First track experience today ! Some good, some really bad

travisjb

ok, will look at ohlins for this car, streets are just a pathway to the track !

rcz, you're right that i want to keep it street legal for a while, but after i burn through my first set of r888s, i'll prob switch to hoosiers... just trying to pace the upgrades with the overall progress towards turning this into a dedicated track car

RCZ

Ohlin flags. KW Clubsports...

370sed

Great thread...I'm considering a 370Z, mostly for track, and I was looking at the Std model w/Sports Pkg like the OP...as the best choice. C&D had listed the oil and dif cooler as options in their FEB09 test, but apparently they are really not avail. from Nissan - which is sad - no warranty.

As a track addict in my current RX-8, I'm now reconsidering if this is the correct car - I'm pretty dismayed at things I've learning about this car and browsing here for only one day:

1. 55/45 weight distribution needs adjusting.
2. trail brake unweighting - brakes? tires? weight bias?
3. Yikes!! Really the most shocking - A sports car that fails a short 20min HPDE run due to overheating at 70deg.
4. Sports car that REQUIRES some major mods (oil cooler, perhaps dif cooler) right off the bat to do track duty.

I ran two yrs in my RX-8 with nothing more than DOT4 fluid & sway bars with no problems thru HPDE1> HPDE2> HPDE3 before doing brake lines, pads, rotors, braces, etc. I was also looking at a Porsche, but was hoping to escape the high cost. I guess the extra money does buy a car ready for track duty.

Sorry to be upset and negative on my 1st post --- but I was thinking this was the answer - or would at least work at some level on track - right out of the box I guess.

Good luck with fixing these issues - I'll still consider this car, I'll just have to factor in the $$ to fix it to be a proper (or even adequate) track car

370sed

Oh yes -- IMHO forget the Hawk pads. I tried them and wondered "Where's the great braking, modulation and feel I was looking for?" Rather, I would strongly recommend Cobalt Friction GT Sports (if a DD) or for mostly track time you can't go wrong with some Cobalt Friction XR2 front / XR5 rear for HPDE3/HPDE4 use. The XR5s are not listed on their site, but they are specially formulated to help reduce rear unweighting on cars that have that propensity. They make them for the RX-8 (I run that combo) and they are AMAZING!

RCZ

I think you are going a little overboard on the negative aspects of the car. I drive a lot of track events too and I've felt a lot of different cars on track. GT3's, GT-R's, Turbos, STIs, Evos, 350Z's, etc. I can tell you that the Z feels much better than I expected. It feels very well planted and eager to be driven fast. My best advice would be to test drive it. I'm coming from 2 modified STIs both of which were pretty quick around the track, faster than 911's and M3's. I drive Solo class for HPDE. So far I have to say I am impressed with the Z, I absolutely love this car despite those minor things you said. Also problems 3 and 4 are the same. Having 3 problems isnt such a big deal. An oil cooler is not really a major mod either. The weight distribution has its advantages too. Like I said, the best thing you can do is test drive it..you will immediately be able to feel that its a great car. Spend half the cash you will save by buying the Z instead of the porsche into the Z and you will have a porsche beater and a fun car to work on.

Hehe I suggested Cobalts further up in the thread, they are amazing. I actually called Cobalt to see if they were going to make pads for the 370Z...they didnt have an answer yet, but its likely.

Namir

I agree, the 370Z isn't the best car for the track. However, it is undeniably one of the best for its price range. Sure a GT3RS would destroy it on a track, or lotus exige, but if you are looking for a great car both on and off the track for under 40k, you'll have a hard time finding a better car than the 370Z.

If you want something purely for the track, and for cheap, you should look at ordering and building a Caterham.

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370sed

Question?...you've driven the 370Z, not just the 350Z on track? I've seen the 350Z on track, not many of them mind you, but they seem to do pretty good, a few faults not withstanding. So yea, 350Zs are track capable. I hear you there.

My concern is with Nissan engineering on this car. What should a sports car buyer would reasonably expect for $30-50K straight of the showroom floor? In my mind, it's not a small thing when a car can't go even 20min at near full tilt on a 70 degree day...I mean that's not asking that much of any vehicle....and begs the question - what else have they short-engineered besides the oil cooling system and the differential cooling system? Really!

Worse, they've apparently given 'ringer' cars to the mags for testing with 'options' that don't exist! I'm staring at the C&D 370Z test that has oil and differential radiators listed as $500 est. 'options'. Now they're no where to be found? What's up with that?

I only became interested because of the reviews complete with "at the track" comments and how this was so much more 'refined' and 'enhanced' comapred to the 350Z. If the installed powerplant/drivetrain puts out too much heat and it's impossible to get rid of the heat in the form factor they've chosen, then the 3.7L is too much engine and power for the car to deal with full stop. Or perhaps the OP car was defective? That would be a relief! I'd love to buy this car, but honestly worry about Nissan's opinion of me moding the engine cooling system (and other components) if problems occur that should be covered under warranty?

I don't mean (as I said before) to come off as a troll, a Nissan basher, or a nit picker...but gee wiz...first impression make a difference in cars as with meeting people and at 1st blush..I'm blushing bright red at all this discovered even as the car is being introduced.

Many manufacturers pride themselves, and let us know that their latest and greatest has been "track-tested", engineered on the "ring", etc....Nissan included with the GT-R. But for this car, they obviously didn't do track testing, or prove it out on the "ring" as they did with the GT-R, except perhaps with a modified car we can't buy. Did they do that, then de-engineered it for 'consumer use'? WTHs up with that?

I have no problem with Nissan selling a 'dudes' car, prettied up for the stoplight wars. C&D says "Nissan refers to this latest Z as an "enhancement," likely largely a male enhancement." Uuummmmm...food for thought...but I expect more of a car.

You're right I should go drive one, do you think Nissan let me have one for a short 20 min track session? I couldn't even post the results of a stoplight racing test drive on the forum anyway.

I truly hope I'm all wrong with this (and the OP experiences), and that time will show all is well with Nissan and the 370Z, God knows we need affordable sports cars that go like a bat outa hell... for like 4 track sessions at least

travisjb

I should probably weigh in here... for me this is a great car, regardless of the minor flaws in the stock setup... I didn't want the expense and hassle of trailering, and I had planned to invest in mods regardless of which car I selected... I was also consider 1) new cayman s with LSD, 2) used 911 996 to be converted for track, 3) 996 cup car, and a few others... all of those would be in the $45-75K range once all the spending was done... this one should end up less than that, depending on how aggressive you get with the mods... it may never be the fastest at a mixed class event but it is a great chassis and i suspect it will do well within a group of similar power/weight vehicles once set up

I really don't want folks to read my initial and follow-on posts as disappointment... I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH THIS CAR... I've owned the first and second gen RX-7s, porsches, and lots of other great cars, and I'm confident that after sorting through these basic issues this one will be tops on my list for fun to drive and highly competitive... street and track

One more thing to keep in mind... I'm going from a mid-engined car to front-engined... so my interpretation of weight balance is exaggerated... also, FYI, I drive hard... Possible that if I shifted 300-400 rpm sooner at the track a couple weeks ago, I never would have had the overheating issue... let's get a few more data points from other drivers before casting judgment

More to come ! I'll start a new post next couple weeks as my modifications get done... I'll likely end up using many of the parts we're discussing

370sed

Glad to hear overall you are a happy camper...looking forward to your blow-by-blow as you get your ride sorted into a great track tool. More data points are certainly needed and will tell lots more over time. Hope it all goes well for you and not too many hurdles to overcome

cheers

RCZ

I have not driven the 370Z on the track yet, so I can't tell you how good it is or isnt. Ask me again later this month though.

FairmanZ

I'm with you on this. I'm not a track junkie, but do enjoy a track day now and then. I read the C&D article too and wondered about the differential and oil coolers listed as options. Now it all makes sense. It's clear Nissan knows about this issue, so why didn't they get it right?

At least they should offer these coolers as Nismo options for those that are serious track people. Really though, to me the oil/diff coolers should have been a standard part of the Sport package or Nissan should offer a "Track" model with these as standard.

I still think the new Z is one heck of a sports car value, but its aura of perfection is erroding as I learn more and more about the car. I'm now seriously debating whether to rush in and get a '09 ('cause I want this car bad!) or wait and hope that Nissan sorts the car out better for 2010.

RCZ

Hey Travis.... I was coming into an exit ramp today on the highway at about 110 and I got on the brakes in a straight line to get it down to around 80. The rear end got VERY light and twitched a little bit.. I mean nothing uncontrollable, but I now realize what you meant on your post. I made sure to be going in a straight line or close to it and it still twitched to the side on me... very interesting...suspension cant come too soon...

travisjb

that was pretty much the exact situation for me, except on track... somewhere between 110 and 120 on PIR straight, left into road course turn 1, braking in nearly straight line but v slightly left, and then whoa- back off the brakes and straighten out, then back on brakes hard to get slow enough for next turn

i definitely will have more confidence in high speed trail braking once i get the suspension sorted out... i think i'll also benefit from taking this car to a few autocross events

btw 2 more days to formula ford !

import111

I am very worried about this oil over heating issue. So far it is the main reason keeping me from getting a 370Z. Even if an oil cooler fixes the issue, it kinda seems like a band-aid. Maybe thicker oil would also help?

I do a lot of track days and need a car that can withstand track abuse on a regular basis.

shumby

you do alot of track days yet don't like the idea of an oilcooler.? ok then

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