Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffreyfranz
Definitely growing tired of this engine, but if I were going to make a move it would be one of two ways:
Up to a Cayman S, or older M3 or 911,
or
Down to a more agile, supple, cheaper to modify and track car, like the MX-5 Miata.
But a Mustang? Completely different car, to me.  |
You would be dissapointed.
The older M3, a Cayman S, or a 911 996 is going to probably be equal or slower than your car.
My WS6 mauled 996's and squeeked out a win against a Z4M (basically a lighter M3. This was back when they still had the I6 330bhp under the hood).
I ran a 350Z which had dynoed 265whp (full bolt-ons almost), which is a touch less than the 370's and only put about 2 cars on him from 60-120 or so. The 10-15whp advantage the 370 has on that car and more torque would probably put it dead-even with my WS6, depending on the gear. I know it's a total ricer comparison, but I watched a ton of youtube 'vids of the 370Z going up against various cars I have ran and concluded that in MOST cases, my WS6 would have slowly crawled a fender on it or so until I ran out of 4th gear.
Being as my WS6 compared very favorably to a 911 996 even being in the wrong gear (I just wound it out and stomped on him), and edged out the Z4M, I would guess that the Cayman S, E46 M3, and whatnot, I don't think you would gain a darn thing by trading into any of these cars regarding acceleration. You would gain/lose other attributes of course, but if it's speed and handling togather that you are after, get a 02-04 Z06. Bone stock they have run 11's (Albeit with VERY! good drivers, and that is a record), but usually they are mid 12's in the low teens in factory trim. They pull 1G. They are VERY! easy to get cheap power from. They sell in the mid 20's. The late-model Z06's were a perfection of the C5 platform and pretty darn reliable. It's GM's first 2 or so years of a new platform that always seem to bring the ratings down/have issues, except for 1998 in the F-body. Those seem to have been the best ones based on all I have seen posted about owner experiences, etc. My friend ran 12.9@107 stock on stock tires with his. 1.9 60' and he can shift.
Again, sorry for all the ricer-math above.
To sum it up:
For speed and handling and given a 25K budget (about what an E46 in good shape costs, and way less than a cayman S with the newer engine), you are not going to beat an 02-04 C5 Z06. Mod-for-mod, dollar for dollar, you are not going to beat a C5 Z06. I would put myself out there and say that dollar-for-dollar, if you mod, the C5 Z06 is probably the most capable car made. Mods are cheap, and the platform is great. It can do drag, auto X, whatever you ask of it, depending on which way you take the modding process, without being outside of the car's designed forte.