Nissan 370Z VS Camaro

[Supermans]

Originally Posted by fad1

I saw the 370z in person at the L.A autoshow and to be honest, It is one fine car but I cant see myself driving one. I mean it seems too small, but the Camaro SS, ahhhh that is perfection.

Small is not the word, more like cramped like sardeens..

[rayhawk]

Originally Posted by seeknay2000

I completely agree - the styling of the new Z is amazing...if I could have two cars I'd def. buy a Z as well. I'm biased to the Camaro but Mustang really missed the mark. They tried to combine old with new and it didn't work, especially with only 300hp V8 model. I think Nissan really hit the mark, they're going to appeal to younger buyers, and the car looks perfect! 332bhp with about 3200lbs (about 500lbs lighter than camaro). Also, I looked up some 0-60 times for Nissan and came up with between 5.1 and 5.2 seconds (2008 350Z). Of course the 370Z will be 200lbs lighter than the 350Z and have 30 more hp. I'm guessing high 4's for 0-60 times...pretty close to the Camaro.

**Don't get me wrong - I think Nissan will be extremely close but the Camaro SS will beat it. When I said we'd be looking at the tailights, that's after the tuners start turbocharging it. Of course we can turbocharge our Camaros as well but the type of kids who want the 370Z are going to put more money modifying it than the actual cost of the car!

Personally I still beleive Mustang and Charger are more "competitors" than the Z. I think the #s of the Z and the Camaro SS are going to be really close and they're both amazing cars. However, the styling of the Mustang, Charger, and Camaro are all the same. Younger kids who dream to own a 1960s muscle car (which may not be practical) and older guys who've actually owned a 1960s muscle car and want to relive that expierience - are going to buy the Camaro SS. While I think the Z is closer to the Camaro than the Mustang or Charger, the styling is completely different. I dont think anyone will choose between a Nissan Z and a Camaro, they'll just have to figure out how they can get both.

Talking mod for mod, the outcome will not be good for the 370z. That is a very high strung engine, with very little potential left. Obviously a turbo z would be very fast but I don't see that engine lasting long with that kind of pressure on the engine, it is just not designed for it. Considering the minimal improvements that the 370z will get from standard bolt-ons, I don't think you will see many modified ones around, and they won't be much faster than stock. The Camaro, on the other hand, will be easy to mod at levels that each owner can afford, and those mods will make significant gains. Not to mention the aftermarket and the GM parts available for the Camaro are awesome, no comparison to the Nissan.

[Congoman775]

Originally Posted by rayhawk

Talking mod for mod, the outcome will not be good for the 370z. That is a very high strung engine, with very little potential left. Obviously a turbo z would be very fast but I don't see that engine lasting long with that kind of pressure on the engine, it is just not designed for it. Considering the minimal improvements that the 370z will get from standard bolt-ons, I don't think you will see many modified ones around, and they won't be much faster than stock. The Camaro, on the other hand, will be easy to mod at levels that each owner can afford, and those mods will make significant gains. Not to mention the aftermarket and the GM parts available for the Camaro are awesome, no comparison to the Nissan.

The 350 has a 'high strung' engine as well... ever seen a turbo on one of those?

[seeknay2000]

Originally Posted by rayhawk

Talking mod for mod, the outcome will not be good for the 370z. That is a very high strung engine, with very little potential left. Obviously a turbo z would be very fast but I don't see that engine lasting long with that kind of pressure on the engine, it is just not designed for it. Considering the minimal improvements that the 370z will get from standard bolt-ons, I don't think you will see many modified ones around, and they won't be much faster than stock. The Camaro, on the other hand, will be easy to mod at levels that each owner can afford, and those mods will make significant gains. Not to mention the aftermarket and the GM parts available for the Camaro are awesome, no comparison to the Nissan.

Just curious - because it seems you know a lot more about engines then I do - with a good turbocharger, performance exhaust, some basic performance upgrades - what kind of hp do you think a camaro can get without pushing the car too hard? Ideally I would like around 650-700hp, but wihtout spending another $30-40K.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by seeknay2000

Just curious - because it seems you know a lot more about engines then I do - with a good turbocharger, performance exhaust, some basic performance upgrades - what kind of hp do you think a camaro can get without pushing the car too hard? Ideally I would like around 650-700hp, but wihtout spending another $30-40K.

you should be able get 700 to the wheel without spending 30k.

[rayhawk]

Originally Posted by Congoman775

The 350 has a 'high strung' engine as well... ever seen a turbo on one of those?

And how long does it last? Not much of a street car out of that setup. Like I said, it is capable of big numbers but don't expect much life out of it.

[rayhawk]

Originally Posted by seeknay2000

Just curious - because it seems you know a lot more about engines then I do - with a good turbocharger, performance exhaust, some basic performance upgrades - what kind of hp do you think a camaro can get without pushing the car too hard? Ideally I would like around 650-700hp, but wihtout spending another $30-40K.

Before you decide you need 700 hp, I think you should get the car and drive it. You may find that some more basic bolt ons are more than enough for you. Of course, if you want to spend a lot of money, you can do anything you want. Take a look at some of the combinations others have put together-and I recommend GM high tech performance magazine highly, they have some awesome builds in there. Anything done to an LS1 vehicle can certainly be done in similar fashion to the LS3. Also look at the vette, as it has the same motor.

I think most would agree that a supercharger would be a simpler option for awesome power from the LS3, but for me a few bolt-ons are more than enough, at the most a head/cam/intake upgrade would give some nice power.

[seeknay2000]

Originally Posted by rayhawk

Before you decide you need 700 hp, I think you should get the car and drive it. You may find that some more basic bolt ons are more than enough for you. Of course, if you want to spend a lot of money, you can do anything you want. Take a look at some of the combinations others have put together-and I recommend GM high tech performance magazine highly, they have some awesome builds in there. Anything done to an LS1 vehicle can certainly be done in similar fashion to the LS3. Also look at the vette, as it has the same motor.

I think most would agree that a supercharger would be a simpler option for awesome power from the LS3, but for me a few bolt-ons are more than enough, at the most a head/cam/intake upgrade would give some nice power.

Thanks for the advice - I'm definetely going to wait 6 months until I do any modifications. I'm buying Camaro SS in end of September and by March I will definetely take it to the shop - but I need to get a feel for the car and get a job first! I can't wait!

[pruettfan]

After some reading on the 370Z I disagree that one can be bought under 30k. Everything I have read says base will be 30k which as a Nissan owner I can make an educated guess that a decently equipped car will take at least 35k. I think when you look at size and type of car this is more of a competitor with the RX8 then the Camaro.

[wjones14]

Originally Posted by pruettfan

After some reading on the 370Z I disagree that one can be bought under 30k. Everything I have read says base will be 30k which as a Nissan owner I can make an educated guess that a decently equipped car will take at least 35k. I think when you look at size and type of car this is more of a competitor with the RX8 then the Camaro.

Marketing-wise, yes the 370Z will be challenging the RX8 and even the BMW 135, but on the track...

Judging by the performance of the 350Z, the 370Z will be very competitive with the Camaro SS on a road course. A couple years ago in Car And Driver's Lightning Lap issue (Virginia International Raceway 4.2 mile road course), the 350Z had a lap time that beat many more expensive cars, such as BMW 135, Lexus IS F, Audi S5, and Honda S2000 CR, and was only 1 second slower than the Shelby GT500. Every car faster than the 350Z costs $42K or more. And the 370Z is lighter and more powerful, so I'm not positive that the Camaro SS would be able to beat it on a road course.

[BowtieGuy]

Originally Posted by seeknay2000

Just curious - because it seems you know a lot more about engines then I do - with a good turbocharger, performance exhaust, some basic performance upgrades - what kind of hp do you think a camaro can get without pushing the car too hard? Ideally I would like around 650-700hp, but wihtout spending another $30-40K.

Ok. Answer me honestly. What are you going to do with 700hp? Do you even have experience with any car that powerful?

[LSxJunkie]

Originally Posted by BowtieGuy

Ok. Answer me honestly. What are you going to do with 700hp? Do you even have experience with any car that powerful?

If he doesn't, he will soon.

I'll bet his first pass will be wall@74.63.

[EVS Motors Inc.]

Originally Posted by SilverTurtle

Nissan Z-cars are like Supras: all the horsepower in the world and they're still only 12second cars... lol

I strongly disagree, probably just bad drivers in those Supras or street tires that can't hookup. They are probably the fastest street cars in the 1/4 mile that can run stock transmission, stock body and interior, stock rear end and suspension and turn 7s and 8s. Not to mention a stock bottom end on a Supra can withstand over 1,000HP.

I noticed you are from Austin, TX? You should know it is home of two stupid fast Supras. A auto that runs 7s and a stock 6speed tranny that runs 8.04 in the 1/4 mile.

[seeknay2000]

Originally Posted by BowtieGuy

Ok. Answer me honestly. What are you going to do with 700hp? Do you even have experience with any car that powerful?

I want 700hp for the track - I want to improve on my track times. The most powerful car I´ve owned is my 95 Z28 w- 278hp. However I often drove my uncle´s 69 Camaro that had about 525hp - and taken it to the track several times. While I don´t have any experience with a 700hp car, I plan on driving my camaro for about 6 months with 422hp then adding a turbocharger and other upgrades...by then I´ll know my camaro. Obviously I´m not going to push it to the limits as soon as I get it, but I think testing it at the track will be a good way to get a feel for how it handles.