New to forum: Need ADVICE!

[Chadi]

My Car:

350Z 2006 Hatchback (no navigation / no bose system)

Desires (Advice Needed Here):

- smoothest, slickest clutch / shifter available- hottest NON-blingbling rims preferrably with 19" tires (like the one shown here (http://www.350zclub.org)- awesome stereo / speaker system with surround sound, navigation, dvd player.

For the stereo, I need best quality stereo, speakers, amplifier. It must be mp3 capable, dvd able and navigation I don't care for, but do not mind getting.

My car is blue, same as in the picture shown in the link above.

Budget is not a problem. Please share your suggestions. I don't care for boom boxes or giant amplifiers. I really want a nice stereo that looks clean and crisp like the factory one, even though the factory one's quality is poor. I don't want it to look cheesy and mis-matching the car's interior like 99% of the systems do.

Here's something I need to know. Why the heck is the VW 2006 Jetta Sport (exactly what I drove the other day) has such as sweet shifter and clutch in comparison to the 350z Enthusiast (my car) which costs at least $5k more? I'm not understanding this at all. Am I missing something about why Nissan did it this way?

[Exar-Kun]

Sick CLutch: Exedy hyper single - $1600 match with a B&m SHort shifter kit.WHeels: NISMO LM GT4, ADVAN RG or HRE - the wheels you see are Enkei...nice but heavy. If you got unlimited funds, stick to BBS, HRE, ADVAN or NISMO/Rays... form+function.*Make sure you get good tires...*Stereo- no idea...to me stereo's are just additional weight...if I could make a light-weight stereo I would.

Welcome to NICO and let me know if you have more questions

-Chet

[Chadi]

What is a good, fair price reliable place to buy this online?

I found such....

Clutch:http://phase2motorsports.store....html

Shifter:http://www.slickcar.com/produc...=4241

Please understand I have zero technical knowledge of cars when it comes to modifying things. I appreciate your help.

I'm from Long Island (Suffolk, close to Nassau) so is there any way for me to find unbiased, reliable reviews of local shops that do this stuff?

[bmike818]

Here's something I need to know. Why the heck is the VW 2006 Jetta Sport (exactly what I drove the other day) has such as sweet shifter and clutch in comparison to the 350z Enthusiast (my car) which costs at least $5k more? I'm not understanding this at all. Am I missing something about why Nissan did it this way?

I am a new 2007 350Z owner , I had a 2002 RSX type-S. I love the way my old car shifted. I never felt any vibrations on my shifter, it was so smooth that with your hand on the gear shift you wouldnt be able to tell if the engine was on except for the tach. The Z on the other hand, my hand would go numb if I kept it on the shifter. After 3 weeks I must say, I do appreciate the way they made the transmission. Beefy is the best way I can describe it.

[evildky]

you have to remember in FWD cars the shifter simply hooks to 3 foot linkage taht hooks to the transmission, in a Z the shifter goes into the trans, that being said, I have found B&M shifters to be of much higher quality and smoother operation than the cheaper knockoff companies such as obx, as for the clutch click the link in my sig, great customer service, some of the best prices I have found and all quality products, and while you're doing the clutch a lightweight flywheel is nly logical

[Exar-Kun]

I prefer Phase2 for my purcahses....for those items they don't carry, I would look at SPL parts or intense power. I can vouch for the customer service of all three.

If you're new to modifying a car, why are you starting with a clutch? THe stock clutch on the Z is very good, and won't require modification until you get to around 400hp from my understanding. That said, the exedy is a full-on upgrade over stock, asit includes a forged steel and lighter weight flywheel (18lbs IIRC, stock is 28 or 32), which will help with engine repsonse and off-throttle deceleration. It will sacrafice smoothness (revvs) and other small things because the stock dual-mass flywheel was meant to make shifitng/daily driving easier.

I would also graba NISMO exhaust and a decent intake (JWT, ARC, or NISMO) to bmp up the power and engine sound a little...

Happy modifying.

-Chet