E46 vs. IS300 vs. 350z v. G35

Looking at early to mid 2000s RWD cars as possible new platforms for reliability/parts availability. Please discuss pros and cons of above vehicles. Extra credit: comment on Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

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"Talk about drugs. Driving a car like that, going that fast, it’s like all the drugs at once." - Tommy Byrne

"Now, Pinky, if by any chance you are captured during this mission, remember you are Gunther Heindriksen from Appenzell. You moved to Grindelwald to drive the cog train to Murren. Can you repeat that?" - The Brain

Aren't 350Z and G35 the same chassis?
IS300 are limited suspension travel. I think Tim Taylor evaluated one seriously.

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Grant Hughes

Yes to the nissans. Tim did, but was not in depth and I don't know enough about suspension to evaluate the IS300. It does make good power and at least one is being rallied in Finland under IS/RS200 guise.

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"Talk about drugs. Driving a car like that, going that fast, it’s like all the drugs at once." - Tommy Byrne

"Now, Pinky, if by any chance you are captured during this mission, remember you are Gunther Heindriksen from Appenzell. You moved to Grindelwald to drive the cog train to Murren. Can you repeat that?" - The Brain

I'm sure it'd be fine on smoother rallies. Harder on SW or rougher ones.

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Grant Hughes

Genesis Coupe - simple suspension, very very large car with small interior, having a cage in there would suck

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Pete Remner
Cleveland, Ohio

1984 RX-7 (rallycross thing)
1978
Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.

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Pete
Genesis Coupe - simple suspension, very very large car with small interior, having a cage in there would suck

Why is this? I've sat in the BRZ thing, the Genesis, and the 350Z and thought the same thing. Less space then my old MR2 in a car nearly twice the size...

I've always assumed some of it has to do with every pillar having an airbag.

These are main things I ask:
Gearing - decent or silly? Any options to improve? Differentials?
Suspension - Can support increased travel? Adjustability to correct camber when increasing ride height? Design? Stength?

The biggest downside I see in all of these cars is complexity that comes with being a luxury brand, especially when it comes to electrical/wiring.

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Grant Hughes

If you are looking at a genesis then you should add a mustang to your list. What about other rwd cars from this generation. RX-8, Merc C-class(which also came in a small hatchback).

IS300 has very limited production with a manual transmission. It took them a couple of years to bring the manual over here. It it a modern toyota so general reliability should be good.

E46 is a CAN BUS car so that can make wiring more challenging than older cars. Not that it is impossible just adds a layer of complexity that some people don't want to to take on. But it is a BMW so should have good aftermarket support.

Nissan cars are similar architecture but they stretched the car to make room for back seats in the Infiniti. Nissan is 104.3 inches. G35 coupe is 112.2 inches.

Are their brake options for these cars that will fit under 15" wheels? Or are you going to be forced into creating custom brakes.

I think the E46 would be my option. Tons of aftermarket and plenty of then being raced, so there's plenty of data and soliutions already figured out. As Andrew mentioned, its a CAN BUS car but its all been figured out already, CAN BUS to Analog and OBDII links all over the net.

I owned an E46 M3 for 7 years and was super reliable and a strong. And the stock suspension even had more wheel travel than my current rally car!

The 350Z also has very good aftermarket and tooner following, so there will be plenty of knowledge out there.

Did they sell the E46 compact here? That would be the car to have IMO.

One of the issues with the E46 is that there are no good/cheap differnetials or limited slips available without swapping in the entire E46-M3 rear subframe.

The easiest way to get a limited slip (and better diff mounting) is to swap to the E36-M3 differential and build custom mounting ears off the existing subframe. We do this with both the BMW and soon with the Ford 8.8 IRS diff. The Ford parts have cheap ratios and LSDs available.

The E46 also has a weak tub where the rear subframe mounts. That's usually not an issue as it can be corrected easily when prepped for track or rally use. But if not reinforced, it can rip the floor out.

The electrics are a generation ahead of the E46, which is great if you are going to do a high-dollar track build and will be integrating a lot of stuff, but they suck for rally and in-the-field repairs. My recomendation is to completely strip everything excep the wiper controls and rewire the car with simple point-to-point wiring. Run the engine off an aftermarket ECU.

Other than those things, I much prefer the E46 chassis over the E36 for competition. The added track, better engine position, and (for track use) ability to swallow wider tires and slicker aero are great.

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Jason McDaniel

Pretty sure the nitro circus RX-8 did terribly.

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Jason, out of curiosity what is the typical race weight with a cage for the E46 chassis?

Is there a good 15" wheel brake option?

E46 M3's in Grand Am were 3075lbs race weight but there it was a NASCAR rulebook and the SCCA clubie guys had them down to mid 2700's at the runoffs. I'm sure the non M3's will be very similar weights.

15" brakes will be either stock non M3 or upgraded caliper and disc, similar to what I got for Derick Nelson's car.

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Cosworth
E46 M3's in Grand Am were 3075lbs race weight but there it was a NASCAR rulebook and the SCCA clubie guys had them down to mid 2700's at the runoffs. I'm sure the non M3's will be very similar weights.

15" brakes will be either stock non M3 or upgraded caliper and disc, similar to what I got for Derick Nelson's car.

2700 lbs and 250 hp
sounds Pretty good.

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"Talk about drugs. Driving a car like that, going that fast, it’s like all the drugs at once." - Tommy Byrne

"Now, Pinky, if by any chance you are captured during this mission, remember you are Gunther Heindriksen from Appenzell. You moved to Grindelwald to drive the cog train to Murren. Can you repeat that?" - The Brain

2500 and 450 sounds better. E36 compact with ls2...

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Grant Hughes