I met up w/ a few Z guys tonight, and Bishop_TX gave me a ride in his silver, fully loaded Track model. He took it easy since it's still in break in, but it was very impressive, and the handling felt very composed.

It prob. won't provide quite the visceral exp. of an S2000 being thrashed along Hill Country roads, but the grunt off the line reminded me of my old '94 Z28 6 sp. It sounded great, and had lots of cool features...DVD nav., computer w/ stopwatch, etc.

All the Z's I've seen look great, but the Rays wheels and Brembos really make it stand out.

I'm keeping my S2000 for the time being, but when the time comes for a change, the 350Z will be @ the top of my list. The M3 has now been totally dismissed...the Z was that good!

 

We need to setup another dinner with them sometime next month...

 

I met w/ them last night, and couple of them showed up today. The more I see and think about it, the more I'm sold...I have a feeling that I'm likely to be an '04 Track model owner.

 

Except that there may not be a track convertible model... nobody knows yet since it doesn't go on sale until Feb...

 

That's OK, I'd settle for a coupe. I'd miss a convertible top, but the Z has lots of other good things going for it.

 

Chris,

I completed understand. after riding that bad boy yesterday I'm too like the idea of soe day owning one. Of course I will keep my s2k. That car is amazing.

 

Chris, I'm now officially jealous! I'm looking seriously into getting a 2004 Track model in Blue next year sometime. I want the hype to die down a little though. And since I didn't buy the S for the convertible top (although it's a nice perk), I don't think I'll miss it too much. It's just too hot in the summer. But you know what's funny just when I really think I could trade my S in for a new Z, I hope back in my S and find some back roads that make me have some serious doubts. The car plain and simple has personality and I don't know if the new Z will have that. But I'm willing to see.

 

There's plenty of cars that might out-do an S2K, but few with that real a personality. I think the new 350Z is a great car, has a different personality; I would like to have both (350Z in coupe form only).

But this raises the point I've been trying to make for a few months... we have a good group of "sports car" aficionados here in town... we should have an "Austin Area Sports Car Club" to keep it together when some of us move on to different cars someday... and to bring in new types of owners when new cars come out. What we do in out get-togethers is distinctly ddifferent from the Miata club, or Z club, or even most S2K chapters.

That's why a local website should cater to what we do... not to some exclusive brand.

 

You guys are lucky. That 12 year old took my turn for a ride in the Z car. O well maybe next time. Till then im loyal to my S2000.