Real world results are a lot of times different than on paper.
Drivers errors have a big factor in this.

 

I will be more than happy to take you for a spin in my sc04S. My time next week is fairely booked, but my schedule is open on the 26th and 27th. If you are still interested, let me know and we can try to hook up.

As an aside, the savings between the Z4 and the S provide an excellent opportunity to rebuild the S motor with custom build rods, forged pistons within the context of having a fully balanced engine with new and stronger top and bottom components. When combined with whatever FI system chosen and tuned with a more sophisticated EMS, the cababilities are seemingly endless with respect to increasing the rwph and tq figures to levels that are quite amazing. I am not an expert in sports cars, but as previously noted, the ability to modify the Z4 to equivalent levels of performance are likely to be significantly more expensive.

Perhaps, it should be noted that despite the lack of bottom end grunt as constantly referred to by every article and non-owner of an S, the car is way fun driving at lower speeds as well. I have a blast goofing around town making u-turns whenever needed, taking corners at higher speeds than most other drivers would even dream about, and just enjoy the overall experience which is similar to driving a go kart, but a well modernized one that is fast as hell and looks great.

Finally, I concur with vtec 9 and Gos statements that driving abilities are probably the most important component of achieveing the highest performance out of any car. The differences between the 1/4 mile straight line abilities is over rated in terms of normal driving conditions and the average level of driving skill of the average owner of a sports car driven only on Sunday afternoon excursions.

Technically, I suppose both cars are designed for road racing and sport rallying events and related uses in addition to providing a mode of personal transportation. No doubt, numerous strong arguments in support of each car being the bettter at each aspect likely exist. Some based on objective date, and some based on subjective assessments involving a host of preconceived notions.

I have a different viewpoint. For me, my S is made for one thing. Fun. Although my car may be faster than many cars costing a lot more money, well, so is my 4x4 deisel powwered crew cab truck which makes 550 hp and weighs 6500 lbs. There are more enjoyable things to focus on than to constantly be on the prowl for racing from stop light to stop light or top speed on the freeway.

Overall, I believe the S requires the driver to pay more attention to the driving conditions and awareness of the car's inherent traits than does the Z4. But that merely reflects my opinion based only on reading a few articles and is not due to any experience with driving the Z4. Many members with significantly more experience than I also believe this position is valid and base their respecive opinions on having driven both, as well as having a better understading of the difference in weights of each car and the impact it has on the car's stability. If I recall correctly, I believe that I even posted a thread involving which one of these two cars was more prone to oversteer a few months ago.

You will certainly have fun with either one.

I hope some of these viewpoints are helpful.

Once again, best of luck.

 

i'll say this...bench racing sucks...magazine racing sucks...you have to realize how many times are you gonna do traffic light launch racing?? thats not what the s2000 is about..it can be but its not..its for when your already driving down a nice windy back road and your floor it and vtec/SC kicks in and the acceleration hits you so fast your like wtf i'm gonna die!!!...low end torque isn't all its cracked up to be. and no matter what your magazine 1/4 mile times say...a SC'ed S is way faster...think about it...most of the times your gonna be flying past someone is on the highway when stupid ricerboi's pull up...and when you floor it and fly past them because with the 6 speed you can stay in vtec/boost, low end torque doesn't mean didly squat. and if you really have to launch race learn to launch it right and the SC'ed s will still win...

 

Very true. When I was in the process of buying my S, I test drove quite a few of them. I was always a bit underwhelmed by the sensation of acceleration the car provided. It simply does not feel as fast as it is. I was considering and drove Z4's, an STi and a 350Z...

I liken it to my musical taste. Music is my greatest passion in life (sorry, S). It's kind of like when you hear a song on the radio that's really melodic and catchy and you instantly want to go out and buy the album. You listen to the album a couple of times and you're basically sick of it after a week. There's no substance beyond your initial love of the song because it's too simple, melodic and catchy. The music that really sticks with you (at least in my case) is the stuff that's got more personality and emotion and is usually stuff I don't necessarily like upon first listen. It has to grow on you because it's more complex. You have to learn to appreciate it.

That's exactly what happened with me and the S2000. Half the fun of this car is learning it's personality and how to drive it. I remember just cruising on the highway at like 4500 RPM and thinking "I cannot believe this thing is spinning this fast. Is it gonna blow up?"Now that I understand the car's traits, I love it. I've never kept a car as long as I've had it and I have absolutely no intention of selling it. Ever. It's just too much fun.

It seems like you are putting a LOT (if not all) of your emphasis on these car's reported 0-60 and quarter mile times. Why? That's such an arbitrary number. If you are that concerned about it, there are several cars that definately will beat an S2000 (or a Z4) in the 1/4 and are in the same price range. Neither one of them were designed to be dedicated drag racers. Since that's what is sounds like you're looking for, mabe the S isn't for you. I'm not trying to be condescending, I'm just responding to what the entirety of this thread has been about.

To summarize- the Z will probably feel faster during test drives. You will never truly be satisfied with how fast your car is, no matter what you're driving- so don't base your decision solely on that. The rush you get from smashing the pedal to the floor from one stoplight to the next will progresively turn into an expectation more than a rush and you'll long for more- regardless of the car. The S feels like an extention of my body- the Z4 did not.

 

Its not that no one can accept anything...its the fact that we're telling you the magazine times for both cars and you continue to bang on about how the 3.0si is quicker. The 1/4 times for both cars are similar. A SC'ed S2000 would blow a Z4M into the weeds.

Sounds like you might be looking for a car with a more meaty midrange powerband and putting a lot of emphasis on 1/4 mile times - go for the Z4 in that case.

 

I would take a supercharged S2k over any BMW (except supercharged M3).

 

Frustration,

I have to agree with Camera Obscura in his assessment of what information your using to determine which car is best for you. I agree with him that quartermile times and low end torque firgures are not what you should solely be basing your decision on. Yeah perhaps useful in determining whether a Honda Civic and/or Lamborghini are closely matched (I'm exagerating) but seriously get a S.

I took my S to the track on Friday for the first time and I can't believe what a monster this car is in STOCK form! I was passing R32's, GTI's Audi TT's and even Z4's. Let me tell you after driving this car on the track I'm now thinking a Comptech Supercharger and some really good suspension work could make this car into something even more incredible. I also can't believe the sensation and responsiveness this car has when shifting and downshifting. I tried all that I could to get the car loose on corners and it just hooked up (lower tire pressure).

I don't know mate but for me driving is a passion and I'd prefer driving something that handles and provide a rawness you just can't get with the Z4. If you want quartermile fun get a Z06 or something else that pulls in a straight line but don't forget about curves and track days.

Low end torque is great (get some gears) but there's something magical about sitting at 5500 rpm and letting the engine scream to oblivion, especially on a race track.

Jetpilot

 

errrr

Z4 M Convertible is amazing. You can compare THAT to a SC S2000, but you can't compare an Z4SI to a SC S2000.

The noise the 3.2 M engine makes at 8000RPM with the top down is.....priceless...Brakes are amazing, steering very tight, very planted at high speeds.

But for all out fun factor, I'd still take a SC S2000 over a M Z4 in terms of sheer driving pleasure.

 

As others have mentioned I would go with the S. I own an 03' S, non supercharged, but have driven supercharged cars before. I enjoy the feel of the S over the Z4. My friend has a Z4, which I have access to whenever I wish and personally don't like it much. The stering seems robotic and I'm not a fan of the styling, but yes it is faster stock. Yes, the Z is more refined and comfortable for DD, but the S is my weakend toy and holds its own. If I wanted a really fast car I'd go with and STi or Corvette. Just as others have said supercharged the S will be faster and cheeper for repairs/ maintanence etc. Go with the S if you are an enthusiast.

 

I drove the STI (the new white one looks sweet as well) with the SPT intake and exhaust. I also drove the 335i coupe (which I'm sure someone here has also probably posted about beating in their stock S ). Both are nice, but I didn't like the STI's Fast and furious wanna be character and the 335 just carries too much weight a bit too high to handle as well (although it is a SCREAMER)...

I know the sc S2k has a nice whine to it, but it just seems more right to me to have that with the S than in a rolling rectangle with a fin that is to cars what a toupe' is to men...

I appreciate all the feedback, even the stuff I find hilarious when people tell me I should not believe what I have felt (and timed) in the cars stock. More silly is when someone writes that I shouldn't believe what I read... Even to the point of ignoring Dyno charts and slip times... I am fully aware that these cars go round corners and that there is driver input but that doesn't mean that anyone should ignore the other info just because the S leaves a bit on the table. In fact, anyone that ignores acceleration info is just as ignorant as anyone ignoring handling (and I'm not ignoring either one).

What ever the case, there are a couple folks that had pretty well thought responses (along with the replies that are to forums what extremists are to Islam (another joke...)


I have a member that will take me for a spin and I'll not be suprised at all to find that the SC character and performance along with the S2K balance and feel will be a GREAT fit.