Opinions on 350z Track Car

[DarkSunrise]

Any opinions on the 350z? I've love how light and nimble my FR-S is on the track, and I realize the 350z won't deliver the same experience, but I'd feel more comfortable with a 8 year-old 350z on the track (~$12k value) than a 1 year-old FR-S (~$22k value). I do about 6-8 HPDE's per year, and a handful of autocrosses, so this would probably end up being an 80/20 street-track car.

I'd be looking at a 350z w/brembos, and just do basic mods on it to start with (pads, brake fluid, tires, sway bars, oil cooler).

Here's the list of positives I could think of for both:

Positives (350z)
- more power
- great exhaust note
- cheaper/less risky to track
- better track reliability (maybe)

Postives (FR-S)
- lighter/smaller, more agile
- better balance
- more connected to car
- better gearbox
- quicker steering
- easier on brakes/tires
- better gas mileage
- newer

Has anyone driven a 350z on the track before, and how did it compare with the FR-S? Is it worth trading to a cheaper car for the track? Thanks.

[7thgear]

i think that in America, the 350z is a superior car for long term track investment than the FRS/BRZ

but i hear it has oil cooling problems, but that's a relatively easy fix


in Canada though forget about it, base 350's 370's are 55k++ cars.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

i think that in America, the 350z is a superior car for long term track investment than the FRS/BRZ

Because of the cheaper initial investment? Or easier to make power on?

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Because of the cheaper initial investment? Or easier to make power on?

both

you pick up one for cheap, strip it, get back mucho cash, lose a ton of weight, install an oil-cooler, go balls to the wall.

I haven't met a 350/370z owner that wasn't satisfied with their purchase.

Will it be as nimble at the FRS? Mayhaps not, but it's a good grin generating car.

Just like an M3 is never a bad car.

[ayau]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Is it worth trading to a cheaper car for the track?

I think you answered your own question. You said a used Z was easier to total than an FRS.

You could always buy track insurance. It'd probably add another 2-3k in total cost per year. The FT86 platform doesn't seem that reliable (relative to Hondas and Miatas) to track on anyway.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

both

you pick up one for cheap, strip it, get back mucho cash, lose a ton of weight, install an oil-cooler, go balls to the wall.

I haven't met a 350/370z owner that wasn't satisfied with their purchase.

Will it be as nimble at the FRS? Mayhaps not, but it's a good grin generating car.

Just like an M3 is never a bad car.

Originally Posted by ayau

I think you answered your own question. You said a used Z is easier to total than a FRS.

You could always buy track insurance. It'd probably add another 2-3k in total cost per year. The FT86 platform doesn't seem that reliable (relative to Hondas and Miatas) to track on anyway.

Yeah good points. I'm seriously considering one with 70k miles for under $13k. Seems like a good deal. And I wouldn't worry about the abusive track miles I was putting on it.

[strat61caster]

This would be your only car correct?

Chances are that the track abuse will put it out of commission for a week (maybe you shred through the tires or brakes, something fails or you go off and smash it up), I just realized you have a GTI in your profile so you won't be completely stranded. For a track beater I would personally go lighter, early Miatas are cheap (easily less than $10k will get you to the track) and have amazing aftermarket support but I'll gamble that you've already discarded the idea for various reasons.

You don't need the FRS for a daily and your nervous about tracking it, so it isn't being used, might as well save some coin and get a car you can beat and enjoy to it's fullest. It makes sense.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUhLXvxlQR4"]Toyota GT86 / Scion FR-S v Nissan 370Z v Used Porsche Cayman S - /CHRIS HARRIS ON CARS - YouTube[/ame]

[DarkSunrise]

Yep wouldn't be my only car, mostly weekends. I think it does make sense as a track car, simply due to the low cost. Just curious if anyone's actually driven one of these on the track and could provide a comparison to the FR-S/BRZ.

[Whitigir]

I have test drove both of them. I never tracked them, but I have to say this.

350z is heavier, snappier/faster, less out of control (spinning, drifting/tail happy.) Very agile, probably feel more body roll

FR-S is lighter, some what snappy, if you drive at red line. Very agile, too tail happy, it is a challenge to drive.

Conclusion, 350Z is easier drive. Engine sounds sexier.

FR-S is a challenge to drive fast and keep up your pace. It makes you feel like you have had mistakes done, and you could have done better.

[juliog]

350z will go through tires and brake pads faster. AFAIK, it's also not the best handling car in stock form..

[reni]

Honestly, I would doubt your track driving skills are good enough for the extra power to matter.

Don't get me wrong, I'm in the same boat, as well as probably 99.9% of the people registered on this forum.

People on the internet love to talk about the track capabilities of a vehicle (in the hands of a professional driver), but in the real world every time I go to the track the vast majority of occasional track drivers in a high HP car wouldn't be able to put down a better time than an instructor in say, a spec Miata.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by reni

Honestly, I would doubt your track driving skills are good enough for the extra power to matter.

Don't get me wrong, I'm in the same boat, as well as probably 99.9% of the people registered on this forum.

People on the internet love to talk about the track capabilities of a vehicle (in the hands of a professional driver), but in the real world every time I go to the track the vast majority of occasional track drivers in a high HP car wouldn't be able to put down a better time than an instructor in say, a spec Miata.

Haha I'm not the best driver, but honestly power is one of the easiest things to exploit on the track. You just roll onto the throttle on track-out and keep the pedal floored in straight lines. I'd say something like good braking is much harder take advantage of for most drivers. I say this as someone who's tracked lower hp cars like my FR-S and higher hp cars like my old STI.

But to your broader point, this switch wouldn't be for power but rather for cost. If anything, I prefer lighter, momentum cars like the 86 bc they will really force you to learn to carry speed through corners.

[Dave-ROR]

Every car is a momentum car. Even one with 500hp. It's never fast to be at 5/10ths every turn and make it up with power.

Anyways the couple local z guys seem to do fine with theirs. I don't have any experience driving a z on the track though.

[DarkSunrise]

Hah I had a feeling someone would raise this point.

I hear the merits and obviously you'll be faster in any car regardless of power if you nail all the corners than not, but from my experience it's easier to make up for mistakes in corners if you've got a ton of torque/power on tap than if you're in a little 4-banger that's fallen out of its powerband because you screwed up the last turn and you're down 10 mph on your exit speed.

At least it feels that way. I've never done any formal testing on this