I was just reading one of my 300ZX books and saw a performance comparison between the 2+2TT as sold in Europe and the UK and the 2+0TT as sold in the U.S.

Now I could never work out why the U.S cars could always pull better 1/4 mile times than our cars at the same stage of upgrade, but here is an answer!

 

These times are based on stock cars and times in brackets are for U.S the 2+0TT.

 

Max Speed 155mph (153mph)

0-30mph 2.1sec (2.0sec)

0-40mph 3.0sec (3.1sec)

0-50mph 4.4sec (4.2sec)

0-60mph 5.7sec (5.5sec)

0-70mph 7.7sec (7.2sec)

0-80mph 9.7sec (9.3sec)

0-90mph 11.9sec (11.6sec)

0-100mph 15.2sec (14.6sec)

0-110mph 18.7sec (18.0sec)

0-120mph 23.6sec (22.6sec)

 

This means that our 2+2TT are anywhere up to 1sec slower to the 1/4mile line, depending on driver, and this must just be down to weight.

 

Also, I think that the grip quality of our drag strips isn't up to the same standard as the U.S

 

 

 

 

 

Steve, A reference from the Car Import Guide, which I bought when looking into getting my 300ZX was "in Japan there is a short-wheelbase 2-seater......It's some 185mm shorter in wheelbase, weighs substantially less...". Noted as 4305mm long, as against 4520mm for the 2+2, but does not note the 2-seater's weight.

I think most 300ZXs is the US are 2-seaters. Looking at one of the US sites (www.300z.com, I think) the US kerb weights are given as (lbs) 3414 2-seater; 3495 2+2 manual; 3516 2+2 auto.

The other point of interest is that the US 300ZXs are reported to be 300bhp stock.

 

I have a 2-seater imported from Japan, and there are differences to the US 2-seater. The ones I am currently aware of is that mine has all 4 wheels the same 225/50V16 7.5J size (the US appears to have the same UK spec sizes & ZX rated tyres) and 280bhp (plus speed limiter - now taken off).

 

I would be interested in knowing of any other differences if anybody is aware of them? Thanks.

(Oh yes, I almost forgot - the position of the steering wheel!)

Geoff

 

Hi Geoff,

 

The 2+2 wasn't sold in the U.S as the twin turbo so I think the weight you have shown must be for the 2+2NA.

 

As for differences between the U.S 2+0TT and the Japanese 2+0TT, the pre-cat setup is different. The Japanese cars don't have any precats.

 

Steve

 

The Autocar & Motor roadtest in 1990 got a 300tt 2+2 manual round Millbrook high speed bowl on average 155mph on a banked track touching 158 on a down wind section. They said it would do over 160 on a straight road. 0-60 was 5.6 and 0-100 14.5. Standing 1/4 14.4 @ 100mph. They did get lousy fuel consumption so maybe the performance was "enhanced" just as Jaguar used to do for road test cars!!

 

So many things affect raw numbers. Humidity temperature brutality with clutches etc

 

the 2+2 is quite a bit hevier than the 2+0

 

A good point steve, it maybe because the americans are better drivers than us... ;o)

 

I think Rowan posted a while back about the construction of American Drag strips being far ahead of those in NZ and probably this country also. The conditions also lend themselves to more traction than the average Wet sunday morning in the West midlands.

 

As for weight, Yes the 2 seater is a lighter car but the weight distribution is worse for drag racing so i wouldn't have thought that would count too much towards the times, what we loose in weight we gain in traction as the weight added is all above the rear axle area

 

I think they have better fuel also in most parts of the states isn't there Super 98Oct whereas ours has been downgraded to 100Oct,

I would be interested to see the performance figures from Japan, i will endeavour to obtain them from some guys i know over there.

 

Z ya

 

Nico91TT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We may have more weight, but at least we have a bigger oil cooler and our steering wheel is on the correct side!

 

As besides, I like to listen to my mates moan when they get into the back and have the passenger chair forced back onto their legs until it locks into place and can be brought forward. It's almost rude to look in the summer!

 

(They have more BHP beacuse they measure it differently in the states)

 

Hi,

I am always suspicious of the performance figures obtained by motor magazines of manufacturer's official road test cars.Especially when they have turbo-charged engines.

It is easy for the importers to turn up the boost on turbo cars, and make other internal hidden modifications that the road testers can't see.

Later editions of sports cars often seem to have reduced performance from when they were first introduced.

The US performance figures for the 300ZX,over the years seem to support this view.

 

Weight - Euro / Jap spec 2+2's will be MUCH heavier than 2+0's......... as Geoff mentions the US 2+2's are heavier than the US 2+0's, given that the weight figure must be for 2+2NA's as TT 2+2's were never sold in the US you can go and add another couple of hundred pounds to this figure easy.

 

Weight Transfer - Don't think there's diddly squat to do with weight transfer going on in a stock TT with good new tyres (you'll be surpised what crap the tyres turn to after a couple of months). On new 16" tyres you're going to have a hard time lighting the rear up anyway...

 

Sticky tracks - and B I N G O was his name-oh. Those yanks cheat and spray this super sticky shit to their dragstrips. It turns the strips into tar like things. Kyle from SGP reckons their shoes stick to the track when they walk on it.

 

Now.... if I was a magazine editor what am I going to run on to get a good time ???

 

 

 

 

The last time I went to a strip (Northwield) it was so slippery I had to change up at 4000revs in 1st 2nd and early in 3rd. Santapod was much much better, but still slippery after all the runs.

 

Of course, I'd love to drag strip in the wet now I have the old traction, for a laugh.