JDM Tuner Powerhouse Amuse Sees Which is Better: S2000, or 350Z
S2000 and 350Z both feature full suite of Powerhouse Amuse upgrades, so which is fastest around the race track with a pro driver?
When it comes to recent Japanese performance cars, that make excellent track toys, it’s hard to deny to capabilities of the Honda S2000 and Nissan 350Z. Both are front-mid-engine, rear-wheel drive sports cars with manual transmissions, double wishbone suspensions and ripe aftermarket support. So, which way do you go? Well, this is S2KI, but let’s play along.
Fortunately, for our theoretical conundrum, Powerhouse Amuse teamed up with legendary Japanese motoring program, Best Motoring, to solve this exact quandary. Of course, when a tuning shop, like Powerhouse Amuse, is involved, the cars aren’t staying stock.
The Amuse S2000 has a claimed power output of 260 horsepower, and a claimed curb weight of just 2,500-lbs. Amuse produced extensive carbon fiber components for the S2K, to achieve this. Specifically, this car features a carbon hood, trunk, wing and hardtop. Additionally, the company supplied one of their R1 6-piston big brake kits, and specced Bilstein coil-overs to handle wheel motion. Speaking of which, those wheels, Volk CE28, and tires, Advan A048 (a medium-hardness compound track tire) are fitted to both cars, to somewhat minimize variables.
In the right corner is the Amuse 350Z. With 305 horsepower and a curb weight of 2,900-lbs, the two cars’ power-to-weight ratios are actually quite close. It also features carbon fiber bodywork, including some really slick carbon doors. Additionally, both cars feature full exhaust systems and an ECU reflash. Sounds like a close battle, so let’s watch.
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And, things don’t start out too promising. The Drift King, Keiichi Tsuchiya, immediately grinds 2nd gear rather hard, downshifting for one of Ebisu Circuit‘s tightest corners. After a few sighting laps, Tsuchiya comes back, proclaiming that, with the 350Z, Nissan has finally returned to building an actual sports car, something it’s 300ZX predecessor, certainly wasn’t. However, the DK is also impressed with the agility of the S2000, noting that in certain sectors of the track, it carries large advantages, due to it’s smaller size.
Sounds like the only way to truly solve this is with a flat-out track battle. This time, it’s Super GT and D1GP champ, Max Orido wheeling the S2000. Mr. Dori-kin himself returns to wheel the Z-car.
Unfortunately, the start is telling, with the torquey 350Z just managing to snake ahead of the S2000. However, Orido in the Amuse S2000 is making up time in every braking zone. Additionally, the lighter S2000 is better able to hop Ebisu’s curbing and cut precious tenths off its lap time. The race ends in a photo finish, with Orido right on Tsuchiya’s tail in the final corner. Though, this time, the Z takes the win, if only just, thanks to Ebisu’s start-finish terminating on an uphill stretch, where the brawnier Z was able to just pull ahead. The final times: 1:05.302 for the 350Z and 1:05.450 for the S2000. Can’t get much closer than that.
Have you had any close track battles with a Z-car in your S? Drop a comment and let us know all about it.
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