How do you like your Z for the track? I currently own and run a 2003 z06 for DE's and love the car. Unfortunately, in the next year/year and a half, I plan on going back to school, as well as, would like to eventually build a t1 or t2 car for scca. Now, my main problem is that I am addicted to track time, but have determined that my goal of converting my z06 to t1 is way too much money...it is even hard to maintain if for track events...rotors are dirt cheap, but tires are $$$$$...fluids are fluids and cost the same regardless of car (minus an exotic). I currently have an option to buy an '04 350z track edition for ~29k...this would lower my monthly payments by approx 200-250 for the car, plus, i looked at tirerack for tires and noticed it is 1/2 the cost! Would I be silly to trade up? or what? I am looking for some honest advice! I mainly run at VIR and curious what people think of their cars....thanks in advance!

 

I enjoy running my '03 Track model at the track, but wouldn't recommend converting one over to T2 specs. Why? First off, the performance of your Z06 is quite impressive and frankly the Z, nice as it is, won't compare. Second, racing is expensive and T2 is a class that will have you BURNING through bucks for tires, brakes and probably some body repair if you are competitive. Third, T2 is a very competitive class where the Z competes against tubo cars (whose boost cannot be regulated), cars with 4WD (or both turbos and 4WD) and big American iron. IMHO, it's up against the wall, rule-wise. Fourth, the Z is just too pretty to be cutting up the interior for a roll cage or bouncing off Camaros (I should talk, I still crawl over a cage in one of my street cars that doubles as an ITS racecar)

Having educational goals is admirable, but trying to campaign T2 concurrently is NOT a good idea. I'd suggest buying a lower priced and powered racecar (with all the spares) to start with (IT, SSB-C, SRF, FM are just a few examples). Expenses should be quite a bit lower and HP will not mask driving errors that you want to eliminate as you learn the basics.

To sum up, swapping the Z06 with the Z may help with your expenses for the street, but try to keep your street ride intact (or for the occasional lapping day). Dual-purpose cars are just not very competitive in T1/2. To your credit, you are doing the right thing in asking for advice on the subject before jumping into the pool and wasting a bunch of $$$...

Best of luck!

 

Thanks for the reply. Let me add that I do have a dakota quad cab for daily driving purposes. t1/t2 may be far off for me and could be another car by the time I realistically get there. What about focusing on the 350 for DE purposes only? (and drive on the street as a 2nd car) The z06 is a very high performance car, but I am not looking to go 145-150mph down the back straight at VIR while only being "good" in the corners. The z06 is a large car and does not like to shift its weight as much as some other cars. How is the 350 as a handling car? would it be better to look for a non-track edition and upgrade suspension and brakes?

 

The 350Z is set up to understeer at its' limits. If it were me, I'd look to buy a used track model for $25-27K and upgrade the brake pads and springs/shocks/swaybars. IMHO, it would be more cost effective to go that route to create a more neutral handling Z.

 

OK - good information. What is a good suspenstion setup? Are the Nismo sways and suspension worth it (s-tune, I think it is called)?

What pads are you guys using for the track? or better yet, what model caliper are the Brembo's on the track edition? I currently run Wilwood H pads on my z06, which are very aggressive

to combat understeer, would you suggest running same width tires all the way around?

I was looking at these rims for track use only, since they are cheap, and faily lightweight, but no means LIGHT

18x8.5(f) 18x9.5 (r) Kazera KZ-A Black w/Mach Lip from tirerack

then go with Dunlop SP Super Sport Race tires, or the Pirelli PZero Corsa's at eithe 265/35 18 or 255/35 18...I will avoid the staggered setup for understeer, as well as, tire rotation...

The 350 I found is a 2004 Red track edition with 5k miles on it for 29k

 

The Z requires a lot of mods in my opinion to be a decent track car (even just for weekend HPDE's). Not even factoring in the engine, the Z06 is much better out of the box. My point is that expect to drop 4K into the Z to make it trackworthy. Brakes, front control arms, lsd, sways & coilovers come to mind. The Z is a great car, but it sounds like cost is your main driver here so just make sure you consider all the costs. It will proabably be a year before you recover from the $200 in saving's per month.

 

I put the money into upgrading to a Stoptech 13 inch brake kit for all four corners. I've done four different track events with this setup and I have a great time. This spring I'm going for the Nismo S-Tune suspension and sways to improve track performance a bit. For me, the power of the stock Z is plenty. Cobalt Spec VR race pads have performed flawlessly at each event. I run Kumho Victoracer R compound tires, far less expensive than the tires you mentioned.

 

how do the stop tech brakes compare to the track brembo's?

Just an FYI to everyone on here, the dunlop and pirellis are on major discount prices for sizes that fit the 350z (tirerack)...most are at ~$130 a piece.

 

You know I recently found out how much the rotors were for a z06. A buddy of mine who is thinking about moving from his s2000 to a z06 and I were talking about the cost of tracking a z06 with a z06 driver that we run with and I still can't believe they are that cheap! Do they wear fairly quick?

Good Luck with the new car decsion

Karim

 

Yea, it is amazing....$100 shipped to my door for a full set (front and rear) The rotors last maybe 4 weekends depending on pad choice. I run Wilwood H pads which are very aggressive. If you run stock z06 pads, they will last a while. The key is cooling...not so much out on the track, but on the cool down, you have to drive around the paddock to properly cool the brakes down on a z06 or the rotors will crack!!

I am currently waiting to hear back from the dealer on what they will offer on my car for trade in etc. That will be the first step in determining a switch or not

 

I have to agree with daveh above. The Z is a fun track car but there are better ones out there.
IMO the best track car avail. today for the money is the Mitsubishi EVO VIII.
Over the past 2 years I've blown $6000-$8000 on my Z to to get it to stop,start and turn faster at the track. I've replaced wheels,tires (R compounds) , suspension, brakes and have done some engine work all in the hopes of better lap times. And for the most part it's work. I've progressed through the ranks of NASA's HPDE system, gotten my race license and have been an instructor for awhile now. This has allowed me to drive various student cars (S2000, WRX, STI, Elise, 'vettes (no Z06 yet) etc. but to this day none of them were more fun then doing a lapping day in a bone stock Evo. That car is just sick. I managed to shave a full 3 sec. a lap in the Evo (again, bone stock) compared to my best time in the Z (with coilover susp. race pads and R compound tires).
You want a track car on the cheap? That's your car. Too bad about the goofy wing though...