First hearing about the S2000 was too good to be true. How could a 4 cylinder 2.0 liter car really be called a "True Sports Car". After riding in one for a considerable time, I now know. My readings lead me to believe this car had no low end torque, well although that might be the case, Honda figured out some pretty cool ways of getting around that. My first impression of this car was that it like to be revved hard and it needed to be revved hard;luckily, the incredibly short throw action of the 6spd allows one to keep the motor where it should be. The smile got larger and larger on my face. I soon realized why I did not see too many of these on the road. This car was built for people dedicated to the driving experience. It is not a boulevard cruiser waiting to be noticed by the avg. Joe, but it is a car which make enthusiast salivate once they see it. Although it may strike some people to cast a stare, most do not know what it is capable of. After driving the S2K, we went over to the Nissan dealer to see the almighty 350Z. Maybe it was because we just came from an exhilarating ride in the S2K, but the 350Z seemed much overrated. I felt connected to the S2000 allowing me to feel confident. But the 350Z which is muuuucccchhhh larger and heavier made me feel like I wasn't connected. Althought the Powerband is smooth from the idle up to the redline, it just isn't as satisfying as a 9K shift. The 350Z felt like a mainstream performance car for the everyday person. In the S2000 I felt unique and in control at all time. I think that the S2000 is more a true sports car than the 350Z because the 350Z just is too predictable with no feel. Unlike the S2000's race to the stratospheric redline which is a very very different feel.

 

Nice observations! You need to work this car to get maximum performance out of it, but as you said, the sweet shifter makes it a pleasure, not a chore.
Honda let its engineers have the say while developing this car, not marketers -- and IMO that's why the S2K is at once misunderstood, underestimated, and loved.

 

my thoughts exactly on both cars. The 350z is a great car for the masses, but for people like me who love to drive and feel like they are part of the car, the s2k is the clear choice. I think the reason I like my s2k so much is because I feel like I have accomplished something after I drive it hard, since it takes effort to extract performance.

 

S2000 isn't underrated. Look at the reviews posted 4 years ago.

There just hasn't been much to write home about since then. At least until the '04 arrives.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 1stRideS2K
[B]First hearing about the S2000 was too good to be true.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 1stRideS2K
[B] How could a 4 cylinder 2.0 liter car really be called a "True Sports Car".

 

Thanks for all your opinions. I don't consider a Muscle car the def of a sports car or anything. I mean I guess the first sports car I had ever been in was my mother's I think 1970 Super Beetle. Part of the reason I wrote this topic was because I had read soooo much about this car and was AMAZED! I had also read that this car was a blast to drive yet it was getting beat in comparisons by a mainstream CHEAP 350Z. I thought that it was tooo good to be true because I had never ridden in one, but trust me now I know. I think Honda should be commended on engineering the right thing and not making it a MARKETERS car. I guess I'm just new on the scene of this car but I thought it was amazing car.

 

I agree about how amazing the car is. The 350z wins the comparo's because it's new, and Nissan paid big money for advertising in those magazines.

 

In all fairness to the Z, did you drive the track version of it? That is supposed to be a nice car. However, I love the style and performance of my S and wouldn't even concider a Z.
My dream was to eventually have a true sports car in a roadster version and I got my wish.

 

well said...... i just saw a silver 350z convertible on the streets. the rear end almost works better with top down. i have no inclination to even drive one.....blechhh.