My first post on the S2KI forum, and as a former E36 owner and current S2K owner I thought I would offer my $.02...

I traded a 1995 325i convertible for my S. I had added a Dinan CAI, big-bore throttle-body, exhaust, and Turner chip to the car, and it was a blast to drive. Obviously it didn't make the hp numbers that an M would, but the 2.5 and 3.2 engines are the same basic block. The BMW six is made to rev, and while the torque numbers are higher, the BMW weighs 350-450 lbs more than an S, which, comparing my BMW to the S means that I barely notice the loss of torque.

Since I made the trade (Feb of this year) I have never looked back! The S is my daily driver (when the weather in MN permits) and it a total blast and joy to drive every day! My 76 y/o father also said that the S felt like a much more refined car to ride in. I love BMW and will likely own one again, but I plan on keeping my S for a very long time!

 

[QUOTE=vroom,Oct 6 2004, 05:34 AM] Man..drawn in again .

 

1slowM3, I agree and maybe it wasn't fair to compare a 325 to a hardtop M. My upgrades probably made about 215hp with a small gain in torque from stock, which is far from M power. Still, between the two, the S is easily as liveable as a daily driver. I was also surprised at my dad's response as he is 6' 1" and it is a long way down to the seat in the S for him, but I think he was impressed that a Honda could easily match the build quality of a BMW. My BMW convertible was not nearly as tight and solid as my S. I guess the difference is an E36 with the top chopped-off vs. a car designed as a roadster from the beginning...

 

1slowM3,

Check out the North Texas forum and look for someone with the screenname ELISTAN.

The last time I looked he has his 2000 model for sale for $14k and he lives in your area.

 

I traded my '98 M3 for an '02 S2000 last spring. I loved the M, did a lot of maintainence work on it ( had 48K miles) and forsaw more work in the future. The M was incredibly confortable, although a little large for me, easy to drive, and the power/torque was great!

For all out fun driving, my S doesn't make me miss my M3 at all, except that I can't really do stoplight burnouts anymore, but once 3k or so it starts to pick up, and at 6k it's screamin'! Nothing like cruzing at 60mph or so, dropping down to 3rd and taking off to 100mph like a banshee! The M can do this too, but the feeling isn't really there until 100 or so, and in the S it's 'there' all the time. I have no trouble wining most stoplight races either, for a Honda this thing has torque!

The only time I have missed my M is this past week I have been sick and spacey, and the M is so much more sedate to drive I would've liked that. The S is much more a driver's car, and requires a certain amount of attention to drive safely and quickly. That bit of challenge is also what I was after, and prefer in the S over the M. I felt it was a bit too easy to go fast in the M, and wanted more of a challenge for building track and auto-x skills. I got it, that's for sure! Rear end would come out on the M, but not nearly as quickly or easily as the S. The S can be mastered though, but can't be manhandled around like the M.

Occasionally I would like to haul more people and stuff, but someday I will buy a 2nd car for that, probably an E30 325i. I feel the bang for th ebuck is higher in the non M cars since the Ms need mods anyway -- shocks, springs, wheels, rtabs, shock tower plates, exhaust, intake, chip, etc...doing this on the M just didn't make sense to me, especially with all the maintainence parts that it needed, and prbably would have needed.

I haven't done anything to the S except change fluids, add gas, and drive! This summer was a topdown blast with minimal weekend wrenching, I love that! Love my S, just love it. No regrets on the S yet, but I did feel regrets on the M after the same amount of time driving it...so many cars, so little money.
--JD

 

Well one downfall could be you cant pack your friends in the back seat anymore lol. Low end torque an issue as you know. But, honestly really no downfalls, they made the car to fit like a glove. Every consol item is at hands grasp, you do not have to reach for anything. Car is like a race car design.

 

My friend has an '02 M3 with SMG trans, and I've driven it a few times, and have driven all other M3's from 1987 on including the 4 door. The newest M3 feels like the other 3 series cars, just faster with sporty seats. If you want performance and comfort with a lot of options, the M3 is a great choice. If you want the racecar, what you'd imagine a sportscar to drive like kind of car, the S2000 is the best choice. If you need the room, the S2000 shouldn't even be a consideration. If you like to work on the car yourself, the M3 wouldn't be the car. The newer the German car, the further away it is made for the DIY'er. The first generation M3 is my favorite and is the closest in ride to the S2000.

The M3 has a high up seat and quick artifically light steering and a ho-hum gear box. The 19" wheels are kidney pounding, even on a flat surface.

 

Of course this is only my opinion: The S looks better, is more fun to drive, more reliable is only available in one model, only comes in stick, is lighter, cheaper. Less people have it cause its not practical (because of how small it is and no auto). I actually like it when people sit in my car and tell me its too small or rides too hard. That just means they wont buy one and there will be less on the road. Most of the people on this message board aren't interested in practicality that's why I like this board. And the people who are end up selling there S and buying something like an M3. Two doors, two seats, no top and wide back tires is the way to go.

 

Your response is pretty much what i had in the back of my mind when i thought about both cars different characteristics. To me the M really shines on the highway it's geared pretty aggressively to be fast on the autobahn. I wonder if any dealerships around here will let me do an extended test drive on the S2K, kind of a random question but how many bags of groceries do you think would fit in the trunk of a s2000. My weekly trip to the supermarket is probably the most i need to haul in the car, and i have another car if i need more room.

I honestly think a cosmos black E36 M3 is one of the best looking cars, it just has a timeless well groomed look to it whereas the s2000 has a boy racer quality to it like the stI etc. Also the M3 is actually a VERY easy car to work on, there's plenty of space in the engine bay and everything is self explanatory, i'd venture my M3 is about the same as my civic as far as maintenence goes.

I contacted the guy in dallas but he hasn't gotten back to me, and i'm not sure if i want a 00 car that has the same mileage as my 97, kinda scares me a bit. Anyone in the DFW area wanna take me for a ride in your S2000 so i can get a feel for it?

 

I think if you go by yourself and use the passenger seat you should be able to get a week's worth of groceries in it. I also think you should try to testdrive an '00 and a newer '02 + one. I'm really not sure if there is a difference, but I testdrove an '01 before I got the M3 and wasn't too impressed, and then later tried an '02 and immediatley fell in love. I've heard this from a european car mag too, but it may just be in our minds. The '01 I drove wasn't maintained as well as my '02, and after having the M3 and trying the S again, I knew more what I wanted in a car.

Go on many testdrives if necessary, but it may only take one!