Craig,

The course they did was a road course set up with a 1/4 mile aceleration test at the begining transitioning into series of turns with a chicane and then shooting down the back stretch with a speed run culminating in a 100mph+ to zero brake test. This was not a dragstrip run only type of deal.

 

I really don't think it's a case of "mullet ignorance".

Read the article. The tuners could run any set up they wanted. The only restraints put on the tuners by C&D are street legal mods and street legal tires.

It was a test of accelleration, handling, and braking. All facets of a good performance car. The fact is, a stock Z06 beat the best the tuners could throw out by two seconds.

You are right, a car can be built to accomplish most any task well. I think the purpose of the article was to find the best balanced car. Hell, if I had a big enough bankroll, I would be down at the Nissan dealer now buying a 350Z and figuring out how to get a turbo on that puppy.

Scott - way to stir the pot.

 

Put a "4-banger" Escort Cossie on the track, bump up the stock turbo a notch and some electronics, and see who wins You can get one imported and US legal for about 25-30k or less Now that would be a competition!

$$

 

Sounds like fun actually. If my car were to compete, I would hope there would be lots of runoff room for that 100-0 braking test. Wheeeeee!

 

I don't think any of the cars in that article would be classified as affordable.

 

I have not read the article you are referring to, but it's been my experience that the major car mags have a habit of picking some of the least economical "tuner cars" in existence. Most of the tuner cars they feature are grossly overpriced and under-impressive. The souped-up marauder that was featured in a few mags a while back, that had 17000 dollars of mods, is a good example. And most of that is just a reflection of the tuners' ridiculous markup- on the marauder, an autometer boost gauge that would go for 60 dollars on any parts website was a $300+ addition to the package. :o

Even if the tuner cars didn't cost 5-15k more, putting fwd four-bangers up against an '03 cobra just isn't fair. It's like an 03 cobra/corvette comparo, it's just not fair to the vette! Similar price disadvantage, too...

 

Here's another sick "4-banger" ehehe

http://www.cardomain.com/id/mr_cosworth

 

in my case. being 16, i could either buy a brand new four banger with low insurance, or an older faster v8 car, with hella insurance, (and when i turned 18 it was a newer v8 car with even more insurance) and in the end i perfered paying $130/mo in isurance instead of $300-$600/mo for the faster car. this gave me time, and money to put into the car each month. i now own a $30,000 (including the price of the car..) escort. it'll easily rip off a low 14 with a new clutch. and it's only maken between 150-160hp right now (will confirm that soon as i hit the dyno) after my shot and close ratio tranny, i'll be in the mid 13s easy... in a ford escort. to me its been the fun of it. the car is an absolute blast to drive. granted it sounds like ASS lol. IMO that is very impressive for a lil econobox. and i'll tell you now, any rumors about hooked up econbox's getting 30mph and shit... is just shit. i garentee i dont get over 25mpg in the city. it's more around 20 or so. even on the highway gas milage is still horrid. so i'm done rambling now.
g'day sirs
~Tim

 

The insurance argument is bunk. My insurance is 50 dollars less a month for the laser compared to the accord, 210 compared to 260. 50 dollars less a month for a two door sports car that's only 70 hp up on the accord and 2-3 seconds down on the 1/4 mile time.