So I know there are some touring vs track threads out there already. I've dived into those, but haven't seen answers to some of the questions I had, plus I'm in a bit of a unique situation with the way they rolled ou the 2005 models. Let me explain...

I previously owned a 2000 honda civic si. It was a fun little car for its life. I was planning to sell it eventually and get the Z, but not just yet. Well, turns out some dude coming home from bible study fell asleep and hit it while I was parked at a friend's house, resulting in it being totalled.

Insurance got back to me today and cut me a nice check (especially since I figured they'd screw me) which I am going to use to finally put that down payment on the Z. This brings me to where I'm at now.

Up until tonight I was set - I was going to start dealing with the dealerships, and order a 2005 track since they're not released until january or february.

However, after reading some reviews on edmunds, I'm starting to think otherwise due to the apparently overly stiff ride that's attributed to the track, and not the touring (even though the only major difference is the tires in terms of ride apparently? Odd.).

So here's my row of questions, any advice much appreciate:

1.) Has anyone test driven a track and a touring and what was your experience in terms of ride?

2.) Has anyone test driven a track and a non-track with 18" wheels and what was your experience against each other in terms of ride?

3.) Does the touring have leather seats or a full blown leather interior?

4.) Do you think that extra 13 hp is going to make a difference on the track? I know the torque is reduced so i'm wondering if there is a tradeoff.

5.) What would *you* do in this situation? I know opinions will vary. I can burrow a friend's beater pickup for 100 bucks until the Track comes in if I choose this. Or I can have a touring probably in my hands by the end of the month (i just wish they had the track wheels on it, damnit!).

 

I thought about buying a track...i love the look of the Rays rims...but they aren't even big enough to properly accomodate the upgraded tire size...so I would end up replacing them anyway. Then there was the brembo braking system which was great, but not worth the premium it costs considering I could get some great Stoptech fronts for $1900...and those brakes are really only a benefit to track drivers anyway.

As for the touring, I bought it because I like having factory leather, the heated seats, and the premium (if you can call it that) stereo. If those things don't appeal to you don't buy it.

Personally I'd rather have the lower hp motor. The Z gets pretty noisy up high...it's a car where 99% of the time you enjoy the torque more than the total hp. My guess is that performance will remain the same.

If you really have to have it all, get the 35th anniversary which will have the high hp motor, the brembos, and leather/bose.

NzZ

 

I've test driven both... About to acquire a 04.5 Track one.

I liked the leather seats of the Touring (I was used to them from my G35c), but I did not want leather since its damaged easier. The cloth seats are very nice for cloth. Heated seats are useless in SoCal, I don't know about yourself. The Bose in the 350Z sounds worse than the non-Bose, as I can hear VOCALS coming out of the "sub". I am upgrading the audio system so I don't want the hassle of the Bose "upgrade". Finally, I am not a fan of the non-Track 18" wheels, and I love the Track 18" forged wheels, I don't plan to change them to aftermarket. Finally, the 350Z doesn't look right without the Brembos to me, since I'm so used to them on my G35c. It's easy to mod your car with the same amount of money, but it won't necessarily add to the value of your car, like having the car fully loaded from factory would...

The ride quality wasn't too different, the leather seats were a tad more comfortable. The Track felt a bit quicker to me, maybe my imagination, but it does have a little less weight, and lighter wheels. There is no full blown leather interior, just leather seats.

I think the extra 400 RPM will be nice, but reduced torque will be missed. I plan on getting an 04.5 Track, so I can get OEM nav with it though.

If you can't decide, I believe the 35th anniversary editions will have all the Touring options, plus Brembo, along with new 18" wheels (non-forged). Comes in three colors? Watch out for a ridiculous dealer mark up though. I wouldn't be suprised if they were selling for 45K or more.

 

If i could only get an 04.5 track myself, i may be set. Trying to find one (new) is difficult.

 

Less peak torque, however it's generating more torque at 6400 rpms, than the standard engine does at 6200 rpms.

 

I think differences in the models is an exercicse in hair splitting.

I'd go with the touring & get on with driving.

 

I'll chime in here and say I was never a fan of leather seats. In particular, i did NOT want them in my Z (leather just ends up looking old FAST, i always thought).

however, now that i have a new 04.5 touring, i love them. They're a little more comfortable, and they help the car feel just a little more upscale.

Also, to answer your question, i believe it's just the seats that are leather (and power adjusted), nothing else is different from the cloth interiors...

The other thing that I was pretty sure i didn't want was the Navi. however, the only Le Mans Sunset that the dealer could get had it, so i took the plunge. And just like the leather, within 10 minutes of owning the car i realized just how damned cool it is. Navi rocks. (and you can't get navi on the track, can you?)

 

Cool - thanks for the info. Nah you can't get navi on track but i honestly wasn't planning on getting the OEM one anyways. Looking at getting the alpine...

 

You can get the nav on the Track up to 04.5 only. The new 05 ones will not have navs.

 

I have an '04 Track with just a few thousand miles on it. I looked at it this way: a brake upgrade on a Touring is going to cost you *at least* 3K installed, and that's cheap. A wheel upgrade will be anywhere between 2 and 3.5K, not including tires. The Aero kit on the track is pretty mellow, but it's something to get you started. I didn't want leather because like others have said, leather just starts looking old too quickly, and cloth grips better.

On the down side, with the exception of the brakes, I will have replaced everything unique to the track package by mid-summer. The plus to this is that wheels, wing, etc. all have a resale value that helps offset the cost of upgrades.

BTW, if you're interested in a set of like-new Track wheels with low mileage RE040's on 'em, I'll have a set for sale in early spring at a really good price. Keep in touch!

 

For me the best bang for the buck was to buy the tour and replace the Blows system. Very happy, never looked back.

 

I have a Touring 6 speed with Navigation.

You get heated mirrors, heated seats, but most importantly power seats.

I dont have to reach under the seat to move it anymore.

I think you just get only leather seats, everything else seems like vinyl.

Sure you get the Rays wheels and Brembo brakes on the track, but if you're sitting inside it feels like you're sitting in an enthusiast model.

The Z is such a great looking car, it looks wierd if it had a cloth interior inside.

Imagine a corvette with a cloth interior.

 

The suspension and "ride" is the same on the Track and the Touring. I think you just need to ask yourself what kind of car you want. Do you want a track car or do you want a touring car?

The Touring is great for touring. Power leather seats, upgraded stereo. It needs upgraded brakes to do well on the track, it's heavier, and leather is (IMHO) too slippery for the track; your butt slides.

The Track doesn't have the comfort amenities for touring, but it does great on the track, the Brembos and lighter wheels are really an advantage.

What kind of car do you want?

 

I ended up deciding on the track. When looking at the features of the two, the track seemed more practical to me. Don't really have a desire for an upgraded stereo - power seats while nice, are something I'm used to not having (plus I only change my seat once . Leather was what really had me going on the touring, but I could always get leather down the road for the track, where getting the rays and brembos on the touring would be more difficult. Both great trims regardless, which is why the decision was so hard!

In the process now of trying to locate a black track. Only found a few in the country so we'll see.

 

i got the base becuase its the lightest and I am probaly going to change it all at some point anyway.

 

You can get leather seats after market just as nice or better really cheap. The Bose is to oexpensive for what you get. Unless you want to keep ray wheels on track, I would get an Enth model, spend money on wheels, tires, leather and have a better looking car for less money. If you really want those brembo's, get track model and sell rays for 2K and buy wheels.