An Aniversary is a track Z with touring creature comforts...there is no performance difference~ try again ><

 

Why do you have to compare apples to apples?
He was saying a Z + the 20K it would take to equal the cost of an M3, would end up beating the M. Sounds like a fair comparison to me; 'how much performance can you get for your money'

The Z can compete with the M3 stock for stock, even though it will almost always come up short. The M is a better car in every catagory, but costs a lot more. When I think of the term 'apples to apples' I think of comparing two things that are seemingly similar to weigh advantages/disadvantages...so I dont see how a civic and a Carerra GT could ever be compared considering apples to apples just because they're both "stock".

"In terms of real competition... price is never factored in..."

But without fail in most every race setting... the teams that win are the teams with the money

 

Z + 100K will beat a ferrari.

 

What is so hard about answering this question?

The answer from some of you...

Corvette>M3>350Z>RX7

 

In 1992 I had a rare opportunity to ride in a stock Infiniti G20 with Johnny Unser on a road course in Las Vegas. At the time, I was younger and thought I was an ace driver. After a lap w/ a professional driver I realized I was just a puppy in a big dog world. This guy drove a lap so fast and so scary that I wanted it to end. To make a long story short...Tiger Woods could beat most of us in a round of golf with a putter from the local Goony Golf and a professional driver could beat most of us in our Z's while driving a Yugo. I'm sure the M3 is faster, race one and find out for yourself.

 

The Z is more on par with the BMW 330I. The M3 is a factory modified 330I that cost thousands more. Nissan does not produce a hotrod 350Z. Both the Z and the M3 are beautiful cars but the M3 is a class above the Z in performance.

 

BTW what do you drive?

 

Clearly the M3.

 

Everyone keeps saying the M3 but have you ever actually ran one? I ran one on the highway the other night from 70mph and didnt downshift lower than 5th, and was right there with him the whole time, if I went down another gear before we went at it, I would have pulled on him in the beginning. I backed down at 120 but he was right next to me.

 

350z against an e46 M3 vert. is a good race but a coupe will more than likely beat the Z. Then again it all depends on the driver. I torqued this lady driving an e46 M3 coupe just because she was the WORST driver ever. I could pretty soundly beat E46 verts with my moderately modified e36 m3 and my z is faster than my old m3.

 

I meant you put both things on a scale balance... then
stock vs stock
turbo Z vs turbo M
Z with exhaust should only be compared vs M with exhaust ...
like if both things are equal in terms of upgrades...
if you put turbo on Z and stock M then you would tip the scale...

MONEY SHOULD NOT BE A FACTOR because in real car clubs and races there is this class that unrestricts everything... so you can put whatever to your advantage to win while only comforming to the basics... Liek rally the basic rule is a 2 litre, the rest is whatever... not MONEY its based on how much performance you can make from the 2 litre. so its parts that really matter in a race money is just a figure. Saying someone spent more money and beat you is bs because money is an unlimited factor, one can have unlimited of it... performance can be limited thats why races are based on performance not money.
So basically if you enter the race class, u r under financed and lose you still lose... its not like if ur under financed u can become like a handicape and ppl would give u advantages like starting out early or something...

 

E46 M3 will kill ANY 350Z...period
On any track!
This is not even close
Stock vs. Stock

 

So you're just talking about forced induction vs. not? With a $20,000 bank account I can still beef up a Zs motor with forged internals, map it real aggresive, maybe stroke it...and still have money left over to upgrade the suspension and other critical performance areas to a point where the modified Z will kill the M. They both are running NA, so would that be a more fair comparison?

I'm not really following you on the 'Money is unlimited' deal
Absolutely, performance is the determining factor for who has the best vehicle...but performance doesn't run on creativity, hopes, and dreams it's about the $$$$$$$.

I definitely don't have unlimited money So when I am walked by a Z06 and somebody wants to give me crap about it, you can be sure my argument will be that he could afford to *buy* a better car.

 

It isn't about forced induction vs. spending $20, 000 without going FI. It's about spending $20, 000 to beat a stock M3. Yeah, you spent the same amount of money and can beat the M3. But hey, that guy is stock. What if the M3 put $20, 000 into it? That wouldn't be fair would it. I see that as the same thing as putting $20,000 into a Z.

 

Overall, the M3 is faster but fatter.

 

M3's are sick. A guy at my school had one last year and it was the sickest BMW I have ever seen; rims, exhaust, audio, etc... An M3 is definitely faster than a Z. It is also a very different car.

 

Maybe on par with a 330i as far as price goes. Performance wise the Z rips the 330 a new one-especially in a drag race given equal drivers. There are more than a handful of Z's running mid 13's @ 102-103 stock. 330i's would be low 14's on a very good day with high 90mph traps. And as far as handling, braking again the Z rips the 330 a new one.

And the M3 is not a class above the Z in performance. Z's have been tested by a few sources to be faster around a road course than an E46 M3.

 

NO...
Whatever you do to one you must do to the OTHER
like you put it on an equation...
if u go for internals in one car u have to do the same thing to the other car..
on the other point about money...
Like a GT race, you have different similar level cars, like vette, ferrari, aston martin etc... they are all tuned to the max so money is unlimited but performance and skill is... thats why im saying money should not be a factor in terms of performance as its an unlimited figure, are performance + skill are limited...
comprende?

 

The Z ran same track time as RX8 and E46M (old stig) on top gear...
On 5th Gear... Z is a little slower than E46M...
I dont watch American cars reviews... they praise **** cars like a crossfire that topgear totally destroyed on... Like that show on speed car & driver is totally not the same level as Topgear or 5th gear...

 

m3 is a better car !! it will beat any edition z !! and u cant say its a bad car because its so expensive and costs alot to mod !! For some money isnt the case !! so they rather have a bmw then a nissan .. and dump 80 grand into the m3 and have a SICK *** RIDE !! and for some who cant do that.. sure u can afford the z dump 10/20 grand.. and still have a sick *** car !! all depends on your budget, but if your using your lack of budget to call the m3 a bad choice .. hmm !! no bueno