914 vs. Z3 autocross?

[rfoulds]

A friend wants to try autocross and asked me how competitive his car will be. He has a 4 cylinder Z3, which will run in C-stock under SCCA, same as the 914 and Miata.

The Miata always kicked my butt in my 914-4 in stock class, but I don't recall any Z-3's out there. I know its heavier than the Miata, with about the same power. I assume brakes and suspension are adequate...

Anyone have any experience in or against this car??

[Bruce Allert]

I am surprised the Miata is more nimble than our 914's. I know there's a power difference but what about our cornering prowess?
bruce

[Doug M]

I used to get beat by those guys with my 1.8L until I put in the carbed 2.0L .It is est. 125HP. It is consistantly faster than the miatas, hondas, 944, Boxters (not S), and about = to a S2000.
It is amazing what 25 more HP will do for a 914
and it is a bunch more fun running with the faster guys at the high speed DE. Although I am PCA M1 class.
Doug

[Doug M]

I havnt seen any Z3,s run but I have seen a lot of M3,s. The M3 is a rocketship! After my first highspeed DE I dont autocross anymore but we do have a DE every month.

[J P Stein]

I've never run against a Z3.
There was an M coupe at the Rainbonnet AX......I like the look of those bread vans. He was pretty quick.....not quick enuff, tho

BTW, Jim Chambers redeemed hissef by beating the Yugo.

[anthony]

>>>>I used to get beat by those guys with my 1.8L until I put in the carbed 2.0L .It is est. 125HP. It is consistantly faster than the miatas, hondas, 944, Boxters (not S), and about = to a S2000.
<<<<


Do you mean equal in time around an autoX track? A 125 hp 914 certainly couldn't be equal in acceleration to a 240hp S2000.

[Hi_Fi_Guy]

That is the fun of Auto-X... I have seen S2000s beat Corvette z-06s and then watched an old school Mini beat 'em both.

Tons of Fun!

[Doug M]

Iwas talking track times.... the 914 makes it up in the corners.
Some of the high hp cars hit about 120mph in the strait when I only hit about 95. Our big track setup is about 3.5 mi and a Viper was clocked @ 148. Me 95.... I hit 5200 rpm in 5th before I have to brake... whatever that is in mph
Doug

[campbellcj]

I've never seen a Z3 out there, but I suspect its weight and understeer would hurt it.

The ///M Coupe and ///M Roadster on the other hand is a little rocket. Better suspension, bigger brakes and tires, and significantly more power (240hp with the USA E36 engine, 321hp with the euro E36 engine, and I think 333hp with the E46 engine).

Of course the M cars should not be classed with 4-cyl 914s

[rfoulds]

Is the Z3 known for understeer? I wouldn't have guesed that...

[campbellcj]

Originally posted by rfoulds
Is the Z3 known for understeer? I wouldn't have guesed that...

Not particularly, but pretty much all new cars are designed to understeer. And I figure it is a front-heavy car. The BMW M cars are tuned a bit more neutral I think (different springs, swaybars and shocks than the regular models).

[rich]

In my oppinion BMW's are all detuned versions of the their race cars. They are true drivers cars. I've owned several and currently own a modified E12 1977 530I.
I think the Z3 could be fun. By doing the walk-around you'd think it would handle like an old british roadster. Try one, I think you'll be pleasantly suprised. My experience is limited to a couple of test drives. But I was impressed with the handling. It's kind of a point and squirt feel. Very different from the teener.

[anthony]

I think I read that the M Roadster has a near perfect 50/50 weight distribution.

[3D914]

I remember going up against a Z3 some time back. I was going up the steep mountains heading back into Phoenix from Payson. I'm not sure if it was a 6 or a 4, but I just walked away from it until I hit over 100, and I think he gave up.

PS: I wasn't driving my 914. This was in my 72 Taurus wagon with the 3.8L -six. Ohhhh the shame of it.

[mskala]

Originally posted by rfoulds
A friend wants to try autocross and asked me how competitive his car will be. He has a 4 cylinder Z3, which will run in C-stock under SCCA, same as the 914 and Miata.

Randy,
Last year I went against a z3 coupe in our PCA autocross, with the same tires. I think he had 190hp to 110hp for my 914-6. I was still setting up the car and learning how to autocross, I don't know how much more experience he had than me, the car seemed stock. I was about 2 seconds faster two days, and about 1 second slower one day. This year he had a 996 so end of comparison.
Mark S.
'70 914-6

[david c.]

For what it's worth, I autocrossed my mothers (!) Z3 2.8 last summer when my 912E was still undergoing suspension surgery. Her car is an automatic with all season General XP tires and is completely stock. I turned off the traction control, held it in second gear and ended up with second place in the combined A Stock and B Stock classes (mine was the only B Stock car there that day so they stuck me in A Stock).

Anyway, the Z3 is fun to autocross. I don't know about the four cylinder, but the 2.8 has enough grunt to rotate with the gas pedal. These cars feel subjectively light in the rear. I don't recall any terminal understeer. I had a good time, but I would much rather run a Porsche.

[Will98D]

"72 Taurus wagon"? You must have had an early prototype, as I think they came out in 1986. Drove the M-Coupe once for an hour, and I don't see how it wouldn't just kill my 914, but mine is bone stock with skinny tires.

[J P Stein]

Originally posted by Will98D
[BDrove the M-Coupe once for an hour, and I don't see how it wouldn't just kill my 914, but mine is bone stock with skinny tires. [/B]

Heh,heh
Mine isn't.
I'm not all that shiney a driver....I've had that point hammered home enuff to know. The gap would have been wider with a competent pilot.

[3D914]

Will98D.

You're quite right! I'm stuck here in the 70's now with all this 914 stuff. Actually it was a 92 Taurus. You guys don't miss a beat. Of course "spell checker" would have never caught that.

Enjoy!