I've been considering an S2000 off and on for the last few years. I came really close to buying a Porsche Cayman S with the chrono package, but I just couldn' t see myself owing a car without it at least having a sunroof. Since I don't particularly like the design of a Boxster, I decided to take a hard look at the S2000 and Z4M Roadster.

There's a BMW Dealer near me with an '06 Z4 M roadster that the salesman said I could buy for $48K. I imagine that I could buy a new S2000 for around $32K. So for the extra $16K I get a car with a lined top and almost 100 more HP. With the S2000 I get a car that handles as well as anything out there, has about the best gear box available regardless of price, and IMO looks better than the Z4. Although I've never owned a Honda, no manufactgurer has a better reputation for making quality cars that last forever and aren't that expensive to maintain. With gas prices approaching $3 a gallon in my area, the better gas mileage of the S2000 is a plus. The only other advantages of the BMW is that they offer a 4 yr/ 50K mile warranty and free maintenance for 4 yrs/ 50K miles.

I'll be test driving both cars this week. If anyone has something that they would like to share to help me make my decision, I would appreciate it.

 

The s2000 handles slightly better, can be considered to be the better looker and has a crisp gearbox.

Th Z4M is quicker, can accomodate deeper-lipped wheels, has the free maintenance warranty which pays for itself, is built and assembled much better, has nicer leather, and doesnt have all the stupid little quirks as the s2000 (vibrating shift-knob, squeeking top, etc).

If both were the same price I would buy the S2000 (regardless of the fact that it is slower) since the aftermarket support is so huge. If I didnt want to make either of the cars faster or modify them, I would pick the BMW hands down.

 

drove the z4m briefly. didn't like the steering, brakes were not progressive, doesn't rev as freely, doesn't feel as connected, seats don't feel like a cockpit. it wins in terms of status. that's it.

 

Both great cars, you honestly can't lose either way.

Z4M/M coupe is one of the few cars that catches my eye all the time, but I can't/couldn't afford the price difference. Comparing the S2k with a BMW M isn't really fair (150% price difference), but it depends on what you're looking for:

Luxury/status/comfort/frills/power all go to the BMW.

The S2k however has the 1 thing I was looking for: FUN.

Good luck

 

[QUOTE=dyhppy,Apr 1 2007, 04:30 PM]drove the z4m briefly.

 

Thanks. Actually about the best drive out there for the price IMO is the Cayman S. As I posted earlier I almost bought one, but I knew that it wouldn't be long before I would be lusting for top down driving.

 

To me, $16K is a lot of money, not to mention you could probably get a leftover 2006 S2K for less than $32K - Probably closer to $30K, which puts your price difference at almost $18K, plus taxes and if you have personal property tax in your state, then even more, which could work out to almost $20K in the first year of ownership. Less than $2000 will buy you an extended 7 year/100k mile warranty from Honda, and a bunch of oil changes. So imho the extra warranty and free maintenance isn't worth $16K more.

If you really have got the need for speed, you can get your go-fast straight line acceleration with a supercharger from Vortech (MSRP $6000 but you can find for much less), which should put you at around 300whp without really lowering the reliability of the S2000 much at all -- if any. More power than what the supercharger offers would require more effort to make it reliable however. Not sure if Vortech has a system working for the 06+ S2000s though, and Comptech just recently went out of business.

Obviously from an s2ki board more people will say S2000 than Z4M, but personally if you're not all about the BMW and M badges then the S2000 is a better bang for your buck. If money is no issue -- then there's probably some nicer cars out there than either the Z4M or S2000

BTW- The S2000 top should be faster than the Z4M's top (at least if its the same as the Z4 top -- See video: Video Link) -- the full video is here: Video Link -- The S2000 loses in this comparo, but all the cars are very close!

 

I'm pretty sure Porsche offers a roadster version of the Cayman... I think I've seen one before. They call it the "boxer" or something like that?



Seriously though, if you're so high on the Cayman S, why not the Boxster S? Most everyone here pretty much concedes the current Boxster S as being one of the best roadsters ever.

 

boxster s was a much better drive than the z4m

go for a used S. ~20k it'll be like you dont even have a car payment.

 

where do you get the opportunity to drive all of these cars? wish i have more seat time with various cars