Please read the thread before trying to correct someone. My comments were to Punk MD who said:

" Have you ever driven a 330i? Have you ever raced one in your Z? I guarantee you'll find that the two cars, despite the difference in power, have very similar straight-line acceleration."

After which he tried to make those points.. which I replied to.

We were not even discussing the R/T article specifically.

 

Originally the point of that post was to clarify why BMW's in general were as fast as the numbers suggest, not specifically to target the 330 vs 350Z, although I did get into that.

Maybe I should be more specific tho, since I brought up that comparison. The 330 will do better against a 350Z than most people will expect given its 225 hp. Compared to a 240 hp Altima, a 255 hp Maxima, or a 240 hp Accord, the 330 with 225 hp should win (admittedly this is "magazine racing" because I dont have a 330...I have an M3). The reasons are the same ones I listed, although your points are well taken. Gearing is probably the key in the 330 vs 350Z comparison.

I can only tell you this: I have run against a 330ci and a 350Z and beaten them both soundly, but they seemed perform similarly. My opinion is that in a highway roll it would be pretty close between the two. The 330 probably wont win the race, but it will do better than any other 225 hp coupe out there.

BTW the M3 is a "sedan" as much as the 330ci.

 

I haven't seen the Japan article, but I'd like to.

As far as the rest of your comments since they were in response to my post. I've been to that track once or twice.... I've been around that track in a stock M3 (mine) faster than their number, in a Z06 (friend's with him in it) faster than their number, and rode shotgun in a C2 Porsche with a friend much faster than they did in their C2. Hell for that matter I've seen a stock S2000 (other than Hoosiers) with a good driver lap that track in 1:34's. Lap time is lap time. Electronic, stopwatch, transponder, sun-dial....it's all the same.

I don't know where these people "get off thinking they can qualify someone else who they know nothing about and".....blah blah blah. As for me? Unless it was snowing that day....their times were a little shy.

 

S2000 at a 1:34???? No way at all, high 1:35's or 1:36's if Hoosiers are the only mods. Doug Hayashi is one of the best S2K drivers out there and that is what he is running. Maybe with one of the big airplane wings that the S2K guys are starting to show up with.

 

I say that because while the car has the power and gearing to run a low 13, it suffers from the same traction problems as a Z06 or any other track oriented IRS car. I believe with a good set of tires and alot of practice you can run a low 13 in a M3, but seeing magazines click off 13.1s in a M3 and then 12.8s and 13.0s in Z06's makes me wonder exactly how the M3 driver gained 10 years worth of experience in a matter of minutes.

I say it's a ringer because the consistently pull very good times for their trap speeds in a car not easy to launch, it's either being calculated in their favor, a wild guess, or they're getting cars with better tires or more power then they recieve stock.

 

Good points, but the M3 they tested was an SMG car, which has a "launch control" feature which automatically slips the clutch for a perfect launch every time. That's why they were able to get good launches. Not only that, I have to say the 6-speed M3 is a pretty easy car to launch (I have one), easier than the Z06 (I drove one today and may buy it).

 

I think it is silly that the Z06 was in the group.

thats a low 12 sec car. The very first time i ever went to the track was with my Z06. I ran a 12.7 at 114 mph. this is with an 01 Z06 with just an exhaust and street tires. After about 10 runs within that month, i was able to hit 12.4's consistently.

But hey, i guess it was kinda cool that they ran those cars against eachother, gives one an idea where they stand against other fast sport cars. I definatly think the drivers suck though.

14.4 for the 350Z
thats not right..you guys should call up R&T and complain about their drivers

 

Yeah.. but those cars are truly 'hp sells cars...' kind of cars.. they are just bigger engines in the car to help make them sell as sports-like cars. They are just sedans with large displacement motors. While the BMWs have more then just an engine.. I'd give you that every day.

That will probably **** off the maxima crowd.. but whatever

 

Its the Best Motoring guys.. check out this thread..

https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....ght=top+driver

 

1:34.7 to be exact. The car may have had bigger brakes at the time (I can't remember) and the Hoosiers were on aftermarket wheels. (no wings) I agree that Doug is one of the best, but there are better. I don't want to start a whole debate here. If you know Doug personally, ask him.

 

Great link.... thanks! Those guys are good drivers, that's why I stated I wanted to see it. There were guys on that thread that made some good points. Apparently it was a short track (1:05 lap times) and the M3 and the S2k's fastest lap time was better than the Z's. I'm not saying the Z is a pig, I'm simply stating that at Willow Springs these times should have more disparity and they should be faster.

The Japanese track sounded like tight corners and an 85mph straight, this would be good for the Z's motor (torque). Willow is nothing like that.

 

Nope, the gold brembos and rays tell me it is a track (at least in my mag)

 

That's why the article was called "David vs. Goliath."

 

Good Point! I might have spoke up too soon.