Can someone explain the 350Z models?
10-30-2004, 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted by DJSang,Oct 28 2004, 04:14 PM
The reason why the Z is so damn heavy is because instead of an ingenious X frame like in our cars, it has a crap frame with a bunch of extra metal welded on as bracing to stiffen up the chassis, which the G35s do not have.
That plus a truck motor, and you get a Nissan "sports car" that Americans love. It has torque, looks really big, and has a great (imho obnoxious) exhaust note.
btw, I don't like Nissan 350Zs
That plus a truck motor, and you get a Nissan "sports car" that Americans love. It has torque, looks really big, and has a great (imho obnoxious) exhaust note.
btw, I don't like Nissan 350Zs
11-01-2004, 05:48 AM
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The FM Platform (G35/350z/FX) is actually not very stiff at all. The new M35/M45 is based on the replacement for that chassis.
So there you have it, the need for the huge strut brace in the trunk of the 350z, and all those extra welds.
Autoweek on the new M45:
Now the new M45, due out in a year, is transferred from the mighty Q to the next evolution of the FM platform, the same underpinnings that, in slightly different configuration, ride under the mighty Z car. The new M45 shares an awful lot with another FM platform performer, the very successful, much-loved Infiniti G35, for which there are still long waiting lists and occasional dealer markups. Technically, the new M45 will ride on the Global Mid-Luxury platform, but you can call it the new FM.
First, that new platform. Who knew the last G35 was so loose? Driving an old G35 back-to-back against the new M45 at Nissan's desert proving grounds, the first thing you notice, before the big whoomph of that V8, is the improvement in torsional stiffness. Engineers added three new crossmembers and 250 spot- and arc-welds. Torsional rigidity goes up by 30 percent, which isn't remarkable, but front lateral stiffness increases by 1400 percent. That is not a typo. Infiniti showed us computer simulations of the front ends of the old G35 and the new M45, and the old looks like a fish flopping on a boat deck by comparison.
Now the new M45, due out in a year, is transferred from the mighty Q to the next evolution of the FM platform, the same underpinnings that, in slightly different configuration, ride under the mighty Z car. The new M45 shares an awful lot with another FM platform performer, the very successful, much-loved Infiniti G35, for which there are still long waiting lists and occasional dealer markups. Technically, the new M45 will ride on the Global Mid-Luxury platform, but you can call it the new FM.
First, that new platform. Who knew the last G35 was so loose? Driving an old G35 back-to-back against the new M45 at Nissan's desert proving grounds, the first thing you notice, before the big whoomph of that V8, is the improvement in torsional stiffness. Engineers added three new crossmembers and 250 spot- and arc-welds. Torsional rigidity goes up by 30 percent, which isn't remarkable, but front lateral stiffness increases by 1400 percent. That is not a typo. Infiniti showed us computer simulations of the front ends of the old G35 and the new M45, and the old looks like a fish flopping on a boat deck by comparison.
11-01-2004, 08:23 PM
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Originally Posted by MDXLuvr,Oct 28 2004, 07:34 AM
With Full tank of gas, and all fluids, I have seen weight listed at 3400. That's without a driver. That isn't a track car by my definition.
11-02-2004, 05:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Carlson,Nov 1 2004, 11:23 PM
Could a 996 turbo be a track car then? It's about 3400lbs.
btw the 993 RS has a blue printed engine with 600 HP
He is having a "home coming" party for it tomorrow. I will take some pics.
11-02-2004, 08:45 AM
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Originally Posted by MDXLuvr,Oct 30 2004, 05:11 AM
Hey Rob- I don't even own a s2k. I just hate the weight of today's "Sportscars". It really, really irks me that my NSX weighs more than 3000lbs. At track weight- its about 3060lbs. That is pathetic. It bothers me to the point that I have seriously considered gutting it or dumping it for an Elise. Just imagine the handling of a 2500lb s2k, or a 3000 lb 350z, or 3000 lb 911 or corvette.
Did you read the new C&D. As tested weights for the 911/C6 are over 3200 lbs. That mean a Carrera S will be around 3350lbs. How ridiculous is that. The classic 911, The definition of a sports car, and it weighs 3350lbs.
btw, I will stand by my comment that a Track 350z is 3400 lbs. Curb weight may mean 1 gallon of gas, and a bit of wiper fluid, and full oil/tranny fluid to Nissan. I have seen many car mags list the as tested weight of the 350z at 3400+. I kept thinking that it was the weight with the driver. But, when I looked at the other cars in the C&D comparo, none of them had the same weight increase. Either than mean they used a bunch of females(as some of the weight increases were around 110lbs) or the test equipment is a 100lbs. Neither seems to be a plausible answer.
Did you read the new C&D. As tested weights for the 911/C6 are over 3200 lbs. That mean a Carrera S will be around 3350lbs. How ridiculous is that. The classic 911, The definition of a sports car, and it weighs 3350lbs.
btw, I will stand by my comment that a Track 350z is 3400 lbs. Curb weight may mean 1 gallon of gas, and a bit of wiper fluid, and full oil/tranny fluid to Nissan. I have seen many car mags list the as tested weight of the 350z at 3400+. I kept thinking that it was the weight with the driver. But, when I looked at the other cars in the C&D comparo, none of them had the same weight increase. Either than mean they used a bunch of females(as some of the weight increases were around 110lbs) or the test equipment is a 100lbs. Neither seems to be a plausible answer.
My car is the touring model w/ 6 speed, all options for MY2003 (includes GPS nav, etc), so it's as heavy as a non-auto Z can get basically.
11-02-2004, 09:07 AM
#27
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A few things, isn't a full fuel load for a Z something like 18gal - and ours just 12? That alone would account for why the Magazines "as tested weight" - which is typically with full fluids, would be so much greater than 'competition' weight.
Wow, my C&D hasn't arrived yet - I want to see the options on the 997 they tested. Early reports listed the Carrera as 2995 and the Carrera S as 30XX - now they have it as 32xx, that's sad. I'm hoping to get a 997 in a few years as they are slowly bloating and I've always wanted to buy one new (Euro deliv, the works) - this one looks like the last one with even close to respectable weight. *sigh*
Quick aside based on weights, I weighed my car this Saturday in standard street trim (with slighly heavier wheels/tires, along with the spare and toolkit in the car, 3/4 tank). It came in at 2804. A 2004 GT3 was weighed in next, it came in at 3004. I was pretty impressed - so many so called sports/performance cars are now >3400lbs. The vaunted new M5 is expected to come in at >4000 lbs!
...lucky are those with light cars, and multiple track days on one set of tires. That heavy car may get around the track quickly based on monster power numbers, but boy are they hard on tires and brakes.
Wow, my C&D hasn't arrived yet - I want to see the options on the 997 they tested. Early reports listed the Carrera as 2995 and the Carrera S as 30XX - now they have it as 32xx, that's sad. I'm hoping to get a 997 in a few years as they are slowly bloating and I've always wanted to buy one new (Euro deliv, the works) - this one looks like the last one with even close to respectable weight. *sigh*
Quick aside based on weights, I weighed my car this Saturday in standard street trim (with slighly heavier wheels/tires, along with the spare and toolkit in the car, 3/4 tank). It came in at 2804. A 2004 GT3 was weighed in next, it came in at 3004. I was pretty impressed - so many so called sports/performance cars are now >3400lbs. The vaunted new M5 is expected to come in at >4000 lbs!
...lucky are those with light cars, and multiple track days on one set of tires. That heavy car may get around the track quickly based on monster power numbers, but boy are they hard on tires and brakes.
11-02-2004, 10:43 AM
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Originally Posted by vroom,Nov 2 2004, 12:07 PM
A few things, isn't a full fuel load for a Z something like 18gal - and ours just 12? That alone would account for why the Magazines "as tested weight" - which is typically with full fluids, would be so much greater than 'competition' weight.
Wow, my C&D hasn't arrived yet - I want to see the options on the 997 they tested. Early reports listed the Carrera as 2995 and the Carrera S as 30XX - now they have it as 32xx, that's sad. I'm hoping to get a 997 in a few years as they are slowly bloating and I've always wanted to buy one new (Euro deliv, the works) - this one looks like the last one with even close to respectable weight. *sigh*
Quick aside based on weights, I weighed my car this Saturday in standard street trim (with slighly heavier wheels/tires, along with the spare and toolkit in the car, 3/4 tank). It came in at 2804. A 2004 GT3 was weighed in next, it came in at 3004. I was pretty impressed - so many so called sports/performance cars are now >3400lbs. The vaunted new M5 is expected to come in at >4000 lbs!
...lucky are those with light cars, and multiple track days on one set of tires. That heavy car may get around the track quickly based on monster power numbers, but boy are they hard on tires and brakes.
Wow, my C&D hasn't arrived yet - I want to see the options on the 997 they tested. Early reports listed the Carrera as 2995 and the Carrera S as 30XX - now they have it as 32xx, that's sad. I'm hoping to get a 997 in a few years as they are slowly bloating and I've always wanted to buy one new (Euro deliv, the works) - this one looks like the last one with even close to respectable weight. *sigh*
Quick aside based on weights, I weighed my car this Saturday in standard street trim (with slighly heavier wheels/tires, along with the spare and toolkit in the car, 3/4 tank). It came in at 2804. A 2004 GT3 was weighed in next, it came in at 3004. I was pretty impressed - so many so called sports/performance cars are now >3400lbs. The vaunted new M5 is expected to come in at >4000 lbs!
...lucky are those with light cars, and multiple track days on one set of tires. That heavy car may get around the track quickly based on monster power numbers, but boy are they hard on tires and brakes.
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