A few years back I ran several back-to-back runs at our local dragstrip with and without traction control to compare. Traction control slowed me down by .75 second! I NEVER use traction control at the track knowing this and turn it off every time I start my car.

 

I had a 2003 Maxima a few years back. 255-HP 3.5 engine, 6-speed manual, limited slip front diff. Was great in a straight line (the torsen/helical gear LSD should be std on all FWD cars) but had dreadful handling, bordering on dangerous. Cheap-a$$ swing axle in the rear in lieu of a real independent suspension. In fact the whole car reeked of cheapness! Worst car I ever owned, and I've owned about 30 so far. Maybe it was the previous owner, I bought it used at 70k miles in 2006.

Oh and it consumed about a quart of oil every 1000 miles, not an unheard-of problem from what I read on the Maxima forums. That car epitomized how a car can look good on stats/paper but be disappointing to live with. I'll never consider Nissan again. POS poorly design cars.