Debate at work

[Z06killinSBF]

So I have these two guys at work that challenged each other to a duel. One guy has a SRT-8 300 and another guy has a new 350Z. The guy with the 300 says he can whoop up on the 350Z around a race track (road course). I think the 350 will beat him in the corners but the 300 would take the straights. The 300 is a COCKY guy and the 350 actually has SOME experience with road courses.

Opinions??:box2:

[Takid455]

Real world
I would take both cars and see for myself and thrash them on a track or road course then return the blown up heaps to the owners and slap them both in the face.

Water cooler
I'm agree with your hypothosis, however like any thing else, it is a matter of the driver. being the 350 fellow has some expeirence and the 300 guy seems to have bought the car for bragging rights, i feel the 350 guy takes the win.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

matter of the driver.

x2....

[trapin]

An SRT-8 300 and a 350Z??

I wouldn't know because I'd be busy watching the "paint drying" channel on TV. Much more excitement there.

[BA.]

I think the 350 is an easy winner.

The weight of the 300 is too much of a detriment on a road-course for it's extra power to make up for.

If it was roll-on or drag race, yeah, I'd go with the 300. Stock for stock.

[WS6]

I'm going with the 350 because the driver has experience. However, the 300C SRT8 has a good suspension and huge Brembos on all four corners. Put it in the proper hands and I think it'll slap the 350 around. Of course this also depends on what course we are talking about. In this debate though, I do think the 350 will win.

[Joey_H]

350Z hands down.

[muthstryker]

lmao..... 350z for sure

[jreut703]

I like american muscle but I think the Z will win because of experience and weight.

[Vegas69]

It all depends on the track. If it has many straightaways the dodge is going to win unless the guy driving is a real puss. If it's a real twistie course that is when the handling and driving will prevail.

[CamaroAJ]

I wouldn't know because I'd be busy watching the "paint drying" channel on TV. Much more excitement there.

:lol: :lmao:

[chicane67]

Hummmmm.... an eleventybillion pound SLED vs. an import sportscar.

300's are pigs even with'a Hemi. It sounds like the 350 is going to be handing out an asswhoopin.

[Damn True]

Do both parties have AAA?

[MarkM66]

The race will never happen, so who cares? ;)

[Z06killinSBF]

The race will never happen, so who cares? ;)
True... both of these guys are goones and they always turn to me to settle things. The guy in the 300 is (in my opinion) a horrible driver. I bet he'd have that thing in the grass on the first turn. I was just looking for a more "expert" opinion since alot of people here road race alot and I can sit back and laugh at them making bogus statements.

[novanutcase]

Z..........

John

[LeadSSled]

OK, I'll play "Devils Advocate" on this one. From the perspective of a driver that thrashes a 4200 lbs. car on the road course a couple times each year - I think that you are discounting the performance of the SRT8 way too much. Yes, it is 800 lbs. heavier than the 350Z, but it has more aggressive spring rates, shocks, and roll bars, bigger brakes, and 40% more horsepower. The race would be closer than you would expect on equal tires.

While sheer curb weight is a huge factor on the autocross course, the HP to weight ratio (or torque to weight ratio) is much more important than just curb weight on a road course. 350Z is 10.9 lbs. per HP and the STR8 300C is 9.9 lbs. per HP - The 300C enjoys a 10% advantage here. As for torque, the 350Z carries 12.4 lbs. of curb weight per ft. lb. versus 9.9 lbs. of curb weight per ft. lb. for the SRT8, so the SRT8 enjoys a 20% performance advantage here.

If both of these cars are on equal grip tires, I believe that the SRT8 gives the 350Z a run for its money. And a lighter SRT8 Charger would walk all over the Z on a road course.

Mr. Rapin - No disrepect intended, but if you believe that road racing is boring, I suggest that you try observing it from INSIDE the car one time instead of the sidelines. :evil: You are welcome to ride shotgun with me if you want to give it a try.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/08/harness3a-1.jpg

[NOPANTS-68]

I own a track model 350z as a dd and have driven many SRT products as I am a bodyshop manager that soley deals with dealerships. I've been around Thunderhill a few times in my car and have ridden with a pretty accomplished driver in an SRT Magnum with a pretty heavy mod list. From what I have seen the SRT doesn't stand a chance. Momentun is key and stopping and accelerating that big hulk kills it. Feels like a barge compared to the nimble Z. Plus the SRTs only run mid 13s stock and the Z runs a high 13 low 14 quarter. They're not that far apart in a straight line either. I don't see that being a contest after a half lap IMO.

[WS6]

Just wanted to throw this onto the fire. Car and Driver has tested a SRT8 300C to a GPS verified 170 mph. The 350z can not touch that. The 350Z has the same power as an LT1 firebird and only weights a maybe 100 pounds less. My WS6 weighs 3500 lbs. I've had nearly 50 pulls done on my old dyno by a 350z. They have no torque any where in the curve. My money is still on the SRT8 given a good driver. From the description of the owner, I would think he doesn't cut it. Also, how can 14 inch brembos not pull that car down from a roll? I haven't looked at the braking data on any of these cars, but Brembos are damn good brakes.

/EDIT
See, now I am just really getting into this too much. Here are R&T's tech specs on the two cars. You'll notice the SRT8 has a higher top speed, a much faster 1/4mi mph, braking that is only 3ft more than the 350, better skip pad numbers, better slalom numbers, and faster slalom speed. I'll take mine in that dark blue they offer please.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/reviews/roadtests/pdf/2002_09_nissan_350z_data.pdf
http://www.roadandtrack.com/assets/download/0503_chrysler_data_panel.pdf

Admittedly, the one test parameter I was really hoping for was not listed for either. I want to know how fast they go from around 100-140mph, or whatever they typically time. That will tell you more than any 0-60 mph time or top speed mph for a road course race.

[6'9"Witha69]

Even with the siffer rates, the 300 is an absolute pig! I can beat people with SRT8 300Cs in my Silverado (and THERES a heavy nosed under braked bitch right there).

Good driver, good times, gets the win.

And braking into the turns is not the hard part, CHANGING DIRECTION is the hard part. Does noone remember why we are here? We spend so much on parts that can handle load laterally, negative camber gain to increase contact in a TURN, etc. Handling is about changing the direction of mass. The more mass, the more it takes to turn it at the same speed as smaller mass. Physics. Poweer to weight and big brakes do NOTHING to enter, apex and exit a turn.

I hate bench racing. Do this. Tell them YOU will drive both cars around a track and whichever has the best of say 3-5 lap times wins.

[LeadSSled]

I own a track model 350z

Isn't the "track model" somewhat of a different animal than the standard Z? And are you comparing drivers of similar skill levels in those two cars? And with similar grip tires?

At any rate, I'd love to run with you and your Z sometime on a road course to see how the lighter weight and finesse of the Z compare with torque and a well-sorted suspension on my 2-ton taxi. But since you are left-coast and I am Southeast, that's not likely to happen. Want to meet me at Hallet in Oklahoma? :)