Test drive both. I thought about a G35 and a 350Z before I got the S2000. I wanted a raw sportscar, and didn't really care for any bells and whistles. I didn't want much compromise in my car to be daily driveable.

That being said, It all depends what your preferences are. 350Z is definitely more comfortable. It's more idiot proof when it comes to driving error. The S2000 takes a bit more driver involvement and finesse to go fast. I definitely felt the torque in the Z. The engine felt strong, but the car was so heavy that it didn't feel faster. Basically the Z is like a japanese muscle car, feels powerful, but really heavy and big. The S2000 is more nimble and feels like a driving tool, but is a little louder and smaller on the inside, and you have to milk the engine to get into its powerband (not a problem in my eyes). The S2000 is not for everyone.

Test drive both, drive the heck outta both of the cars (make sure you take the S up to redline). And as another member said, if you have any doubts that this is the car for you, get the 350Z.

 

Yea but I'm partial to the triple gauges that you can set to several things.

So easy to check speed haha

 

Anyone who has owned a Z and is remotely sane will tell you a Z is way easier to live with every day.

I own both and when I drove with my mom in the S she was like no way I'd own one of these but she loved the Z because its bigger and more comfortable

 

Actually a number of coworkers flat out refuse to ride in 350Zs because the suspension is so harsh. The S2000 isn't exactly soft, but I haven't heard the same complaints.

When you want to make a car that heavy handle fairly well, there's going to be a price to pay.

 

Why not?

 

If you get a Z have fun changing your transmission every 3 or 4 months. My friend went thru 6 tranny's before getting rid of his Z

 

Are you sure this is a car problem
Sounds like your friend has a manual BMW transmission problem

 

lol yea it was the car, hes gone thru 6 trannys, from what i hear its a common problem, ive heard of this from 4 or 5 differnt people.

 

it depends on what your looking for.

style wise: i have to give it to the S and not because i have one but after 7 years the car still looks amazing. the Z is starting to look outdated, plus the S looks better with the top up or down. the Z only looks good in a hard top not soft.

ride & handling: again it depends on what your looking for. the S is more of the classic sports car, light, nimble, graceful. whereas the Z is more of a japanese muscle car, heavy, unforgiving, coarse, it feels like i was driving a mustang. i don't know if it was the torque that gave me that impression or the ride quality but i wouldn't describe the Z as graceful.

engine and transmission: again it all depends on your taste. i happen to favor high revving cars that live out your F1 fantasies over a car with gobs of torque. i like to shift because what's the point of getting a sports car when your only using 5th or 6th 95% of the time. the S allows you to use one of the if not the best gearboxes ever. the Z has a good gearbox but not great, its short and direct but a little tight to shift into. there's nothing that compares to an F series motor in vtec with the exception of a ferrari or porsche. i probably could get more than 250 miles on a tank if i didn't hit vtec all the time. the Z sounds great to a point but after 5500rpms it doesn't sound right.

the best decider is drive both back to back yourself and see which one leaves you grinning the most while you drive it. see which of the two will make you take the long way home. to this day i still take the long way home just so i can spend a couple of more minutes driving her.

 

Z? What is that?

I don't have any room to talk as I'm still looking for my S2000 but I've driven one a few of the various years and I love everything about the car. Perhaps I wasn't in it long enough to find the problems, but I love the lines, the seats fit me like a glove, the exhaust note when v-tech kicks in (and the quiet when just tooling around town), looks good with top up and better with it down, and I even love the guages (although I've heard it can be hard to see if the sun is just in the right spot)...

so I say again, what is a Z?