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November 18, 2002
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Currently playing: The Cure - Purple Haze
Andi made an interesting observation last night when I was talking to him about the new 350Z.
It's that... why isn't it FAST? Two years ago, a 5.8 0-60 and a 14.0 @ 100mph (or close) might be fast. A 5.6 0-60 and 14.0 @ 103mph might be fast.
Hell, by today's standards those are very respectable numbers. But... today's cars have also gotten faster.
The Dodge Neon SRT-4 ($20,000), the Subaru WRX ($24,000)... hell, even the boring family sedans with room for five (Nissan Altima 3.5SE and Nissan Maxima SE, around $25,000), as well as the uber-boring Honda Accord EX V6 coupe too) are all running stock 14 second quarter mile times for less money than many sports cars, such as the 350Z and Porsche Boxster S. All of the cars in this paragraph should run mid-14 quarter miles, stock, and we have plenty of track evidence of the 255hp 6-speed Maxima and other cars here doing 14.1's and 14.2's in the quarter mile, stock.
That's a 0.1 or 0.2, or 0.3 second difference between a "sports car" and a "family sedan." What's wrong with this picture?
Sadly, probably alot, at least as far as enthusiasts are concerned. Granted the 350Z Enthusiast is only $27k or so, not much more than a Maxima or Accord, but where's the performance? Of course it'll out-handle and out-brake the family sedans, but with 32hp and 28lb-ft more than a Maxima SE 6-speed, and ~75lb less weight, why is it not any faster?...?!?!
Posted by brian at November 18, 2002 12:22 AM