I Posted a story about a freeway battle against a 350Z a few weeks ago. Some of the replies hinted that my opposition may not have been driving his car to its full potential. Well, my encounter yesterday was undisputable.

Its just outside of downtown Dayton, Im on the phone with my girlfriend talking about whon knows what. As I aproach the next intersection I see that a gold (or orange, whatever color that is) 350Z is already stopped at the light. The light turns green before I come to a stop, but that doesnt stop him from hitting it. I see that the next light is already turning yellow so I let him go. I roll up next to him at the next red light with my windows down, he just looks over and revs his motor at me. "Honey, I gotta go, CLICK!"

The light turns green and we both take off, I get my nose out in front of him in first, squeal into second and put about half a car length on him. Then I chirp as I shift into third and he knows its over but I still hear his 3.5 liter screaming out my window from about a full length back. By the end of third we are coming up on traffic so we both kill it. As we settle back to 35 he comes by smiling and waving. I wave too, good to see another enthusiast who just enjoys the race, whether he wins or not.

Oh yeah, my girlfriend. I cal her back, "Uhhh... sorry honey...."

nice dude , thos Z's are pretty heavy too, they have 3.5l?

Talking on the phone in your car? :nono I got hit by someone once because they were talking on the phone. But other than that good run its always nice when you race somebody cool.

nice dude , thos Z's are pretty heavy too, they have 3.5l?

some specs for ya

http://www.nissanusa.com/content/0,,action-NPriceOptions_modelId-38045_trimId-38270,00.html

you chirped going from second to third? ... mods? :confused

Nice kill, what are your mods?

Good kill.

*waits for the 350z drivers to come and say there more equal to the E46M3*

they have 3.5l?hint hint 350Z.
240Z=2.4 litre
260Z=2.6 litre
280Z=2.8 litre
300ZX (both Z31 and Z32)=3.0 litre
200ZR=2.0 litre
200ZG=2.0 litre
300ZG=3.0litre
350Z=3.5 litre

Get it?

Good kill.

*waits for the 350z drivers to come and say there more equal to the E46M3*
hahaha only in their wet dreams. Maybe a vert smg and maybe in the twisties but no way in straightline.

The M3 weighs 3175lbs according to some articles I just read. I know german gearing is awesome but with only 240hp and 236ft/lbs I just don't see how also the E36 ran mid to low 14s. I have been in a 350Z several times as we left an E36 M3 behind.

Now the 350Z weighs 3322 (depends on trim) and has 287hp. They run around 13.7 but it depends on the driver and the car.

Damn, you barked 3rd? Nice kill

i dont care what nissan says these car have. how much rwhp do they put down bone stock? e36 m3's are somewhere between 205-220 bone stock. and that 3175lb factory weight is with 175lb driver and full tank of gas.

i have no info how nissan rates there hp and weight numbers but they always seem a bit optimistic when compared to german car manufacter numbers.

i dont care what nissan says these car have. how much rwhp do they put down bone stock? e36 m3's are somewhere between 205-220 bone stock. and that 3175lb factory weight is with 175lb driver and full tank of gas.

i have no info how nissan rates there hp and weight numbers but they always seem a bit optimistic when compared to german car manufacter numbers.
My friend put down 247 stock. They normally dyno in the 240s. The engines have some odd tollerances and there is alot of room for slight differences. Some of the VQs are strong some are seriously weak. Those weights came from C&D I don't think they are too optimistic and differ between automakers.

you chirped going from second to third? ... mods? :confused

It's not very hard and you don't have to be stock to do it, I mean I've seen stock civics throw down some 2nd-3rd chirps; its all a matter of your shifting technique, although chirping/tirespin = slower times.

BTW nice kill, Ive ran a 350z from a roll and I'd get the jump but then the Z def. started to creep up top, but from a stop I beat the Z hardcore to the quarter-mile; one thing I will say is that they def. start picking up speed up top.

It's not very hard and you don't have to be stock to do it, I mean I've seen stock civics throw down some 2nd-3rd chirps; its all a matter of your shifting technique, although chirping/tirespin = slower time

That's because they are FWD

the more i read how m3 owners beat 350z the more i think bmw was conservative with the 240 hp rating

<------- :bigun2

That's because they are FWD

oh yea forgot that one little part....foolish mortal.


Ive had a few 2-3rd chirps here and there, I'm sure my mods helped out a lot :devillook

That's because they are FWD
I can agree... I've been able to chirp 2nd to 3rd when it's wet, so a nicely modded civic can do it w/o a problem... Say if it puts down 150-160bhp

the more i read how m3 owners beat 350z the more i think bmw was conservative with the 240 hp rating

Nahh they were spot on. Its all in the gearing. When i was stock, I could not for the life of me shake E36 M3s up to about 70 or so. The cars make very good use of the power they have. And if you have someone who knows how to drive one, they are very potent "stoplight" cars.

gearing, weight, and from everything I have read, drivetrain loss as far as what makes it to the ground, etc....

Nice run. I ran one from a 20MPH roll to 115. I had about 1CL on him. He was really surprised when I beat him. (I was too) I'm sure those cars are "slightly" faster than E36 M3's in most cases. But it's so slight that a better driver in the M should take the win.

Just remember, an angry brick will beat a cockaroach.

I have a '90 300zx and I was shocked the first time I raced my ///M vs a 350. I beat him? Wow, this thing is quick! Then when I beat the 2000+ Mustang GT...!

The M3 weighs 3175lbs according to some articles I just read. I know german gearing is awesome but with only 240hp and 236ft/lbs I just don't see how also the E36 ran mid to low 14s. .
A good driver can get An E36 in the high 13s. granted they'll be a great driver but 14's isn't surprising. One thing a lot of people forget is peak horse power is a pretty number but it could mean nothing. I'd take a car with 15 to 20 less HP if the hp isn't peaky. It's about the curve not the peak and bimmers are well known for having lots of power nice and early in the power band.

With my z im able to chirp in 2nd going into 3rd :D. havent had the chance to run a e36 m3 yet :mad. A good buddy of mine owns e36 m3 modded but havent seen him in a month due to college!!!!! will post result of run asap.

The M3 weighs 3175lbs according to some articles I just read. I know german gearing is awesome but with only 240hp and 236ft/lbs I just don't see how also the E36 ran mid to low 14s.




mid to low 14s? Most definately feasable in a stock M3, search and look around in the E36 M3 section......

Hell I'm modded and run a 14.1 with a crappy 60'.. you think with a good 60' I'll run a high 13 somethin? You betcha.
Take away my mods (with that same 60') will I run a low 14? Of course.

you chirped going from second to third? ... mods? :confused

bald tires. :P

depends on the driver and the car.

and i'm guessing a lot of Z drivers cannot drive their cars for crap? i see and hear all the time about 350z's running close to cars their numbers should crush - a e36 m3 for example.


the potential seems to be there - as long as that 287hp number is accurate.

i like the car, myself.

Im not heavily modded, just a chip (maybe) and exhaust. The wheelspin was mostly for intimidation than anything else (could probly use new tires as well). Two questions while I have everyones attention. 1. Can anybody help me with this thread? http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=277418
2. What is the difference between a M with a production date of 6/94 and early 95?

Im not heavily modded, just a chip (maybe) and exhaust. The wheelspin was mostly for intimidation than anything else (could probly use new tires as well). Two questions while I have everyones attention. 1. Can anybody help me with this thread? http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=277418
2. What is the difference between a M with a production date of 6/94 and early 95?

M3 w/ production date of 6/94 doesn't have the upgraded valve retainers, so at higher rpms, there is more potential for valve float.

As for numbers, my car makes ~220 to the wheels in both tq and hp. Being that the M is lighter by a few hundred, it will be a pretty close match IMO.

and i'm guessing a lot of Z drivers cannot drive their cars for crap? i see and hear all the time about 350z's running close to cars their numbers should crush - a e36 m3 for example.


the potential seems to be there - as long as that 287hp number is accurate.

i like the car, myself.
Well it depends. All of my friends are extremely good drivers but then again they have been racing for years. I have had my run-ins with horrible drivers. Alot of people just go pick up the car because they think it is cool and they don't know how to drive it.

Alot of people just go pick up the car because they think it is cool and they don't know how to drive it.
So how else are you suppose to learn how to drive that car if you dont own it.

Yeah, sometimes on a nice cool day i can burn out in 2nd, bark 3rd, chirp 4th, and sometimes catch 5th. I converted to FWD so it helps some.

So how else are you suppose to learn how to drive that car if you dont own it.
I don't mean it like that. Alot of people have no idea how to do any driving that is performance oriented. Even after driving 1000s of miles some drivers still can't get the cars to full potential.

I don't mean it like that. Alot of people have no idea how to do any driving that is performance oriented. Even after driving 1000s of miles some drivers still can't get the cars to full potential.

I know Bud I was just messing with ya. :D