[quote=Ren]Like I said, it’s subjective, and you have to weigh every factor, not just weight. All else being equal, if one car is 50 pounds lighter than another, I’ll take it even if my butt dyno can’t tell the difference, but I CAN tell a 200 pound difference. One of the most fun cars I’ve ever owned was an ’87 924S, which didn’t make enough power to get out of its own way, but it excelled everywhere else. The example I gave with the Mini was just an exaggeration to show WHY I like certain cars more than others. Some people prefer a boat with gobs of torque – more power to them.[/quote]
You won’t get an argument from me that if all else being equal, I’d also take the one that’s lighter. However, it’s never the case that all else are equal. Here, you’re trading 200 lb for 100 HP. I test drove both the 330 and the G35 before I bought the G35. I couldn’t tell any difference in term of the handling. The G35 was I think 100lb heavier but I can’t tell and deficit in handling or feel, but I can tell the big HP difference. I’m a car enthusiast and I love both. I can appreciate the Corvette/Viper of the world as well as the Elise of the world. I think both type of cars are fun. They’re just different type of fun. If I get my way, I’d get both. What we have between the 328/G37 is much harder to distinguish in term of handling.
[quote=Ren]You’re right – the BMW will cost more to mod, because that’s how the BMW aftermarket is. (I am VERY impressed with the low-end torque of the new BMW turbo 4, btw.)
By “embarrass” I was actually aiming pretty cheap, as it wouldn’t be embarrassing to be beaten by another bimmer 🙂 … as in Cobalt SS or SRT-4. Those two by themselves make ridiculous amounts of power for very little. To give an example of a car that I am more familiar with (my wrong wheel drive daily driver):
’10-’12 Mazdaspeed 3 – $25k off the lot
$350 – Autotech high pressure fuel pump internals
$340 – Cobb intake/turbo inlet pipe
$500 – downpipe
$520 – Cobb Accessport (for tuning)
$120 – stiffer rear motor mount (to dampen the horrific torque steer and wheel hop)
That $1,800 results in somewhere just north of 300hp/350tq (up from 240/260) to the wheels and will easily stomp a 335 or G37. In fact, when you see a lowered MS3, it most likely has all that under the hood.[/quote]
You won’t get any argument from me here either. Those turbo 4s you mentioned (you forgot the WRX/STi/EVO) can easily make low 300WHP without much sweat. Like you mentioned, I don’t think you can mod a BMW like you can with those for two main reasons. 1. The market for modding a 328i/528i is much smaller than those other 4 bangers we just mentioned. Due to market size, you won’t have as many options and the options you get tend to be much more expensive. 2. Those engines are specifically designed for high power, so I would think they’re built much stronger than a 328/528 would (but that’s just a guess).
[quote=Ren]There are several MS3s with big turbos at over 500hp at the wheels. That’s a $1,500 kit plus the above bolt-ons, with completely stock block/pistons/cam/rods/etc. That’s a reliable (as long as you keep an eye on things), 2.3 liter 4-banger. Granted they’re useless in the rain 🙂
Visit the SRT-4 and Cobalt forums for other examples of even easier and more ridiculous power. Not that I would ever buy either one.[/quote]
I can see low 300WHP being reliable, but I’m very skeptical of a stock 4 banger being able to push over 500WHP on stock block & head. Even EVOs have to start getting head work to breath better and sleeves to strengthen the combustion chamber when you start to push around 400WHP. My idea of reliable is when you can take that car to the track, beat it up for a day, and still be able to drive home without much worries. A 4 bangers pushing 500WHP would also be quite peaky. The VQ is built quite strong as well. There are plenty of people pushing 700-800WHP on stock bottom end. Twin turbo of course.
[quote=Ren]Regardless, it’s a pointless argument, because my tastes are different than yours. My dream car is a Cayman R with a GT3 swap, not a Ferrari or Lambo. If I had a more understanding wife, I’d be driving a Dinan 335 right now, but until then, I keep up with a stock 335 (and G37, and 996) just fine.[/quote]
I don’t think your taste is that different than mine. I just have a broader range :-). Like I said earlier, I love both end of the spectrum and I think they are both fun, just different. I actually would take a Cayman R with a GT3 swap over a Ferrari/Lambo as well :-D, so we’re not that different. I actually would take one step further and say I would take a Elise+K20 fully built NA. Those K20 can push high 200WHP NA and be able to rev past 9k RPM. Combine that with a 1800lb car and it would be a lot more fun than a Cayman R + GT3 engine :-D. If you have a HP bug, you can always toss in a small turbo into the mix as well. A K20 with a small turbo can easily push mid 300WHP.
I used to have a decently modded Integra. I love the G35 when I first bought it, but after driving it for 8 years, I yearn for sub 3000lb cars again, preferably low 2000lb. Like the 328, my G is 3300-3400lb, they’re both still are pigs to me. A lighter pig, but still a pig. I won’t worry too much between 3400lb and 3600lb. Now, if you tell me, the 328i is 2800-2900lb, then I’d pick the 328i in a heart beat. Also remember, the 328i weight they’re quoting is for a car with no power or heated seat. Toss in a pair of powered heated seats and you can easily add about 100lb. Also, the 328i is riding on 18″ vs 19″ for the G. If you get the same set of 19″ rims, you’d probably add a few more pounds as well. My point is, the chassis weight is probably similar. You’re just getting more comfort and bling in the G, which is the major cause of that 200lb.
