Who Actually Goes to the Track with Their 370Z?
 

The reason I ask this is because anytime you ask something mechanically oriented about adding power, stopping the car better or improving handling, you get a bunch of answers from guys telling you all about the merits or shortcomings of certain parts as they relate to the 370Z's performance on the racetrack.

I know there's a few guys here who are hardcore trackday hotshoes and racers, but I suspect that most forum denizens are living vicariously through those few that actually go to the track and are regurgitating things they read here.
I also think that the 370Z is built more than adequately for street duty and a lot of people unnecessarily have their panties all in a bunch over brake and oil temperature issues that really only affect people driving on the track.

So, answer the poll honestly so I can see if my hunch is right or wrong.

I've seen a good mix of opinions, personally.

There are members who report high oil temps from street driving, but it's rare. There are members who report a stuck hatch release, but not normally from the track guys.

Obviously, certain upgrades are going to be a little more noticeable on the track than on the street, and vice versa...so it's good to have a mix of opinions/feedback.

True. I couldn't agree more about a mix of opinions and feedback, but I'd prefer feedback that's based on actual experiences, not second hand opinions or Road and Track articles.

I am a track junkie, but you are right, the car as it comes, right out of the box, is perfectly adequate for street use.

I made this statement a year go after i took a 90 minute test drive of the Z and was borderline flamed. lol. a bunch of were justifying why kw v3's were needed for street application. my opinion at the time were some eibach prolines and stillen sways with corresponding alignment would already make it more than capable on the street.

The 370Z is perfectly set up for street use from the factory. Oil temp is a non-issue unless you do track days or a lot of canyon runs. But the bottom line is on the street you really shouldn't be driving hard enough to run into oil temp issues. That's just unsafe.

And the only things you really need to for the track are brake pads and an oil cooler... that says a lot for how good this car is....

And FWIW, to qualify my poll response, I have not taken the Z to the track yet. But I've done the whole track thing with other cars.

Few times a year..

:iagree:

and that comes with knowing how to drive the car on the streets even during spirit driving!

A few times a year.

I plan on eventually taking my roadster to summit point (anyone have rollbar info for the roadster). But I am very concerned about the oil temp.

I can push it to the 250s just on local back road twisties, of course the ambient temps in MD have been well over the 90s. I am worried about what tracking it will do when it is so easy to push it over the normal of 220ish.

That's so weird. I have never hit 220 in mine, even on the ~110 degree days and driving hard. I wonder what causes the gap between temperatures.

Matt,
What oil are you using as I might want to try it? I hit 220 all the time so it looks like it is my normal benchmark. I'm still in break-in period mind you so no agressive driving yet.

220ish seems to be the norm for me running around the beltways on the 90-100 degree days we've been having.
If I drop down a gear and go WOT to get past traffic or have some fun on the onramps, I'll spike up to 240, but it goes right back down to 220 in a short time.

before my oil cooler, I saw 260 in stop and go traffic on I-285 in Atlanta at 90 degrees out.

Went to spa francorchamps. nurburgring will probably happen soon.