2013 Car and Driver Lightning Lap

370zrider · 05-10-2013, 12:14 PM

I don't remember where I saw that Nissan was targeting Porsche Cayman's performance with the 370z. Just as they did with the GTR beating the 911 turbo.

Still there's a huge performance gap

.

UNKNOWN_370 · 05-10-2013, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370zrider

I don't remember where I saw that Nissan was targeting Porsche Cayman's performance with the 370z. Just as they did with the GTR beating the 911 turbo.

Still there's a huge performance gap

.

It was R&T who directly pinned the Z against the Cayman. They were basically tied for performance on the track they used. The porsche was more graceful in it's track performance though.

The porsche is a MR and the Z is FR/midship. The porsche cayman on certain tracks will exceed the Z and on others it will be a drivers race where the Z may win. Straight line speed the Z has shown to be mildly faster but carries a lower top speed.

ZMan8 · 05-10-2013, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UNKNOWN_370

It was R&T who directly pinned the Z against the Cayman. They were basically tied for performance on the track they used. The porsche was more graceful in it's track performance though.

The porsche is a MR and the Z is FR/midship. The porsche cayman on certain tracks will exceed the Z and on others it will be a drivers race where the Z may win. Straight line speed the Z has shown to be mildly faster but carries a lower top speed.

Nissan Z has always competed with the Porsche as far as road feel, design, and performance. Porsche is of course more refined with better feel, but at 2x the price. That's where the whole "poor man's Porsche" came from. That's why these times don't make too much sense. The difference between the 370Z and cayman should of been much closer.

Tazicon · 05-10-2013, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZMan8

Nissan Z has always competed with the Porsche as far as road feel, design, and performance. Porsche is of course more refined with better feel, but at 2x the price. That's where the whole "poor man's Porsche" came from. That's why these times don't make too much sense. The difference between the 370Z and cayman should of been much closer.

I own both and I know why they aren't closer.............I love the 370 Z Sport but it doesn't handle like the Cayman S. Yes in a straight line its faster (on the lower end, but not by much at all) but once you hit the twisties they can not even be compared.

Red__Zed · 05-10-2013, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370zrider

I don't remember where I saw that Nissan was targeting Porsche Cayman's performance with the 370z. Just as they did with the GTR beating the 911 turbo.

Still there's a huge performance gap

.

This says it better than words can:

m4a1mustang · 05-10-2013, 12:44 PM

If you've ever driven the two... it's very obvious which car is better... by far. But it's double the freakin' price.

UNKNOWN_370 · 05-10-2013, 01:06 PM

MR is just more balanced. The Z takes more skill to achieve what the Porsche can. You really gotta become one with the Z. The porsche is effortless driving. Better is subjective to your driving expectations. MR puts up less of a fight, like AWD/FR does. So criticisms of whats better can go on all day if you're driving expectations are high, low, moderate etc

But the Porsche undoubtedly has a more refined engine and a more balanced chassis, not to mention a better feeling shifter.
The Z feels more aggressive under load, is more fun and leaves a lot less room for error., The porsche is a sword and the Z is a hatchet. But with one swing of both, you can cut anything in half.

Tazicon · 05-11-2013, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UNKNOWN_370

MR is just more balanced. The Z takes more skill to achieve what the Porsche can. You really gotta become one with the Z. The porsche is effortless driving. Better is subjective to your driving expectations. MR puts up less of a fight, like AWD/FR does. So criticisms of whats better can go on all day if you're driving expectations are high, low, moderate etc

But the Porsche undoubtedly has a more refined engine and a more balanced chassis, not to mention a better feeling shifter.
The Z feels more aggressive under load, is more fun and leaves a lot less room for error., The porsche is a sword and the Z is a hatchet. But with one swing of both, you can cut anything in half.

This^ The one thing I will say is in the twisties the Z is more fun as you really HAVE to drive it.

Last night when we went out and the wife was driving the Porsche, she kept saying that the Z is raw and the Porsche refined, pretty much like you stated. She won't let me get rid of the Z though nor would I want to. For the money, and cost of upkeep you can't beat a Z. (Edit: and the fun factor! The Z is a blast to drive)

m4a1mustang · 05-10-2013, 01:07 PM

I contend that the Z doesn't quite achieve what the Cayman can. It's not that it takes more skill to drive... it just doesn't match it. Period. You have a (relatively) heavy, front-biased car vs. a lighter and much better balanced car.

But again... $30k premium.

Davey · 05-10-2013, 01:27 PM

Stop making me want a Cayman, Steve.

m4a1mustang · 05-10-2013, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davey

Stop making me want a Cayman, Steve.

Awesome car... Just too expensive IMO. For the price of a new one I would rather have the c7.

I did research some CPO models but even still they were a bit more pricy than a new Z even with quite a few miles on them.

It's just one of those cars I love but would never actually buy because it doesn't present itself as a very good value relative to what else is on the market.

UNKNOWN_370 · 05-10-2013, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Awesome car... Just too expensive IMO. For the price of a new one I would rather have the c7.

I did research some CPO models but even still they were a bit more pricy than a new Z even with quite a few miles on them.

It's just one of those cars I love but would never actually buy because it doesn't present itself as a very good value relative to what else is on the market.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tazicon

I own both and I know why they aren't closer.............I love the 370 Z Sport but it doesn't handle like the Cayman S. Yes in a straight line its faster (on the lower end, but not by much at all) but once you hit the twisties they can not even be compared.

Contributed to the MR platform.

Davey · 05-10-2013, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Awesome car... Just too expensive IMO. For the price of a new one I would rather have the c7.

I did research some CPO models but even still they were a bit more pricy than a new Z even with quite a few miles on them.

It's just one of those cars I love but would never actually buy because it doesn't present itself as a very good value relative to what else is on the market.

I'd love to have one... If I was a Porsche mechanic.

I think they're SOMEWHAT reasonably priced used from what I recall but the maintenance costs and price of parts would be the issue for me.

cossie1600 · 05-11-2013, 08:24 PM

Why don't we compare 2013 Cayman to 2013 370z

370zrider · 05-10-2013, 06:09 PM

I think since R&T published this comparison, people (myself included) had the idea that the performance difference between 370z and Caymans is really short.

It may look weird that 370z's time is nearly 3 seconds slower than Cayman's

But I don't think Nissan could have improved the 350z that much as for having a big difference between the 370z and the 350z.

05-10-2013, 12:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
370zrider Base Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Mexico Posts: 106 Drives: 370zM6tour12nosport Rep Power: 14	I don't remember where I saw that Nissan was targeting Porsche Cayman's performance with the 370z. Just as they did with the GTR beating the 911 turbo. Still there's a huge performance gap . __________________ Stillen [gen3 CAI + headers + HFC + Exhaust + UD Pulley + lightweight flywheel] + Uprev e-tune+ PC680 Odyssey battery + oil cooler + MishimotoThermostat = 312whp + 252wtq @1,500mts or 5,000ft elevation

05-10-2013, 12:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6964	If you've ever driven the two... it's very obvious which car is better... by far. But it's double the freakin' price. cossie1600, b1adesofcha0s and ZMan8 like this. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

05-10-2013, 01:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
UNKNOWN_370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: ny'r livn in tx Posts: 8,687 Drives: well over 130m.p.h. Rep Power: 14859	MR is just more balanced. The Z takes more skill to achieve what the Porsche can. You really gotta become one with the Z. The porsche is effortless driving. Better is subjective to your driving expectations. MR puts up less of a fight, like AWD/FR does. So criticisms of whats better can go on all day if you're driving expectations are high, low, moderate etc But the Porsche undoubtedly has a more refined engine and a more balanced chassis, not to mention a better feeling shifter. The Z feels more aggressive under load, is more fun and leaves a lot less room for error., The porsche is a sword and the Z is a hatchet. But with one swing of both, you can cut anything in half. __________________ Favorite Quote. "I'm not gonna kill you... I'm just gonna Bash Your Face In" Jack Nicholson-"The Shining". 1980

05-10-2013, 01:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6964	I contend that the Z doesn't quite achieve what the Cayman can. It's not that it takes more skill to drive... it just doesn't match it. Period. You have a (relatively) heavy, front-biased car vs. a lighter and much better balanced car. But again... $30k premium. Davey likes this. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

05-10-2013, 01:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
Davey A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 3,766 Drives: '15 NISMO 6MT Rep Power: 117173	Stop making me want a Cayman, Steve. b1adesofcha0s likes this.

05-11-2013, 08:24 PM	#14 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 31	Why don't we compare 2013 Cayman to 2013 370z

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