E30 vs E46

[PeaveyBassist]

lol cus everyone is slow for a while dave. No matter what they drive.

Will

[Dave]

QFT

Will

And you would know this, how?????

[PeaveyBassist]

If its your first event, both will be equally slow.

QFT

Will

[Andreas]

However, when we go to Gingerman, I expect my E30 to run a faster lap time than I did with the E46 because the straights are short and the corners more challenging (and the E30 will have a modded suspension and R-compounds).

Don't write off your E46 so easily. It is a much more modern car with much better handling. We played with a E90 330i a while back and the handling of that car was unbelievable.

I often race a guy with a modified Subaru. The corner and straight line speeds are equal but because my brakes are better, I can beat him by 2 sec over a short track (lap time is 1:13.1). Surely your E46's brakes are far superior to your E30 and give you 2-3 seconds. Then the acceleration is also in your 330's favour.

Now to catch up all of that lost time in corners is asking quite a lot.

[brandondan1]

I would take the e30 if you had a 5spd, but since you dont I'd go with the e46.

I get to drive my mom's e46 a lot, and I like the handling/braking...pretty refined, but u can still have some fun with it.

I'm also interested in how the CL-S does. I bet most of the people going "fwd sawkz yo!" have never even driven an acura.

[O 16581 72452 5]

I've spirited driven with one of the best FWD drivers in western pennsalvia in his Daily driver integra ( with the sportier engine, not sure of the name) on one of his twistie roads near his house. I almost shit my pants, he took it lightly too. He told me to hold on during this one section. We hit 100 and got air.. wow

so yeah if the driver is good then a FWD car can do some damage, but in the end RWD is better, he said so himself.

btw his track car is a double wishbone civic hatchback, not sure of the model.

All Civics after 1988 are double wishbone.

[Schneider325]

Full size FWD luxury vehicle is not the same as a double wishbone mid-nineties civic or integra, it's like comparing a new 745iL to an E30.

I've spirited driven with one of the best FWD drivers in western pennsalvia in his Daily driver integra ( with the sportier engine, not sure of the name) on one of his twistie roads near his house. I almost shit my pants, he took it lightly too. He told me to hold on during this one section. We hit 100 and got air.. wow

so yeah if the driver is good then a FWD car can do some damage, but in the end RWD is better, he said so himself.

btw his track car is a double wishbone civic hatchback, not sure of the model.

[cwsqbm]

I'm having a similar situation. For past couple years I've been using my E46 330Ci as a track car. I bought an E30 325i to turn into a track car (won't cry as much when I break something) and currently it still has the auto in it (manual is in the garage with all the parts needed to convert). With the auto, I wouldn't think of taking the E30 to the track - the lack of control would drive me nuts. However, come late April, I'll have the E30 all ready to go for our annual Road America DE adventure. I'm still thinking of taking the E46 because Road America lap times are more about straight line speed since the almost all the corners are simple and it has three straights where my E46 gets to 120mph. Right now, I'm 80% for the E30 because I don't want to chew up my new tires for the E46 and I don't have a dedicated track set for it anymore, although Road America isn't hard on tires, especially since its always so damn cold and/or wet when we are there.

However, when we go to Gingerman, I expect my E30 to run a faster lap time than I did with the E46 because the straights are short and the corners more challenging (and the E30 will have a modded suspension and R-compounds).

[joshh]

We want video....that's the only proof.

And your dad has more experiance than you at the track right??

[Eliminator]

Badge racing ftw! It is a fat pig of a luxury car. It will PLOW like a motherbitch.

I say take the E46. having an auto would drive me nuts on the track.

+1. The Acura is HEAVY, probably has a 60% front weight bias, and is riding on only 215's. Those front tires are going to take a severe beating. Plus, it's an automatic, which does not come equipped with the limited slip diff.

I think I'll take the E46, because of the manual trans, and also because it's a direct competitor to the Acura. It will be an apples-to-apples comparison. I'll keep you guys posted.

[O 16581 72452 5]

Badge racing ftw! It is a fat pig of a luxury car. It will PLOW like a motherbitch.

I say take the E46. having an auto would drive me nuts on the track.

It's kind of the "///M" of Acura. :roll:

Judging by your theory, the M6 must suck too, right?

[joshh]

I'm very curious how the CL does.

[2002maniac]

Considering the CL carries the Type-S badge, it can't be that bad of a handling car.

Badge racing ftw! It is a fat pig of a luxury car. It will PLOW like a motherbitch.

I say take the E46. having an auto would drive me nuts on the track.

[O 16581 72452 5]

I hate to do this but I agree.

FWD is all about the set up. If it matches the driver and the driver is a good one a FWD will be right there with the RWD all things being equal.
You can get any car to plow.
The Integra Type-R is argueable the best FWD car ever made in terms of it's overall performance. And it's great handling proves it.

.92 on the skidpad. :)

I'd love to drive one.

Considering the CL carries the Type-S badge, it can't be that bad of a handling car.

[Eliminator]

Ok, you obviously do not autocross. The rules do not change for the cars within a given class.
If FWD sucked that bad they wouldn't be using them in the touring car races.

I do autocross, and I'm well aware of autocross rules. In this thread we're talking about real driving on a road course, and I was referring to things like SCCA club racing or Grand AM Cup.

BACK ON TOPIC. I don't give a rat's arse about Civics and Integras and FWD. Start a new thread if you want to discuss that crap.