers aren't really budging on prices for these cars... Luckily I am not in a rush and can take my time, and probably make my purchase the first half of January (going on vacation to Puerto Rico ) I have walked out of 3 dealerships already, its a good feeling to be able to say see you later.

BtW, does anybody know how January is in terms of car sales? any bargaining power there?

 

6MT or 5AT? I personnally like new cars. I'd go for the Enth., however, if it's a 6MT, what about a Performance? If it's a 5AT, the comment about 17" wheels is not apropos, both will have 17" wheels.

Lou