'Sports Auto' magazine tested the 350Z Track against the RX8, Crossfire, and the Audi TT 3.2L. The Zed 'whooped' them all in terms of acceleration as well as lap-times. Interesting to see the Crossfire beat the RX8 in terms of laptimes. I would not have thought that it's be even close.

The numbers they managed are:

Nissan 350Z Track:
- 0-100kph = 5.9sec
- 0-160kph = 13.7sec
- 80-160kph (in 4th gear) = 5.5sec
- top speed = 250kph
- Hokenkein KK laptime = 1:18.7

Mazda RX-8:
- 0-100kph = 6.6sec
- 0-160kph = 16.5sec
- 80-160kph (in 4th gear) = 7.4sec
- top speed = 235kph
- Hokenkein KK laptime = 1:19.8

Chrysler Crossfire:
- 0-100kph = 7.1sec
- 0-160kph = 17.5sec
- 80-160kph (in 4th gear) = 6.3sec
- top speed = 250kph
- Hokenkein KK laptime = 1:19.5

Audi TT 3.2 Quattro DSG:
- 0-100kph = 6.0sec
- 0-160kph = 14.8sec
- 80-160kph (in 4th gear) = 6.2sec
- top speed = 250kph
- Hokenkein KK laptime = 1:19.9

 

I wouldnt have thought the Crossfire would have compared AT ALL as well. Its a very ugly attempt of a car which (I didnt think) had any power or real 'Sports' orient. Like the first TT but far worse, because its a Chrysler.

Glad to see the ZED on top.

Murray

 

Got to remember it's basically a Merc engine and driveline and I suspect chassis and suspension. Got to wonder what Chrysler were thinking with that bonnet though.

 

Really? still, I dont know what they were thinking. I dont like its rear at all either, in fact I just dont like it.

 

Feb 2004 edition of Car magazine compares the same four cars
Final conclusion 1st 350Z
2nd RX 8
3rd Audi TT V6
4th Crossfire

 

Yep Xfire is butt ugly - esp the bonnet lines and spine. I thought it would be quiker though. I guess the only time the Xfire would be a threat to a Z is if they added a Kompressor - which I am sure Chrysler will do to "boost" sales once the new car enthusiasm wanes.

 

I never knew what a xfire was 'till I just had a look on the Chrysler website. What the **** were they thinkin' when they made that thing???!!!

 

but aren't in Topgear they tested that Nissan 350z, Mazda Rx8 and BMW m3 made the same time on their track.

Maybe it's just a different driver thing

 

but aren't in Topgear they tested that Nissan 350z, Mazda Rx8 and BMW m3 made the same time on their track. Maybe it's just a different driver thing.

TopGear do not test the cars at the same time. It's usually the same driver, but in different conditions ranging from puring rain to perfeclty dry. I have the RX8 lap on video and it looks perfectly dry. The M3 I know was in damp (ie. slighlty wet) conditions, and I have never seen the 350Z lap from TopGear. The UK guys who seem to have some insight on this claim that it was not totally dry for the 350Z lap either.

So, what I'm trying to say is that the TopGears' laptimes can only be compared if (at least) the conditions are known ... for instance the HSV GTO lap that they did recently was in the wet (ie. pouring) and they returned 1:33.x lap. 1:33 on their board may be bested by a lot lesser cars, but then it looks very respectable when you realize that was in pouring rain.

Best comparos are the ones where they have the same driver on the same day (or at least in the same conditions). We had the BFYB at Wakefield here where they had the 350Z and RX8 with Cameron McConville driving and that showed the Zed to be about 0.7sec quicker there. That is a respantable gap, but by no means huge. Then 'Sports Auto' had a recent test where they had the 2 cars on the same day and also a pro driver and that one showed the 350Z about 1.1sec quicker around Hokenheim KK track.

So, from the look of it so far, the 350Z should be always noticably quicker on the track, but even 1sec difference is not that much as the difference between 'good' and 'average' (let alone bad) driver is about 5secs per lap. If you put a 'bad' (ie. slow) driver there then you can be easily looking at a 15sec variation just because of him/her. It looks like the RX8 will be a good match for the WRX on the track ... which says alot for it's capabilities and there'll be plenty of WRXs posting quicker times than the 350Zs out there (ie. just due to the driver abilities). So I can see the same for the RX8, but there will (probably) not be not as many of them on the track (ie. as WRXs) so it'll be harder to find a 'fast' RX8 out there.

Still, the fact that the Crossfire was in the same ballpark laptime wise as the RX8 (actually a 0.3sec quicker), that really impresses me as the RX8 must handle really well to be able to manage those laptimes with the limited power (for the weight)that it's got.