For anyone trolling this site that may be deciding b/w an Enthusiast 6 speed or a Touring 5 spd auto...I can give you some unbiased opinion on the two. I drove an Enthusiast 6 speed for 2 months and ended up trading in for a Touring 5 speed auto. last week. It wasn't so much for the the car than it was for the transmission...and not a problem with the car, problem with me, and my back. Having had back surgery and some problems recently, the 6 speed was more than I could tolerate in my daily commute. Very different feel than in my 6 speed Maxima.

Any how, I do miss my 6 speed Enthusiast, but I am really enjoying the auto and the manual shift mode is pretty darn good! I'd never driven one before. Now that I'm nearing my 1000 mile break-in period being over, I 'll really get into driving it the way I want. I'm very pleased with the control and similarity to a manual shift relative to how it can be driven. On average, I probably spend about half my time in auto mode and the rest in manual mode...it's good to have a choice. The upshifts obviously aren't as speedy as doing it yourself with a stick, but you can get it on up there and it responds pretty well. It's nice to have that option for when you really want to "drive" the car!

I was surprised at how some of the trim elements, i.e., the covering on the center stack, is a little nicer in the Touring...kind of like the stuff on the door is on the dash...soft touch and black unlike the hollow grayish plastic on the enthusiast. As I was searching for an auto to trade into, I wasn't necessarily going for the Touring, i would have been just as happy with another Enthusiast, but this touring was all I could find and it has it all, including Nav. Lucky for me, the color, interior and exterior, is exactly the same; so unless I tell someone, they'd never know that I got a new car! With this model, I've got all the stuff I had in my Maxima, and have to admit I am glad to get the luxo treatment again when I step into my car, but the Enthusiast is simply a great value and is much more value than the Touring...the touring is where Nissan is making a lot of extra money. The Bose system in the Touring is much richer and clearer, and stronger than the stock in the Enthusiast, as you'd expect, but I was going to replace that anyway. I'm not convinced the leather seats are an improvement over the cloth version in the Enthusiast, at this point, they are just different. I almost prefer the grippy cloth over the slick leather, although it is easier to flip around to get out of the car in the leather seats! The cloth just really helps to keep you planted; and in this car, that is kind of important. The Touring does have good bolstering though, you'd think the seat would feel exactly the same, but somehow, it doesn't, and it's more than just the leather in place of cloth. One plus though is the heated seats...I did miss that and am glad to have it again!!

But other than the extra amenities, everything is about the same. For some reason, the Enthusiast seemed to feel more sporting, and maybe it has more to do with the manual shift action. But I really liked the Enthusiast model and if you can live without leather, can do your own sound system upgrade, and don't need Navigation, get the Enthusiast, pop your own sound system...and spend the $6k premium on something for your house!

I lost a couple grand in the transaction, if you can believe that, but I didn't want to take the time to sell my existing car and take a chance that I'd be able to track another one down when I was ready. And, I really couldn't wait any longer for physical reasons. I guess at my age and having had some luxurious, and sporting cars in my past, I really am more suited to the touring model because of all the goodies. But had my Enthusiast been an auto from the start, I could have lived with it for the next 10 years. I've said before and I'll say it again, the premium for the Touring really is not well justified in my opinion, but I'll have to say it is a nice ride.

I guess I'm rambling 'cause it's late; but I thought I'd just share a few things since I'm probably fairly unique in that I'm on my 2nd roadster and figured someone out there might appreciate some simple comparison comments. If you have any more specific questions...just shoot me a PM.

 

I appreciate your comments zmann.

I'm looking to trade in the coupe for a roadster and have been debating on the $2200-2500 extra (all options except Nav, on both @ MSRP) that I would have to pay for the touring. I may just go with the touring because that's what I have right now but, that's about a $60-80 difference a month between the touring and enthu. ZR.I may just end up with the Enthusiast and add the nissan leather seats later on which I think are $800 . Thanks again for your review

 

Do you think its better to spend the $1,200 for the factory 18" wheels or take the 17s and buy after market wheels?

 

Hey Ralph, kinda depends on your long/short term objectives, budget and best deal you can get from dealer. But, I ordered the 18" on a LS Roadster, due in Feb. Mainly because if I do decide to upgrade to aftermarkets, I can do either with 17 or 18. Probably won't upgrade till I see another roadster in the area. Based on my plans for car, most likely will stay with pretty good looking set of 18 from factory. My $0.02 worth.

 

The 18's sell on the ebay for less than the 1200 and then you could sell your 17's on Ebay for like 500.00 you should net paying about $500 that way. That is $700 less, but it is CASH not finance.

I still have my 17's but, they are to small for the power of the car.

 

Thanks for the comments Zmann. I was all set to order a touring, when an enth came in to the dealer in the color I wanted (LS). It has the 17in wheels, and, although I really wanted 18's, heated leather ORANGE seats, and a better stereo, I took it because a) didn't have to wait, b) I talked the dealer out of their markup, and got it for MSRP, c) figured the lower monthly payment would be a nice bonus, and d) I figured I could put the savings to upgrading leather, wheels, stereo whatever. Now that I have it, I have absolutely no regrets.

Actually, I like the style of the 17's better then the 18's, even though they are kinda small. In fact, I like the cloth so much, I decided not to put in leather, for now anyway. And I find the stereo to be adequate, again, for now. The one thing I was still considering changing in the nearer future is the wheels, but to tell the truth, I think the 17's look pretty cool, so I probably won't even do that-- it would be a big chunk of change, and I don't know if the satisfaction would offset the expense. Plus I feel kinda nutty about having a nice set of alloy Rays just laying around, gathering (not brake) dust.

I have not seen another LS ragtop in this town yet, so I really get a charge out of the feeling of uniqueness and individuality the car gives me, even stock. Although that is not why I bought it, it's a cool side effect. I bought because I have never had a fun-to-drive sporty car (was too poor 'till now), and, man, is this ever that! Every time I put my foot down I think, and sometimes actually say aloud, "Awww, man, sweeeeet."

 

that's awesome! I really like the LS roadster's. Thanks for the feedback. Get out and enjoy your ride...I've only seen 1 LS roadster in this area (middle Tenn.). It is most definitely rare.
srm