gradualepiphany

WS6 or SS with a *good* driver will wipe the floor with an NSX. Thank god good drivers in f-bodies are about as easy to find as good music on MTV.

Ponyboy

Hey, I liked that article! It wasn't that bad at all. I did think it was interesting that the track they choose had a straight as long as the roads in Montana and the Z06 was only 1.3 seconds ahead of the charged S2K.

oos2kfan

I couldn't believe the price tag on that S2000 though, 68K!

It is a very nice car but ouch that is a lot of money to spend on an S2K. Think the Z06 would be the better investment since you can pick one up for about 20K cheaper. Don't get me wrong though...I love my S!

SergEK

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ponyboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hey, I liked that article! It wasn't that bad at all. I did think it was interesting that the track they choose had a straight as long as the roads in Montana and the Z06 was only 1.3 seconds ahead of the charged S2K.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You know as wel as I do 1.3 seconds is a life time when talking lap times and performance for 68K the S2K should have had 450-500hp a sequential gearbox, bullet proof rear end and a mugen cage...I didnt see any of that and yet they managed to blow 68K on a 13 sec 4 banger.....I think i would just give up "tuning" if that was the best I could go with a blown RWD car.....absoloutely pathetic.

The Z06 is a beast and is a testament to good basic design with minimum fluff...great car good on GM for making that car a reality

The NSX needs a larger motor in this day and age...that or at least a larger set of cams, better exhaust and shed some weight.......wouldnt be a bruiser but a solid 12 sec NA 6cyl....not a bad deal but the price needs to come down to about 50K......but knowing Honda....thats a long way off

Ponyboy

Hehe...count it....one thousand one. That's 1.3 seconds. 1.3 seconds is a lifetime from 0 to 60. 1.3 seconds is a lifetime from 0-100. 1.3 seconds is a lifetime in a quarter mile. But 1.3 seconds is not much on a 1 minute 40 second track. And certainly not much considering the mile long oval portion of the track and the hp advantage of the Z06. 1.3 seconds is something that a driver could "find" by pushing a little more - taking a high speed corner a bit better, braking more effectively on a few corners, becoming more familiar with the track in general, riding the curbs, etc. It all adds up. 1.3 seconds not that much.

I say gimme that S2K, some lighter wheels, and 1/2 tank of gas. I'd kick that Z06's butt. But I'm not paying for the car if I crash it!

Knightsport

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ponyboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hehe...count it....one thousand one. That's 1.3 seconds. 1.3 seconds is a lifetime from 0 to 60. 1.3 seconds is a lifetime from 0-100. 1.3 seconds is a lifetime in a quarter mile. But 1.3 seconds is not much on a 1 minute 40 second track. And certainly not much considering the mile long oval portion of the track and the hp advantage of the Z06. 1.3 seconds is something that a driver could "find" by pushing a little more - taking a high speed corner a bit better, braking more effectively on a few corners, becoming more familiar with the track in general, riding the curbs, etc. It all adds up. 1.3 seconds not that much.

I say gimme that S2K, some lighter wheels, and 1/2 tank of gas. I'd kick that Z06's butt. But I'm not paying for the car if I crash it! </TD></TR></TABLE>

Absolutely.

I'd have gone with a turbo set-up on the S2K though and maybe some Fikse's with some AO32R's.

Then I'd have kicked Ponyboy's pansy *** all over the track and sent that GM powered dinosaur back to bowling green.

Oh and I'm not paying for any wrecked vehicles either.

ojas

In that article: How much does the hardtop for the S2000 weigh? ~40 lbs? Are there any performance benefits of the hardtop vs. standard top (in the up position)? Aerodynamic, perhaps? I can't imagine it has any affect on chassis stiffness.

Like Ponyboy said, I'll take that S2000.

Ponyboy

The article lists the curb weight as 3149. What's a stock one weigh? This seems like a bit more than just a supercharger kit and some heavy wheels. I don't know, perhaps I'm wrong.

FWIW, the road course was just one aspect of C&D's total given time. It also included, 0-60, 0-100, 1/4 mile, then the roadcourse, 100-130mph (what's up with that?) and then 130mph to 0. Of note, the two Evo's and the Cobb Tuning WRX were quicker around the road course. Of futher note, my buddy in an M3 lost by a tenth in a Texas AX this year to that monster Cobb WRX. What does that prove? I don't know, I just thought it was interesting.

ojas

Actually, S2000 curb weight is 2833 lb (p.69). The 3149 (p.67) is for the 2nd place Lancer.

Sometimes I forget there's an S2000 forum next door. I did a quick search and found a couple hardtops in the 44 lb range. They claimed to have better aerodynamics than the soft top. I could not find the specs on the hardtop in the article, though.

Ponyboy

Doh! You are correct, my friend.

&lt;== must turn page. Stinkin adidas ad.

ojas

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ponyboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...100-130mph (what's up with that?)</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, that was annoying. I guess some of the cars could not hit 150? (MB did only 120). Lame. For the S2000 with 4.44:1 ratio, 150 mph should be right around 8800 RPM. I think. Not that it really means anything.

Knightsport

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ojas &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yeah, that was annoying. I guess some of the cars could not hit 150? (MB did only 120). Lame. For the S2000 with 4.44:1 ratio, 150 mph should be right around 8800 RPM. I think. Not that it really means anything.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's weird, I thought MB's were all electronically limited to 155mph?

ojas

Before electronics can intervene at 155, you need to first get to 155. I guess the Kompressor'd 4 could not push nearly 3500 lbs that fast... at least not on that track (perhaps due to limited distance).

BTW: Specs on the S2000: http://www.caranddriver.com/ar...ber=3

TEXN3

MB's in the states, non-AMG models are limited to 128mph. this is due to the tire speed ratings. in europe, they are limited to 155mph or the km/h equaivalant. AMG models in the states are limited to 155 and in europe, if a contract is signed, there is no limiter and the sl55 will push 190mph. my dad had asked for the limiter to be removed on our E because the last E we had it was done, but that one was bought overseas. but, due to the fact we have a 4matic system, all-season michelins are the only tire specified for the car and we had to be limited to 128mph. damn... cause the car cruises so effortlessly from here to LA at 100+ mph while getting about 25mpg. but, i really wish they would have tested the C-class coupe with a manual. and a diesel C-class coupe will reach 155mph. at least the AMG version with 300hp and 398lb-ft of torque.

Knightsport

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ojas &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Before electronics can intervene at 155, you need to first get to 155. I guess the Kompressor'd 4 could not push nearly 3500 lbs that fast... at least not on that track (perhaps due to limited distance).

BTW: Specs on the S2000: http://www.caranddriver.com/ar...ber=3</TD></TR></TABLE>

Okay, I must have been confused. I didn't realize they measured top speed on a straight at the track.

oos2kfan

I was suprised at the cost of the EVO's...for the price they performed great. Well...they peformed great either way, but I think with a few grand more they would have taken the title. I hate to admit that as much as I hate the way those cars look The sedan sports car thing is not for me, but they are still some serious machines.

Knightsport

Maybe it's my age but I grow more intrigued by the Sports Sedan market by the day.

A nice turbo IS300, Supercharged M3, tricked out S4/S6/S8 and not to forget the WRX/Evo. Mmmmm.....

Room for four grown folks and enough oopmh to shut them up.

oos2kfan

True, I'm still a youngster though (22) no kids and not married. I will definitely be in the market for a "sports car" sedan when I get a family. Most likely something in the BMW line...

nsxtasy

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knightsport &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">A nice turbo IS300, Supercharged M3, tricked out S4/S6/S8 and not to forget the WRX/Evo. Mmmmm.....

Room for four grown folks and enough oopmh to shut them up.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Too heavy, too heavy, too heavy/heavy/heavy, and too heavy/heavy...

T4eg

a turbo ws6 would be NASTY or a LS-1 vette. I would go with the vette. IM a diehard import guy but boosted v8's are NASTY. and the new vettes are bad ***

oos2kfan

Yeah, Lingenfelder (don't know how to spell that) builds and awesome twin turbo vette. It runs 0-60 as fast as a lot of bikes (somewhere in the range of 1.96 seconds)

Knightsport

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Too heavy, too heavy, too heavy/heavy/heavy, and too heavy/heavy...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sadly, I don't know of ANY light 4 door Sports Sedan's.

Weight can always be fixed too.

TEXN3

getting a little off-topic but still regarding sports sedans:
the E55 is very very sweet. my dad almost picked up an 2001 E50...but we moved to utah and needed the 4wd system. they are putting the 5.5l AMG V8 in the C-class and yanking the 3.2l supercharged V6. that'll be a torque monster. and have you heard the exhaust on an AMG V8? they sound very much like the muscle cars of the 60's. i love a big bore V8 sound with that burble at idle and then it gets pretty mean sounding at the top end. bimmer v8's sound wimpy.
a mercedes may be heavy but it is so well engineered. in a different way that hondas are well engineered. mercedes are overbuilt, where as honda is very efficiently built. both at the highest standards of the auto industry(IMO). crawl under a mercedes and check out the suspension arms, they are huge and beefy. yet, the cars are so easy to work on...i changed 2 motor mounts on my girlfriend's 190d(turbodiesel with rare lsd and 5-speed) and it took less than an hour each. i changed the motor mount on my integra. that took way too long. but, i still love both brands.

lingenfelter's turbocharged ls1 ran such low times because of the gearing and it was limited to a top speed of about 90mph. it ran a little bit above 2 seconds. traction was a major issue. the problem with lingenfelter is the same problem with hennessey. they blow up customer cars and are very poor business men. i would go with MTi, TNT motorsports or a number of smaller but very reputable shops for a vette or viper. there are quite a few in the dallas and houston area. now, a supercharged 427 small block vette would be sweet. oh, wait that would be a c5-r.

oos2kfan

The lingenfelter comes with a 24 month 24,000 mile warranty and has a top speed well over 200 miles an hour. I don't think the gearing is the only reason that this car ran a 1.96 0-60 it's also a hp/tq monster. I have heard that both men are terrible business people though....that's sad really.

Knightsport

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by oos2kfan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The lingenfelter comes with a 24 month 24,000 mile warranty and has a top speed well over 200 miles an hour. I don't think the gearing is the only reason that this car ran a 1.96 0-60 it's also a hp/tq monster. I have heard that both men are terrible business people though....that's sad really.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Absolutely, gearing may help some but when you gave a GM Corvette C5R block and two turbo's under the hood.......

Well, we'll just say it had better NOT be slow.

I've met both John Hennessy and Lingenfelter.(TX2K2 Supra Meet) Lingenfelter is a good business man, I don't where anyone heard otherwise? Hennessy is a different story, although, he gets just as many troubled customers as most shops. All the Texas Vipers John has built have come in on time and running as advertised. I think he doesn't like yankee's. Lingenfelter's son and John hennessy came to the street races at last years meet.

They raced the big Dawg P.B. in his 956rwhp Supra and they both lost. There are rumors that there is video of this race floating around. unfortunately, I couldn't keep up with them on the highway, so there was NO WAY I could film from my camera. I wanted to though.