How about this for a sticker: I spend all of my free time baiting RX-8 owners about their quarter mile times, even though they could care less, since nothing else in my intellectual make up means anything to me.

It's a bit long, but then again, your car is so much bigger than ours.

Sheesh..........

 

And your entire society is founded by criminals.

Making stupid assumptions is fun!

 

Clearly you don't care about 1/4 mile times. Especially since this thread isn't about 1/4 miles and you brought it up.

 

Well, if you ever auto-x with an Evo or Z and put up a better time, they can't say they are at a mechanical disadvantage. And if they beat you? Well, they have a faster car anyway.

Stock car lap times for pissing contests is kind of dumb. There is no need to track a 100% stock car anyway. As soon as you put some decent tires on there, the times go right out the window.

Besides, if this is a base model comparison, why are they using a 36k 350z Track edition and not a 26k base model?

 

If SCCA classing is a good indicator with autocrossing stock cars, the Evo should be a bit quicker than the Z or RX8. The RX8 and Z should put up similar times with all other things equal - tires, driver, etc.

On the track, it is just a known fact that both the Z and Evo are significantly quicker than the RX8 .... with all other things equal - tires, driver, etc. See NASA classing for reference. And yes, it's 100% because they both have a much better HP : Weight ratio, but I guess that's obvious.

I totally agree with your comment on tires. The Z in this comparison had decent tires - Bridgestone RE050. This is the first review of a Z I've ever seen in which the Z had decent tires. I guess Nissan finally stopped being so cheap.

I don't think this comparison includes all base models, just base model prices. But even if it did, the base Z is no slouch, and probably wouldn't be but more than a second or two off.

 

I agree with you mostly, but 1 thing i want to point out is that autox and real track racing is very different. compared to track racing autox is more 1 dimensional focusing on handling, sort of like how 1/4 mile drag races focus on straight line. while race track racing test every facet of a car's abilities. but yeah most of the time the Evo is quite a bit faster than the Z on the track.

 

didn't the new Z get a horsepower upgrade? I think I heard that it did.
07 350 382 hp is this what they tested?

 

Are you playing a trick on us??? That would be a negative. The NEW Z that is not out yet will have an increase to about 330, but NO WHERE near 382. That sounds like that supercharged Z that company did in the UK... I think the 07's are still rated at 306... someone keep me honest...

 

it was a 06 300hp Z used in the article in question

the new 07 Z uses the vq35hr motor making 306hp in the US rating system and 315hp in most other countries outside of US. it should run sub 5 second 0-60 based on that the new heavier G35 sedan with the same engine, did 5.1s by C&D. but time will tell

382hp Z is probably the super charged one, if it ever comes out.

 

ditto, something fishy bout this. hmmmm

 

Have you guys ever been to VIR? There are plenty of straights at the course that the RX-8 will get eaten alive by the Z or EVO. The Z is not as tossable as the 8, but it can corner just as fast. Before you go do paper racing, try driving both cars first.

As far as the EVO being slower than the Z, here is the reason. The EVO are geared better for lower speeds. The Z can rocket down the two straights faster than the EVO. The EVO might get better runs off the corner, but the Z can keep up as they hit the next braking zone.

Also for the dude who is bitching about the model. The real difference between the track and the base is the brakes and wheels. The brakes won't make a difference if you do a one lap run, the tires will help a little. It's not going to be a full 7 seconds....

 

What the heck! that is not possible. I've driven a Dodge Charger, while I was racing around in Las Vegas, and I noticed they are painfully slow!

It moves in straight lines, and I wondered what the point of the steering wheel was, since I kept going forward in those turns. Not to mention it gets angry and barks at all the cars that pass it while it's still sitting on the line.

The whole time I was there, I was yelling back a the car "JUST shutup and go!"

It is by far the poorest example of a sports car I have ever had the "privilege" of driving. I rate all my cars between the RX8 and that Charger.

Utterly rediculous!
Every race I won or loss there, was a celebration of mediocrity! I couldn't wait to get home to snowy Canada! where the sling shot RX8 waited for me.

 

dodge charger != dodge charger r/t != dodge charger srt-8

 

You're 100% correct. I've driven at VIR and if you drive the full course, there are specifically two really long straightaways that the Z's hp adavantage would really have a impact on. I've driven both cars. The Z is a fun car, but you just can't throw it through the curvey sections of the course the way you can the 8. I'd be willing to bet that the lower the experience level of the driver, the closer the times would be. Anyone can stomp the gas, but it takes a driver to use the extra power in the corners.

 

while probably the better handling car, the rx8 cant easily out corner the z, the z is a very capable car in the corners too. unless its an autox course, the z is faster even a tight road course with short straights

 

I've driven HPDE's at RA http://www.roadamerica.com an awesome 4.1 mile track with 14 corners . Last time I was there (Apr. 14&15) I was right behind an EVO during one of my sessions. In the turn I was right up with him but in the straights he just blew me away. Eventually he disappeared due to the 3 fairly long straights. The following Friday at http://www.blackhawkfarms.com The same thing with a different EVO. This time I stayed with him the whole time, mainly due to the lack of straights. It has two but there short. When all is said and done, I love this car