Which one?

 

You mean the 350Z can run away from cars like the RX8 on a road course. The s2000 puts up about the same acceleration numbers as the 350Z. Rougly 5.5 0-60 and high 13's @ 100-101 mph.

 

Standing start acceleration numbers are pretty worthless for comparing lap times. They are even less useful when you're trying to pass the guy in front of you (or protect your spot) coming off a medium or low speed corner. This is where torque is king, and neither the S2000 nor the RX-8 have enough of it.

 

Yeah but gearing also plays a factor, the S2000 rarely falls out of the power band in 2nd or 3rd on an autocross course which are usually comprised of low to medium speed corners. Also the 350Z may have torque but it also has heft. Isn't that why the S2000 got bumped to A stock and the RX8 and 350Z are b stock cars?

 

Torque is very useful in low speed corners. However, the s2k has proven time and time again that its advantages (light weight, stiff suspension, gearing) can make up for its disadvantages (tire, aerodynamics, torque, etc) in both autox (AS vs BS) as well as the track.

Here is a recent comparo (grain of salt) of the 350z's poor performance compared to the s2k on the track. Unfortunately, the rx-8 would be much much further behind those cars...

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....&page_number=1

 

I think some people are getting confused over who said what.

What I'm saying is that the 350Z is not going to be an overdog in B Stock despite the fact that its power to weight ratio is comparable to an A Stock car's. There are many reasons for this, but they can be summarized by the statement that the 350Z's not nearly as agile as it is powerful.

On a road course, however, agility is much less important. On a road course, the 350Z can very well run with the S2000. The point that altain and I made, which is admittedly tangential to this discussion, is that in road racing, where there's an added degree of unpredictability in line and cornering speed, the 350Z is actually faster than the S2000 due to its greater torque and thus greater engine flexibility.

But that doesn't mean it's the better autocross car.

 

I have one of the "elusive" base model cars - a black '04. I love my car, but if a Natl. level autoxr is just jonesing for an unmolested 21k mile '04 base model in the DC area, pm me

 

I'm thinking of going to STU next year. There's more stuff I'd like to put on the car, partly for track fun, and it'd bump me out of B-Stock.

 

I will be in STU next year too, mainly because of highflow cat and front sway bar, and tower strut bars on front and back