Best RX8 for AutoX
10-10-2006, 11:13 AM
#27
1935 lbs. FTW!
Originally Posted by PedalFaster
Road courses stress power over agility -- thus cars like the 350Z can run away from cars like the S2000. Autocross stresses agility over power -- thus a well-driven Miata can give a 350Z a run for its money.
350Z competitive -- yes. Dominant? Not going to happen.
Oh, I'm more certain than ever after a month in Joe's car that the 968's the faster autocross car; it took me one walk of this year's West Course to regret not bringing my car. But while the 968 might be a half second faster on some 60 second courses than the RX-8, when I'm giving up a second and a half each day, being able to fit four tires in the back of my autocross car starts getting more appealing than those last few tenths...
Steve
350Z competitive -- yes. Dominant? Not going to happen.
Oh, I'm more certain than ever after a month in Joe's car that the 968's the faster autocross car; it took me one walk of this year's West Course to regret not bringing my car. But while the 968 might be a half second faster on some 60 second courses than the RX-8, when I'm giving up a second and a half each day, being able to fit four tires in the back of my autocross car starts getting more appealing than those last few tenths...
Steve
10-10-2006, 12:54 PM
#28
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Originally Posted by CosmosMpower
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.
10-10-2006, 04:45 PM
#29
1935 lbs. FTW!
Originally Posted by altiain
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.
Last edited by CosmosMpower; 10-10-2006 at 04:48 PM.
10-10-2006, 05:43 PM
#30
Originally Posted by altiain
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.
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
Last edited by balefire; 10-10-2006 at 05:46 PM.
10-10-2006, 07:11 PM
#31
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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.
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.
10-10-2006, 09:00 PM
#32
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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 
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