I typically don't write kill stories, but this one really got me scratching my head. I was coming home down a two lane road that has a straightaway that is about 5 miles long. I had come up behind a new BMW Z4... from behind it looked like the top of the line model (wide tires). In front of the BMW, there was a poke and I pulled out and passed both of them. Well, the BMW (which I had seen the 3.0 emblem while passing, so I know it was the 'fast' one) came rocketing up behind me and sat about 2 feet from my bumper...

Well, I started thinking and remembered that I had been reading the issue of R&T with the Z4 on the cover saying (on the cover) 5.4 to 60! The numbers in R&T suggest that the Z4 is slightly faster than the Z, but should be basically a flat race (no body wins). My car has only 650 miles on it, so I really shouldn't have pushed it, but I had to try... I slowed to around 50 and had the my car sitting at about 4K rpm (I believe I was in 3rd, could be 4th and the speed could be wrong, but I am SURE of the 4K rpm). He stayed right there, I gave him a minute so he knew that we were racing and I gunned it. I basically just slowly pulled away up to about 95mph (I would guess that I had about 3 car lengths or so at 95). I was very suprised how far back he fell as the mags seem to say that the cars should be a dead heat (or the BMW should win). After his 'loss' he dropped WAY back and wouldn't get close to me again... I think that he thought the outcome of the race would be very different and he seemed quite shocked that the Z pulled away on him.

Keep in mind, I didn't DESTROY him, but the Z was definitely faster... the only thing that is unanswered is whether or not he had an automatic... I have NO way of telling if it was a standard or auto.... my thinking is that it was a standard as he was VERY aggressive in challenging me... I would guess that most aggressive BMW owners buy the stick..

Anyway, I was VERY impressed by the power of the unbroken in Z...

 

Good run...

Was his top up or down...the Z4 will be at a greater disadvantage as speed increases if his top was down.

I would think that if it were an auto Z4 you would have walked him very convensingly. More than likely the reason you slowly pulled away is that you floored it a fraction of a second quicker than he did. For cars that run very close to the same times, even a small jump means you are getting into your powerband sooner than the other guy.

 

It can also be a matter of gear selection. You started off at 4K RPM (good idea). He might have been in a slightly higher gear. The cars are close neough to make it a driver's race.

Good job.

 

the comparison times you are referring to are 0 - 60 mph. Your run was above that. If you go back and review the time vs speed comparison between the two cars you'll see that the 350Z is much faster at the higher speeds; HP rules when aerodynamic drag comes into play and the 350Z has considerably better power and Cd numbers than the Z4.

That said, the 0 - 60 time listed for the Z4 is extremely conservative; C/D specifically stated they were taking the launches easy. I can launch my Z4 3.0 6 speed off the rev limiter with minimal wheelspin; my 60 foot time would make you weep. I'll leave a 350Z standing at the launch start only to have it reeling me in by the end of the 1/4 mile, then passing me and walking away at the higher speeds. From a 3rd gear and up pull such as you did the 350Z should beat the Z4 3.0, there's no secret about that. That's just the way it is in a Stock vs. Stock comparison between these two vehicles.

Go run an 1/8 mile strip against a Z4 3.0 driven by someone that knows what they're doing and you'll see what I mean.

 

nice reply, cool that a BMW owner could be so complimentry to the Z UNLIKE so many other owners of different cars on this site that own cars FAR inferior to a BMW. I guess when you own that car, there is NO need to envy another car that is less $$ and you can be vary secure about the purchase, after all what some on this section seem to forget is that if we wanted another machine that was far faster than a Z we would have bought it in the 1st place for equal or far less $$$

 

even more props for the 350 considering that he was drafting you the entire time!

 

don't if you guys get a show calle Motorweek in the US but just saw a re-run this morning and the list 6 sec for 0 to 60 for the 3.0 z4

 

they probably just regurgitated the official BMW estimated time of 5.9 sec, I have yet to see a BMW that did not beat the quote BMW spec by at least 1/2 sec.

C/D has both the 350Z and Z4 3.0 cutting 5.4 sec 0 - 60 times, I'm inclined to think they're valid comparisons. Prior to the C/D test the official Nissan number was 6.0 sec too.

 

Uh, maybe it's just me but did he ever line up NEXT to you before racing ? Cause from what you wrote I'm picturing him BEHIND you... and if that's the case, what makes you think he gunned it when you did ?

People don't race like that.

 

Sorry I have been off for a couple of days, but I have been home sick and then had a nasty allergic reaction to the medicine they gave me... I just wanted to answer some of your questions:

#1 - His top was UP

#2 - I have read the same things about the Z4 being VERY strong off the line due to some very good gearing. This would very much lead me to believe that a race beginning at 50 or so would leave the Z4 behind me.

#3 - He was behind me... and yes, people race that way all the time. If you are on a two lane road, then it would be insane for him to be next to me. If he didn't race, then my car is REALLY slow. When I gunned it he slowly fell back... if he gunned it much after me he would have quickly dropped back a car or two and then slowly dropped (this did not happen). I purposefully slowed down, down shifted and waited (to make him aware of what was coming and to let him get in the right gear. If he was in the wrong gear then, again, his car is really fast because he only slowly dropped...

 

Oh... so how does he beat you then, slam into your rear bumper ?

 

Uh, yeah.. he slams into my bumper...
Ya think he might 'pass' me??

If you have never had this type of race, then you must have not been involved in many races..

 

That's a nice one-way race then. You either win, or he is forced to let off the gas, and you still win. Good one.

If I haven't had this kinda race, it's prolly cause I prefer not to be an idiot on public streets.

 

Oh, I'm sorry.. I just noticed that you are from NJ... I'm sure you are much smarter than me.

 

You're comparing IQ by state of residence ?

Once again, I bow to your intelligence. After all, Tennessee is known to spawn some of today's brightest.. how dare some punk from Jersey offend an experienced racer from such an esteemed state.

 

Haven't you guys ever play follow the leader? No need to pass, just keep up.

 

Jeff,

Don't worry about this guy. I find that people that spell probably, "prolly", usually don't have much to contribute.

 

why does someone with a fugged up attitude always have to shutdown a decent thread? I thought it was kind of cool that owners of different vehicles could be honest about the facts.

 

Please don't turn a good thread into a stupid argument.

 

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but I'm sure people already think that about me here anyways (because I tend to be blunt)... I know my opinion is probably not well taken either, because most "race" stories I hear here, and on the 'net, consist of these "I was rolling a 50 mph" stories. I've been to the dragstrip a lot, mainly on motorcycles, and it's fun. I barely consider drag racing to require much skill as it is, but then you take away the launch and it's just pedal pushing and shifting halfway fast. Do people truly "drag race" anymore, from lights, and not where you jump the guy because he didn't know you wanted to race?

Not trying to put down anyone, or the original poster, it's still cool that he was able to pull on the Z4, just saying I don't take it to mean much as far as a "race". Am I the only one?