If you already have a beater car, get the most impractical fun car you can!

S2000.

Actually, I'd get a lightly used Elise (if you're talking 370z / Evo X budget).

 

I've driven a modified Evo IX, modified 350Z, and I still preferred the S2000. It just feels so solid compared to anything else i've ever driven(besides high-end sports cars). It's extremely impractical, imo(i'm actually going through a move right now), but I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm also in South Florida and wouldn't mind giving you a ride if you're interested.

 

I have an AP1 and I've test driven both a 370Z and an Evo X over the last couple of months.

I drove my s2000 to the Nissan dealership so I truly had a back to back experience with the s2k and the Z. I was really impressed by the seats and quality of the interior but it seemed to lack features that I would have expected (ex. USB port) for the price. It drove nicely and was more of a luxury/touring car than my s2k. I didn't push it too hard since the salesman was in the car with me but I floored it a couple of times. It's fast, nice, etc. but I think the one I drove was around $37k and there is absolutley no way I would spend that much on the Z.

My friend was actually looking to get an Evo but he can't drive stick very well so I drove it on the test drive. We took his car to the dealership, so it wasn't a back to best test with the s2k. The salesman didn't let me rev above like 4k rpms but you could still tell it had good power. The Evo just isn't the car for me and I could really feel how heavy the car is. It's a good car but it's a lot different than the s2k and even the Z.

Honestly, I didn't really find either of the cars to be much fun, and since that is the #1 factor for me when buying a car, I wouldn't purchase either one. I had more fun with the 3.8 Genesis Coupe and the Mini Cooper S that I test drove (the salesmen did not go with me on these drives though, so I had a chance to really drive them, which may be why I had more fun). At this point, I'm leaning heavily toward getting a Mini Cooper S as a daily driver. The s2k will remain as my fun car. That was my quick review because my lunch break is almost over.

 

Maybe I can offer some advice.

I own an Evo X MR, an S2000 CR and an infiniti G37S (not quite a 370Z but somewhat close).

If you are disaapointed with the acceleration of the S2K but think getting into v-tec will ease those fears.... It won't. My Evo and G37 will destroy the S2K in a straight line.

Of my three cars, I think the steering feel of the infiniti is the best of the 3, the steering is just beautifully weighted and very precise. However overall handling is the worst. The overall grip of the Evo is incredible, and the body control of the S2K is really ourstanding.

I autocrossed the S2K and the Evo back to back. The biggest differences I noticed were, going from the S2K to the evo. The power difference is immense, the evo has quicker steering, the evo feels a lot bigger than the S2K and has a ton of body roll in comparison.

The S2K felt a lot lighter and more nimble. A lot more responsive and by far the better drivers car. However I don't think I could live with the S2K everyday, the Evo I could.

 

I looked at both the 370Z and the S2000, and drove them both. The dealers I went to let me do whatever I wanted. I'm older so maybe they're more trusting. Just so you know where I'm coming from, I drive a BMW 335i right now.

The Z is nice, but I'm used to turbos kicking in and when I drove the Z I felt like something was missing. I kept thinking when is the boost going to hit. Of course it never did. I liked the Z a lot, but it just felt too compromised for a pure sports car.

Then I went and drove the S2000, I was grinning ear to ear the entire time. It's a stinkin' go-cart! If you want fun go with the S2000. I think the S2000 is the last true pure affordable sports car we'll see for a long time. As I told my wife, the reason I love it is that it's all about driving, there are no frills, no comfort crap, it's just engine, transmission, and suspension and it's great in all areas.

I'll put it this way, when I got back in my 335i after the Z I thought "ah, there's the kick I need". When I got in it after the S2000, I thought, "geez, this really is a heavy cruiser, and not really a sports car".

As for the Z or the S2000 I would take the S2000 any day.

As for needing a backseat because you're in college. That's when you shouldn't have to worry about a backseat - wait 'til you have kids, then you can worry about compromising your life and having to have room.

I can't comment on the Mitsu. Never driven one and probably never will. Just doesn't interest me.

I'm waiting for my BMW lease to end and then it's S2000 for me. FYI, I've test driven a Corvette, an Audi TTS, the 370Z, an RX8 R3, and the S2000. And the winner is the S2000 by a BIG margin.

 

Thanks for all the replies, I'll be reading over them in the mean time. I'll be doing my test drives on Thursday, so I'm hoping I can get a better feel for the cars because it's ultimately going to depend on which one I like after the test drives.

 

I had the same thought as Ckit on this one. Since it's a second car, go for the highly impractical, biggest grins option. You don't care about the ragtop, but of the three, that's still going to be the S2000, or better yet, a used Lotus Elise for about the same money.

And I'd say you can probably kick the EVO out. Sure it'll push you back in your seat and make power cheap, but the biggest benefit is it's a powerful toy that's a practical daily driver. You already have the practical side covered. So if you want something to push you back into your seat and make lots of power cheap, I'd be looking at a used C6, new Camaro SS, etc. No AWD, but most people will tell you RWD is more fun. And a C6 / Camaro SS should be faster either stock or with a set dollar amount worth of upgrades. Ever seen an old Camaro SS on nitrous? They move. The new ones are faster. And I'd pick a C6 over a new 370Z.

 

I drove a 370Z, 335i, and my S2K. I was cross shopping and strongly considering getting rid of my S2000.

First up was the 335i, i had really high expectations, loved the looks, new it had a great engine, and its a BMW, they really are great cars all around. I was hugely dissapointed. Yes it is a great car, but made me realize it was everything I was not ready for. Heavy, big, too much luxury. All the things that make the car so good, are the things I did not like. Sounds kind of wierd, but my gut just started screaming almost immediatly that this car was not it. Maybe in another 10 years. I just felt too disconnected and grown up. I got the feeling that my commute everyday would be boring and uneventful becuase it did not envoke enough passion and rawness. After that drive I jumped in the S, and I swore I was in a shifter cart, so light and nimble, amazing exhaust note, and it just felt right. Very pure and purposeful. It was designed with one thing in mind. A pure un-inhibited drivers car!

Next was the 370Z. I love the looks. A little big, actually very big when parked next to the S. It looks a little more grown up and agressive, made my S look a little outdated, but not in a bad way. The interior I loved, very comfortable seats. Car is def more of a GT, then a pure sports car. I can picture myself taking weekend getaway trips in this car. Clutch felt good, shifter was stiff and a little bit notchy, did not feel nearly as good as the S. Steering was sharp, roadholding was great. I would say the 370Z feels like a bigger more refined S in some ways. It had the same road hugging and presence on the road. I really liked the car. Loved the low down torque, and it pulled nicely. Overall I loved the car, felt great, and to this day, about 6 months later, I still want that car! I thought it would be a great replacement to the S, they share a lot of the same things and do some of the same things very well. They are both more pure and raw then the BMW.

That being said, my biggest hangup is that there is nothing quite like the S2000, and I really do not think we will ever see another car like this. It is the most pure and raw car on the market that is a practical DD. Sure a Lotus and a couple other exotices are just as raw, but you cant take them to dinner, then the grocery store, then drive across state in. The S2000 is a remarkable everyday sports car. It feels like a go-kart. Day to day I miss having more torque and power(had an STI before), but once you get the S in a tight turn, or do a canyon run, it beats just about everything. I really do not think I can get rid of a timeless classic.

My .02 cents. I bought the S because I always wanted one, and had a Subaru for 7-8 years, and wanted something as completly opposite and impractical. The S2000 fits that bill, after one year of ownership I am still exploring the limits of RWD and find the car WAY more rewarding to drive at all speeds. The Subaru, and I am sure EVO are really only fun when being thrashed. The S2000 is a joy all the time. My favorite thing is about 30% throttle accel up to right around vtec engagement then shift....sounds amazing! Can not be beat. The Z def does not sound very good imo.

If I was you, get the S2000, you can get one for really cheap right now, around 10-15g's for a really nice one. Enjoy it, drive it, and in a couple years get a Z if you still have the urge. Right now they have a lot of little first year kinks that need to be worked out, part of why im sticking with the S for probably another year, or until I can afford two sports cars.

 

I own both a G37s and a 2009 S2k so here goes:

To me they are so totally different it blows my mind. Even though my G is the luxo version of the Z it will be a close enough comparison for your purposes.

The S2k is raw, raw, raw- it , IMO, (others can disagree) is the closest thing to the Lotus one can buy. It is hard to explain this unless you have spent time with a sports coupe (I still consider the Z that) and a real sports car like the S2k.

I am lucky- when I want to cruise but still have some handling fun I can drive the G. When I want the audible thrill of vtec and the unbelievable feeling of driving a surgical scalpel I have the S2k. The S2k is a thrill; the G is a great drive.

You have to make more compromises with the S2k if it is your only car but I know lots of people that do.

In my opinion given your age and situation get the S2k.

 

agree. after driving both the S and the G for quite some time, the S is much more a tool...so depending on what you want to do. Close each door back to back, the S door feels light maneuverable and tinny, the G feels very heavy and a bit hard to move around, same goes for driving the car. Id say your not entirely sure if you still have a 2 door convertible and a 4 door sedan on your list...you just want something fun and performance oriented. The S is the type of car either people get or dont. The kind of car someone sees in a magazine and saves every pay cheque falling in love and buying it without even test driving it. Its just right. One guy came up to me and said nice car, but I would never spend 30k on a H-car. Well he just doesnt get it and thats fine with me, but I wasnt about to explain how to appreciate the S.