Hey, I've been a member for a little bit but this is my first post. Awhile ago I was looking for a new car to buy and decided against a Z. I ended up getting a '03 RSX-S for money reasons. Anyway, I test drove a Z on Saturday and it was quite a bit different than my RSX. I am seriously considering upgrading to a 350Z now that my money situation is a little better. My real question concerns trim level. I would like to hear from owners of Base and Enthusiast models mainly. Is there a real advantage to going with the enthusiast? Are the Hids & limited slip worth the extra couple G's? Do you owners of Base models regret it in anyway? Is the LSD really that big of a deal? I dont plan on doing any racing(strip or track) or anythng. Thanks for any input you guys can give me. I dont wanna do somethign I'll regret again so I'm trying to do all my research beforehand this time.

-Mike

 

if your not racing, you wont miss LSD, only you can put a price tag on TCS, cruise control, HID, and homelink. thats what your getting or giving up besides LSD for I think ~2000$.

 

do a search, this topic has been discussed several times. lots of info on here.

 

Hmmmm. I don't have a garage, so homelink isnt important. I don't have any kind of traction control on my car now, so I dont think I'll be missing that. (of course my car is front wheel drive, so maybe that makes a little difference) I never use cruise control. I wish my car had an LSD now, but again its also a front wheel drive car, so its really more of a taking care of tourque steer issue. Which wouldnt be a problem in a Z. I would like to have HIDs. Sorry for the long posts. I'm really just thinking out loud.

 

I really would spend the extra 10 bucks more or so a month and get the enthuziast. Im from the N. Suburbs of Chicago and can tell you right now that your gonna need that Traction Control BIGTIME.

 

thats sorta what i was thinking too, thanks.

 

IMO, for the $2k, you get so much more than the Base model, that it's worth the extra money. For that matter, there's another thing to consider - the next price point break for the money is the Performance model, at about $1.5-2k more than the Enthusiast. Whether the 18" wheels (non-Track), VDC, and Tire Pressure monitoring is worth yet another $2k is up to you. There are times when I wish I could have just added the Tire Pressure monitoring, but not anything else.

Good luck with your decision. I don't regret getting an Enthusiast at all.

 

if ur still on the budget, u should get the base and mod to your liking in the future (eg. LSD, lights, turbo, etc.) fun fun.

 

Thanks for your insight guys. Actually I found what I think is a pretty good deal on an Enthusiast. 500 above invoice. I think I will probably go for that. I actually started another thread about it. Now, all I gotta do is decide if I want to take on another ~$100 a month over my RSX.

Thanks again
-mike

 

Don't go base, you will miss the HIDs

 

Get the enthusiast for sure. Dont make that mistake

 

i posed the same ques. on a diff. site an they all said the same thing they are saying here about the enthusiast model. that is the trim level i'm getting. looking foward to april.

 

i have a base and wish i had a enth model. Not that there is anything wrong with base, i love it. I got it cause im an impatient **** and i coudnt wait for an enthusiast in 6sp to come in. The extra stuff that comes with the enth models seems to be worth more than the extra 2k in price

 

Only thing I would've wanted from the Enthusiast on my Base would be HIDs. I don't know why Nissan cheaped out on the Base and installed HIDs on the other four trims.

If you think you'll have traction problems, you won't, at least in rain. I live in Florida and get a good share of rain and thunderstorms. Never have I lost traction (I also enjoy speeding in rain for some reason), only thing I can worry about is hydroplaning, but TCS won't do anything much there (at least I think).

I'd say go for the Enthusiast because you're getting a very very good deal at $500 over invoice. My Base loaded at MSRP was more than that.

 

i just got mine this past weekend... and my base came to $25,200 and they had to locate a daytona blue from some place far.

 

that didnt come out right, I was implying that you would probably end up paying more for the HIDs later, or wishing you had them so get them now. Plus traction control but it depends where you live. Either choice is a good one cause its a Z

 

yea, I think I would be more happy with a Enthusiast also. Thanks for your info guys.

 

I just purchased an entusiast model 4 days ago and in retrospect would have deply regreted going with the base model I originally planed on. For the extra money you get the most value of any other package in my opinion and if your spending the money on an awsome car like this do it with no regrets.

I have not tested the LSD diff. as my engine is still breaking in but the lights are way cool. ALSO, I live in sunny San Diego with perfect weather and the TCS works great with handling. I thought it would be a annoying but it has saved me a couple times while screaming around corners with loose material on the road.

 

can you turn the TCS off in the Enthusiast?

 

yes, its a button off to the left of the steering wheel