same here.

i own both cars at the moment and i can tell you the S is slower than the 370Z.

waaaaaay slower.

 

depends on what you are comparing to. The S2000 has abundant torque relative to my neighbor's 1998 Celica GTS, but has none compared to my bro's M3 ... so it's all relative.

Even horsepower, one could argue the S2000 doesn't have enough power, while others argue it's good enough ...

will be a never ending debate

 

really? i have a hard time believing a 3,233lbs base model 370z with no limited slip differential and 50 series 18 inch tires (front , 45 series back) will be able to keep up with an s2000 around a tight circuit, much less a s2000 CR

those things are nothing without the sport package, nothing!!, hahahahaha

 

thank you!!!, finally, its all relative, that was the point of my escalade story, i was trying to draw people's attention to the fact that a vehicle with 400lb-ft of torque had a hard time keeping up with an s2000 operating below the powerband. never heard anyone say the escalade was lacking in torque

 

It has a 100 horsepower advantage. It's really not hard to figure out. I ran with one at my last track day. The guy was an unskilled driver, so he stayed a small dot in my rearview mirror all day. However, trust me when I say I would have kicked my own ass had I been behind the wheel.

The S2000 is a great car, but don't give it too much credit.

 

[QUOTE=S2Krazee,Dec 6 2009, 11:13 PM] It has a 100 horsepower advantage.

 

Putting down the extra power is easy with the right throttle control and late braking isn't as necessary since you'll have the power to pull you out of a slow corner. Fast exit speeds, not late braking, translate to better lap times.

 

What makes you think putting down power on exit is difficult? I dare you to come out of a fast corner and not roll on the throttle.

 

You don't know me or my experience. Yes, it had everything to do with my experience, and from the sound of it, you have no clue what you are talking about. Go back go doing what you do best: red light racing 4,000+ lb SUVs.

 

Dude, you need to open YOUR physics book, you're way off.

Engine power DOES determine torque at the drive wheels. If you know engine power and road speed, you know the thrust at the ground. Given a tire diameter, you know torque at the drive wheels.

Thrust at the ground = power/road speed (minus losses)


WRONG. Power is NOT "considered work". Power is the RATE of doing work. And it is NOT "torque (or a moment) over time". Work = force applied multiplied by distance moved in the same direction. Units of work are force*distance, but this is NOT TORQUE. Power is the instantaneous rate of doing work in units of: force*distance/time. 1 horsepower = 550 ft-lb/sec.

If you know engine power and road speed, you know the thrust at the tire contact patch.

Thrust at wheels = power/speed
thrust in lb. = (horsepower*550)/(speed in ft/s) [multiply by ~.85-.90 to account for mechanical losses in the drivetrain and tire slip]

I've driven both back-to-back, and I've played cat and mouse with two very competent (one club champion) drivers. The Z does NOT pull out of slow corners with any particularly greater urge than an S2000. POWER TO WEIGHT determines acceleration. Power-to-weight is very similar between the S2000 and 287hp Z. Hence acceleration is very similar. Torque is important only inasmuch as it allows you to make power. The S2000 makes up for its torque deficit with revs, which allow much better gearing, while the 287hp Z is limited to 6500rpm, which handicaps it. The REAL story is, once again, POWER TO WEIGHT.

Wrong yet again. I know EXACTLY what I'm talking about from a physics perspective and from a personal experience perspective. I've done about 80 or so track days over the years and won 5 time trial championships. Not that that necessarily makes me an expert... But in these cases (knowledge of the physical world and actual track experience), I know what I'm talking about.

No, they were both competent drivers, at my level.

Well, I have passed a T1 Corvette at NHMS in a car with about half the torque (and power)!

Thanks for guessing on my level of experience and knowledge of physics.
Try again...