Has anyone here considered the Z3 before going with the S2000? Or are any of you here former Z3 owners? I bought a used Z3 but I got thinking about if I had more $$ whether I would have still gotten the Z3 or if I would have gone with the S2000. What helped make your decision? In about a year or so I will be in a position to make the switch if I want. I really like the retro roadster style of the Z3 but the S2000 is an amazing car with lots of available aftermarket parts unlike my Z3 which is limited to a few over-priced tuning companies.

 

I went in to put a $5000 deposit on a used '98 M Roadster and they said my payments would be $537 a month on a lease- yes, I said lease. I walked out very mad after being In-N-Out of there everyday for a month setting up the deal. Everything was a go to have my payments at $350 until the boss got involved. The car had been on the lot for four months, it was the end of the month and the end of the year, late on a Sunday and they still would not deal. The next day I ordered my NEW 2002 S2K. I had to wait for 6 weeks and, yes, BMW called me during that time. but I said "no, not interested any longer." All in all, I'm happier now!!!

 

I owned a 2001 Z3 3.0 Coupe and test drove dozens of M and Z Roadsters ranging from '99 to '02 before I got my 2001 S2000 a couple days ago. My impressions were that the S2000 is a more solid car. When I drove the S2000, it seemed to have less body flex than the BMW Roadsters. There's some people that complain about the S2000 being too stiff for a daily driver. Compared to the Coupe I had and the M Roadsters I was considering, the S2000 isn't any worse. The S2000 has quicker steering response from my experience. Whether this is good or bad depends on the person. For me, I like the responsiveness of the S2000 better. I've only had my S2000 for a couple days, but I can definitely say that I don't miss my BMW at all.

 

"I don't know what 'VTEC' means, but I do know 44" of leg room."

I briefly looked at the Z3 but just didn't feel comfortable in it. The S2000 was pretty much the only car that I was interested in that I fit in (I'm a measly 6'2"). I have no regrets.

 

One of my friends has a Z3. The salesman talked him into it....
He told him it was faster than the S. I think he payed $37k. After myself and another one of our friends bought s2k's he realized is error.....what about resale values on the Z3?????

 

I saw the Z3 for the first time in '96 and decided right then and there that I was going to get a roadster. Remember, at that time, all we really had to pick from was the Miata.

But the longer I checked out the car, the more disappointed I became. I'd been a Honda customer for years and just couldn't give up the reliability to have the 'pleasure of owning a Bimmer'. Give me a break ... I didn't want to deal with the customer service nightmares of BMW dealers; nor did I want the pleasure of paying for highly overpriced service encounters. And let's not forget all the squeaks and sqawks, electrical problems, etc., etc., etc., that you get included in the price of the car. Don't get me wrong, BMW makes an awesome engine. But the entire package just couldn't match up to a Honda.

So, I waited ... I'd heard rumblings of a Honda development and saw the results at the '99 car shows. Wow! I was sold! I've had my car for 14,000 wonderful miles and I've never looked back at the BMW or Porsche again.

 

My considerations were the Audi TT Quattro roadster, Porsche Boxster S, Chevy Corvette convertible, the Mercedes SLK, as well as BMW's Z3 3.0. I sat in the Boxster, TT Coupe and the Z3. The only one I test drove was the S2000. Those other cars were nice, but I really felt like part of the S. After much thought, I decided the rareity, dollar value, Consumer Report's review, and pure fun factor; along with Honda's reputation of reliability sold me on the S. I've been ever since.

 

I was considering a 2.5 '00 Z3 leftover before I purchased my S 2000. Memorial Day, 2001 I went to go test drive a Z3 and a S 2000.

I had made arrangements with a dealership to test drive the Honda over the telephone -- but once they saw me in person (t-shirt, shorts, sandels, unshaven) I had to argue with them for one-half hour to let me test drive it. Then, on top of it, they wanted list price for a used car with 3k on it!

Despite my poor treatment at that dealership (non-Honda) I realized that I couldn't get the same performance for the same money in the Z3. I was hooked!

 

I intentionally do that when I shop for cars. When I went to a local Porsche/Audi dealership, the salesman looked at me and did not take me seriously. I didn't like that uppity attitude. I even told him I owned a Porsche once (don't think he believed me). The BMW dealership seemed a little better. When I went to Honda, the guy says "Dod you want to take 'er for a drive?". I loved that. He may have been burnt by a previous customer that returned in another car and tell him what he could have won out on.

 

Don't take me wrong, as the Z's are clearly popular, but I've hated the front end look since I set eyes on the first one. I did sit in one but that's as far as it goes. All the reports favored the S2000, so that made it easy to eliminate but I'm sure it's a neat car for those who have it and enjoy it. But, one drive with VETCing will make you want to switch real soon.