Question of the Day: Do You Care About the Nurburgring?
In case you missed it, a GM test engineer named Jim Mero just poppped off a 7:26.4 lap of the famed Nurburgring. This is just weeks after Nissan's GT-R ran the 'Ring in 7:29. What's significant about the ZR1's run: the Chevy did it quicker than the real record holder for production cars, the Pagani Zonda F (7:27). But don't despair– Nissan will soon have a GT-R Spec V with more power and carbon fiber (i.e. faster and lighter) to (probably) dethrone the fastest ever Chevy. And Honda's going to make a push with their new NSX. And Porsche's refreshed 911 Turbo might beat the ZR1. You know Lexus' LF-A will. And my question is: So? Who cares? What difference does it make if car A can go around a stretch of German road faster than car B? Right? But, there's always another hand. The Nurburgring Norschleife is favored by companies looking to tune road cars; the 'Ring offers nearly all possible road condition in one (kinda) convenient seven-mile stretch. Also, the track is in fact open to the public– which makes it much somehow more interesting. I mean, imagine you're hot lapping a billion dollar test mule, you come upon Bergwerk, heel and toe to slow yourself and suddenly come upon some jackass in a GTI having the joyride of his life. How cool is that? Or is it?
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losgatosCa- It's 99% driver. If John Heinricy or Manuel Reuter take my Saturn out on the track they'll get a great time. If I do it, not so much. Robstar- F1? I guess if you like seeing drivers getting killed.
No.
It is a measure of the cars handling, acceleration, brakes, and suspension. I can't think of a better benchmark for a performance automobile. Unless they had a db meter in car while recording fuel mileage.
I buy my cars for two purposes A) To enjoy them on public roads at slightly extra-legal speeds, while looking fabulous when I want to cruise through town. B) To race at sanctioned road courses and tight autocrosses. Neither of these comes close to the Nurburgring, so I really don't give a crap about it.