Bridgestone Turanzas may contribute to left pull problem

[Guest]

Power,

Sounds like you've got everything under control! It's interesting you chose the Solara over the G35 coupe. So did I! The all-wheel drive G35 coupe is nice, but it's not $10K nicer. And I like the interior of the Solara much more. Actually, I like the exterior of the Solara more, too!

PS Please let everyone know how all those proposed modifications go. That differential idea sounds like a smart idea. How much do you think it will cost when it's all said and done?

The AWD version wasn't available when I did my test drive at Infiniti. My understanding is, though, that it's for the sedan only, as another poster pointed out. The AWD would add weight, but, even worse, as you said, the G35 gets real pricey with AWD. That's why I thought the limited slip differential (LSD) for the Solara is a good compromise. By causing both front wheels to pull instead of just one, as in the stock Solara, the LSD effectively doubles your traction. I've raced a lot with limited slip diffs, mostly drag racing (at sanctioned tracks), and the traction improvement makes me feel like I wouldn't be without a one - if a good one were available at a reasonable price. The added traction on snow/ice, in the wet, and for taking curves is great, also. The rep thinks the current Quaife Solara v-6 limited slip may (not sure yet) also work for the autotranny 04 or they can easily adapt it. If so the current LSD lists for $1095, but he said he would discount it and sell if to me for $876. If you get a mechanic to install it, I'm guessing it'll cost another $300 to $400. I haven't priced that part yet. So it's not cheap, but having had the LSD traction advantages in past, I just don't want to go back to an open differential. Not if I can avoid it. The Quaife seems to be a real quality, LSD. It comes recommended by cdssolara on this website who has one in his prior generation Solara V6. It is a racing quality LSD and I think the rep said it would handle up to 650 hp. More traction is just as important as More Power to me, though it hurts me to admit it, ha. And with the Eaton derived, roots type, positive displacement TRD supercharger creating a real torque monster, the LSD seems essential IMO. With the supercharger and limited slip, the Solara should be faster than a stock G35C, it'll still cost less, and I like it better, anyway. Kind of the same way with the supercharger. I've also raced with forced induction in the past and it just gets into your blood, so-to-speak, and it's hard to go back and be without it. Kind of like an old friend or better still, a good woman, ha. And the TRD dual exhaust in the SEMA thread in this forum looks good to me. And rumor has it that quite a bit of More Power may be potentially lurking in the exhaust system. This could get to be serious giggles, here, if true.

I don't think Solara is slower than G35c auto. I couldn't find a data from the same source to compare, but Solara V6 is faster than the G35 sedan auto according to Car and Driver and G35 sedan is faster than G35c in many tests because it is lighter.
I actually crossshopped Solara and G35c and selected Solara because it is definetely more refined and luxurious and as quick in auto form. Toyota's 3.3 is a gem compared to the noisy VQ (esp when pushed).

[slingshot]

I don't think Solara is slower than G35c auto. I couldn't find a data from the same source to compare, but Solara V6 is faster than the G35 sedan auto according to Car and Driver and G35 sedan is faster than G35c in many tests because it is lighter.
I actually crossshopped Solara and G35c and selected Solara because it is definetely more refined and luxurious and as quick in auto form. Toyota's 3.3 is a gem compared to the noisy VQ (esp when pushed).

Don't believe just the Car and Driver test. You have to look at many other reports and read freshalloy.com forum. I was closely watching every reported speed test on the G35C and sedan and the manual versions of them are in the high 5's 0-60 with the automatic versions at low 6's. I've also test driven the G35C auto and it is without a doubt faster than the V6 Solara which has been getting 6.7-7 sec in tests so far. The G35C also has been routinely getting 1/4 mile runs in the low to mid 14 seconds and close to 100mph. The Solara is over 15.2 secs and 91mph I believe from the motorweek test. The Solara is fast enough for me but no way is it faster than the G35C auto or sedan auto. The VQ is noisy as you say in the G35C on purpose to have a more sporty tune. That car handles better and is sportier. The Solara is more of a luxurious quiet cruiser type. Did you ever even test drive the G35?

[Guest]

I don't think Solara is slower than G35c auto. I couldn't find a data from the same source to compare, but Solara V6 is faster than the G35 sedan auto according to Car and Driver and G35 sedan is faster than G35c in many tests because it is lighter.
I actually crossshopped Solara and G35c and selected Solara because it is definetely more refined and luxurious and as quick in auto form. Toyota's 3.3 is a gem compared to the noisy VQ (esp when pushed).

Don't believe just the Car and Driver test. You have to look at many other reports and read freshalloy.com forum. I was closely watching every reported speed test on the G35C and sedan and the manual versions of them are in the high 5's 0-60 with the automatic versions at low 6's. I've also test driven the G35C auto and it is without a doubt faster than the V6 Solara which has been getting 6.7-7 sec in tests so far. The G35C also has been routinely getting 1/4 mile runs in the low to mid 14 seconds and close to 100mph. The Solara is over 15.2 secs and 91mph I believe from the motorweek test. The Solara is fast enough for me but no way is it faster than the G35C auto or sedan auto. The VQ is noisy as you say in the G35C on purpose to have a more sporty tune. That car handles better and is sportier. The Solara is more of a luxurious quiet cruiser type. Did you ever even test drive the G35?

You are giving me times for G35 manuals, I was talking about the autos.
C&D got 7.1s(0-60) and 15.6 sec 1/4 mile for the G35 auto sedan, I've seen other test for G35 auto over 7s (0-60) and I am yet to see a Solara V6 test over 7s.
Obviosly the G35 manual will be much faster in professional hands.

[slingshot]

I gave results for both manual AND auto. The cars with auto are in the low 6's 0-60. People in Freshalloy.com with auto transmission are getting 1/4 mile results in the 14's and they aren't professional drivers. If you ever do test drive the G35 sedan or coupe with auto transmission you'll instantly feel the acceleration difference between them and the Solara yourself. But buying a car should mean much more than just speed results.

[More Power]

The stability control of SLE actually does the job of a LSD in all but the performance applications. VSC even gives you a 4wd traction in the corners.

The traction control is very good on ice, wet, & snow, like you said. But, as you also sort of point out, most cars with traction control, though, do not do that good trying to launch off the line properly for a quick quarter mile run. I've seen a lot of road tests in which they not only had to turn the traction control switch off to run the best 0 to 60 mph and quarter miles, in most cases they run a much slower 0 to 60 mph and quarter mile until they do turn the traction control off. Most traction controls cut the power (by a lot for a launch) and/or use the brakes in order to stop wheel spin. While that works good in poor weather conditions, cutting power and braking are not my idea of how to run a quick quarter mile or come off the line hard in general - which I like to do on occasion. But, at least you do have a switch to turn traction control off, when the "red mist" rises, he he, for most cars. Then the limited slip differential (LSD) really shines. I've spent a lot of years launching cars for the quarter, and you want a certain amount of wheel spin coming off the line to get the best launch. A very controlled amount without "going up in smoke" when you spin way too much. I much prefer the added traction and predictability of a good limited slip differential (LSD) as far as performance launches off the line are concerned. And LSDs also provide much improved traction (twice as much since both wheels are pulling instead of only one) during slippery weather conditions as well compared to the open differential setup on most cars (if no traction control on the car). IMO the best sets ups have both the LSD and traction control in which you can turn off the traction control part, for quick launches (without cutting power). But, for some reason, they don't offer traction and stability control as an option on the Solara SE V6 sport, alas. As you point out, good stability control systems really help if you start losing slide control in curves. Probably a whole lot better than just straight 4 wheel drive without stability control, in most cases. LSDs help in curves (compared to an open differential - they don't call them "peglegs" for nothing), while accelerating out of a turn, the LSD biases power to the outside wheel, reducing inside-wheel spin. This allows the driver to begin accelerating earlier, exiting the corner at a higher speed. Again, the optimal setup is probably to have a good LSD and good stability control system. I like certain aspects of the SE sport Solara a little better than the SLE, but they are both great cars. So I'll probably get the SE sport v6 and add LSD since I enjoy running quarter miles accelerations sometimes. I'll get the LSD optimal launch traction, better curve handling, and also get much improved traction in slippery conditons over the stock open differential. The LSD is especially important for me since I intend to get the TRD supercharger (when available) and the supercharger adds a lot of torque during hard launches and that power can be much better applied to the pavement with 2 pulling wheels rather than one with the stock, open differential. Running a hard launch quarter mile is the second best feeling I've ever had, ha.