Some of you may know me, some of you may hate me, nonetheless, I'm thinking about getting back into a 350Z. A question though.

What is the ideal year/model to purchase nowadays for BS?

I am leaning towards trying to get my hands back on my 2003 Enthusiast, though I'm not sure my fraternity brother who purchased it wants to sell it back to me. I would hope to get it, or another 2003 enthusiast for cheap, so I am leaning towards that option (2003 enthusiast), with the thought I run BS next year then maybe start BSP or SM2 (perhaps a turbo) prep on the car.

Why shouldn't I go with an 03?

My car in race trim was ~3075lbs, I imagine none of the new cars can touch this weight?

I appreciate any feedback. I'm not going to be moving quickly, I still have my Z06 for another month, but might jump on something shortly after that if I find a good deal.

 

I drove an '05 and an '07, and I really like the '07. My car is an '03, and the OEM spring/shock combo really sucked compared to the revised spring rates on the newer cars. The new motors are noticibly more powerful than the non-revups. (Maybe more power under the curve) If you want an older car, at least get the '04.5 model for the springs. I'm not sure about wheel dimensions between the years, but that's another consideration when it comes to mounting 275's.

 

Hi Chris,

I made it back home this evening. For next year I might consider the 370Z. Smaller, lighter and more horsepower but still an unknown for handling. Downside could be wheel choices for R compounds. Jason won't let it go anywhere but B Stock so he can say BS is not a one car class.

Also, Peter has his BSP car for sale. He took the 5th place trophy so it's sorted out. I was working course safety near Andy Hohl's station on Wednesday and he thought it was pretty nice.

Good luck on the second day. SS is soooo tough!

 

buy my 05

 

got the turbo still?

 

For stock, '05 Track or '06 Enthusiast (RevUp engine, '05 will be slightly lighter), '07-'08 Enthusiast (HR engine, more power, but that engine is more "top heavy" -edit: e.g. "taller" - than the RevUp and original)

For BSP, first350's Z ('05 Enthusiast) is for sale, and is *very* well-sorted. It's making as much or more power than my RevUp.

As far as the 370Z, I'm guessing that it will end up in AS -- lighter, smaller, and more power -- sounds like it would be a good match against the S2000CR.

 

I think I am going to hold off till spring. I need to get the 240z running for a while first, sell it, then see what I will race for 2009. An 03 enthusiast is still the option highest on the list though

 

I think i'm going to be bias and say go with the 03 enthusiast. Thats what me and my codriver are in. I see you are in st louis....are you by chance going to make the blythville event???

 

I was thinking about it originally, but I will be in Dubai that weekend for work.

 

I know who you are.

All the blogging and how to articles you have posted have been a huge help to me setting up my '04 Enthusiast. So thanks.

I agree with you on the early Enthusiast as the car to have for BS, of course I'm biased.

Why,

1) Lightest of all the Z's with a limited slip.
2) 17 inch wheels give you more tire choices, and will save you money. 17' race wheels will be lighter than 18' race wheels with less rotating mass.
3) Brembo's are no help for autocross speeds and are heavier.
4) Although later cars have more HP, the torque of the early models is still as good or better. I value TQ over HP on an auto-X course.
5) Cost to buy will be less so you can go wild on the suspension, like Moton's or something high dollar.

Although I think the 370Z may change everything, we'll see.

 

do the 07. base model, drop in a OEM viscous LSD and skip the heavy stuff (wouldnt have to have matching serial numbers on the LSD would ya?) more useable powerband, revs higher so you wont be between gears as much.

youre allowed to run 18x10 RPF1's (run spacers to get an offset within +-5mm of stock) arent ya? if not you could definately run 18x9 RPF1's and ya have more tire options at 18" (285, 295, 315 from hoosiers, 285, 305, and 315 from Kumho).

370Z is gonna be in A-stock, so viewing it as an option for B-stock isnt a good idea...theyre talking like it'll have a bhp/weight ratio comparable to a C5 vette (350/3100)

 

In Solo, you can't switch partially between models -- it's an all-or-nothing deal (as most of us here know).

So Base would have to run the open diff, Enthusiast could have the VLSD.

Road racing (which rules you're pretty much quoting) aren't valid for Solo.

 

thought thats what this part meant

"Option package conversions may be performed between specific
vehicles of a particular make and model, but only between configurations
from within a particular model year." ?

am I confuseled? everytime I think I get these rules down someone tells me otherwise and throws me for a loop

so basically youd have to swap in every single option from an enthusiast to a base to make it legal?

 

Yes, that is my understanding of how the SCCA rules work. That's why in Stock, to make use of the Nismo model, I cannot add the Nismo suspension without seam welding and adding the dampeners/body panels. Who knows what that would cost?

Some days I wish NASA had autocross events in our area.

 

Being a long time 2003 driver, I can certainly say that it's inferior in on nationals style courses to a similarly prepped HR engine Z

keoki, I raced a base Z. To go to enthuisest, I would have needed the VLSD, the TCS, and something else I'm forgetting. The TCS would be the biggest PITA, and I was quoted an absurd amount from the dealer when I got a quote for the transformation.

Unfortunately I totalled that Z so I never made it all the way through the transformation

 

that was my thinking about the HR...if youre running regional events on tiny high-school-parking-lot courses then the lighter 03' may be better but pro-solo/nat tour/nationals events are held on pretty open courses where the powerband would make the HR more than worth it. besides, with an exhaust and a technosquare reflash you can see like 280-ish whp and a redline of almost 8000 rpm if i'm not mistaken.

 

You can't run reflashes in stock class bro.

Even on the short parking lot courses, the RX8 is lighter and more nimble. It's an uphill battle.

 

I just need to go bury myself in the Solo II handbook, thought reflashes were legal but piggyback's put you into SP. Just need to get my stock / SP rules straightened out. but yeah obviously if you're looking to be competitive in BS an RX-8 is the way to go since practically every Z has been mid-pack at best at Topeka from the results i've seen.

 

2006 - 350Z 2nd place (fastest on day 2)
2007 - 350Z 10th place (day 2 raw time faster than 1st place)

Hardly what I'd call "mid-pack"

 

I may have to reconsider my previous opinion;

We just had a large/fast course at our last event and I needed to go into 3rd gear in my '04 while another '07 Z could stay in 2nd at the same speed. However at the Pro-Solo in Toledo this past summer I was perfectly in my power band in second. So I guess it's course dependant.