So the Z is really a mid engine car ?
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So the Z is really a mid engine car ?
Based on the quote below. Note the the RX7 reference. Our cars are also set up with the engine behind the front wheels. So is it offical? Can we refer to the 350z as a mid-engine car? Quote takenfrom:http://home.pon.net/hunnicutt/perfdriv.htm
Neutral handling or "drifting" - This is when all four tires will lose traction at the same time so the car drifts instead of plowing straight ahead (understeer) or spinning (oversteer). This is the ideal situation for the race track. Some cars are easier to set up than others. Car like the mid-engined Porsche Boxster or Toyota MR2 or an RX-7 (front engine, but it's behind the front wheels) are easier to set up for neutral steering as opposed to a Mustang or a FWD car.
Neutral handling or "drifting" - This is when all four tires will lose traction at the same time so the car drifts instead of plowing straight ahead (understeer) or spinning (oversteer). This is the ideal situation for the race track. Some cars are easier to set up than others. Car like the mid-engined Porsche Boxster or Toyota MR2 or an RX-7 (front engine, but it's behind the front wheels) are easier to set up for neutral steering as opposed to a Mustang or a FWD car.
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umm... its placed behind the front wheels but its still an FR set up...
drifting is not the fastest on the track (on a track its called powersliding) is because the slide ways action takse valuable time rather than going from apex to apex...
unless you have a track by urself or have safe distance between u and other drivers on a track.. its unsafe
drifting is not the fastest on the track (on a track its called powersliding) is because the slide ways action takse valuable time rather than going from apex to apex...
unless you have a track by urself or have safe distance between u and other drivers on a track.. its unsafe
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Originally Posted by Kolia
Yep, front mid-ship RWD...
its still front heavy...
real mid engine sports cars are usually rear heavy (lotus elise) or very very balanced (ferrari)
but there are better FR cars compared to the Z interms of weight balance..
the M3 = 50% F 50% R
while the Z is 60% F 40% R
the s2000 on the other hand ( very small I4 engine) is 50% F 50% R ...
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Originally Posted by jvanquish
...
its still front heavy...
real mid engine sports cars are usually rear heavy (lotus elise) or very very balanced (ferrari)
but there are better FR cars compared to the Z interms of weight balance..
the M3 = 50% F 50% R
while the Z is 60% F 40% R
the s2000 on the other hand ( very small I4 engine) is 50% F 50% R ...
its still front heavy...
real mid engine sports cars are usually rear heavy (lotus elise) or very very balanced (ferrari)
but there are better FR cars compared to the Z interms of weight balance..
the M3 = 50% F 50% R
while the Z is 60% F 40% R
the s2000 on the other hand ( very small I4 engine) is 50% F 50% R ...
Manual transmission 3,339 3,346 3,400 3,370 3,404
Automatic transmission N/A 3,344 3,380 N/A 3,391
Weight distribution 53/47 53/47 53/47 53/47 53/47
http://www.nissanusa.com/vehicles/Mo...26256|,00.html
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Originally Posted by SteveZ33
So is it offical? Can we refer to the 350z as a mid-engine car?
Bottom line, this is a little marketing ploy by Nissan. This is not to say that the Z isn't a very fine handling car - it is. It does not, however, have the razor sharp turn-in of a true mid-engined car.
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Originally Posted by roast
It's actually called front mid-ship.
Drifting is not when all 4 tires break traction. Drifting is also NOT fast nor is it desireable at a track.
Drifting is not when all 4 tires break traction. Drifting is also NOT fast nor is it desireable at a track.
when only the rear wheels break loose its a power slide...
alot of race driving is done while all 4 wheels are sliding slightly...
"Drifting" as it is commonly known now is with a more aggressive angle for show...
when trail braking... its baslicly a drift but not slideways...
in short...
#9
Originally Posted by jvanquish
...
its still front heavy...
real mid engine sports cars are usually rear heavy (lotus elise) or very very balanced (ferrari)
but there are better FR cars compared to the Z interms of weight balance..
the M3 = 50% F 50% R
while the Z is 60% F 40% R
the s2000 on the other hand ( very small I4 engine) is 50% F 50% R ...
its still front heavy...
real mid engine sports cars are usually rear heavy (lotus elise) or very very balanced (ferrari)
but there are better FR cars compared to the Z interms of weight balance..
the M3 = 50% F 50% R
while the Z is 60% F 40% R
the s2000 on the other hand ( very small I4 engine) is 50% F 50% R ...
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache...ient=firefox-a
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Jvanquish.. a neutral drift is when the whole car shifts outward. ever seen evo's track? The rear dosn't drift out and the front doesn't squeel.. the whole car literally slides outward. Its what you'd want..you dont like velocity in the direction u want to do, accerlation from the centriptial accerlation is made into lateral velocity
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Originally Posted by Blurr350z
The Z is not 60/40 in weight distribution. According to Nissanmotors.com, the weight ratio is 53% F 47% R for all models, Base Enth Tour Track Grand.
Manual transmission 3,339 3,346 3,400 3,370 3,404
Automatic transmission N/A 3,344 3,380 N/A 3,391
Weight distribution 53/47 53/47 53/47 53/47 53/47
http://www.nissanusa.com/vehicles/Mo...26256|,00.html
Manual transmission 3,339 3,346 3,400 3,370 3,404
Automatic transmission N/A 3,344 3,380 N/A 3,391
Weight distribution 53/47 53/47 53/47 53/47 53/47
http://www.nissanusa.com/vehicles/Mo...26256|,00.html
PLUS, from the '03 brochure: "The better the sports car, the quicker the desires of the driver become the actions of the car. Which is why every pound, every ounch of the new Z has been analyzed for one magical result. A 53/47 weight distribution. It's a complex series of calculations that equate to a moment of perfection when it counts the most, in the apex of a turn. During heavy braking, as the driver approaches the apex, additional weight shifts to the front of the Z for improved traction on the front wheels as the driver actually enters the turn. And at the precise moment the driver accelerates out of the apex, that weight distribution shifts rearward and, magically, becomes an approximate 50/50 balance. Which translates to a high-performance driver's favorite word. Stability: less cornering pitch. Better tire contact. Quicker turns. More go."
It's called a front mid-ships platform to describe the car in terms of weight distribution, but it is a front-engined car in terms of construction. The physical location of the engine is what makes it front, mid or rear-engined.
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Originally Posted by MustGoFastR
PLUS, from the '03 brochure: "The better the sports car, the quicker the desires of the driver become the actions of the car. Which is why every pound, every ounch of the new Z has been analyzed for one magical result. A 53/47 weight distribution. It's a complex series of calculations that equate to a moment of perfection when it counts the most, in the apex of a turn. During heavy braking, as the driver approaches the apex, additional weight shifts to the front of the Z for improved traction on the front wheels as the driver actually enters the turn. And at the precise moment the driver accelerates out of the apex, that weight distribution shifts rearward and, magically, becomes an approximate 50/50 balance. Which translates to a high-performance driver's favorite word. Stability: less cornering pitch. Better tire contact. Quicker turns. More go."
It's called a front mid-ships platform to describe the car in terms of weight distribution, but it is a front-engined car in terms of construction. The physical location of the engine is what makes it front, mid or rear-engined.
It's called a front mid-ships platform to describe the car in terms of weight distribution, but it is a front-engined car in terms of construction. The physical location of the engine is what makes it front, mid or rear-engined.
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Originally Posted by jvanquish
...
its still front heavy...
real mid engine sports cars are usually rear heavy (lotus elise) or very very balanced (ferrari)
but there are better FR cars compared to the Z interms of weight balance..
the M3 = 50% F 50% R
while the Z is 60% F 40% R
the s2000 on the other hand ( very small I4 engine) is 50% F 50% R ...
its still front heavy...
real mid engine sports cars are usually rear heavy (lotus elise) or very very balanced (ferrari)
but there are better FR cars compared to the Z interms of weight balance..
the M3 = 50% F 50% R
while the Z is 60% F 40% R
the s2000 on the other hand ( very small I4 engine) is 50% F 50% R ...
How could you have that many posts and say the Z is 60/40, I knew the weight distribution before the car even came out, but then again, im a car nut.
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Guys, you’re mistaking marketing sales pitch for car dynamics here… 50/50 balance is not necessarily a “perfect” setup, whether it a static 50/50 or a dynamic one (like the Z). A rear heavy car is harder to drive but often faster on a race track.
The terminology for mid-engine cars varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. It’s generally accepted that “Mid-Ship” or “Mid-Engine” refers to an engine mounted behind the driver, in front of the rear axle. But, technically an engine mounted just behind the front wheel can be considered a “Mid-Ship” engine. It’s semantics at this point…
The terminology for mid-engine cars varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. It’s generally accepted that “Mid-Ship” or “Mid-Engine” refers to an engine mounted behind the driver, in front of the rear axle. But, technically an engine mounted just behind the front wheel can be considered a “Mid-Ship” engine. It’s semantics at this point…
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Originally Posted by NA350Z
How could you have that many posts and say the Z is 60/40, I knew the weight distribution before the car even came out, but then again, im a car nut.
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Originally Posted by Kolia
Guys, you’re mistaking marketing sales pitch for car dynamics here… 50/50 balance is not necessarily a “perfect” setup, whether it a static 50/50 or a dynamic one (like the Z). A rear heavy car is harder to drive but often faster on a race track.
Plus is this with a full tank of gas? 20 gallons of gas adds a significant amount of weight to the back.
IMHO - whatever the definition of drifting, it is certainly not going to win you any time trials. Anytime the tires loose grip mean you aren't putting 100% of your available power down to the ground, so you can't be going faster than someone with a perfect line (though it's possible you could be just as fast). It sure looks cool tho
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