Nissan could do it, why couldn't the General, New Nissan 370Z Options

[Major_Lee_Slow]

I've always had a soft spot for the Z-Cars ever since the early 70's, and I just read the Car and Driver short review of the car and I must say, at least on paper, I am impressed. the exterior dimensions and the wheelbase were shrunk and the HP is up to 330, but torque is a little low at 270. I wonder how much that can be improved. The wheels are a little bit, 19 inches, but hey at least there not 20's. It also comes with 4 piston brakes. They managed to keep the weight at 3300-3400 lbs, meet the new crash test standards, and Nissan claims the car is stiffer than the last model. The question is, will it be a competitive Street Prepaired car. I think the current model runs in BSP. Could this be a potential replacement for the SS when the time comes. I'm not sure, but I do know for sure I won't be buying a 2 Ton pig.

[BigEnos]

I've always had a soft spot for the Z-Cars ever since the early 70's, and I just read the Car and Driver short review of the car and I must say, at least on paper, I am impressed. the exterior dimensions and the wheelbase were shrunk and the HP is up to 330, but torque is a little low at 270. I wonder how much that can be improved. The wheels are a little bit, 19 inches, but hey at least there not 20's. It also comes with 4 piston brakes. They managed to keep the weight at 3300-3400 lbs, meet the new crash test standards, and Nissan claims the car is stiffer than the last model. The question is, will it be a competitive Street Prepaired car. I think the current model runs in BSP. Could this be a potential replacement for the SS when the time comes. I'm not sure, but I do know for sure I won't be buying a 2 Ton pig.

I can tell you for sure, it will not be competitive in BSP. Not much is these days.

[00 SS]

Not that GM couldn't make the Camaro smaller or a little lighter, but if they did, would the LS2/3 or what ever V8 variant they decided on fit? Would the lighter weight drivetrain hold the torque? Maybe there is a reason Nissan limited the torque to only 270. On the other hand, the rear suspension on the Camaro appears to be designed by Peterbuilt. I can't image how they could add any more weight to it. The 'vette and Solstice rear suspensions are far more elegant and lighter looking so I don't quite understand what happened on the Camaro. But the 370 is not my style.

[mitchntx]

Not related to this topic, but ...

I saw a Sub-Lime Green with flat black striped Challenger R/T on a dealer lot today ...

OMG ... that car looked bad-ass!

[poSSum]

My rhetorical question is, "what would it weight with a back seat and a 400+ HP V8? "

Personally, neither the new Camaro or a Z car interest me ... I'm dreaming LS3/T56 into our Solstice .... forget the classes .... I'll be autoXn for fun! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/cool2.gif)

[Mojave]

My rhetorical question is, "what would it weight with a back seat and a 400+ HP V8? "

Personally, neither the new Camaro or a Z car interest me ... I'm dreaming LS3/T56 into our Solstice .... forget the classes .... I'll be autoXn for fun! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/cool2.gif)

A V8 Solstice sounds amazing, until you realize how heavy they are. I think the Mallet conversion cars were coming in around 3000 lbs, and at that weight, I'd rather just take the C6.

[rmackintosh]

Not related to this topic, but ...

I saw a Sub-Lime Green with flat black striped Challenger R/T on a dealer lot today ...

OMG ... that car looked bad-ass!

Yeah....those new Challengers DO look hot! Not the Lime Green one though.....and that is the MAIN color on my race car! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I have seen silver and black ones that look sweet!

[pknowles]

I'm with Brian, it will not be competitive in the current BSP.

This post has been edited by pknowles: Dec 3 2008, 01:27 PM

[raybob9289]

Not that GM couldn't make the Camaro smaller or a little lighter, but if they did, would the LS2/3 or what ever V8 variant they decided on fit? Would the lighter weight drivetrain hold the torque? Maybe there is a reason Nissan limited the torque to only 270. On the other hand, the rear suspension on the Camaro appears to be designed by Peterbuilt. I can't image how they could add any more weight to it. The 'vette and Solstice rear suspensions are far more elegant and lighter looking so I don't quite understand what happened on the Camaro. But the 370 is not my style.

Get me a picture Mitch!!!

[Major_Lee_Slow]

Didn't the 300ZX use to run in ESP? It wasn't very competitive there, I wonder why they thought the 350Z would need to be placed in BSP?

[sgarnett]

FWIW, you can now buy kits to drop an LSx drivetrain (with T-bird diff, I think) into a Miata without too much pain ....

[pknowles]

FWIW, you can now buy kits to drop an LSx drivetrain (with T-bird diff, I think) into a Miata without too much pain ....

I've been thinking about that swap for a fun DD that would knock down great mpg's. I think someone makes a kit that uses the CTS-V diff as well.

[ESPCamaro]

Didn't the 300ZX use to run in ESP? It wasn't very competitive there, I wonder why they thought the 350Z would need to be placed in BSP?

N/A versions did I think...

T/T 300's were always in BSP.

Hard to compete with a 2900lb car w/AWD and more power than anything else.....On top of small, big tires, pretty good chassis.


I'd bet that the most competitive BSP car apart from the AWD cars is going to be a new 135i BMW. Great power and torque, small, not that heavy in S/P trim.

This post has been edited by ESPCamaro: Dec 3 2008, 04:22 PM

[rmackintosh]

FWIW, you can now buy kits to drop an LSx drivetrain (with T-bird diff, I think) into a Miata without too much pain ....

...yeah but then you'ld have a POLISHED turd...... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[BigEnos]

Didn't the 300ZX use to run in ESP? It wasn't very competitive there, I wonder why they thought the 350Z would need to be placed in BSP?

N/A versions did I think...

T/T 300's were always in BSP.

Hard to compete with a 2900lb car w/AWD and more power than anything else.....On top of small, big tires, pretty good chassis.


I'd bet that the most competitive BSP car apart from the AWD cars is going to be a new 135i BMW. Great power and torque, small, not that heavy in S/P trim.

Early 911 with a 3.2 carrera engine and all the tire you could stuff under it would be killer if it wasn't for the rally cars. Probably cost $50K to properly build, though. I imagine it'd be ~2500lbs and maybe 250-260RWHP. I'm no Porsche expert so I might be off base with those numbers.

[pknowles]

Early 911 with a 3.2 carrera engine and all the tire you could stuff under it would be killer if it wasn't for the rally cars. Probably cost $50K to properly build, though. I imagine it'd be ~2500lbs and maybe 250-260RWHP. I'm no Porsche expert so I might be off base with those numbers.

As long as we are bench racing, I would look at the turbo Miata before an old 911. If the rally cars went to ASP.

[Todd]

As long as we are bench racing, I would look at the turbo Miata before an old 911. If the rally cars went to ASP.

consistent traction is a serious issue with the turbo miatas...you either have a clutch diff that slips under power or a torsen that breaks the rear...i killed a buddies torsen a couple weeks ago. Under power, the miata LOVES to wheel hop. the torsen gears like to exit the diff casing!! :eek: with just over 200RWHP

[BigEnos]

As long as we are bench racing, I would look at the turbo Miata before an old 911. If the rally cars went to ASP.

consistent traction is a serious issue with the turbo miatas...you either have a clutch diff that slips under power or a torsen that breaks the rear...i killed a buddies torsen a couple weeks ago. Under power, the miata LOVES to wheel hop. the torsen gears like to exit the diff casing!! :eek: with just over 200RWHP

I think you could get a stout enough unit in there that would hold up OK. That is a good point, Phil. I think the turbo miata would be a good contender in an "ASP rally car" world.

[NJSPEEDER]

GM vehicles tend to be heavier because they want to have a safe, 5 star rated, corporate culture. Every single GM vehicle will be 5 star at some point. Nissan doesn't seem interested in that route.

[jensend]

The sad fact for people who really like performance cars is that virtually all cars come loaded with equipment and option packages that add substantially to vehicle weight. My son, who works at a honda dealership, said that you can't even get a Civic without power windows, A/C, and a host of other "essential" items. His '89 Civic commuter car had no options, a primitive FI system and a 1.5 liter engine. It got an honest 38 combined mpg and roughly 44 mpg on the highway. His new "high tech" Civic Si struggles to get 32 highway mpg because it's heavier and equipped with "essentail options". According to my son, people just won't buy a car that isn't heavily equipped. Manufacturers design and build to that demand.

This week's Autoweek had an article on the new Pontiac G8 GXP. The specs listed 415HP, 415lb./ft., 6.2 liter V8. RWD, 6 Spd. Manual trans.. Zero -60 4.6 sec.! The most powerful modern Pontiac- ever. The bad news- 17mpg (EPA). Why- curb weight 4,023 lb.! That's over 2 tons empty, roughly the weight of a 80's era Lincoln Continental! Imagine how much real performance is compromised by that bulk.

Those of us who put performance above luxury are a very small, virtually insignificant percentage of the market. We want "sport cars" and cars that have high levels of performance. The bulk of the market wants "muscle cars" loaded with luxury and enough power to impress the SUV in the next lane. Manufacturers design for profitablity and sales volume. Unless the public demands more realistic cars both in terms of economy and performance, we can expect cars to continue to increase in luxury and weight at the price of true performance.