Camaro board "Z only real competitor"

[Shamu]

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Yeah, they beat the M3 around Laguna Seca by over 3 seconds on the first lap out. And 3 seconds on Laguna is a LOT of time.

Ford team has a long time Porsche racer on their suspension team. He was out testing the Mustang on Laguna Seca over a year ago and called it a M3 beater. However it doesnt suprise me that they beat the M3 as Laguna Seca is primarily a power course. Boss Mustang has hp advantage from first straight until they get to top of the hill into the corkscrew. As a guy who has chased high hp cars on that track it doesnt tell me much about a cars handling potential, but clearly Mustangs are getting much better. Also critical to look at what tires were on cars at time test occurred. Sometimes tires can make all the difference in the world.

I'd love to see more track comparos of the 370Z nismo verses Cayman S, base model Vette, Mustang Boss, Camaro SS, BMW 135i M, RX8, etc.

Randy Pobst put a new generation Cayman S around track over 3 seconds faster than a 370Z Nismo on Laguna Seca. I think that says a whole lot about how superior handling in Cayman is as the two cars have nearly identical power to weight ratios.

2009 Nissan Nismo 370Z Laps Laguna Seca - 2009 Motor Trend Best Driver's Car Competition Feature - Motor Trend Video

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS Hot Lap At Laguna Seca - 2009 Best Driver's Car Feature - Motor Trend Video

2009 Porsche Cayman S Laps Laguna Seca - 2009 Best Driver's Car Video



I could have bought a used Cayman S but I liked the Nismo version of the 370 Z better. I think with a little setup work the Nismo can actually be faster than a stockish Cayman. Nissans tunning potential is much greater. Porsche is squeezing a lot of HP from those little 3.4 liter flat sixes and there isnt much you can do other than very expensive turbo kit to get more HP. Nismo on the other hand will reward intakes, free flowing cats, etc with some real HP gains.

[Mt Tam I am]

Originally Posted by Shamu

Ford team has a long time Porsche racer on their suspension team. He was out testing the Mustang on Laguna Seca over a year ago and called it a M3 beater. However it doesnt suprise me that they beat the M3 as Laguna Seca is primarily a power course. Boss Mustang has hp advantage from first straight until they get to top of the hill into the corkscrew. As a guy who has chased high hp cars on that track it doesnt tell me much about a cars handling potential, but clearly Mustangs are getting much better. Also critical to look at what tires were on cars at time test occurred. Sometimes tires can make all the difference in the world.

I'd love to see more track comparos of the 370Z nismo verses Cayman S, base model Vette, Mustang Boss, Camaro SS, BMW 135i M, RX8, etc.

Randy Pobst put a new generation Cayman S around track over 3 seconds faster than a 370Z Nismo on Laguna Seca. I think that says a whole lot about how superior handling in Cayman is as the two cars have nearly identical power to weight ratios.

2009 Nissan Nismo 370Z Laps Laguna Seca - 2009 Motor Trend Best Driver's Car Competition Feature - Motor Trend Video

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS Hot Lap At Laguna Seca - 2009 Best Driver's Car Feature - Motor Trend Video

2009 Porsche Cayman S Laps Laguna Seca - 2009 Best Driver's Car Video



I could have bought a used Cayman S but I liked the Nismo version of the 370 Z better. I think with a little setup work the Nismo can actually be faster than a stockish Cayman. Nissans tunning potential is much greater. Porsche is squeezing a lot of HP from those little 3.4 liter flat sixes and there isnt much you can do other than very expensive turbo kit to get more HP. Nismo on the other hand will reward intakes, free flowing cats, etc with some real HP gains.

I still can not believe that the Camero gets round the track ahead of the Z. These cars never get round the turns in the real world. Hats off to the driver .

[Endgame]

Originally Posted by Shamu

Ford team has a long time Porsche racer on their suspension team. He was out testing the Mustang on Laguna Seca over a year ago and called it a M3 beater. However it doesnt suprise me that they beat the M3 as Laguna Seca is primarily a power course. Boss Mustang has hp advantage from first straight until they get to top of the hill into the corkscrew. As a guy who has chased high hp cars on that track it doesnt tell me much about a cars handling potential, but clearly Mustangs are getting much better. Also critical to look at what tires were on cars at time test occurred. Sometimes tires can make all the difference in the world.

I'd love to see more track comparos of the 370Z nismo verses Cayman S, base model Vette, Mustang Boss, Camaro SS, BMW 135i M, RX8, etc.

Randy Pobst put a new generation Cayman S around track over 3 seconds faster than a 370Z Nismo on Laguna Seca. I think that says a whole lot about how superior handling in Cayman is as the two cars have nearly identical power to weight ratios.

2009 Nissan Nismo 370Z Laps Laguna Seca - 2009 Motor Trend Best Driver's Car Competition Feature - Motor Trend Video

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS Hot Lap At Laguna Seca - 2009 Best Driver's Car Feature - Motor Trend Video

2009 Porsche Cayman S Laps Laguna Seca - 2009 Best Driver's Car Video



I could have bought a used Cayman S but I liked the Nismo version of the 370 Z better. I think with a little setup work the Nismo can actually be faster than a stockish Cayman. Nissans tunning potential is much greater. Porsche is squeezing a lot of HP from those little 3.4 liter flat sixes and there isnt much you can do other than very expensive turbo kit to get more HP. Nismo on the other hand will reward intakes, free flowing cats, etc with some real HP gains.

i do not think it is the Cayman S's suspension in as much as it is weight and PDK. I bet a tuned base Z with Sport pack will be much closer to the new Cayman S. The regular Z weighs more than a Cayman S, but the Nismo weighs even more than the standard Z. Drop 50 pounds from the non Nismo, exhaust, intake, suspension mods and better tires. Game on (at least a little more); and at less cost than the CS.

[Shamu]

Originally Posted by Endgame

i do not think it is the Cayman S's suspension in as much as it is weight and PDK. I bet a tuned base Z with Sport pack will be much closer to the new Cayman S. The regular Z weighs more than a Cayman S, but the Nismo weighs even more than the standard Z. Drop 50 pounds from the non Nismo, exhaust, intake, suspension mods and better tires. Game on (at least a little more); and at less cost than the CS.

I would say it goes far beyond suspension advantage as the Cayman S has superior rear mid engine configuration, better chassis dynamics and very good brakes. Also think we have to keep conversations stock to stock as a Cayman S with good coil over system, intake , exhaust and light wheels would rock a 370z.

I also get a kick out of the belief that a 370z with same size wheels is significantly lighter than a Nismo. For track work I think the Nismo aero dynamics are superior as well. 50lbs on a car like 370z with high hp isn't going to impact lap times significantly. I'd say suspension, power, chassis stiffening and aero of the Nismo can more than justify the few lbs the car weighs over the standard car.