Camaro board "Z only real competitor"

[Shamu]

Originally Posted by Endgame

Keep in mind the 370Z was extremely close to the privious Cayman S on the track, and turned better lap times than the CS in Best Motoring's debut comparo. The newer Cayman S's have the exact same suspension, brakes, and wheels as did the 2008. The only thing that is different is PDK. That is why the newer one is so much faster on the track now. I am tossing in the CS from a cost perspective. I say you can mod a Z to be better than the CS and still have $20k to play with. Most CS's I see are stock anyway....

I disagree with you on the weight discussion. A modded Z can get enough aero downforce for the track with less weight. If the 'base + sport' Z is faster than the old CS on Tskuba, I wager a base+sport, tuned Z would be closer to the new PDK CS than the Nismo. You cannot beat lighter weight with as much as, if not more than the power of a Nismo. Most of these tuned base+sport are doing 370-380 crank HP.

IMO. BTW What is up with the Orca? Pretty cool...

Actually you are mistaken about the Cayman S and upgrades in 2009. In 2009 Cayman S was significantly upgraded with far more than just PDK option. Suspensions were improved with slight tweaks to spring rates, steering rack improved, A LSD was offered for the first time ever in the Cayman, engine was improved with direct injection adding 25 HP over 2008 car. Its all that combined that made the car faster than the 2008 CS. Also do you know if cars tested against the 370 Z had PASM or not? That makes a difference as well. I know because if I could have afforded a 2009 I might have bought one over the Nismo! LOL!

We can a agree to disagree on 370Z vs Nismo weight and aero discussion. Having spent a fair amount of time on the track I have a healthy respect for aerodynamics. You'd have to install aftermarket parts to get similar effects as Nismo bodywork. I'd venture to say Nismo bodywork cuts through air more efficiently than standard sport does - which should add top speed at end of straights. I also would contend that a Nismo doesnt haul around all that much more weight than a Sport if you were to do similar modifications to both cars. But again I'm looking at stock verses stock as I wouldnt buy a 370Z Sport and then spend a ton of money on coilovers, swaybars, body kits, wing, intakes, exhaust system, ECU tune, bracing, etc that I got on the Nismo as part of the sales price of the car, $36K. Dealers were much more willing to discount Nismo than standard cars so it just seemed like a better deal to me than buying a base car and modifying at great expense and time with untested parts. I have been doing this car performance car thing for a while and the Nismo crew did a very good job with this car. Nice to have it all together from the dealer. I hate doing aftermarket crud on street cars. Thats what race cars are for. I like keeping my street car relatively stock.

Orca? Oh yes Shamu is my pet name for the 370 Z because they are a bit hefty compared to most sports cars I have driven. But they are still dangerous and fast for their size. Hence Shamu is my nick name for the car. My car sort of looks like an Orca too with that whale tail.