agisd

What is the weight of the Z vs competitive cars like

BMW 330ci
Subaru STi
S2000
Audi TT 225
G35C

What can we remove on the Z in order to reduce the weight (for a track day)?

failsafe

http://autos.yahoo.com/
Spare tire, jack, trunk carpet etc.

Brandon@Forged

Maybe you should learn how to spell 350Z instead of Z350...

spinninbackfist

May it was a play on words like " The 350 " = " Z350 "

Brandon@Forged

Maybe I jumped the gun, my bad. I don't know though, I always put (and see others put) 350Z, 350, or Z. Oh well.

350zroadster

iTrader: (1)

Nissan 350Z 3196
Honda S2000 2809
Porsche Boxster 2944
Porsche Boxster 3021
BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster 2910
Audi TT 225hp AWD 3274

racin

iTrader: (1)

Actually, our Project NT350 weighed in at 3267 pounds, with only 3/4 tank of gas, spare tire and hardware removed (aprx 30 pounds), and our BMK installed (weight savings of 21 pounds with BMK). Weight distribution is 55% front, and 45% rear. If you add back the weight of the battery and spare stuff, you are well over 3300 pounds, and you still haven't filled the gas tank, which is what curb weight is supposed to include. Nissan fudged a bit here. It may have gotten them a better fuel economy rating. Not sure what it is.

You can see more at www.ntechengineering.com . For specifics on our car, go to the Project NT350 link.

mark350

Wow...Racin, your site has some good info on it about our Z's.....alot of good brake info especially.

stevew

To provide a more marketable price, Nissan utilizes one platform for it's rear-drive vehicles, ie the 350Z, the G35 and the FX45. The benefit is lower cost, the downside is that the Z shares some, not all, of the heavy duty complonents with the latter vehicles. I think they did a great job. The alternative would be to build a platform unique to the Z, but with that would come at a higher price to the consumer.

racin

iTrader: (1)

Thank you, Mark. As stated on the web site, we are trying to identify all of the performance and and other car issues on the 350Z, and then find innovative, efficient ways of fixing them. we are trying to attack them in the order of which is most necessary for consistant track performance, which of course filters down to what will last on the street. Brakes are a huge stumbling block on the Z, due to it's weight, so it is mportant to address that. Another is oil cooling, and perhaps water cooling. So we are starting there.
SteveW hit the nail on the head. I think Nissan did a good job of bringing the car to market with the right blend of quality and performance, at a price point that makes it available to a wide audience. If we can get the car to lose some weight, gain some decent power, and keep the refinement level that the car already has, it will be a true winner.

DriveI65

Car & Driver says the convertible is about 250 lbs. more that! Those canvas tops must weight more than my old MGB top.

I thought the coupe was heavy because the stiffening for the convertible was already in place. Guess not.