Nissan 370Z Forum - View Single Post

wstar · 08-16-2014, 08:52 PM

Yeah, I hear ya. Even the SFR is a bit mismatched for sportscars at DEs and such too, but no more-so than running GT-Rs and Miatas on the same track.

My Z-vs-SFR comparison so far (which is very limited: just specs and seeing one on-track with me for 4x sessions, but no idea what kind of driver was at the wheel) is that the SFR has a lower top speed and doesn't accelerate nearly as well in a straight line, but would have higher min speeds in the corners and less aero drag (neither car has real downforce), and comparable braking (modulo differences in top speed to begin with). You probably end up on a little smoother line than the Z as a natural consequence (have to preserve momentum a little more, instead of making it up by braking very late and hard). I saw on-track that in fast sections the SFR takes a tighter line sometimes because they might as well shorten the distance when they're out of oomph to do anything with a wider track at that point.

It would probably be a big upgrade in tire-feel for me as a driver too, switching to an SFR being so low and rigid, kinda like what I experienced when I first put the cage + solid seat mounts in the Z. I think in slower and twistier sections of a track, I could easily be much faster in an SFR than the Z, but the Z's going to clock superior overall lap times just from the huge straight-line accel advantage. Going back to true-manual shifting will be annoying, but not annoying enough to care about. I'll have to learn to heel-toe decently. The bigger issue than that for transitioning is probably getting used to a brake system with no ABS at all that can easily lock up its tires before you completely get the pedal down.

08-16-2014, 08:52 PM	#846 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3594	Yeah, I hear ya. Even the SFR is a bit mismatched for sportscars at DEs and such too, but no more-so than running GT-Rs and Miatas on the same track. My Z-vs-SFR comparison so far (which is very limited: just specs and seeing one on-track with me for 4x sessions, but no idea what kind of driver was at the wheel) is that the SFR has a lower top speed and doesn't accelerate nearly as well in a straight line, but would have higher min speeds in the corners and less aero drag (neither car has real downforce), and comparable braking (modulo differences in top speed to begin with). You probably end up on a little smoother line than the Z as a natural consequence (have to preserve momentum a little more, instead of making it up by braking very late and hard). I saw on-track that in fast sections the SFR takes a tighter line sometimes because they might as well shorten the distance when they're out of oomph to do anything with a wider track at that point. It would probably be a big upgrade in tire-feel for me as a driver too, switching to an SFR being so low and rigid, kinda like what I experienced when I first put the cage + solid seat mounts in the Z. I think in slower and twistier sections of a track, I could easily be much faster in an SFR than the Z, but the Z's going to clock superior overall lap times just from the huge straight-line accel advantage. Going back to true-manual shifting will be annoying, but not annoying enough to care about. I'll have to learn to heel-toe decently. The bigger issue than that for transitioning is probably getting used to a brake system with no ABS at all that can easily lock up its tires before you completely get the pedal down. __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details Last edited by wstar; 08-16-2014 at 08:55 PM.