What's holding the car back?
 

So I've had my Z for a little over a year and I'm thoroughly disappointed in the aftermarket for it. I mean ppl with FI kits are pulling low 13s with 350+ rwhp? Come on I mean honestly what is holding the Z back? I honestly think it's one of the best looking sports cars in the current lineup of competitors but the aftermarket for it is truly disappointing. Anyone care to elaborate?

Well, for starters, the car weighs 3000+ pounds. :D

Yeah but so does the M3, Supra, S4, STANG COBRA, Vette, STI, EVO8 etc..........
That being said a TT kit with some boost will put you in the mid 12s no prob.

Well, the biggest thing is this car was highly tuned from the factory, so there is not much power to find for the aftermarket. Hard to get more power out of the V6, it is much easier to get more power out of some of its V8 powered competitors.

Wish there was some magical cheap mod that would give it an extra 50rwhp. There was nothing that can do this for this car, and that is really not the aftermarket's fault. Alot of foriegn sports cars are highly tuned like this car, if you were looking for a rwhp king, you probably picked the wrong car. You can get alot of rwhp out of this car, but you will have to pay big dollars to get that power.

get better tires lol

seriously, good drivers have been pulling low 13 almost stock with drag radials and slicks. I trapped 102 mph stock, that's good for mid 13s on good street tires.

car launches like **** on stock tires and suspensions IMHO. standing 1/4 mile is not a Z strong point.

From what I've read, one of the biggest problems is getting the HP to the wheels, even on a stock Z.

Check out the thread on Sith's 13.0 second run in a NA Z...

https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....threadid=79812

TT kits indeed power gainers but people simply dont understand its can be easy to crank up boost or add more power. The hard part of all things is how to control and deliver power.

High HP supras have a hard as time in the 1/4mi because they simply cant catch good traction w/street tires. They must run on slicks. Hence why you barely see supras doing 1/4 times because its not really worth it. You will see them on the highway lurking for some high speed runs.

Whats also holding us back is the ECU. We are still eaiting on the ode cracking to truely unleash the ecu's capabilites.... look what kpro/hondata can do for the rsx!

after market dissapointing?????????? hell no my man ........ Im about to have sub 5 second 0-60 times as soon as I get my gears installed... and I am all N/A mod's....... traction traction traction.......... there are people runing low 13's N/A....

Boost without traction as said before causes bad ET's but look at there trap speeds....... 117+ thats a possibily of MID to high 11's..

Im not a believer of F/I right now due to all the motors blowing up but would like to go turbo one day....... untill then it's N/A for me.......

I'll be happy in the 11's with low boost just not right now...... just be prepared to spend a lot on tires.......BFgoodrich is the way to go.....:D

agreed

now to be honest i'm a closet racer when it comes to this (still trying to figure out what to buy - was about to order y-pipe, cats, plenum, ecu but changed my mind after some members on the forum helped me realize how little gains i'd be getting for the price)

... seriously, the car comes so tuned from the factory, it seems like you're better off modding it in by reducing drivetrain loss, traction and gearing

consider taking a look at gears, pulleys, clutch and light weight rims if you're not happy with intake/exhaust mods... I just might do that and there is absolutely NO doubt when it comes to these mods as to whether they are doing something... 1 lb or 500 lb; static or rotational... when it comes to weight, if you're reducing it, your car will be faster