From what I've seen @ the track, the M3 and Z are very even. My friend and I were @ Laguna (both first times) and we were within a couple 1/10's of eachother, but he did have a slightly better time.

C&D or R&T tested the Z, M3, Boxter, and Vette, and the Z and M3 were once again very close (with the Z a bit faster). It's only in a drag race that the M3 has a significant advantage. The Z and S2000 also seem to be very close, with the Z a bit faster on the straights but with the S2000 carrying more speed through the corners.

Now, as far as mods go, if all we wanted was performance, everyone would just go out and run on R compound tires, since they will give you a huge improvement in launching and handling. Of course, things get iffy when it rains. Mods are fun though, and allow one to personalize the vehicle and tailor its performance to whatever each individual prefers. That is certainly one cool thing about the Z. It's great out of the box, but also has (or will have) a huge aftermarket due to its popularity. A win/win situation in my book.

-D'oh!

-D'oh!

 

I'm semi ignorant about oil coolers. The oil temperatures must get very high on the Z in *****-out driving, so the best motoring crew must have had it installed it to make sure the oil doesn't break down. I don't know anyone who's done this mod, but maybe the folks who track the car often would do this mod. I know Stillen also sells an oil cooler, but I know it's not an inexpensive mod.

I agree with D'oh with respect to the Z's capabilities compared to the S2000 and M3. Numerous magazines have confirmed this including the lap results in Topgear. Lap times are quite close in all three vehicles. IMO, the Tsukuba race should have used the Boxster S or Porsche 911 instead of the regular Boxster.