A few years back in college I was patiently awaiting for the 350Z to come out and at the time that was my dream car. I knew about the S2000 because a buddy of mine recently picked it up. I thought the car was badass but I didn't want to have the same car. When it came to buying a car, the 350Z was no longer up there and I was now considering a G35. But the price of a new G35 was over my budget so I cut my budget and narrowed it down again to the S2000 and 350Z. Went to the Nissan dealership to test drive the Z, definitely had the power but I didn't like the interior at all. Hopped into the S2000, loved the interior and speed. My buddy had his S2000 repo'd earlier so I had no issues getting it now. The rest is history and I have no regrets w/ my purchase. I don't ever see myself selling the car, I'll just have to ante up and save up for a "practical" car in the distant future. Sometimes I wonder if I should start saving parts up now so I can upkeep it forever!

 

Hahaha...I had the exact same thoughts about upkeeping forever as I don't plan to sell either. Of course, you never know what life throws at you and whether your tastes will change, but for now at least and the forseeable future, I can't picture any other car I would rather own especially when you consider price and reliability in the equation. A newly designed S that looks even better might be the ticket, but who knows if they'll continue the line. A Boxster S meets a lot of the same requirements, but cost, maintenance and reliability are issues.

As for your buddy getting his car repo'd, well, it is actually interesting to hear because you always see they kids buying cars they can't afford and it is interesting to hear the consequences. I thought I was doing it all wrong...working hard and making sure I can afford before buying....

 

Yup, I learned from his mistake and saved enough to buy the car straight up. You are right about the future, I flipped flopped a whole bunch before I picked up the S. Who knows what else is ahead.

 

I was 18 and my bro told me to get the s2k. I bought the first one i saw/sat in/drove.

 

I'm also on the cusp of getting a new car and I'm pretty much down to S2k vs 350Z.

STi/EVO--they're fast and all but I'd probably get bored of them quickly. Sure, no body roll and infinite grip when you go through an intersection at 30mph makes you feel like a superhero, but you can only get so many jollies from that. Plus the cars are relatively high maintainence compared to the s2k and 350Z, with timing belts, exotic drivetrain fluids (EVO) and that sort of thing.

RX8 -- I like them a whole lot. Rotaries don't scare me and the car handles beautifully. However, for 14-18 mpg, I think we deserve more than 230hp.

Which narrows it down to the 350Z and S2k which both use timing chains (no $$$ for t-belt) and relatively low maintainence for the performance you get.

S2k vs 350Z - A bunch of my friends have 350Zs and I see them everywhere, but exclusivity isn't a priority for me. If I enjoy the car, why does it matter? 'sides, would like not listening to a band anymore just because they got popular.

I've driven both cars, though not the exact versions I'd be getting (I'm set on either an 07 Z or an AP2). I can overlook my distaste for vert/roadsters with the S2k easily as it's far more powerful than a miata, though less so than a 350Z. the Z's torque and fixed roof, giant gas tank and GT-like leaning appeal to me as much as the S2k's high strung nature.

So I'm trollin' around S2ki.com for deciding factors...

 

Convertable was the primary consideration for me. After that it was styling. The S is the best looking roadster out there for the money.

 

1. Looks
2. Specs

I was first sold on the outsanding looks of the car when I first saw it on a poster back in 2000. I can't underatand ppl. who say it is bland.

Then when I heard all the specs (120bhp/l, 240hp, RWD) I was really impressed. That's when I purchased one of the 1/18 models in 2000. That stood on my cabinet for 5 years, then poof, I woke up one day and in the grarage was a real one! When I got the chance to purchase a 2001 with only 8k miles on it, I did not even test drive it - just paid the money and took it home.

It has been my dream car since it came out in 1999/2000. I am not ashamed to say that a "lowly Honda" was my dream car. How many people actually get to own their dream car anyways? :-)

 

I was not really looking for a new car...it just struck me one day that I had never owned a convertible.
Looked at a new Corvette one day. Went home to the +1 and tossed the idea out. The 60+ price tag rattled her a bit.
A couple of days later, on an evening stroll with her, we checked out a new Maita. "Too small" she said.
I knew everything was good for anohter car.
Had owned Honda's in the past. Walked by the dealer, saw an S, and she liked it.
The next day she went back to measure the trunk.
She has a hobby that requires some items to be transported to class. She came home said everything would fit.
I bought it the next day.
Never sat in it, never drove it, frankly never heard of it before.
Love the car.
Last week we were in Bowling Green, Ky taking the plant tour of the Vette factory.
Looks like she approves of it now.
The S may have ended up having been the bait on the hook

 

i had a honda turbo civic before then i thought since i was getting older i needed something more luxurious... so i sold the civic and bought a 02 gs430 ... and then realized 3 years later i can't drive something like that i need a sports car ... and the s2k after driving the 350z and boxster... was just the better car for me and i never regret selling the lexo for it or not pickin up the z or porsche... i love my s2k

 

After 12 years of autocrossing my daily drivers (GTIs, 04 Acura TL 6-sp), I knew I needed to get a dedicated autocross car once I could afford to have two cars. I was considering Corvettes, Boxters and the S2000s. I was worried the Boxter and Corvette would be too expensive. The S2000 I thought might be too slow since I was actualy beating the two S2000s in our club for over 2 years with my Acura TL until they finaly baught race tires early last year.

Early this year one of the S2000 racers wanted me to drive his car so I could give him pointer on how to beat the other S2000 driver. Well, my first easy lap in the S2000 was faster than my hard run in the TL and also quicker than the other S2000 driver. That was all the proof I needed that a S2000 would be quick enough.

I baught the S2000 as a tool for the autocross; having a sporty convertable for sunny day drives is a nice bonus.