Nic

Last night my girlfriend and I were riding along courthouse road when I passed a 3000 GT VR4. Next thing, I look in my mirrors and see him speeding up to catch up. They're pretty fast cars and I know they launch well with the AWD, so I was curious to see what one of them could do. We eventually get lined up at a stoplight where both of us are completely stopped (he got a rolling start on me when I was completely stopped once so I didn't bother). We both take off and we're about dead even, I short shift into second at about 5000 and we're still even all the way up to 60 mph when I let off and he kept going. I hope he didn't think that was a win. Anyway, we follow him on down the road a little further and get caught at another light. He impressed me last time, so this time I'm not going to play around. When the light turned green he got a better jump than I did and pulled about 3/4 of a car length on me and held it up until about 40 mph when my car got on the cam and started to pull on him. I held first gear all the way to 6000 this time and ended up with him at the back of my rear bumper when I shifted into second gear and let off. From there I know I would have walked away because the AWD transmission zaps too much horsepower for him to have kept up thereafter where my car really shines over the last part of the 1/4 mile. Needless to say, I knew these cars were quick, but I didn't realize just how quick they were.

HrdRockA4305

Ya, gotta respect the 3KGts. Those fall into the "non-V8" cars I'd like to own someday. Which car were you in when you raced him?

Nic

I was in the coupe. Anything with a turbo on it from the factory has my respect.

HrdRockA4305

The nice thing about having boost from the factory is it gives you the opportunity for SO many tweaks too

89WS-6

Those cars are twin turbo 3.0 DOHC V6. And AWD at that. Those things usually get great 60' times and usually run right next to stock LS1's.

Nic

Yea, you're right about the AWD launches! I'd always heard they were pretty quick cars, but that thing kept up better than anything I've ever raced on the street. I won't run much past 10 - 15 over in a street race...it would have been interesting to see how well he kept up if we'd ran all the way up to 110 or so.

junkyarddog

the perfect 3000GT would be an SL modle with the VR-4 engine and just front wheel drive. 320hp isn't bad for a stock V6 setup....
the non turbos are only 220 hp but the SLs have lighter rims and the FWD gets more power to the ground. my '93 stock SL w/auto would keep up with mustang GTs,GTAs,Z28s (stock) and tool on fellow V6ers and eclipses!! just don't try to do the DOHC T-belt at home....trust me it sukks!!

HrdRockA4305

Yeah even SLs are like 220 HP, not too bad! I know a guy who eventually wants to do the VR4 motor in an SL, it'll be a while though cause of $$ involved. I dunno though, I'd like to have the AWD for the edge on launches. Dosen't some company have an AWD system that disengages at like over 40 mph?

If the center differential locked, and like a 4X4 truck, unlocked the driveshafts at the wheels/hubs, that would get rid of the high speed mechanical drag, so the only disadvantage left would be the little extra weight. IMO they should have done this on the 3Kgt and GSX Eclipse. I also think on the stealth/3000 they should have dropped the all wheel steering cause thats GOTTA add a ton of weight from all the extra hardware and hydraulics. I'll bet it'd almost be a decent weight without all that junk.