I'm in So Cal and all the enthusiast model in manual are gone.

How about picking up a base model. I know that the LSD is not great but does it matter for someone that doesn't race?

 

It's fine if you want a car that you can just drive around for fun. No serious racing or anything.

 

I have a Base and I still have a blast driving it. Must admit, I have never driven a Z with LSD though.
Maybe I'll go this weekend and test drive one with LSD.

 

I say go for it. I have a base, and I've ran it on a road course a few times. Lots of run, but the tail does like to swing out when you get hard on the corners. Maybe you can get the base for cheaper than the enthusiast, and use the extra money to get an aftermarket diff.

Good luck either way!

 

9 out of 10 350Zs on the road have LSD. I suppose you could rationalise any purchase.

 

WOW...a chart and everything...

 

This chart gets more clever everytime you post it. I mean, what's the sample size on this study? And what's your rational? "Everyone" else didn't buy the base, so you shouldn't either! Do what everyone else is doing and you'll be happy? Give me a break. And how many people bought the touring for the lsd and not the leather and nav? Some people don't need to spend an extra 3 grand for an lsd and cruise control.

 

Sample size is 2,000. I just present the facts. You can draw any conclusions that you wish.

 

go for it...
base right here
...and installed an LSD from wrecked Z
I'm also in Socal

unless you track or have driven a high performance vehicle at its limits you aren't going to notice...and I'm not talking about canyon carving, I'm talking about actuall track events like drag autoX or other similar areas. The Base Z was placed against some other cars on a track in a recent mag and spanked them; a shelby, awd autdi TT(underpowered anyway). Anyway you won't notice on regular street driving and since that is all you're doing it isn't anything to worry about

 

What model have you decided is best you you?

 

there are lsd's on trucks but trucks arnt for the track. My point is, do your own research as to what it is and its perks. you may never track but i am sure you will want to push the vehicle hard a few times during life

 

LSD is nice, though I don't know if I ever use it. Cruise control, on the other hand... I don't think I could live without it.

 

Cruise control is for mini vans and I don't want the stock VLSD anyway....but don't listen to me I'm just rationalizing my purchase.

 

I have a base and have driven a couple 350zs with LSDs and I would say the biggest difference would be the turning characteristics. In my base the tail end is a little less predictable and less controllable. In a 350z with an LSD I was better able to control a slide/drift whereas the base is a little harder. By the way parking lots are more fun with an LSD However the additional cost of the Viscous LSD in the other trim levels could be put towards a much better performing mechanical LSD installed on a base.

 

Just buy a damn LSD. $800 at thenismoshop.com

 

as far as i know vlsd (stock) is worthless anyway... so waht is the problem here? if you whant a real race car performance, get a quaife or carbonetics lsd.

and who cares about how many vlsds nissan sold? a base z is a better choice for someone who wants to mod. why should anyone look at how many other cars are out there? i get what i like, not what the mass population likes. you might as well add a camry column to that graph...

 

i previously had a base model for almost 2 years and didn't notice any difference
until i took a corner a little too hard and the back kicked out and totaled the Z. Now i have a touring and i feel a little safer knowing the vlsd is there if i get in that situation again someday. I was never in a wreck before this last one and consider myself a safe driver but you are talking about a sports car and every once in awhile your going to want to have fun and its a good feeling knowing you have a little extra safety in the car.

 

No offense, but this sounds like pure operator error. I have a base and yes, it's a little less forgiving at the limit. Your driving habits should reflect that. The open diff is noticeable only when you really push the car to the limit. My suggestion is that if you're going to push the car to the limit on the street, you really should get very familiar with it in a safe environment first. Having the LSD helps to recover from a poor decision but if you try hard enough, no LSD will save you from the death plunge.

Just to throw this out there....after about 50K miles, the fluid in the stock VLSD (and just about all other VLSDs) looses its properties to a point where the LSD essentially becomes an open diff over time. All you LSD guys that have been driving for some time, you may be close to or already at open diff stage...you just haven't noticed

 

All this graph tells me is that I should buy an Automatic Z with leather.

 

^ i have a base Z and the only problems i've encounter with the open diff is getting stuck on driveways that are too step.