This was a random thought I came across the other day that I tried to do a little googling about but couldn't really find anything so I'm here just to get some of you guys opinions about the 350z and what their competitor cars where when they first came out back in 03-04. 287hp was alot for a v6 back in that day and the 2v mustang was obviously on making 260hp with its little 4.6. I've got myself a 04 350z (5AT) that I picked up about a month ago with 47k miles and I'm a Mustang guy having owned a 94, 98 (both 125shot nitrous)and 2012 GT going to a completely stock 350z. What do you guys think? What was it's best competitive rival upon its release?

 

It was sorta a dark time for imports - I wouldn't call the early 2000s mustang or camaro competitors of the DE 350z. I would think the Subaru impreza STI, Mits Evo, possibly the Hynudai Tiburon, Honda S2000, BMW M3, Porsche Boxter/Cayman, Audi TT, maybe the Toyota Celica...my 2cents

 

A snail.

 

That's not competition!

If it gapped me, I'd just run over (or pour salt on) it while it gloats at the finish.

 

The nitrous puts you in a disavantage. You have a better chance to beat them on a drag strip, if they spin off the line and they mis shift.

 

After years of racing the 350Z in sportscar racing, I've seen competition come and go. When the 350Z was first classed in SCCA Touring classes, it had to race the last gen Camaros, Boxsters and Mustangs. Factory efforts from GM (Solstice turbo) and Subaru (WRX STi) managed to stem the development of the Z, but not it's popularity. Turbo cars like the Mitsubishi Evos were another challenge, as SCCA has never been able to adequately boost pressures to oem specs.

Currently, the Z33 is racing cars like the BMW Spec E46, Z4 M-coupe, Ford Mustang GT, Porsche Boxster, Solstice GT, VW GTI, Honda S2K and Mazda RX8 and MX5 in the Touring 3 class. Sure, for 2020 we have to carry ballast (must weight 3325# minimum as we cross the finish line), use 42mm restrictors (HR option) and 245-max profile tires. Even with one (or two or three) hands tied behind our backs the Z has brakes, handling and power to rival not only the other cars when it was introduced, it continues to match, and best cars introduced long after it was built.

 

rx8 to the list above

 

Not sure what you mean?^^^ I'd previously mentioned the RX8 as a contender in SCCA racing for some time in my previous post. But in w2w racing, the Z33 usually leaves it in the dust...

 

Whoops, did not see that you mentioned it!

 

When the Z33 it first came out, I remember driving one and thinking how great it was at the time. It kind of filled a hole in the sports car options. Some called it the Japanese Camaro (which had recently been killed off). Having owned a Camaro and a Miata at the time, I thought of it as a powerful hardtop Miata.

I ended up purchasing one 10 years later for Autocross and watched top drivers win Nationals in the Street Touring classes from 2013-2017 with competition including STI, C5, Evo, etc.