350z is the best

 

 

LOL, I prefer the E320.

 

The s2k was mad to be a sports car and nothing else ... it is a purpose built, pure sports car that shares very few, if any, parts with any other vehicle in Honda's lineup.

The Z was basically a bunch of parts slapped together from the Nissan's parts bin. It is a fairly good performer; however, it will never have the soul of a sports car. It shares it's chassis, engine, brakes, etc with everything from Sedans to Suv's. It's purity is sacrificed for the sake of accountants.

I test drove a Z before I bought my S2k and felt that the S has one major and unmistakable advantage on it's side. PHYSICS. You can't just disguise weight/mass with a stiff suspension and rigid chassis. The extra weight of the Z compromises the HP advantage and takes away from the responsiveness that a true sports car should have.

 

There is no possible way that you can make a proper and ultimitely satisfying decision without driving both. And why wouldnt you? Walk into any dealership and most salesman would be more than happy to give you the chance. Also you wont have to drive one car while wondering what you are missing out on by not driving the other.

I would rather have the Z as I am a huge torque guy.... and I am a NISSAN fanatic. That being said, I test drove the S2000 and fell in love with the handling, the loudness of the interior and the rough ride becuase it felt like a racecar. I do not regret my purchase, however I still find myself yearning for the torque of the Z.

Im going to make a decision at the end of this year to either keep the S or get a 240/350. Its going to be one hell of a tough one.

 

Exactly. It is a specialty car to the bone, and as such, at the price, it's in a class by itself.

The things that make the car so special are likely to mean nothing to the kind of people who see the car as comparable to cars like the 350Z, Miata, or Mustang.

The S2000 is hand assembled. List all the other cars under $50k that are hand assembled.

The S2000 engine is hand assembled. List all the other cars under $35k that have hand assembled engines.

The S2000 steering wheel has a magnesium core. List all the other cars at any price that have a steering wheel with a magnesium core.

List all the cars that have engines with higher specific output than the F20C. There are a few, but how many of them have the magnesium core in the steering wheel?

The rear half shafts are much larger in diameter than is normal for a car of similar power, because Honda discovered that this made the car feel as if it accelerated faster. What other car at any price has had that kind of attention paid to the way it *feels*? It's a very short list.

How many cars at any price have ever been able to putter along like a Prelude and idle like a fine Swiss watch, then transform into a 9,000 RPM screamer when the driver gets a wild hair?

Name all the cars that have ever been sold to the public with suspension setups that had a stronger bias toward oversteer. This too is a very short list.

How many cars were ever designed by a company, as a gift to *itself*, to celebrate many decades of racing?

How many cars at any price actually make a serious effort to attain the feel of a super responsive race car? Does any car come closer than the S2000 at anywhere near the price?

This is a hand assembled limited production niche market car. Even with more displacement, a heavier flywheel, greater stability, CDV, stability control, slower steering, and all the other changes, the S2000 still responds to driver inputs more like a purpose built race car than anything else short of a few exotics.

Most of the cars we are asked to compare it to are made up of parts from other production cars, and it's just not the same thing. They are assembled by robots, and regardless of which is actually better, it's still not the same thing. This is a unique car intended to bring a unique kind of driving pleasure to those who could and would appreciate it, and the rest of the world be damned. If you don't love the S2000 then PLEASE buy something more to your liking. Same same if you're considering a Lotus (any Lotus). If you don't fall in love with the car when you drive it then you should seriously consider something else. Same same with almost any exotic.

Let's just compare hand assembled cars to other hand assembled cars, and not try to compare grapes and gravel. In the sand a Hummer may well be the best car to be had, but who really cares?

 

Most people *should* prefer the 350Z, because it is designed from the ground up to appeal to a wider market segment.

 

S2000... An irrationlal car built for irrational people. Im see my psychiatrist tomorrow.

 

If you're going to compare the S2000 to something, give it a little competition. Like Lotus Elise vs S2000 or the new BMW M-Badge Z roadster. There are cars in it's class that can beat it, for 10K-20K more dollars.

 

WOW!! hahaha... i was expecting us S2000 drivers to be BASHING this thread to the ground about how much better the s2000 is. but it's good to know we're open minded and not just ignorant drivers that dont see the good in other cars!!

scott