So Brian and I are heading to the Detroit auto show today, and last night was the first time I'd gotten to see his new 350Z Touring 6spd. I decided to put the car insureance back on the Max and break it out for the day so we could get a feel for how fast (or not) the 350Z is.

First off, that car is like a dream. The looks are incredible in my book, and the car is everything a driver can ask for: Fast, responsive, well balanced, etc. It pulls through 140mph (the fastest we took it) like my MEVI Max pulls through 130. Even on salty roads in 10*F ambient temps and on snow tires, it hugs the curves and just drives excellent. I can't wait until we get it out to a road course this spring. It's only mod is a K&N panel filter in the stock airbox.

So, onto the runs:

1st run from 60-130: I did the 3-2-1 honking to start the race and he couldnt hear it with the road noise so I got a really big jump, I'd say on the order of 1.5 cars. By 90 he's nowhere to be found next to me so I'm feeling pretty good about myself, thinking that his car feels faster than it really is. Unfortunately for me this turned out not to be the case. By 100 he's absolutely RIPPING past me, so fast that my jaw literally dropped. Ho-Ly-Crap. It was as if I wasn't flooring it, but I was. At 120 he's probably 5 cars ahead of me and it's getting worse. By 130 he's probably 200 feet in front of me and we shut down. When I say 130 I mean I was going 130, by this time he was probably at 140.

2nd run from 70-120: So after getting my **** handed to me I'm prepared for what's about to happen. We go from 70, this time him honking and me not being able to hear it from road noise but he only got a tiny jump, probably 5 feet, and we're off. In 3rd I hung pretty well. Ran 3rd out to about 100 and hes got about 1.5 cars on me. Shift into 4th and it's completely over. He starts leaving me like I'm standing still again. By the time I hit 120 he's probably at 130 and out 6 cars in front of me and we shut it off.

3rd run 80-120: He honks again, gets another couple foot jump, not that it matters though. Basically the same results as before. Through 3rd he only put about a car on me this time, into 4th and I'm screwed. He's got about 5 cars by the time I hit 120.


So that's it. The 350Z is frickin' fast. Call me crazy, but I am ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED that with myself or Brian driving that car next spring at the track it's capable of 13.5 @ 105mph. It's that fast. I haven't seen a Z pull pull times like that, best I've seen is 13.7 @ 103, but it's got to be a faster car than that. It pulled on me like LS1s pull on me. Keep in mind the last trip I made to the track, I AVERAGED traps of 98.1mph on SLICKS which slow down your traps to an extent. Time for more mods, can't have a 350Z handing me my **** again.

 

I know Brian is smiling.

 

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is time to feed the car some Boost the outcome will be different. But keep in mind briguy use to be on the bottle so hopefully he wont get on the bottle again.

 

If I didn't have plans to be having a child within a year, that 350Z would be sitting in my garage. I love them. I'll take mine in white thank you.


Dave

 

huh?



only two lines Dave? no analysis? whats wrong? you feeling ok?

 

Brian gave my Maxima the business on the highway. It wasnt pretty at all!! My doors got blown off

Time to trade in the Maxima for something a little quicker. Brian I wanna see how the Z goes up against greg's C5, just for referrence.

 

Im not trying to be the sourpuss of the group but next time please take it to the track (where it is legal)! But anyway I saw a 350z at the philly auto show and man are those things sweet

 

This is true, however we aren't the type of morons who endanger other people's lives, just our own. This was 2am on a deserted michigan highway outside of a metro area (I live in the boonies). We probably saw 5 cars in a 20 mile stretch of road, and none were even in sight when we were racing. But yeah, taking it to the track IS always best.

 

Yeah...heh...especially in road conditions like that, going 140. Congrats on not wrecking your new Z and rashing yourself away into a billion pieces

Those who have ridden in them, is anyone annoyed by how taut the suspension is? Tom from the 4th gen forums didn't like the ride at all (and also called out cheap on the interior, door panels and assembly). Just curious.

 

Don't worry...I'll follow up with a dyno/CarTest analysis



























j/k

 

My friend has exactly same Z. I want to run him too, hope I can do better.

 

Good and informative post. I didnt know the new Z was THAT FAST.

Next time you do runs, instead of honking 3 times, high beam your light 3 times. Much better and cant miss that.

 

So in about a week we will see some dyno plots and what not right

 

Nissan is doing something right.

 

Okay Here I go with another BS analysis:

From 0-90mph, the power curve characteristics and gearing of the MEVI equipped 4th gen is very close to that of the 350Z and other 3.5 VQ varients therefore the acceleration of these cars will be similiar. Obviously the more powerful 350Z may open up a small lead from 0-90mph, but it's real power isn't shown until after 100mph/4th gear. The Z's smaller frontal area, better CD, LOADS more torque, and better gearing let this car come alive, Bavarian style. The amount of distance Bryan put on Neal reminds me of my races with my 94 Z28 auto (mid 13s @104mph) vs modded 6 speed LT1/LS1s and slightly modded 300ZXTTs. In the 1/4 mile, the races were purely up to the driver, but after 100-105mph, it was lights out for my auto Z28. The lack of gearing and drivetrain loss to the auto was just too significant. It was amazing the amount of distance an LS1 6 speed could put on me from 100-130mph.

I'm very impressed to see 13.7@103mph out of mostly stock 350Zs. I think that is a hell of an accomplishment for Nissan and it's $28K sportscar. This kind of overall performance is along the lines of the Porsche 911.

The only 3.5 VQ I've had a chance to race at the trak is ShortChaz's bonestock lightweight base model G35 sedan. His best is a higher 14.8 at 95mph and I've run him 5 or 6 times. I usually can put about 2-3 cars on him in the first 1/8 mile, but after that, he starts closing the distance on me. I swear that if the race went to 110mph or so, he'd pass me. And that's just a 3400lb sedan with 260hp, 5 speed auto, and a 250lb driver. I can only imagine what the 350Z 6 speed would do to me.


Dave

 

my hid don't have high beams


what makes the Z so strong above 100? gearing? aerodynamic?

 

im getting a 350Z touring edition























in 2 years

 

On the TT.net forum someone had posted a stock 350Z dyno and from the 286hp that it's rated, it only dynoed 225 ish which would be about that 20% drivetrain loss. My Z untuned w/ just intake/exhaust dynoed at 267rwhp. As beautiful as the 350Z is, I could never own an NA. When the TT comes out and MAYBE they'll have t-tops or a targa top like the supra's then it'll be more interesting. Everytime I've seen sprinty 350Z's, on the freeway, I was always in my friends car and not my Z.

 

Racing the new 350Z already? So much for the break-in period.

 

I completely see what your saying, but consider this: Power to Weight Ratio

300ZX TT, 3500lbs with 270rwhp slightly modded, 1:13 ratio

350Z, 3100lbs with 225rwhp STOCK, 1:13.7 ratio

As much as you probably don't want to hear it, it looks like a driver's race to me. Once some mods are introduced for the 350Z, things could be even closer. Yes, the 300ZX TT will always be ultimately quicker due to it's tuneability, but on a true road course, the heavier "GT" 300ZX TT could be staring at taillights.


Dave

 

I completely agree w/ you there. The key is tuneability. I can throw a chip on my car for $300 and be up to 340ish rwhp and unless you get a 350Z w/ a supercharger or something (when it's available) you're not touching me. ALSO, we're talking about a car that uses new technology. The 300Z was introduced in 89.5 where as the 350Z is 10yrs newer. I'm proud of Nissan's accomplishments because I feel that's where the sports car benchmark was set. Years later in I believe about 93 is when the RX-7(FD-3) and Supra(MKIV)came out. I'm confident that when they DO come out w/ a 350Z TT, it's going to STOMP on other cars. Let's hope for 350HP w/ that 3100lbs and possibly a targa top... =o)
Until then, I'll continue to love my timeless Z!

 

I ran some cartest sims of both cars. Cartest says that the max would hit 60-140 @ 38.74 sec, where as the 350Z would do 60-150 @ 34.77 sec . Also the 80-120 has the 350Z about 2.8 sec faster! Also if it was a 1/4 race from a 80mph roll the Z would be around 42-44ft ahead of the max. That figures to around 3-4 cars @ 110mph.

 

I hope so too but I wouldn't put money on it if I were you. My car and a 6spd with CAI would be a good match for each other, and the Z is just way too fast for both of them

 

I agree with you neal. I have seen a 350z just blow by on the highway. Those things are fast. At least its a Nissan.

 

Actually your information is a little bit off. stock Zs that AREN'T broken in typically dyno in the 225-230rwhp range. But pretty much all the Zs that ARE broken in (ECU sets itself to normal mode at 1200 miles), dyno around 238-244rwhp. A STOCK 300zxtt dyno is about 240rwhp. I understand your point about turbo vs. non-turbo as modification/hp ratio goes, but lets not get in a "family feud" about the old Z vs. the new Z.

And Cumalot, the Z IS broken in...I had just over 1200 miles when I raced neal

 

Is it going to be the built VQ30, swapped VQ3.5, or boost, have you decided yet?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Street Reeper
[B]
"and drivers of automatic-transmissioned 300ZX Turbos best not be snoozing when the light goes green. "

just to inform you a little, the auto TTZ's are quicker in the quarter.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by PiotrC70
[B]Don't tell me, tell Motortrend. They're the ones who tested both and came to that conclusion.

 

Haha.. they're dumb! Everyone on TTnet knows that in the quarter the auto is usually a litle faster, (probably cause we're comparing modified vs stock). Definately not what I'm used to hearing either. Just wanted to give you a heads up.

 

Congrats Briguy350Z!!!!! I'll look forward to going headsup with ya this spring.

Chewy would like to bang heads from 0 - 30 MPH in his A6 2.7T LOL!!!

 

brian, ill have to see the z when im home in march!

 

The cars are tight. I don't know about speed because my dad drives like an old woman, but the handling was excellent. I'd take one if one were handed to me, but I can't afford one otherwise hehe. I like the g35c as well.

 

atleast you tried

 

You're keeping your baby in the garage?

Ian

 

Not to nitpick, but you are also risking the lives of the paramedics, EMT's and all other emergency personnel that would have to come and pick you out of the trees. Nobody tends to think about that.

off my soapbox

Ian

 

Haha, I thought the same thing, "now why wont the Z fit in the garage if there is a baby, *WAIT* they are putting the BABY in the GARAGE???!"

 

I do feel your pain, but have you considered a g35 coupe? Don't they have a back seat?

 

IBTL?














oh wait, never mind.