Hi all, I'm from the UK and there are a great many M3's around these days. I know it cost a great deal more but why the large gap in bhp! I want more power

Looking at getting a 350Z in May next year, but cant help thinking more power must be on the way and dont want to order and be down on power of a new model? Subaru and Mitsubusi are well over the 310bhp mark now on 2 litre turbo engines.

Any Thoughts?

 

sucks...we have 287 hp here...

if you want ugly and fast as stink buy a subaru STI. if you want a nice balance of both looks and performance, buy the z. If you want it all get a turbocharger for the z.

 

Not sure on euro-spec Z's, but Z's here have 287crank horsepower. Not 278. If you want more power, wait a while. Rumors have it that G35 coupes are getting 295hp. I'm sure Z's will get more.

 

Its called Forced Induction.
Our Z is NA (normally aspirated)

Its not a fair comparison...it would be like comparing Englands dental hygene to that of the U.S.

 

That was kind of harsh....Im just messing with ya...but honestly if our car had a twin turbo charged engine like those you have compared it with it would easily be over 400 HP at the crank which is where you are getting your BHP ratings.

You also may want to study up on RWHP or the power actually left after passing through the drive train. The cars you are reffering to have significantly more loss between the crank and the wheels than the Z does since they are AWD.

 

EnthuZiast - I've seen you at M3Forums.com - ever since I picked up my Z two weeks ago, I haven't and won't set foot there... hehe

That's pretty funny about the dental hygiene - but if you ever leave the West or East Coast (aka the South) - it's pretty bad too.

No offense to you Texan people, I'm talking more the 30+ year old in Alabama. No offense to you Alabama people, I'm talking more the 40+ year olds in Mississippi. No offense....

 

Yeah. I used to go to that forum. I have alot of respect for the M3.

How do you like your Z?

 

I love it but there are two problems.

1. I want to buy TONS of mods and a radar detector and stereo
2. My first/second gear grinds (or clunks more like it) and I hope it's nothing serious but I can't stop thinking about it!

Z is sweet!

 

M3's rev to 8000 rpm and have individual throttle bodies with aggressive cams that make their power. Its a very tuned engine and lots of money in R&D. It really is a superb engine.

BUT, notice how they don’t have the torque that the Nissan 3.5L engine has.

Add some mods and you will be pretty close to it and still be out a great deal less money. Just to give you an idea I am running with them with what I have.

 

The E46 is rated in the 260 range for torque I think, and lots of people think that it's underrated. On another Z forum a guy named Sosa, who seems to be one of the more knowledgeable guys on there, has a Z, Evo and an M3 in his family. After having driven the M3 he commented that it felt WAY faster than the Z. Some of it has to do with throttle response. Some say its the straight six configuration that gives it the extra grunt from a smaller displacement. You gotta remember that depending on the kind of deal you got on your Z,(mine was a tick over $27) you could buy 2 Nissans for the price of the M3. I'm not saying one is better than the other just that more expensive cars like the BMW have deeper pockets in which to develop more high tech engines. The VQ is still one of the best V6's EVER, so don't take this the wrong way. Do like the other guys say;get some turbos and you will be wicked fast.

 

I dont know for sure what they are rated at, but putting my dyno graphs (stock and modded) with that of several M3's (on same dyno)it is clear what is going on. Down low they have much less torque. Up top that thing is incredible. Stock for stock, there is no chance.

But back to the original post. Look at the Nissan 3.5 V6 vs the ford 3.8 V6. It is quite sad.

 

the newer M3 engines also have a tendency to blow up.

 

or the eclipse v-6 (205hp lol)

 

1990 Mustang 5.0L 225hp, why? $800.00+ pair of dentures, used
2004 Mustang 3.8L 193hp, why? $18,775 new
2004 Mustang 4.6L 260hp, why? $24,300 new
2002 Camaro 5.7L 310hp, why? $15,205 +mullet, used
2004 Corvette 5.7L 350hp, why? $44,785 new
2004 BMW M3 3.2L 333hp, why? $47,759 new
2004 Sti 2.5L 300hp, why? $32,195 new
2004 350z 3.5L 287hp, why? $26,370 new

Hmm, 350z not looking so bad anymore.

*these prices reflect the base price with no options and no delivery charges. Camero price from Kelly Blue book.com, Mustang 5.0 price pulled out of my a**

 

03+ m3's dont hve this problem. it's been fixed.

 

287 is not that bad..

 

What happened to the british guy?....I think we scared him off.
I knew I should have brought up the MINI!

 

Are you nuts? People from the north are so elitist.

Compare, say, the dental hygene of an inner city slum in Boston to the rural areas of Appalachia, and you've probably got the same thing. If you go middle class in both north and south, you probably also have similar situations.

 

What happened to the british guy?....I think we scared him off.
I knew I should have brought up the MINI!

(dont know why but the way that guy asked and it being him first post ever pushed my buttons for some reason)

 

(dont know why but the way that guy asked and it being him first post ever pushed my buttons)