 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Car Forum / Nissan / Nissan Z Cars / June 2005350Z Performance or Enthusiast?
Friends, Help. Please advise me? See, I'm about to buy a '05 Enthusiast 6spd and before I do, I suddenly ask myself "Why not the Performance model?" Well, yeah there *is* that $2,000. But though this car has great bang-fer-buck, I'll always miss that great turbo-lurch from a 300TT. While awaiting the turbo, maybe it'd be dumb for me to miss a safe chance to make it better? (That is, short of "Track" model or custom mods.) So I want to know just what should I expect from this VDC electronic stabilization feature? Not like my old HICAS, I undertsnad...it's for safety? for fun? more nimble? Nissan has it standard in their SUV's, so maybe it feels Clunky?? Those wheels have an extra 1" diameter too- and maybe the tires are slicks that leave rubber everywhere and after every 5k miles we replace them at $300 each? Is it dopey to get a Performance? Just cuz they're harder to find, and will be harder to sell in 3 years? Thanks for reading all this. Esp if you leave some advice at all. I have an enthusiast and it is great. Yes, the performance has more goodies like the 18 inch wheels and the brembo brakes. But, when you price a brembo rotor at $500 each and the normal ones at $100 each the choice for me was easy. Also, I know there will be nissan pads available for $50 bucks a set and $150 a set for the brembo pads that was another decision factor. The only thing I regret is not getting the nav system... > Friends, > Help. Please advise me? [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > Just cuz they're harder to find, and will be harder to sell in 3 years? > Thanks for reading all this. Esp if you leave some advice at all. John, don't tease me! Tell me instead what difference (if any) the VDC electronic stabilization system makes? Do you turn it on or off, depending on conditions ? Can you feel if it makes the car drive differently? Do you like it? "The only thing I regret is not getting the nav system..." Oh, come off it! Why do feel that way? -Pham John, don't tease me! Tell me instead what difference (if any) the VDC electronic stabilization system makes? Do you turn it on or off, depending on conditions ? Can you feel if it makes the car drive differently? Do you like it? "The only thing I regret is not getting the nav system..." Oh, come off it! Why do feel that way? -Pham I enjoy flying around corners and the VDC sucks as does traction control. There is nothing like taking the Z out on the twisties bareback with no electronic intervention. > John, don't tease me! Tell me instead what difference (if any) the > VDC electronic stabilization system makes? [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Oh, come off it! Why do feel that way? > -Pham Pham, In normal driving, you won't notice VDC. If you're doing some "spirited" driving (ie. AutoX) then you turn off VDC. You can even buy an aftermarket switch that keeps it off. VDC/TCS are mainly designed as safety controls. It will keep you from losing control in the rain or slippery conditions. Personally, I don't drive "crazy" when it's raining so I've never had the VDC kick in. I have left it on accidently during AutoX runs and had it kick in when chirping the tires between gears. If you really want to learn about the 350Z, check out some of the message boards as they are loaded with info... www.my350z.com www.350zmotoring.com www.350z-tech.com www.350zfrenzy.com  Signature> John, don't tease me! Tell me instead what difference (if any) the > VDC electronic stabilization system makes? [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Oh, come off it! Why do feel that way? > -Pham Dew: Thanks much for the advice (very to-the-point!) and also the excellent linkage: I will check them out for certain! > Pham, > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > www.350z-tech.com > www.350zfrenzy.com > I have an enthusiast and it is great. Yes, the performance has more > goodies like the 18 inch wheels and the brembo brakes. But, when you > price a brembo rotor at $500 each and the normal ones at $100 each the > choice for me was easy. Ever consider that the larger rotors are much less likely to warp so might easily be good for the life of the car? Basing your choice by $100 difference in brake pad prices on a $30,000 car seems silly at best. SignatureSteve http://www.atlantaracing.com If you enjoy driving you will eventually replace the rotors and at $500 each for Brembo that is $2000 just for rotors and only $300 for regular brake rotors. If you like to spend money that is fine. I have never had brake fade with the stock rotors and pads. However, I have already replaced the pads both front and rear at 25K. >>I have an enthusiast and it is great. Yes, the performance has more >>goodies like the 18 inch wheels and the brembo brakes. But, when you [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > easily be good for the life of the car? Basing your choice by $100 > difference in brake pad prices on a $30,000 car seems silly at best. > If you enjoy driving you will eventually replace the rotors and at $500 > each for Brembo that is $2000 just for rotors and only $300 for regular [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >> easily be good for the life of the car? Basing your choice by $100 >> difference in brake pad prices on a $30,000 car seems silly at best. You guys are confusing me now so don't you go & get angry at eachother before you explain the disagreement to me. Firstly I hear no one saying that VDC is good to have. Indeed the kindest word has been your approving that they can be turned Off... I didn't even know the VDC worked off an On/Off switch (on the dash or closeby?). It makes the car feel dull (which sucks) so what does it do that's good enough that Consumer Reports approves of it? Isn't this VDC the *main* justification for the $2,000 MSRP difference between Enth & Perf ?? It sounds like you guys would advise someone (someone like me who loves driving a 300Z-TT for 14 years) get a Enth and then add those 18" wheels and tires ("Performance" standard?) & the big Brembo brakes ("Track" standard?) Honest, I do really appreciate your bothering to tell this stranger your thoughts. (Maybe I can pay back in medical advice?) For me it was not worth the cost to go with the performance version. Brakes are one example of more cost for little return. If you are going to autocross go for the Performance Version because of the larger brakes. But for me and street driving I have had no problem with the stock units on the Enthuiast work fine. What is the price difference and is it worth it to you. There is no more horsepower with the upgrade and they just give you larger brakes and VDC. Oh, the 18 inch wheels would be nice but the 17 inch work fine. I have to say that six hours on the road in the Z was interesting when I went back out to California for a weekend. I could only imagine 18 inch wheels would make the ride even harsher. >> If you enjoy driving you will eventually replace the rotors and at >> $500 each for Brembo that is $2000 just for rotors and only $300 for [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > Honest, I do really appreciate your bothering to tell this stranger your > thoughts. (Maybe I can pay back in medical advice?) Don't forget that the Performance and Track models also come with the tire pressure monitors. Signature> For me it was not worth the cost to go with the performance version. > Brakes are one example of more cost for little return. If you are going [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > > Honest, I do really appreciate your bothering to tell this stranger your > > thoughts. (Maybe I can pay back in medical advice?) As of '05 the tire pressure monitors are standard in Enthusiast too. > If you enjoy driving you will eventually replace the rotors Why would this be true? I've had my Z for over 150,000 miles, never changed them and I beat on my Z like a red headed step child... > I have never > had brake fade with the stock rotors and pads. Doesn't mean someone else might not. > However, I have already > replaced the pads both front and rear at 25K. Hmm maybe the brembo ones last 3X as long? SignatureSteve http://www.atlantaracing.com It's the Track model that has the Brembo's not the Performance. Also, you'd be crazy to replace the pads with the Nissan pads, not unless you like brake dust all over everything. Replace them with Hawk HPS or something similar. They will cost you a lot more but the performance and low brake dust make up for the extra $$$. Signature> I have an enthusiast and it is great. Yes, the performance has more > goodies like the 18 inch wheels and the brembo brakes. But, when you [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > Just cuz they're harder to find, and will be harder to sell in 3 years? > > Thanks for reading all this. Esp if you leave some advice at all. VDC is great! Don't drive without it! VDC does not interfere with your car, unless it get out of control. I have a Touring and love my VDC!! |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.