David, thank you for your analysis between the ZR and Coupe.

np ... though, keep in mind that I have not put the Zed Roadster to the 'test', so what I'm saying is just deduced from what I know of Lionking's auto Zed and from convertibles in general. You'll be amazed at how much speed you loose when you have the roof down. The S2000 (for example) would drop good 10kph in terms of top-speed at a place like Sandown, where you're reaching ~190kph with the roof up.

Maybe we should originize a test and make it to a DV on a private own road someday

Sure thing ... I'm always up for stuff like that. As long as it's dry, there's a few places I know where tests like that can be conducted. PM me when feel like trying it out and we'll organize something. Whereabouts do you live?

Though, keep in mind that I have the Hi-tech exhaust fitted so you'll be comparing your car to a manual Couple with Hi-tech exhaust.

ps. What does "DV" stand for?

Correct me if I'm wrong but the roadster has a closer gear ratio in order to help with the extra kg... but that could be only for numbers to 100kph - either way the wind resistance factor would make it slower at high speeds.

Yes, I think you're right. I think the Roadster does have shorter gearing that the Coupe ... I remember it being mentioned when the car was about to be released, but oddly enough I can't find any mention of it it any local reviews ... what about the Roaster brochure from Nissan ... anyhone have it?.

Though, I have found some info in the US articles. One states:

"Roadster's overall start-up gearing is 13.423 to 1, while the coupe's is 13.074 to 1.".

That would indicate 2.6% shorter gearing in every gear compared to the Coupe. Then elsewhere I found this gearing information for the manual Roadster (at 6,600rpm):
- 1st gear = 56kph
- 2nd gear = 95kph
- 3rd gear = 135kph
- 4th gear = 183kph
- 5th gear = 229kph
- 6th gear = 319kph

This gearing information may very well be correct, but it does not agree with the 2.6% reduction that the previous statement makes. Still, the lsited gearing is shorter than for the manual Coupe.

I'm not sure about the auto - is the gearing in Roadster auto shorter than in a Coupe as well ... or is it just for the manual equiped cars? One easy way to find out (for whoever has an auto Roadster) is by using the manual mode in the auto, put in in each gear, keep steady 3000rpm (or any other constant revs) and note the speed in each gear at eactly that revs. From that we could confirm the gearing in the Auto box Roadster. Anyone care to do this? If you tell me what speed you're doing at 3000rpm (or any other revs) in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th gear I'll be able to compare it to the Coupe's gearing. btw, 2000rpm in 4th and 5th will do nicely ... no need to exceed legal speed limits ;-)

Last of all, shorter gearing will give you better in-gear acceleration, but not quicker 'overal' acceleration. I know that does not sound like it makes sence, but if you think about it. By the virtue of the Roadster having shorter each gear, the Coupe will be able to stay in that exact gear longer (ie. while the Roadster needs to be in the next gear) ... at that point the Coupe will be in the 'shorter' gear.

eg.
Let's pressume that the 3rd gear for the manual Roadster gets you to 135kph (as stated in the above table), and compare it to the Coupes 3rd gear that reaches 142kph. Now if you put the Roadster and Coupe next to each other at 100kph in 3rd gear, then the Roadster will have a gearing advantage until it hits the redline (ie. 135kph). At this point the Roadster needs to shift to 4th gear, which in itself looses some time. Not only that, but from 135 to 142kph the Coupe can stay in the 3rd gear, which is a lot shorter than the 4th gear that the Roadster needs to be in. Therefore, the Coupe has a gearing advantage from 135 to 142kph.

What that tells us is that no matter what the gearing in the car, it will have it's advantages/disadvatages at at certain speeds.

 

DV = Digital Video,

I live in Box Hill area - eastern side of Melbourne

Where can we have the test done?
Maybe we can originize to do the test :B

 

David, after you test with my roadster, do you want to test with my IMPUL GTR?

 

DV = Digital Video

Aaah, OK.

I live in Box Hill area - eastern side of Melbourne. Where can we have the test done?

There's an industrial area that I know well ... it's empty in the evenings, and has very nice wide roads far away from 'obstacles'.

Maybe we can originize to do the test :B

Sure thing, best thing is to do it in the evening. During the week I can make almost any evening after work ... pick one that's good for you. If you want, PM me directly and we'll take it from there.

David, after you test with my roadster, do you want to test with my IMPUL GTR?

Sure thing ... afterall, how quick can an 11sec GTR really be? ;-)

Correct me if I'm wrong but the roadster has a closer gear ratio in order to help with the extra kg.

I have done a bit more reasearch, and oddly enough the US mags that have tested the Roadster (manual) have the gearing listed exactly the same as for the Coupe. So, I'm not sure if that's just a mistake on their part (even though, I found two different magazines/articles). Good way to check is probably to test the speed in 3rd gear. The manual Coupe will pull 63kph in 3rd gear at exactly 3000rpm, and the auto Coupe should pull 70kph at the same revs. Can you guys with the Roadsters check and see what speed you'll get at 3000rpm in 3rd?

ps. Here's the gearing for the Auto 350Z (@ 7,000rpm) ... will see if the Roadster is the same:
- 1st gear = 68kph
- 2nd gear = 107kph
- 3rd gear = 165kph
- 4th gear = 243kph
- 5th gear = 306kph

ps. Thought you might be insterested i nthe numbers that the US mags extracted from the manual Roadster:

Road and Track:
- 0-60mph (96.5kph) = 5.7sec
- 0-100mph (160kph) = 14.4sec
- 400m = 14.3sec @ 160kph

Automobile:
- 0-60mph (96.5kph) = 5.8sec
- 0-100mph (160kph) = 14.5sec
- 400m = 14.5sec @ 160kph

Car and Driver:
- 0-60mph (96.5kph) = 5.5sec
- 5-60mph (8 - 96.5kph) = 6.3sec
- 400m = 14.3sec @ 159kph

 

Ahh, GRB's. I was going to get them before I came across the Goodyears.

BTW, what is a 350 SS?

 

Sorry, it's an SS Commodore. As it's a 350 Chev I got the plates 350 SS.