Car and Driver Lightning Lap Results
09-30-08, 12:58 PM
#31
Lexus Test Driver
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From all the publications I have read, the ISF is about 100 lbs heavier than the M3 and the C63 is about 100 lbs heavier than the ISF. They do not have LSD's stock. That comes with the Perfomance Package. Doesn't seem like the C63 should be cornering better than the ISF, and the straight line performance is not "that" much better is it??? Anywho, doesn't matter to me. It just seems like some of these numbers just come out of left field and don't make sense.
09-30-08, 02:27 PM
#32
I'm not 100% sure about C63 weight vs IS-F but M3 is more like 300lbs+ lighter than IS-F. The 100lbs-ish number you are quoting is with the listed empty curb weight of IS-F 3780lbs - but no driver and no fuel - vs M3's listed curb weight 3704lbs which counts 3/4 tank of fuel plus 75kg=165lbs driver in it.
From all the publications I have read, the ISF is about 100 lbs heavier than the M3 and the C63 is about 100 lbs heavier than the ISF. They do not have LSD's stock. That comes with the Perfomance Package. Doesn't seem like the C63 should be cornering better than the ISF, and the straight line performance is not "that" much better is it??? Anywho, doesn't matter to me. It just seems like some of these numbers just come out of left field and don't make sense.
Last edited by kt22cliff; 09-30-08 at 02:30 PM.
09-30-08, 07:12 PM
#33
Tech Info Resource
iTrader: (2)
Edmunds says:
2008 M3
Manufacturer Curb Weight (lb): 3,726
Curb Weight As Tested (lb): 3,686
2008 C63 AMG (includes performance package, but I'm baffled why one would have this as an option on an AMG)
Manufacturer Curb Weight (lb): 3,649
Curb Weight As Tested (lb): 3,993
2008 IS-F
Manufacturer Curb Weight (lb): 3,780
Curb Weight As Tested (lb): 3,780
So they're all within a reasonable distance of each other with the AMG just slightly heavier. They're ALL very heavy cars. Also, without knowing if the IS-F was on Pilot Sports (unlikely if this was not a test mule) it's hard to say anything about how well the IS-F went with any authority compared to the other times we have seen since they've been achieved with the PS tires, not Bridgestones. Granted, I have BS RE050A PP on my 350, but if I intended to try and get the most out of the car for a track day, I'd get the Michelins for sure.
I've seen tires make a 3 - 4 second difference in laps times. Willow Springs is also in the desert, and the time of day the IS-F ran might not have been ideal compared to the other cars. Yes, I know they ran them in groups, but when the wind comes up from the desert and puts a thin film of sand over the track, it's just not possible to go as fast as you'd like.
So there are a lot of good reasons why the IS-F may not have fared as well as we'd expect - not because anyone at C & D is trying to hurt the F - just because it wasn't at its best. Also keep in mind the IS-F really isn't a track car - it was designed to be as enjoyable at the track on lap 10 as it is on lap 1. This doesn't inherently make it a good track car at all.
Besides, the real winner in this comparo is the Viper ACR. World class performance at far less than world class price.
2008 M3
Manufacturer Curb Weight (lb): 3,726
Curb Weight As Tested (lb): 3,686
2008 C63 AMG (includes performance package, but I'm baffled why one would have this as an option on an AMG)
Manufacturer Curb Weight (lb): 3,649
Curb Weight As Tested (lb): 3,993
2008 IS-F
Manufacturer Curb Weight (lb): 3,780
Curb Weight As Tested (lb): 3,780
So they're all within a reasonable distance of each other with the AMG just slightly heavier. They're ALL very heavy cars. Also, without knowing if the IS-F was on Pilot Sports (unlikely if this was not a test mule) it's hard to say anything about how well the IS-F went with any authority compared to the other times we have seen since they've been achieved with the PS tires, not Bridgestones. Granted, I have BS RE050A PP on my 350, but if I intended to try and get the most out of the car for a track day, I'd get the Michelins for sure.
I've seen tires make a 3 - 4 second difference in laps times. Willow Springs is also in the desert, and the time of day the IS-F ran might not have been ideal compared to the other cars. Yes, I know they ran them in groups, but when the wind comes up from the desert and puts a thin film of sand over the track, it's just not possible to go as fast as you'd like.
So there are a lot of good reasons why the IS-F may not have fared as well as we'd expect - not because anyone at C & D is trying to hurt the F - just because it wasn't at its best. Also keep in mind the IS-F really isn't a track car - it was designed to be as enjoyable at the track on lap 10 as it is on lap 1. This doesn't inherently make it a good track car at all.
Besides, the real winner in this comparo is the Viper ACR. World class performance at far less than world class price.
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