Era of the Muscle Car is over

Mergnthwirker

I couldn't agree more. The old Colin Chapman line, "For more speed... add lightness" applies. My Sentra SE-R was about 2100 pounds and went damn well with only 130hp. I've driven a Caterham Super 7 which is under 1500 lbs, and it was a hoot! DAMN fast, and very visceral (but a bit scary next to an 18-wheeler on the highway).

I continue to watch in horror as each generation of cars add more weight and need to increase engine size to return decent performance. I hope the new focus on efficiency starts to drive weights back down, but the costs of exotic materials and the safety and content requirements of new cars make this a difficult engineering challenge. I'd be really happy with the same power-to-weight ratio as my 370Z in a 2000lb car! I'm sure it would get a lot better fuel mileage. But I still wouldn't want to meet a Chevy Tahoe head-on...

HJM

spearfish25

Check out the Top Gear episode where there test the Tesla. While it had intoxicating acceleration, there were some huge drawbacks. For example, they made it 50mi on their track before the battery died...and it only takes 16 hours to recharge. They had a few other problems too that I just can't recall right now.

Dova80

Brakes broke, and also over heating..

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I do not avoid women...but I do deny them my essence.
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CBRich

Actually by out I mean in production and not just a few released. Tesla is struggling in so many ways right now.

k20z3

duh duh duh...
the government is winning.

Insert________sadface

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Sashimi

I think that the muscle car will be here as long as it by itself if a profitable car. what we will proboboly see is that they are going to be made cheaper and cheaper and only having minor upgrades over the years to come. Example is the mustang, the mustang was barely changed from the last generation to this generation. While the Z on the other had, from 350z-370z is almost a completly new car.

End of the muscle car? I didn't think so. but after going to the track and seeing a stock 370z beat a brand new Challenger SRT8 which has over 400HP on a STRAIGHT line. I don't know what to say.

dad

Always question authority!

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sensi09

Some people consider the Z as the "muscle car" of Japan compared to the likes of a RX8.

370Z Purist

As a prospective engineer, and one who just spends hours on researching cars, it somehow never fails to impress me when you have cars with massive displacement being destroyed by cars like the 370Z, light, aerodynamic, and ... smaller displacement.

Talking to a friend who is currently an automotive engineering major, he essentially tells me it is now the age of tuners, at least in a performance light. I just wonder how cars like the '66 Chevelle had only four gears, torque that would blast off the line, yet after reaching a peak speed of 120 mph, be easily destroyed by some random Japanese tuner with a much higher maximum speed.

m4a1mustang

lol this is madness.

The Mustang isn't going anywhere... and I know not to mess with them because if you run across a boosted mod motor you're toast. Those things are sick.

I'm sure you guys haven't been paying attention (and why would you?) but the 2010 GT500 is putting down 490rwhp and 511 lb-ft STOCK.

Take a stock GT500 and swap the factory blower out for a 2.8L Kenne Bell and its 752 rwhp and 681 lb-ft. And the car will take it over and over and over.

Don't get me wrong... I love my Z. It's an awesome sports car and it's great what it can do with only 3.7 liters (and it's a boost monster, too!)... but I bleed Ford Blue. There's nothing like driving a v8 Muscle Car. Nothing. It's one of the best things in the world... I can't wait 'til I'm able to have the best of both worlds.

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Chan Chee Hoe

Oh,the Mazda RX-8 'drinks' more fuel than the 370z,but only produced 231 bhp,the only advantage is lower road tax[only in S'pore] & can sits 4 persons.

370Z Purist

But GT500's aren't even stock to begin with!

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-Phil

"Since one of my brake light bulbs just went out, the forum told me that my piston rings are about to blow."

NeedforZ

You're right, I haven't really been paying close attention to what Ford is doing. The retro styling thing kinda lost me. My first Mustang was a 97' GT with a whopping 215hp. Ford wasn't getting any love with the early mod motor. Really liked the car but it didn't have any guts.

m4a1mustang

LOL if it comes from the factory that way, it's stock!

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m4a1mustang

Yeah, the first go at the mod motor was pretty weak. Not until the 99-04 models did we really begin to see what kind of potential these cars had.

With only 260 hp and 302 lb-ft stock they weren't too formidable (could run a 13.9 with a great driver)... but everyone quickly found out they loved some gear. My NA '03 4.6L ran a 13.6 with 4.10s in place of the stock 3.27s... crazy!

Then the '03 Cobras came along to really fire home the fact that the mod motor demands boost.

The 3-valve 4.6L in the 05's and up is just awesome. Like the Z, the car is "detuned" out of the factory. Restrictive exhaust, intake, and very conservative tune. With bolt ons and a canned tune they run 12s easy.

Add in a helping of boost and you've got a 500+ rwhp daily driver that you can count on to last you forever. Hell, the 2010s even have an optional factory FRPP blower... so it's conceivable that the brand new "stock" '10 GT is packing a little more than 315 hp... more like 500-600!

Like I said before... can't wait 'til I can park a 2010+ GT next to my Z. I'll be in car-guy heaven!

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