Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Autocross and Open Track Contour beats Altima by .8 on minute course

With nearly 500 miles on the odometer, I decided to chance it and race the new 3.5SE against the SVT Contour at our June autocross. It was a fairly fast course with a long slalom with 90' gates, and several 180 degree turnarounds. I ran the Altima first, then the Contour, alternating on each run. That got a bit confusing since my short tired Contour has a much lower gear ratio than the Altima resulting in far different shift points. On the first runs I had half a tank in the Altima and a quarter tank in the Contour. Before the second runs I filled both cars which gave the intended oversteer....which with the fast slalom was not the fast ticket. ANYWAY:

CAR............1st run..2nd run..3rd run
Altima 3.5SE...65.820..66.212...66.756
SVT Contour....65.054..65.467...65.194

Note an 8 tenth difference between the first run times and between the second run times. I got way sideways in the Altima on the third slower run. All my times in both cars were still faster than an experienced SCCA member who drove his new 2002 VW GTI 1.8 turbo at the event. Considering that the Altima's OE tires leave a lot to be desired I am somewhat satisfied. Now the search begins for 17 X 7" very light wheels with 45mm offset (stock)or 1/4" of that. Mounted with 235/45 tires, the results could be closer.

To return the second car to my house, I had the Audi guy I always run with follow me in the Altima. In a full throttle left hand turn onto a four-lane highway he stuck to my tail once on the straight. But at a stoplight 5 miles later, we did an informal run to highway speed and I was surprised the Contour (I was driving it)stayed with him like it did. I jumped the start a bit, he shifted too early he said, we were even for a while but as we shifted to third he started to pull on me. We stopped about 65 mph.

The 3.5SE does not really get a lot of power and torque until after 4000 rpm like our cars. Later, off to work to relieve my daughter.

I've heard that the Altima suffers from narrow, ****ty tires. Still is faster than an SVT (or a GS-R for that matter)!

Sounds like you had fun today.

I'm not sure I did.

I drove like a computer guy

TB

GSR guy, too be honest, parked next to my Contour, the SVT's Kumho 215/40 series tires actually seem narrower than the 215 Bridgestone Turanzas that are 55 series!!! Like the Contour, on the Altima the front tires get almost all the wear while rears are along for the ride.

Tony, you are never gonna let me forget that computer guy comment, are you. I take it you had an event today?

Here are some other times:
G Stock
98 SVT Contour..65.054
02 Altima 3.5SE..65.820
02 VW GTI 1.8 turbo..67.083
00 SVT Contour...70.306

B Stock
00 S2000 (autocross tires, but 3rd auto-X!)64.553

F Stock???
93 Mustang Cobra..64.310
IROC-Z Convertible..77 something

E Stock
86 MR2 71.191
86 MR2 73.592

H Stock
98 Civic 82.848

STS
Heavily modded Civic EX 65.051
Heavily modded 240SX...65.963
Heavily modded Prelude 67.993
92 Civic Si..70.905
93 Civic Si..72.382

ASP S2000 (autocross tires)...60.312!!!!!!!!!!!

SM
A6 Quattro Twin Turbo V-6 (autocross tires)64.754
Datsun 260Z...............68.155
00 VW GTI 1.8 turbo 69.709

DM Civic Del Sol (barely) 59.445
Go Cart................62.777

215/50 for the record...

Also the 215/50/16 compared to the 215/55/16 are probably really close in width. Comparing several manufacturers to the KDW's 7.2" tread width shows a few are even wider by a hair.

Demon, I don't have KDW, I have 215/40-16 Kumho Ecsta Supra 712 on the Contour. The lower profile on the stock rims lowers ride height by a full inch since diameter is 2 inches smaller. This provides a significant acceleration/handling advantage and was my secret weapon at SZ!

Also, forgot to mention that I tried to play macho and decided "I don't need no stinkin' ABS" on the Altima (SVT Contour first car ever owned with it) and paid the price. At one point braking from 60 mph to 25 for a hairpin, I locked my brakes and flat-spotted a tire. To get ABS, you must also get side-airbags and I balked at the nearly $800 price difference....but would choose differently in retrospect. ABS favors my left-foot braking driving style, both for trail-braking and because I can't modulate as well with my left foot.

I don't forget much of anything, (except your wheel cover dealies, they are being mailed today!)

I wasn't offended, so don't worry. It takes a lot more than that to get me worked up

I think my fronts tires had too much air, especially after sitting in the sun for a while.

Then, only three runs.

TB

Well okay then... :p

Personally I can't get any traction with 215/50's so with 215/40's I would be much slower... The stock KDW's have very little rollover (when pumped up) so I can't see 40's making a huge improvement here, but???

I'm actually looking forward to 225/50's for the slight lowering of the final drive ratio. That on top of gaining an extra 1/2 inch in width should really improve my acceleration and handling.