Explain these numbers: Carrera S vs 370Z
 

So according to Road and Track, theses are the performance stats for the Carrera S, Cayman S, and 370Z. I have trouble figuring out why the Z is so much slower than the other two, particularly the Carrera S. Aside from the benefit of a rear weight bias for the Carrera giving a quicker 0-60 (better rear traction), the 1/4mi times baffle me. Is the 70lbs and 20hp/25tq that significant? All theories welcome...!

Carrera S
355hp
295tq
wt 3295lbs
0-60 4.1s
0-100 10.3s
60-0 111ft
1/4 12.6@111.9

Cayman S
320hp
273tq
wt 3100lbs
0-60 4.6s
0-100 10.6s
60-0 117ft
1/4 12.9@108.8

370Z
332hp
270tq
wt 3360lbs
0-60 5.2s
0-100 12.8s
60-0 115ft
1/4 13.7@103.9

Those numbers are probably with porsches PDK dual clutch tranny. Aside from that Porsche's engines are a lot more efficient in terms of making power and the whole car was developed from the ground up as a sports car.

The Z was developed around a general platform that many Nissan's incorporate. Quality and consistency is probably much better with Porsche...but you figure your paying for it also.

As far as I'm concerned Nissan's NA engine has always been overrated. If the Nismo is 350 it'll probably be on par with any other 300 hp engine.

In other words there are many factors that contribute here....could go all the way down to the tires. I'm sure porsche's engines don't overheat either and go into limp mode after a couple of hot laps on the track.

In the end it's a classic case of you get what you pay for.

Power band? Weight difference? I mean, there are more than just numbers involved with "performance" figures.

theres tons of factors....wind resistance, downforce, weight distribution, suspension, power chart, tires,....nissan says 370z is 332hp....even though its really putting down 2xx, maybe the porsche says 355 and its really putting down 355?

I certainly am impressed by the performance of the Carrera S and the Cayman S (and thanks for posting the stats!). But I could buy 2 fully loaded Z's for the price of a Carrera, and a fully loaded Z and an Altima for the price of the Cayman S. That's alot of $$ for a second or so 0-60.

Agreed. I just was curious about the numbers game. I really question if those types of stats are massaged by either the manufacturers (for the hp/tq) or the magazines. It's like automobile politics.

I'm sure I could tear out 200lbs worth of stuff from my car and then add the HFCs and CBE to make it 350-360 crank hp. The carrera and cayman will still probably smoke me.

Check the numbers at the Dyno. I'd be willing to bet the Carrera S is better than 20HP above the Z at the tires

Carrera S even leaves the e92 m3 in the dust. I've driven both and they are in different leagues. The new carrera s I believe has 380hp and with the pdk, it's domination. The way it drives cannot really be explained in words. I've never felt such a direct connection with the road and you can literally feel all the machinery working together to produce that experience, but not in a harsh, punishing way. There is a reason why porsches are regarded so highly. In the beginning, i felt they were just overrated overpriced sporty cars, but you really don't know until you drive one. As far as the acceleration goes, i think their engines are much much more efficient, underrated as shown via dyno charts, the car weighs less, rear engine, etc. There is a best motoring video floating around where the nismo 370z ran against cayman, cayman s, carrera, carrera s, etc. and obviously the nismo came in last and for a good reason.

I'm sorry if you think the Cayman is "just a second quicker" than a 370Z, the interior quality and finish of the Cayman is centuries ahead of that in a Z. The smell of their leather was enough to get my pants wet lol

They also get a PDK gearbox an engine that can be driven all day on the track without going into limp mode. The only advantage the Z has is its price.

So I found a dyno for a 997 Carrera S 3.8i

Listed as 385hp, 420Nm tq
Dyno: 366hp, 408Nm tq

It's embarrassing that Nissan claims the Z makes 332hp and then only puts down 270-280.

Three different cars, but more than likely-"three different drivers"! That can make a difference in the results! Not to mention gear ratio, aero dynamics, different tires!

Don't forget the Cayman/Carrera are mid/rear engines, these usually experience less drivetrain losses than a front engine RWD

That's another factor to take into consideration. And, did they all have the same type of gasoline and amount!

The performance numbers for the 370z are pretty low compared to every other test stuff.

Yeah, but it is like saying that a Z has a interior centuries ahead of a Cobalt. Of course it does, but... duh! I'm not arguing that it isn't nice, but you've gotta be shelling out that money for something -- and imo, I'm still in the stage of my life where interior quality isn't the most important thing on my list.

Mid/rear engine cars tend to launch really well also. Great 60ft times.

Thats why you see STI's pulling 0-60 in 4.6 seconds and as fast as 12.9 stock, they have major drivetrain loss due to AWD, IRC they make only about 240whp, but make up for it in wicked off the line traction.