0-60 times with ColdSide

[nelly1]

What can I expect to see as far as 0-60 times. I have a "95" and hoping for 5 sec. or under. With the proper suspension setup can this car keep up with a Lotis Elise? I bought a coldside several months ago and haven't installed it yet ( winter project as I live in Minnesota). I want to replace the clutch with a HD unite and replace the suspension. I don't know if a lightened flywheel would be appropriate with the coldside, from what I have read stock is good, any thoughts on this? I was thinking I would go with the Tein Flex coilovers. It seems they are a well excepted upgrade. I plan on doing some autocossing

comments on this? Alan

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

0-60 times should be in the 5 second range.

The Lotus has less power but a lot less weight. I don't know the answer to that one?

I have the Fidanza light flywheel and it is great on the track but a nuissance on the street. Especially in heavy stop and go traffic. If I had it to do over, I would use the stock flywheel. Just get it faced and balanced with the new pressure plate.

Those are great coilovers. I think you will find quite a few people here that use them.

[tann3r]

Where are you trying to keep up with an elise? At my local track, instructor driven elises are turning 2:00.xx laps. I'm far from instructor level and my best is a 2:05.02. Hopefully if the weather cooperates this weekend I'll have a new best lap.

Given equal drivers and tires, i think they are a pretty close match.

ps. I'm currently running Tien basics (7/6), 1.125 RB FSB, and 15x8 6UL's w/ 225/45 RA1's. oh and a FFS of course.

[FormerDatsun510Man]

I think Colin makes some very good points. It really depends where you are going to try to be faster. Take a look at this data panel for the Lotus Elise, courtesy of R&T:

http://www.roadandtrack.com/assets/download/0408_elise_panel.pdf

It does 0-60 in a blistering 4.7 sec, yet it is "only" doing 101mph in the 1/4 mile. This gives us a clue to the great off the line traction that only a mid or rear engine car can give when limited to street or street-type tires (i.e. non drag tires). In contrast, my '00 Miata running 220rwhp with a Hotside MP62 managed 13.3@109mph. So from my perspective it took about 220rwhp to just barely edge out the Elise in the 1/4 mile. Yet, my mph was 8mph higher which is a very big difference in terms of mid and high mph acceleration. That tells me that my Miata was not doing 0-60mph in 4.7 sec :). If I had to guess it would be in the mid 5s somewhere. 0-60mph, I don't think a Coldside with 200rwhp would be any slower... nor do I think a Turbo with 300rwhp would be any faster. Traction is the problem there and 200rwhp is plenty to make traction an issue off the line. In fact, I think it is a pretty nice power level to be at, that does not overpower the Miata chassis nor break things (unless you put drag radials on).

There was an Elise at a recent track day and I found my Miata had similar acceleration on the long straights. Honestly though we didn't stay close enough to really make a good comparison. My Miata admittedly had slower lap times, perhaps partly it was the driver :), but I think it also had a lot to do with the fact that I was running stock size street tires and a worn stock suspension. Next time out I will be better prepared.

My points are these:

1) Yes, 200rwhp is enough to make the Miata similarly fast at a road course or autox track provided you have suspension and tire upgrades to go with it

2) Yes, 200rwhp is enough to have an aweful lot of fun with street encounters at the stop light. Driven well, there are few cars that will beat you at the stop light grand prix.

3) Dragstrip really isn't where the Miata shines... though it can still be fun for the same reason that #2 is fun. With 200rwhp, you can surprise a lot of cars at the dragstrip. However, the generation growing up now isn't quite as ignorant of the performance of imports :) since modified turbo 4s are becoming quite common with them.

Bill

[opus]

A couple of other interesting stats to have would be the 5-60mph and 45-65mph run times. That would show real world performance more on how the car would perform on the streets.

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

Let me add this to the mix. At 210WHP I did the 1/4 mile in 13.8 seconds at the same 101MPH as the Elise. Of course my Miata is about 2700# with me in it. :)

I guess that says it made it to 101 faster than me but then ran out of snort? I was still accelerating as I crossed the traps. Just my rate of acceleration was slower overall. I think my 0-60 time was in the low 5 second range?

Next time I run I should aim the cockpit camera at the speedometer. Then we could plot the acceleration one frame (1/29.97 seconds) at a time. I know my speedo is accurate.

[99mx5]

At my last time-attack trackday, my time on Hard-S suspension and street tires was faster than an Elise with race tires. Depends a lot on the driver. Now that I have the Tein FLEX suspension. My times have dropped by almost 4 seconds. You will love the Teins.

My car is a NB, so I went with 9/6 spring rates. I have driven a NA of a friend and from what I understand, I think the magic formula for the NA is the Koni yellows with Ground Control springs and Fat Cat Morotsports bump stops.

[tann3r]

i'll try and record a standing start on my traqmate once i finish my motor and clutch install. I think i may have a few standing starts recorded, but nothing with any sort of a launch due to the stock clutch.

BTW I went with a 1.6 Fidanza and clutchnet red 3x clutch. good thing my miata does not see too many street miles. I'll report back when its done. block at the machine ship atm.

[opus]

At my last time-attack trackday, my time on Hard-S suspension and street tires was faster than an Elise with race tires. Depends a lot on the driver.

+1 Track time depends a lot on the driver. If you have a before supercharger time and an after supercharger time, that would be more comparable. I am assuming same track that you're familiar with in similar circumstances including suspension set up, track traffic and weather conditions.

[lds2002black]

This data is for a 2002 that weighs right at 2600# as I was testing.

[opus]

This data is for a 2002 that weighs right at 2600# as I was testing.

I am lost on how to read this chart.:no: Don't you start in the first gear, then second, third, etc?. The second and third gear over laps. Are these two different runs? Also, at zero secs, the car is already at 30mph?

[lds2002black]

These were pulls in 2nd gear from about 2000 or so rpm up to redline. Then the same thing in 3rd gear. These were being done when I was working on getting the fuel correct. I tried to show just the acceleration in each gear.

[opus]

Oh, got it. Thanks. So, if you're in second gear, it takes about 4 secs to go from around 20mph to 55 mph. That is impressive. Great chart.

What did you use to measure the speed and timing (seconds)? Is the acceleration really that linear?

[lds2002black]

Was using the Innovate DL-32 to record data which is taking data every .082 seconds. I am recording rpm and the data is time stamped, so rpm times gear ratio with math for tire size gives me the speed. Yes, the acceleration is linear ... I have drawn a straight line from start to finish on these runs and it is never veery far from straight ... even in 4th gear.

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

Isn't linear torque fun. :)

[lds2002black]

:party: Yesssssss!

[opus]

Yes, the acceleration is linear ...r. very impressive...thanks