Cupcar

Here are the latest auto-x "Top 10" results from our last region auto-x which was much tighter than normal, where are the Boxsters?

Class Car Time
AR 97 1974 914/6 69.38
AM 2 1973 911 T 70.91
MI 249 1987 911 Turbo 71.45
JI 38 1992 911 71.48
JI 14 1993 911 RSA 71.90
KP 975 1993 911 RSA 72.18
HI 642 1970 914/6 72.23
AM 600 1972 911 T 72.54
KS 491 1994 968 72.86
JS 37 1984 911 73.57

joey bagadonuts

Oh, I almost posted a similar list but didn't want to be off topic.

At our PCA autocrosses, we will usually have one or two Boxsters in the Top 10 with the rest of the top finishers driving 911's with a 914 thrown in for good measure. Yes, your car makes a slight difference but an inexperienced autocrosser will never catch a seasoned driver--even if they do drive a Boxster. It's all driver!

JoeW

In SCCA NER, Bill Gendron (several times national champ in A mod) is often quoted as saying "30% car, 70% driver."

Sounds about right. J

Michael-Dallas

I'll boldly say that I was one of the faster drivers in my run group at 2 PCA DE's I attended this year. Of course, my familiarity w/ that particular track probably had more to do w/ it; I had some, um, race 914's lay the smack down on me at another PCA DE on a different track.

Regardless, all of the instructors (PCA instructor buddies included) that have driven my 350 say it's really easy to drive on the track. The caveat is that the car understeers pretty bad at the limits, but it is easily remedied w/ the full NISMO S-Tune suspension (sway bars, springs, struts).

Regarding racing, TC Kline took 2nd in SCCA T-2, Jim Goughary took 1st in SCCA GT-2, Schuitemaker Motorsports and Unitech Racing took 5th and 6th, respectively, in Grand American GS-II, and Carter Thompson took 5th (or was it 6th) in SCCA BS. Not bad for its first year. I'm hoping for a better season in 04.

The 350 has good value (read: bang for buck), but sits lower than most Porsches on the bling & boulevard pimp factor. I'll always continue to love Z's, but if I had to do it all over again, then I would have gotten a 993 (or Boxster S).

Michael.

delhi

hey michael, do you find the track Z unbearable on long driving commutes?

joey bagadonuts

Thanks for the info, Michael, but please save the smack talk for the Z board.

I looked into the race results and it looks like these cars are capable of low 1:40's at Mid Ohio. For perspective, that's in the same neighborhood as 964 Cup Cars and slightly better than stock C2's. For $30K and a few upgrades, that's not a bad piece of kit.


2003 Valvoline Runoffs Qualifying T2
2003 PCA Club Race - Group 2 Qualifying

Michael-Dallas

Personally, no. I bought my 350 in Evansville, IN and drove it 800 miles back to Dallas. But one of the bigger gripes that many early Z owners complained about was the bounciness of the factory suspension. From what I understand, late 04 models will have the European spring / struts and that is supposed to eliminate the bounciness. Personally, I really didn't notice the bounciness until I installed the NISMO S-Tune suspension.

The suspension is tight, but a little softer than a 993 Turbo (so my buddy tells me).

EDIT:

Also, if you're really serious about buying a 350, then I would recommend buying the Enthusiast model and equipping it w/ an aftermarket brake kit (i.e. Stoptech). The only difference between the Track and the Enthusiast (besides $5-6k in MSRP) are the lightweight Rays Engineering rims (18lbs/ea), Brembo brakes, tire pressure sensors, and vehicle dynamic control (VDC). The VDC is a nifty feature, but usually turned off -- just think of it as PSM, but instead of helping you steer through a turn, it tries to steer you straight. The Enthusiast has traction control (you can turn it off as well).

Michael.

Michael-Dallas

My comment was not meant to be bad so please do not take any offense to it. The 350 has good track potential, but lacks in the head-turning dept. I believe the proper description would be that the Porsche would have more class than the 350 (overall).

Michael.

Syd B.

I find it somewhat unusual that a 964 owner would criticize the interior design of any car.

joey bagadonuts

Cheers, Michael.

Ruairidh

Why? I like the 964/993 interior and as a place to drive fast for a number of hours, have found it better than most (and I'm tall!).

Syd B.

My comment was not related to the dimensions of the 964, but its stark interior design. It happens to be to my taste, but it just struck me as strange that someone who found the materials and design of a 964 to be acceptable would be critical of the "cheap materials" used by another car maker. Now, if this comment was coming from a Audi owner, maybe I could understand the comparison, but this thread was a comparison of the 350Z and the 964. I would hardly consider the interior of a 964 to be luxurious or made of the world's finest materials.

Jay Gratton

My best friend just bought the 350Z Cab. and I must say it is awesome! Fast, Handles, awesome breaks and good looks! But I must admit that I would still take the 964 every time. Has a Z every won an enduro? A Porsche has a sense of history that is very important to me. I know this is my opinion, but I feel so proud when I drive my Porsches. I have never felt that way when I have drive any other make, including a 350 Z. But the Z is amaZing none the less. Best part of my friends car is that is Sunset Lemans! Best color of the year in my opinion again! Best of luck to you. - Jay Gratton

special tool

uh-oh, now you are in trouble, Jay. Bob Sharp and Paul Newman are going to hunt you down and poke you in the eyeball for questioning the Z racing heritage.

JoeW

Coincidentally, November's "Pit Talk" arrived today with Goughary's car on the cover, dents from a first-lap squeeze and all! And, actually, it isn't a 350 at all, no matter what it looks like, but a strange hybrid -- "...this year his 300ZX has morphed into a 350Z. It is the same chassis but a different motor, body and weight."

Interesting -- the weak spot in the Z's design may be the multi-model platform that adds so much weight. J