There's this guy around town who I've seen driving what seems like a stock 350z. It's a manual.
Everytime I see him on the road he turns away on purpose just to avoid me, but then the past four or five days it's kind of ironic - I went grocery shopping, came out and he's parked next to me. Went to Walmart or some other store... he's parked right next to me. Last night I'm getting some beer for my friends birthday... he's parked next to me. So next time this happens I'm thinking I'm just gunna wait for him and have a nice friendly convo and see if he wants to run 'em.

Now on PAPER he should walk away from me pretty easily since I've just got the very minor mods (listed in sig). But I've seen him driving it (and heard stories from a few other people around town) and I feel like I've definitely got the "better driver mod" on my side. But paper and the real world are totally separate... I killed my buddy in his modded '97 Mustang GT by a bus length or more - he's a bad driver.

So realistically what would be my best race against this guy? (Roll, dig, etc.?) I dont know much about the 350z's. What would be the probable outcome of the best case scenario of me being the better driver and me getting the race I want? I'm guessing it's him by a few cars as long as he doesn't miss a gear or something..?
Just curious on how well I will be able to "keep up" with him?

 

what kind of numbers are you putting down? it also depends on the year 350z too, i think your best chances would be against an 03-04 z. they make 287 hp, 05-06 was bumped up to 300, and 07-08 got the new hr engine, stock ones of this year have gone 13.1 @ 107-108. best race for you would probably be a dig, roll all years seem to pull pretty well.

 

97 GT's made nothing for power due to completely crappy heads, even with mods. Honestly, you'd have to be an insanely good driver, and he'd have to be an insanely horrible driver for you to even have a chance.

 

This.

Obviously to have any chance you need to go from a dig.

 

Sadly they called it already. Althought I dont know how a 97 GT got brought into the thread???

 

His 350Z is an older one, I believe the first year they brought them back is what year his is (2003??) Rumor has it that it has a salvaged title and he picked it up for pretty cheap.

I'm not really asking for how I can win this race - I'm more or less asking how much I will lose by... I dont want to embarrass myself if he's just gunna put ten cars on me. But if I can keep it a closer race then I'd be satisfied with that.

 

Wasn't there a huge thread about a 4.0 vs a Z a year or so ago, isn't that were the whole torque monster thing came from?


Anyways, from a dig you might be able to keep up for a little while, but he will quickly pull away from you up top

 

If you're worried about being embarrassed then I wouldn't even race him. If you went from a dig and he launched well and you only launch "ok" then you'll get raped pretty hard.

 

Regardless win or lose take it to the track! A little street fun is ok but very dangerous that said you might be surprised how close it can be, I'd say drivers race! One second 0-60 difference can be won with a better driver!

 

In order to say how much you will lose by, we need to know how far you are planning on running. In a full 1/4 mile from a dig, he ought to take you by 2-3 cars or so if he can drive OK. Anything past 100 mph will rapidly get uglier for you.