And wouldn't you know, it's another Pontiac guy. In my early days it was my best friend who still to this day is a die hard GTO guy. Just found out today, a guy or kid rather, on days (I work swings) has a self proclaimed bad *** GTP. Well we got to talking at shift change and I found out he's all into his car and his club and that he drag races. I told him oh yeah my sister has one of those (she does) but my Neon can beat it (it can) Then he goes; "is that your SRT-4 out there?" I tell him yeah. Then he asks how fast have you gone in a tone that I knew he did not think I had actually raced it. I said 13.86. He had a stunned look. The he said well you'd beat me stock, cause I went 14.2, but I go 13.4's now so you're lunch. Yeah but mine is still stock I say, knowing he's already been into his extensively. Then he asks what's your 60 ft. I tell him 2.1. I've gone 1.99 on street tires he says but I usually go 2.0. I teel him that's good. He says only 2 guys in his club have done it (all smug).Then he says he's in the process of further upgrades. Then I tell him well mine won't be stock much longer and I hope to be in the 12's this summer. Then he says he does too.
Well I'll give him credit if this is true, he can drive.
But oh is it on now............

 

Bench racing season is still in full effect.

[sm=gears.gif] [sm=gears.gif]

 

Don't sleep on a Grand Prix GTP. Those cars are very capable of smoking your ***.....and they are probably one of the few FWD cars that can compete with a SRT-4 on a regular basis. Stock for stock. Now of course he's got a 3.8L V6, but you have a turbo engine and weigh 3000lbs. So your about even. I'm not saying he will beat you, just saying its very capable of happening. 240hp-260hp/280lbtrq is nothing to dismiss.....especially if he's done mods to that stock motor. I've seen mildly stock, (air intake kits, new exhaust, and a chip) throw down mid 13's....and the stock version of the of the 4dr GTP run's 15's flat on the 1/4 mile....not bad at all...only a second slower then a stock SRT-4...

Most of the cars that could even compete with the SRT-4 are all N/A and easily outweigh it by 600lbs. The stock GTP 4dr weighs around 3600lbs, and I believe the 2dr is also similar in weight. The SRT-4 is the fastest and cheapest FWD car for under $22k, but dont think its the fastest period....

That said, I hope you get some footage...sounds like it could be a good race.

 

Oh you ain't tellin me nothin I don't already know. I grew up in Flint where they make those things. Remember the turbo Regal? I was all into the street racing scene in the eighties there and had witnessed on more than one occasion, an engineering test mule snuk out of the factory on a friday night full of engineers and they would come over to St Johns Blvd where we were and race it and would beat some stout street cars. So I am fully aware of the capabilities of a blown Buick v-6. I have been beat twice by a Grand National at the local dragstrip here. I don't underestimate that potent little powerplant.

You did forget to say SUPERCHARGED Buick v-6. That's an important little detail, and he's already gotten into the injectors, cam and other stuff, so he far from stock. If he was stock, I'd run for pink slips, but as he sits now, I know he's got me.

That, however is subject to change......



BTW, a second in the qtr is an eternity, and not even a race. He's got me by 4 tenths, and that's a chunk. A comfortable cushion for him. He'd really have to mess up for me to beat him which is also less likely on his end since he has an auto tranny and not a stick. As we sit now, I would only race for fun.

 

Not all the GTP's are S/C'd....and since you didnt say his was.... I wasnt sure if it was.....the newer models are SC but the older ones arent...and since I didnt know...didnt want to say it was...

That's why there's the 240-260hp number in my first post

You need to get some photos in a gallery of your ride....and yes I remember the Grand Nationals...Id kill to have one..

 

yep those are s/c devils so us being f/i advantage goes out the window.


theres a guy that ive seen at the track with one and puts down low 13's i was suprised when i saw it run. good luck man.

 

Stock, I believe it still to be the fastest fwd.
Now this is an old argument but it was posted once and no-one ever came up with anything faster as I recall..........
Of course just who's stock is always debatable too. Not a single thing I have raced against in the street class at Martin has been truly 100% stock either. I get beat more than I win running only 13.8's. It seems everybody can run low 13's or better here. So I know where I sit in the world.

 

I think to qualify as fastest stock fwd, you would have to break them down into car categories (compact, small sedan, large sedan etc).....the reason I say that.....is that some cars simply lose on sheer weight alone.

I can name probably 3-4 cars that are FWD that are within a second in the 1/4 mile of the SRT-4....but weigh anywhere from 600-800lbs more....and very few of the SRT-4's competition come with a turbo or S/C. The Saturn Redline, Chevy Cobalt SS/S, and the GTP (now GXP with a V8) all came S/C'd....but the Redline/Cobalt are 2.0L crap engines from Chevy....and the GTP weighs a good 600lbs without the driver in the car.....and to only be about a 1.0-1.5 sec slower is definitely not bad.

That said, it is bar none the cheapest FWD car for the sheer power/speed. We've proved that. (the SRT-4 of course)

Now, if I shave 600lbs out of a GTP (before they were SC'd) and the Eclipse GT (which is stock N/A)....then that could get interesting indeed.....stock for stock it would be pretty close I think...

 

DevilsReject, all GTP's are S/C'd, they have been since 1996. They have 240HP at teh crank, (except the 2003 and on which has 260 at the crank). There is major driveline loss with the 4L60E trans from GM. It's a stout trans, but not very efficient. I have raced several GTP's stock or othrewise, they aren't that fast. One race, I was getting on I-94 on my way home from work one day and an E55 Benz and a GTp were playing tag on teh freeway, I caught up to them and as soon as we got a clear stretch of road, all 3 of us hit it, I got smoked by the Benz, but I absolutely embarrassed teh GTP. I have raced them from dead stops and they just aren't that fast. You would need to do alot of work to get one into the low 13's let alone into the 12's. There is one around here that runs 12's, but he has some serious internal engine work done to his. I haven't ever run one that gave me any trouble. It's too bad really, because I really like grand Prix's. We had a 2001 for 3 years and I loved it (mine was non S/C), but they just aren't that fast.

Danny

 

I played with a gtp on the highway going way too fast, we were real even. I didnt downshift though (sandbagging in case we meet at a redlight). it was a great way to start the day.