NISMO: R-tune .vs. Z-tune

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NISMO is one of the best "tuner" companies in the game.

The R34 R-tune and the Z33 Z-tune are great cars.
However, only one can be king of the NISMOs. :D
What do you think the best car is between those two?

Stock numbers:
385hp/ 1250kg Z-tune
452hp/ 1560kg R-tune

IMO, based on arcade racing (with full quick tune)...

The R-tune handles better but the extra weight keeps the power from over-whelming the competition.

The Z-tune on the other hand, seems to have slight understeer but because of the weight the PWR is better than the R34's.

The question is...
Which NISMO is the best and does either one stand a chance at taking the top spot away from the competition given by other cars like the BMW M3 GTR?

Thanks for your input. :bowdown:
I love racing both of these cars and couldn't help but make a thread to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of both. :dopey:
 
For stock, I'd say the Z-tune. 300kg doesn't justify the extra 70hp. But then again it depends on the track.

On fast courses, like Sarthe or the Test Course, the Skyline will out run the Z, but not by a whole lot. On other circuits, the Z will take the crown, since it's weight lets it go faster and easier around corners. And it doesn't have 4WD making it understeer.

Just my
twocents.gif
.
 
Hmm... I would go with the Skyline. The extra power comes in handy on straights and the extra weight adds stability and the 4WD would help it be quicker off the line not that would be much use in a longer race but thats still an advantage.
 
Slick Rick
Hmm... I would go with the Skyline. The extra power comes in handy on straights and the extra weight adds stability and the 4WD would help it be quicker off the line not that would be much use in a longer race but thats still an advantage.
Click to expand...

While I would agree that the extra power (subject to gearing) would allow a higher top speed and the four wheel drive would give a slight boost off the line (better hope its not a rolling start), I have to take a small amount of issue with the weight comment.

While the additional weight (300+ kilos is a lot) may aid straight line stability at speed, it hammers a car around bends, particularly in transient situation that require rapid changes of direction (such as a chicane).

The problem is quite simply that more weight = more weight to transfer, which will upset the balance of the car and 300 kilos is a hell of a lot more weight.

The Z also has a better power to weight ratio:

Z-tune = 308 bhp per tonne
R-tune = 289 bhp per tonne

This would help even out any advantage out of a corner that the four wheel drive R-tune would have.

As Duck said on a course with very long straights the R-tune would have the edge (subject to gearing) but around a tighter course my money would be on the Z-tune. Of course all of the above would very much depend on the driver in question.

Regards

Scaff
 
The NiSMO R-Tune also has consistently more tire wear on the fronts due to it's 4WD system. I also don't like te understeer the R-Tune has that the Z-Tune is utterly devoid of.
 
.Duck.
For stock, I'd say the Z-tune. 300kg doesn't justify the extra 70hp. But then again it depends on the track.

On fast courses, like Sarthe or the Test Course, the Skyline will out run the Z, but not by a whole lot. On other circuits, the Z will take the crown, since it's weight lets it go faster and easier around corners. And it doesn't have 4WD making it understeer.

Just my
twocents.gif
.
Click to expand...

You may be right about the 70hp for 300kg.

However, before you guess about the understeer on the 4wd, I suggest a nice test or two. ;)

I've run both of these at the Ring and found no end, but I have found that the R-tune's handling is better than the Z-tune's. :scared:
That's no joke either...

That same subject is the reason for my indecision about which car is superior.

Using the thought process that 4wd creates oversteer is best (most of the time).
However, this Skyline handles so well that it seems like a RWD.
Also, the weight doesn't seem to slow it down in most of the situations you would expect.

The main problem I see in evaluating these two is finding an end to their potential. :mischievous:
For each of us it will be different, I can run both of these into sub-7 minute times at the Ring (arcade car).
However, I am sure the top dogs of the WRS could run them down into the low 6'50s.

So assuming we reach the limits of both cars...
Will the handling and power of the R-tune out preform the weight and power of the Z-tune?

Btw, I think you guys really need to go test both of these in arcade mode at stock or full quick tune. 👍

I promise you will be suprised by how much the Z understeers and how little the R34 oversteers.

Also, as soon as I finish laps at the ring in both of them I will post the times. Should be later tonight when I get those up... I can't wait to start racing! :dopey:
 
I would say the R-Tune. I care alot more about handling and car stability more than the horsepower. A couple of reasons why is it has good grip, stability, and doesn't understeer alot...And plus of its sexy-hard-core body. You just got to love these Skylines! Just my 5 cents 👍
 
Well....

I'm entirely for the R-tune.

The Skyline has got more power than the 350, and it's more stable in places, too.
The 350 is lighter, thus making it a little easier on tight little courses to tame.

IMO it all depends on the driver & course of choice.
 
I'd hit the 350z, mainly because I like to get it loose sometimes, but if you drive it correctly, it won't oversteer. And, I think the R34's back is butt ugly (somewhat of a pun.), though I'm okay with R32s and R33s. And, I like RWD better than AWD.
 
the R-tune will easly keep up with the Z on any track, the R34 will come out of the corners much fast then the Z will, even tho the Z will do it quicker, but all the extra power comes in handy when comeing out of the corners. also it really depends on the driver, but if there evenly good, it's all so hard to tell.
 
I'll run some laps in the two later today and give a little review and some times. I'll run Nurburgring, Infineon, and Cote d' Azur. Times will be from GT mode, completely stock, no aids, and S3s.
 
I believe the R-tune does use that ateesa system (or whatever it's called :P ).
Surely handles like it does... I still don't see why people are talking like the skyline understeers. :lol:

Also, one thing I haven't seen anyone mention is the braking power of these two.

The R-tune easily wins that battle (even with its heavy weight).

On a side note,
I don't think my R-tune is in stock form anymore so a GT mode (stock) comparison might be out of the question for me. :(
Of course, I can always buy a new one! :D

Anyway, I'll be back a little later on to see what you all are thinking as well as to see any test results.

Until then I will have some fun with the time trials I setup recently (otherwise I would run these two on the ring aiming at sub-7 minute laps in arcade mode. :D).
 
People complain about how the Skyline handles because they can't drive it like a FR or a traditional 4WD like a WRX or Evo. A Skyline has to be driven like a Skyline.
 
Well I've taken the time to finish another lap on the Ring with the Z-tune.

6'59.1??

Oddly, I have noticed that the oversteer of the R-tune, although you would think it helps, actually hurts compared to the slight understeer of the Z-tune.

I've also found that the brakes aren't bad at all (although I don't think they are as good as the R-tune's, I do think they are better than I gave them credit for previously).

The most suprising thing about the Z-tune lap was how well the power delivery went... It pretty much kept up with the Skyline everywhere.
That is, except for on the longer straights, where guess what? The Z-tune's 5th gear actually seemed to pull a little better!

Of course, the biggest problem with something like this is getting great laps in BOTH cars. :rolleyes:
I ran a good lap in the Z-tune, I have a feeling the R-tune lap wasn't very good (just based on racing the ghost I have to say the R-tune was all over the place).

So with that in mind, it's hard to say the gearing on the Z helped 5th gear compared to the R-tune since the R-tune might not have been on a good corner exit (probably wasn't :( ).

I suppose this means I've gotta run back to the track and do another R-tune lap. :dopey:
Back with results later,
Till then,
-
 
Master_Yoda
the R-tune will easly keep up with the Z on any track, the R34 will come out of the corners much fast then the Z will, even tho the Z will do it quicker, but all the extra power comes in handy when comeing out of the corners. also it really depends on the driver, but if there evenly good, it's all so hard to tell.
Click to expand...

can you explain?
 
Gave them both a try on the ring. Stock, no oil-change.
R-tune: Good handling, precice. Good brakes. Well balanced. Top speed on final long stretch ~263 km/h. Lap 7:19

Z-tune: Lesser handling, understeer, lesser brakes than the R-tune. More direct feel of throttle-response/acceleration. Top speed ~270km/h. Lap: 7:21


Thumbs up for the R-tune, but the Z-tune is more challenging to drive, and thus more fun?? See for yourselves to make up your own minds.
 
hispeed
Gave them both a try on the ring. Stock, no oil-change.
R-tune: Good handling, precice. Good brakes. Well balanced. Top speed on final long stretch ~263 km/h. Lap 7:19

Z-tune: Lesser handling, understeer, lesser brakes than the R-tune. More direct feel of throttle-response/acceleration. Top speed ~270km/h. Lap: 7:21


Thumbs up for the R-tune, but the Z-tune is more challenging to drive, and thus more fun?? See for yourselves to make up your own minds.
Click to expand...

Now that's what I'm talking about. 👍
Very good work (although I say that with more pride than should be, for it does support my own conclusions). :guilty: :P

I plan on making an R-tune run this afternoon, problem is, I run a ton of stuff in arcade mode and not GT mode... Looks like it's time to shift gears and try something new then huh? :D :lol:

Back later on.
Till then,
-
 
Curiosity got the best of me last night, so I bought both cars.

I am a large fan of the Skyline. Its one of the cars that I have been obsessing over lately. (The ’98 Lotus SE’s are my other OCD car) I’m pretty sure that I own 1 of each color for the ’99 GTR V-Spec’s available from the used car lot. I have built a couple of them, the rest are just sitting stock for now. My favorite one (in black fully built) managed to pull a sub 7 minute on the ring (6:44) and a respectable 1:06 at Midway. Not bad for average driving skills. As far as the Z’s go. I may be own 3 at the most. 1 stock 350Z if I remember right.

Getting back to the point, I decided to put both cars to the test on my stock track to see how they compared. When I purchase a car, non-racing, I take it to Seattle for initial testing. With the elevation changes, straight always and turning sections, it gives me a good idea on how a car will behave before building it. New cars receive an oil change, and used ones receive and oil change and a frame refresh (just to keep it even with the new cars.) and then its off to the track..

First up was the Nissan Z. First lap was used just to feel out the car. The second lap was used to push the car to its limits. It was quick and light through the corners, stable on the straights, and in general kept a good amount of speed through out the entire course. Final time on the push lap was 1:43xx. Taking the top spot in the top 10. I was pretty impressed to say the least. So now it’s off to grab the Skyline.

Because of working with Skylines over the last couple weeks, I figured that I would feel more comfortable on the track that I had been with the Nissan Z. But in all honesty, I felt like I was fighting the car the entire length of the lap. The hairpin at the end of the first straight, I felt like I was riding the brakes more than normal to keep it from sliding into the wall. On the up hill section the car felt like it was struggling to accelerate. The rest of that first lap wasn’t much better. Then came the push lap. The first couple corners were about the same, I was a little ahead of the ghost car until the end of the up fill section. I misjudged the turn and bounced off the wall, letting the ghost pass me. And the rest was down hill from there. I ended up ending the trial because of too many errors made in haste. Driver error, or car error , we weren’t working well together at this moment.

Final results from Seattle:
Z – 1:43
GTR + :03

In my next set of trials the cars will be fully built and scored at a best of 3 at the following courses. The Ring, Midway and Infineon Raceway. Same scenario.
1 practice, 1 push. I’m hoping to complete this by this Tuesday.
 
This was a good comparison. The other interesting part is the differences between the NA and turbo powerbands. The R-Tune probably has quite a bit more torque, so that explains how it might feel faster.

Of course, I found a way out fo the dilemma on which car to choose. I went with neither. I chose the R34 Z-Tune. Just made my own using a silver R34 V-Spec Nur as a base. :sly:
 
I think I would take the R34....I can't say I love the Fairlady, it looks nice but not special enough for me, maybe because I see them pretty often.....I've never seen a Skyline in real life, so the R34-Nismo takes it for me !!

PS: No, i'm no fanboy don't get me wrong, but after all comparisons, tests and so on, the Z ist just not special enough....
 
Well ok then... I have driven both the Z-tune and the R34. I dont know why the Nismo R32 wasnt part of this battle but thats another story...

Here is what I thought. The 350Z handles better. The naturaly asperated V6 has a nice feel to it. It is a very good car. The R34 however is not far behind the 350Z in handling though. It understeers slightly more but its no trouble really. The turbo inline 6 feels MUCH BETTER then the V6 however. If the Skyline had a slightly shorter gear ratio it would be a much much faster car then the 350Z. It is a hard choice as to witch I would prefer. Both cars are very close in times...

Times:

I did only 2 laps in the 350Z. I didnt think there was much since in doing more laps just to pick up a few extra tenths which are probably there. My time in sim mode was 7'25.700. This is stock without and oil change and NO driving aids. Only thing I did was set it up.

The skyline was the same way. no driving aids, no oil change, totaly stock with just a quick tune for me driving style. I put in 5 laps in this car because I had a hard time getting a clean lap in and in my hands I think there is another full second in the car. The time was 7'26.578.

Overall the cars are VERY close in total time but they are very different cars with very different personalitys. It is a tough call as to my personal favorite.

But, I must say, even though its not the best looking of the two, I pick the R34 due to its turbo engine. It just feels stronger then the N/A motor in the other car. If only the R34 was the same color...
 
Well I went and brought these 2 cars so I could go have a run with them, after looking at them I thought to myself that the Skyline would easily be the fastest.

So I went to Trial Mountain to see the lap times, it's a track thats got it all in my opinion, a nice long back straight, alot of corners that require a good car to navigate through them comfortably.

So I jumped into the Skyline and off I went, 1,2,3 gear all seemed good, some nice accelleration, but when it hit 4th,5th gear it just about dies in the arse, I mean it has the acceleration of standard family car when it comes to those gears. Anyway I could not get this car to flow through the course and after 5 laps I managed to set a 1'35.200.

Now the Z, well it's lighter, less powerful but has more pull than the skyline IMO. From the outset I had this thing floating around the course, corners became a breeze and the back straight was smooth as. Brakes worse than the Skyline so I had to brake a tad earlier. The way this car handled the course was great and I loved it, in my first lap I managed to beat the skyline with a 1'33.077.

Drag Strip Times

Z-Tune: 12.784 Seconds.
Skyline: 12.395 Seconds.

Ok so the first 3 gears gets the skyline moving up there quicker than the Z, but there very tight.

So in conclusion, IMO the Z wins as the more all round better car.

Edit: Both cars were brought fresh with no changes what so ever, I brought them and dumped them on trial mountian and the drag strip straight away, no tuning or parts added.
 

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