Mazda 3 that would own a 370z

370Z Purist

I would really love to see why you make these stupid comparisons. No **** a race-prep car will slaughter any street car, not even through a power comparison, but through weight loss, suspension upgrades, and a trained driver. Hey, since we're talking about this, let's compare the GTR to a stock Civic. I guess the Civic might have a chance, right?

Any serious race team that preps a car for a national race spec like GT300 or GT500 or Le Mans will spend a quarter of a million to over a million, mostly in just development costs. It doesn't even factor in the amount of time dialing everything in after it's fabbed up, or whether it's tuned to the driver's liking. Let's also not consider the cost of paying race engineers and professionals who spend hours and hours drawing everything up, doing all the math, finding out what oil weight is best to run, whether it will be the option of high displacement NA motor or a lower displacement FI motor. It wouldn't be a far shot to say that race spec Mazda probably has over 400 thousand dollars poured into it. It's a private race team, though, so I highly doubt they spent over 300, but I don't even follow this race league.

EDIT:
Another thing to consider is that this is BTCS, which is a touring car endurance series and divides classes into T1, T2, T3, and T4. Why would Nissan even put the Z into a Belgian race league? Also, to say it's a Mazda 3 is really just completely false, the body is the only thing retained, considering it's running a 20b motor. The GTRs which are run in SuperGT used VH46s or something, and now they have an even smaller motor with a lower displacement than the VQ37 that Z's have now. There's nothing about them that really says GTR except for the exterior.

BTW here's a zed with a 20b.

Here:


If you want a Z in general that will walk circles around this Mazda3 in terms of general performance, look at Xanavi Team's 350Z back when SuperGT was called JGTC. Comparing the cars is, again, an apples to oranges comparison. If there was a race where any team fielded 370Z in the same class as that Mazda, then you'd know what to look for. Nissan even offers the 370Z in a full RC spec car, capable of entering into the vast majority of GT classes around the globe. Slap on some bolt-ons, convert to E85, forge your pistons, rods, and crank, and you now have a high compression V6 that will make plenty of power. Perhaps ask the couple race teams that post on the forums that run track spec 370Z's.

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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."

Shamu

It would take more than standard RC touring car to beat this Mazda. But again please show me a 370 z track car that is faster. Haven't see one yet. Lots of big talk here. We arent talking z33 platform. and who cares what series etc. show me a Z34 race car that is faster. ...anywhere? Not much beef?

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Grant

Kingbaby

Really haven't search or looking into 370Z competition wise...

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07 Silver Alloy Nissan 350Z Nismo #0191 "Lin'da"
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Kingbaby

Fairlady Z Version NISMO Type 380RS DEBUT!!


For you to even side on what looks like a Mazda 3 is senile of you...

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07 Silver Alloy Nissan 350Z Nismo #0191 "Lin'da"
2amR--------------------> VQ I.N.C. - Like us!

Shamu

That's not a Z34? And it's no where close to the lighter and nearly 500 hp 20b powered Mazda 3.

I just want to see the mythical 370 Z touring car that's as fast as the car I posted originally that some think exists? Believe me I'd love to see one so looking Fowarding to seeing that unicorn like 500 hp 2500 lb 370z!

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Grant

Shamu

Lol that's big heavy z33 (350z) and no where close to car I posted. I will give old 350 z race cars one thing they were lighter than new 370z! Please please post a 370z that is more capable on a road course than that beautiful lightweight Mazda 3. Man that 3 is just pure sex on wheels!

Listen to that motor! Sweet Jebus! This isn't apples verses oranges its a sweet juicy orange compared to a big sour grapefruit.


YouTube - Mazda 3 Sedan 20b race 4 2012 at Spa-Francorchamps

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Grant

theDreamer

I bet this build could lose more weight since it has full glass and a few other items but it will definitely keep up with the Mazda 3 easily.

Here:

Dyno sheet from this build:

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Cmike2780

Lol. Such a silly comparo thread, but the Mazda3 with a 20B is a pretty cool car. I'm a big fan of the Wankel motor. This is nothing new though, 20B powered RX-8's have been tearing up the Grand-AM GT series for a couple of years now. It's the engine they should have put in the street going versions...or at least a 13B Renesis with F.I.

Favorite 20B sound is when it's in the Furai


I want Mazda to resurrect the R26B into the Furai body. 4-rotor ftw

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[09][MB][6-Spd MT][Touring][Stillen Gen III][K&N][Borla CBE][Evo-R]

shadoquad

love the Furai

I also think this is a silly comparo, because for Mazda, the 3 is pretty much the only performance platform they have right now. The Z34 has to vie for attention against its bigger brother R35.

370Z Purist

Furai = F1 sound.

Did they actually ever enter the Furai into a major race?

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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."

shadoquad

While it has been tested on real race tracks, I don't know that they've ever actually raced it.

car porn

370Z Purist

I have to say that the Furai is one of the most alien/futuristic cars I've ever seen. This would sell very well (as well as an expensive car would, anyway) if Mazda had made this into a production car for the street. Sadly, a race motor does not a street car make.

As for competition Z's, I think Mike the Powdercoater has put in a good amount into his zed... it probably goes pretty damn fast for not being a straight race spec car.

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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."

Rone

I am so confused by this thread. That Furai looks good, though.

UNKNOWN_370

Its funny how some guys think.

The mazda 3 has been around for a whole decade in 6 months.
The Z34 will be around 4 years in 4 months.

In 2003, a base mazda was 14k, a used one today is 4k
A 2012 starts around 16.5k
You can get a loaded 2010 mazda 3 S for 19k.
Mods for this car have been researched the whole time cuz until sky activ, this engine has been relatively the same for a decade.

The 2009 Z started at $30k
The 2013 Z starts @ $34k
The average '09 Z used today is 25k.

Investment factor from jump between both cars is about $11k. $9k will buy you a 2007 mazda 3 and 10k more 20b with install right off the bat. Combine the 07 mazda and 20b cost now and you may be able to buy a low mileage 2007/08 Z33 with no mods.. Give the Z34 time for the resale cars to be under $20k and you will see more advanced aftermarket and RC Z's. Truth is... very few people with a unlimited budget are buying Z's for aftermarket tuning.
$30k on a Z in mods only gives you the turbo and efficiency mods needed. It doesn't even give you the car... lol. The Z34 being track legendary will take some time considering there's fairly new tech in the Z34 to crack.

Too many people are confusing the amount of people making a monetary investment in the Z vs the Z having a lack of performance.

Cmike2780

You won't find one because the Z doesn't compete in that class. Sure some modded ones will come close, but you can say that about any model modded car. Go see the Z's big brother GT-R if that Mazda3 wants to pick a fight. That Mazda is a kick-*** car and would make more sense to actually compare it to the other cars it will be racing.

I have no idea what your point is. We're not comparing a modded showroom Mazda 3 vs a modded 370. The original post is about a race spec GT with probably over $100k worth of work. The differences between the street version Mazda3 and the Racecar is night and day. That 20B rotory is a racing motor and cost a lot more than you'd think. Depending on how much work was put into it, a race motor like the one in that car could cost over $30k. Getting the rest of the car sorted out...suspension, rigidity, safety, drivetrain, etc. etc. is a monsterous amount of work and R&D. Price isn't an issue at this level. You buy what you need to win. That racecar only shares the Mazda 3 name in spirit. Check out the Build Here

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[09][MB][6-Spd MT][Touring][Stillen Gen III][K&N][Borla CBE][Evo-R]