I received my base model on Friday. I am not dissappointed at all with my decision. True, during the wait, and seeing all the posts saying Enthusiast is the minimum way to go made me wonder if I made a mistake. But I don't regret it at this point.

Someday, I may wish my car had some of the upgrades that the other trims offer. But today, and for the foreseable future, I think I'm going to be extremely happy with what I did get, and not even be thinking about what I didn't get.

Also, I now have 2K in the bank, that I can spend on mods that I know I really want, and which I know I will realize the benefit from.

 

i have a base model also. i had preordered a performance model a month ago but i just couldn't wait! they had a black base model 6 speed so i just grabbed it. i don't really regret it but imo, if you've got a little extra money, then go for the enthusiast. however, i can't get enough of my base model Z! it pulls and pulls and pulls!

 

I bought a Base Model and have no regrets. It is the lightest model (with the same hp as the track), and the stock brakes are top shelf, with the same stopping distance as the brembos. I really didn't need / want all the extra whistles and bells (although leather seats would have been nice). An $1800 navigation system may be a fun toy, but in a sports car? If I get lost I'll buy a map for a $1.95. With TT&L, the Base Model is about $10k cheaper than the Track Model, and I'm sure I can find something to do with that extra $$. No I'm not disappointed with my choice.

 

I'm with you all the way, my Base redline beat a black track model today. I almost buy a Track model myself but I thought all the things can buy with $10K. the only mod. that I will like to do is the rear spoiler and maybe the Rays wheels. the rest of the $ is for the performance parts.

 

They should cancel out the base model. It makes the Z too affordable . More seriously, I think the minimum is the Performance w/ the VDC option, which IMO is a requirement on a RWD high HP vehicle, don't argue -- just read the posts on why VDC is good. Spin control systems have saved my life more than once in my GS400 and other RWD cars I've driven.

 

I find TCS and VDC too be not necessary on 600+ RWD track cars and I've never needed them before on my other cars that are RWD. I've never once spun on a car on the street, and that includes cars with more torque then the Z has HP & Torque added together. TCS & VDC are great for people that can't drive.

I pre-ordered an enthusiast and sometimes wish I would have gone with the base. Any Z model is better then no Z at all.

 

Like we've said before, it has nothing to do with people that can't drive. It'll save your *** regardless of whether or not you can drive. Say it's wet and someone in front of you cuts you off, you are blocked off on your left lane and can only go to the right lane but that involves making a 70mph sudden lane change. Now if there's heavy traffic and you did this on a non VDC vehicle your rear end would most likely come out and you would need to compensate but what if there's traffic on the road? You wouldn't have the room to do that. Instead, if your car had VDC everything would stay in line as you cranked your steering wheel as fast as you could to get into the next lane. No fishtailing, no having to compensate. THe fact is, you can't brake individual brakes on your car like VDC can. No matter how good of a driver you are, VDC can still outdo you in an emergency situation. There's no arguing this. It's even more important on the road where you don't have the kind of space you do on a racetrack to stop understeer/oversteer/spins.

 

I got an opportunity to buy a CS Base today, but I turned it down to get the LSD on my upcoming SS Enthus. I guess I did the right thing, but I don't know if the LSD is going to matter to me that much. Why must things be so difficult?

 

*VDC is designed to help improve driving stability, but does not prevent accidents due to abrupt steering or by carelessness or dangerous driving techniques. Always drive safely.

This comes straight from the Nissan website. They always use the oversteer/understeer example to show off VDC, so I guess it wont help much, by the time it kicks in in a "abrupt steering situation", it would be too late. I'd go with performance if I had the money, but I'll let time decide.

 

I've actually watched VDC on my Lexus GS400 kick in when I've had to make emergency maneuvers before (abrupt lane changes). I know it works. The only reason Nissan put that is as a disclaimer so they don't get sued if someone DOES happen to get hurt or killed. We all know this country...