View Poll Results: Drag strip gunner or Road Course runner?
I demand 500 plus horsepower, regardless of weight.
8
7.02%
I prefer a road course carver, even if it means giving the GT500 horsepower bragging rights.
73
64.04%
I want to keep my fantasy that a 500+ hp 4 seater Camaro should & will weigh 3200 pounds
33
28.95%
Voters: 114. You may not vote on this poll
Super Camaro. Heavy drag racer or modest weight track carver.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,705
From: Oakland, California
The poll seems to be missing a choice: "I'm tired of power and weight mental masturbation exercises".
I'd probably be happier with a 400 HP car that weighs in under 3500 lbs than I would be with a 500 HP car that's 4000 lbs, but we all know that it's a lot easier - and cheaper - to make more power than it is to cut weight. That being said, a well-balanced 500+ HP two-ton car would probably be rather enjoyable to drive.
I have a sneaking suspicion that most drivers - even those who think they are particularly "aware" - can't feel a couple hundred pounds of difference in weight without being told about it. Perception trumps reality in this situation.
I'd probably be happier with a 400 HP car that weighs in under 3500 lbs than I would be with a 500 HP car that's 4000 lbs, but we all know that it's a lot easier - and cheaper - to make more power than it is to cut weight. That being said, a well-balanced 500+ HP two-ton car would probably be rather enjoyable to drive.
I have a sneaking suspicion that most drivers - even those who think they are particularly "aware" - can't feel a couple hundred pounds of difference in weight without being told about it. Perception trumps reality in this situation.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,176
From: Chicagoland IL
It takes some pretty good developement and tuning magic to make a car feel a couple of hundred pounds lighter than it really is. Imagine how much better a car would feel like if it actually were a couple of hundred pounds lighter.
Lounge Moderator
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 357
From: Mi Scusi!
Is the weight savings with option 2 really that negligible to where it can't keep up with the porky 500? 
My choice is still option 2. Sometimes I worry that all the input from the board will produce "The Homermobile."
My choice is still option 2. Sometimes I worry that all the input from the board will produce "The Homermobile."
Registered User
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,947
From: Springfield,OH. U.S.A.
Like we've talked about in other threads, I'm not so worried about "Peak" numbers, give me a strong, broad power curve at a reasonable weight.
Bringing that motor up to 500hp once home shouldn't be that much of a task, if so desired, eliminating 500-600 pounds on ther other hand..
Bringing that motor up to 500hp once home shouldn't be that much of a task, if so desired, eliminating 500-600 pounds on ther other hand..
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,400
From: Michigan's left coast
Now, put a stopwatch on it at the dragstrip, and the difference can become damn obvious, but that's contrary to the premise of this thread.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,176
From: Chicagoland IL
If we're just talking about "feel" (i.e. we're not bringing out the stopwatches), a couple hundred pounds is simply not a big deal on a car that weighs in around 3500-4000 lbs. You can even put a stopwatch on the average street car with an average enthusiast driver at the average autocross (something where there aren't any straightaways of significance), and the difference isn't really that pronouced.
Now, put a stopwatch on it at the dragstrip, and the difference can become damn obvious, but that's contrary to the premise of this thread.
Now, put a stopwatch on it at the dragstrip, and the difference can become damn obvious, but that's contrary to the premise of this thread.
Next time you go, get a good lap in and then take a second lap with your buddy riding shotgun. I'd bet you'd go faster without him.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,802
From: Annapolis MD
Since you asked, YES! Ive got the driving record to prove it too. Hell I probably wouldnt be driving if the cop had shown up last February. God bless him! Your logic makes no sense to me. To put it to the extreeme, would you rather drive a dragster or a ferrari to work? Personally Id take the Ferrari every time...
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,705
From: Oakland, California
Personally I want the Camaro to be king of the domestic 2+2 RWD V8s. That means it must outperform the Mustang and Challenger across the board. This doesn't have to be on every level of Camaro. However, the top dog whatchamacallit needs to do just that.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,400
From: Michigan's left coast
I'd love to see a properly-run A/B/X comparo between two otherwise identical cars, one weighing in at 3500 lbs, the other at 3700 lbs. The vast majority of drivers would never notice the difference in "feel" and performance.
I'm still an advocate of light weight, though, so please don't take my comments the wrong way.
West South Central Moderator
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,371
From: Kilgore TX 75662
Eric, I've seen examples where people had a passenger ride with them during an autocross and they went faster despite weighing more. The extra passenger helped to balance out the side to side weight.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 757
If the market will support it, I'd like to have both cars in the form of Z/28 and SS. The Z/28 would be the balanced driver's car, the SS a drag strip warrior.
If there's only room for one, let's have the Z/28 style car.
If there's only room for one, let's have the Z/28 style car.