Challenger SRT8 vs. 370Z

SiPnPiZ · 07-13-2016, 10:16 PM

i was interested in one until i drove a 1970 423ci Cuda 4 speed, I'd chose the '70 any day even over a new hellcat

ChopsZ · 07-13-2016, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duc_Z09

This is true. However I get annoyed when people apply the standards of yesteryear to the products that are actually being offered today. I've also worked on enough Corollas and whatnot to know that something can be well engineered and still be cheap junk.

Well that's mainly due to the fact that over here in the states, it's what most of us have been forced to grow up with over the years, crappy American vehicles. Then again, the Japanese and European cars of the same time period were far superior quality wise, and typically with superior technology as well.

Of course, with the lower end models, the manufacturers have to compromise in order to stay within a certain price point, so there will be cheaper materials used throughout.

On that note, try to think about how many '87 Chevy Chevette's or Ford Escort's you've seen lately vs an '87 Honda Civic or Accord, or Mazda RX-7 or 323, or Nissan Sentra or 300ZX.

I honestly can't remember the last time I saw an '87 Chevette or Escort.

And just off the top of my head, no more Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Mercury, Plymouth, Saturn...

Japanese car companies?... Scion.

ssmoked · 07-13-2016, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desert Rat

My brother has one of the original 2008 SRT8 challengers with a very low production number (#340 something out of 6400). It's the 425hp 6.1 with an auto, and it has just 5k miles on it. He's been mothballing it for a few years now.

I got a chance to drive it the other day and the first thing I did is got in it and did a standing run to 100mph. The car felt great. It handles well, and it's really comfortable, but honestly, I wasn't impressed with the get up and go. Those extra few hundred pounds over my Z34 give it a fairly close power to weight ratio to my car. I suspect in a flat line drag race the Challenger would edge the Z, but not by a helluva lot. Running through the gears and keeping those shift points around 6k or so with the manual gets the Z moving just about as fast.

I will say the Challenger is a more comfortable car for sure, but while it handles quite well, it's a boat by comparison.

Anyways, it was a non technical seat of the pants impression. His Challenger is in Montana; my Z is in Arizona so we couldn't go head to head, but it was fun getting to flog on another performance icon.

Obviously the newer SRT8s with the 485 HP scat pack are a different ballgame, and the Hellcat is in another league all together. I got a ride recently in the Hellcat too, since a friend of mine bought one. That is one scary fast car! Pretty hard to wipe the smile off your face riding around in one of those.

I ran an 08' 300c srt8 from a dig when I still had the stock AT 370, we were neck to neck up to 90 before we let off on a Mexican back road. I'm sure it will pull on most stock 6mt 370s as computer always shift faster than humans especially from a dig. The newer srt8 just eats our lunch, but doesn't feels as fast while driving it bc of the weight

cv129 · 07-13-2016, 10:37 PM

Japan did have some very significant moments in the past...

89 LS400 - extremely over-engineered, seriously challenged the German big boys.
NA1 NSX - a reliable and user friendly super car (in the old days standard anyway), something the Europeans didn't know exist. Gordan Murray agreed.
09 R35 GTR - heavy pig bending physics to take on 911 Turbo for half the price.

One may add Vtec and Prius to the list. However, outside of them, I personally wouldn't put Japanese in the same pedestal with the Europeans in terms of technological break through.

Ford has such a mature V6 turbo game nowadays (they use that thing everywhere!), where we the Nissan/Infiniti guys are just finally getting a VR38. And oh, Tesla is certainly changing the game again. I still love my Z tho. Keep it simple, keep it NA. I'll ride with this VQ for a long time.

sunkist350z · 07-13-2016, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChopsZ

Considering all of the crap ALL of the American companies made from the mid 70's on up to about the early 2000's. Crap materials, crap reliability, crap designs. It was horrible for a good 40 years for American vehicles. Hence why more than half of them went out of business over the years.

Japanese and European manufacturers have had fuel injection, disc brakes and independent suspension for the past 30+ years. And then variable valve timing all the way back in 1980, thanks to Alfa Romeo, then Honda with their VTEC in 1989.

The Japanese and European manufacturers were always the leaders in automotive technology (among many other areas as well). Granted, American engineering and quality has finally come a long way, but only in the last 10 years or so, and especially in the last 4 to 5 years.

Hence, General Motors bankruptcy 2008 nuff said. Would never buy a GM car even a vette.

cv129 · 07-13-2016, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunkist350z

Hence, General Motors bankruptcy 2008 nuff said. Would never buy a GM car even a vette.

Nissan was practically bankrupt in 99 then Renault swooped in to save it.

ChopsZ · 07-13-2016, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cv129

Nissan was practically bankrupt in 99 then Renault swooped in to save it.

And now Nissan is doing the same with Mitsubishi.

sunkist350z · 07-13-2016, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cv129

Nissan was practically bankrupt in 99 then Renault swooped in to save it.

Practically aka "all most" does not count, full retard does.

cv129 · 07-13-2016, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunkist350z

Practically aka "all most" does not count, full retard does.

If Nissan had climbed out of that hole themselves, then yes "almost" doesn't count. It got a saving hand from Renault. We will agree to disagree.

370zEric · 07-14-2016, 08:12 AM

They sound very beasty..

2011 Nismo#91 · 07-14-2016, 08:56 AM

Their both good cars in their own ways. Even they are both sports cars they are built for different purposes and different target demographics so you really can't compare the two.

Duc_Z09 · 07-14-2016, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChopsZ

I honestly can't remember the last time I saw an '87 Chevette or Escort.

Good.

Chuck33079 · 07-14-2016, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChopsZ

It is.

Japanese engineering vs American engineering... Japanese every time.

Not every time. I'd rather have a Ford or Chevy than a Mitsubishi. I'd rather have the clap than a Chrysler, though.

madwi · 07-14-2016, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

Not every time. I'd rather have a Ford or Chevy than a Mitsubishi. I'd rather have the clap than a Chrysler, though.

fantaZ · 07-14-2016, 03:46 PM

This is why. This sh%t doesn't happen in japan.

Chrysler UAW workers caught drinking, smoking pot during lunch

Chrysler UAW workers caught getting drunk, high - again [Video] | LeftLaneNews

07-13-2016, 10:16 PM	#16 (permalink)
SiPnPiZ Base Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 27 Drives: 2011 370z M6 Rep Power: 9	i was interested in one until i drove a 1970 423ci Cuda 4 speed, I'd chose the '70 any day even over a new hellcat ChopsZ likes this. __________________ My Z is my Gym Chariot

07-13-2016, 10:37 PM	#19 (permalink)
cv129 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,222 Drives: 09 Nismo, 16 Nismo Rep Power: 163995	Japan did have some very significant moments in the past... 89 LS400 - extremely over-engineered, seriously challenged the German big boys. NA1 NSX - a reliable and user friendly super car (in the old days standard anyway), something the Europeans didn't know exist. Gordan Murray agreed. 09 R35 GTR - heavy pig bending physics to take on 911 Turbo for half the price. One may add Vtec and Prius to the list. However, outside of them, I personally wouldn't put Japanese in the same pedestal with the Europeans in terms of technological break through. Ford has such a mature V6 turbo game nowadays (they use that thing everywhere!), where we the Nissan/Infiniti guys are just finally getting a VR38. And oh, Tesla is certainly changing the game again. I still love my Z tho. Keep it simple, keep it NA. I'll ride with this VQ for a long time. ChopsZ likes this. __________________ Setrab \| RE-71 \| SPL \| JRZ \| Nismo \| ARK \| Whiteline \| RacingBrake \| CJM Oil Pan \| Ti shield

07-14-2016, 08:12 AM	#25 (permalink)
370zEric Base Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Buena Park Age: 38 Posts: 25 Drives: 2016 370z Rep Power: 9	They sound very beasty.. __________________ 2016 Magnetic Black- 6 speed Last edited by 370zEric; 07-14-2016 at 08:15 AM. Reason: did not make sense

07-14-2016, 03:46 PM	#30 (permalink)
fantaZ Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: FL Posts: 273 Drives: 2013 370z nismo Rep Power: 9	This is why. This sh%t doesn't happen in japan. Chrysler UAW workers caught drinking, smoking pot during lunch Chrysler UAW workers caught getting drunk, high - again [Video] \| LeftLaneNews sunkist350z likes this.

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07-14-2016, 08:56 AM	#26 (permalink)
2011 Nismo#91 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 2,400 Drives: slowly Rep Power: 40569	Their both good cars in their own ways. Even they are both sports cars they are built for different purposes and different target demographics so you really can't compare the two.