I sold my car last year to help come up with a house down payment but now I am looking to get back into the Z market. I have a goal in mind and a few options I am looking at. I definitely want the HR engine so that locks me into 2007-08 models. I am planning to go with the GTM turbo kit.

My big question really is it a good idea to boost a Base model. It seems these are abundant on the market right now and are going for fairly cheap with low mileage. I don’t mind upgrading to an aftermarket LSD, but what about traction control? Does the VDC matter that much? I don’t want to end up in a ditch once the turbos are on there. . I know my last Z had traction problems even with 275 tires out back and it was still N/A.

I don’t really care for the Bose and I can live without cruise control.

 

I'm sure if you swap in a good LSD you should be fine without traction control.

 

Welcome back. It has been awhile.

 

I miss the Z community for sure.

 

Vdc is for pu**ies anyway, imo its more of an annoyance than anything else.Base is the way to go considering most of the z add-ons suck anyway use the extra coin to add on what you want. Your better off with after market as far as the lsd so your good. Welcome back

 

What were/are your plans for a ECU? The stock unit will stop everything when it sees loss of traction. A utec will allow the same thing to happen. If you get a stand alone it may disable the system anyhow. I get the lights to come on, but no cut in power.

 

You should be fine with a Base Z. Just throw in an LSD and you're good to go.

 

Base FTW

 

Z's are low priced & plentiful lately, why not get a touring or enthusiast for your project??? Pricing is reasonable for these models also, touring will most likely have the Brembo brakes. You will wnat to stop with the FI, right???

 

Id rather go aftermarket brakes. The Brembos aren't really impressive to me. The only thing a Touring offers me over a Base is leather and VDC. I really dont think it is is worth the $3-4k spread.

 

I have an 05 base. I added a carbonetics lsd during my build. As long as you put a diff in you will be gtg. I, too, did not care about leather and cruise control when I bought my car. You could always buy a Z already built too to save money. (like mine..shameless plug)

 

I prefer the base.

I personally got the "enthusiast" back in 03 b/c I knew I was going to mod the crap out of it and didn't want to have to mess with some of those "extras" and electronics you're going to change anyway...

I hate Nissans T/C and VDC systems. they can become inhibiting and annoying.

 

Fack T/C VDC and TPS

Nothing but something to annoy you later on.

As said before, change the rear end out and be done.

 

When you go FI, If you don't plan on using Osiris (ie switch 5 different map tunes) you'll be fine...

 

I bought a Base model for the shop car on PURPOSE. I hate vdc/tcs.








edit: when i saw the author of this thread i had to do a double take

 

I was driving one day and it started pouring out. I don't normally drive my Z in rain but sometimes it just happens. Long story short I hit some standing water on the freeway and that combined with some low tread on my rear tires and I started going sideways. Maybe I could of pulled it out, maybe not but I do know VDC and Traction Control saved my a$$ that day (I could actually feel it braking the opposing front tire to straighten the car out). But yea for 99% of the time it's more of a pain and I'm now it the process of wiring in a switch so I can heat the tires up at the drag strip as you can't left foot brake while hitting the gas. Think of it this way. Some of the most powerful supercars of recent times such as the F-40 and the McLarnen F1 didn't even have ABS.

 

Wow, old poster! Welcome back. Ive been gone for a while too, but i still have my car.

IMO, Base FTW. Once you push like ~400 rwtq the stock LSD is of little help, my rear end goes left if i lay into it too hard. I turn VDC off every time i start the car so not having that feature is even better. I dont even use it in the rain.

 

Ill comment on the trac. control...I have a 03 touring and it is habit for me to turn the trac. control off soon as i start my car if its rain or shine i dont use it so really could care less if it were even there..id rather rely on my driving than for it to kick in when i need some throttle..

as far as the track just pull the brake light fuse and it allows for a standing burnout while being on the gas and brake at the same time..it bypasses the system

 

With a join date of 2002, I should know the answer to my own questions, but this is something I had not paid attention to in the past.

 

base model ftw