Decisions Decisions, S2000 or 350Z ? help me choose

[vpacnico]

All opinion and suggestion are welcome.

lets say I have the option to pick a Honda S2K or a 350z with both car in the same price range. What would you guys pick ? Please don't be bias even though you guys love your Z and So do I. Please input on your personal driving experience on both car if you do have driven both cars before. Pros/ Cons , what to watch out for ? any minor concerns etc...

I have never driven the S2K and only heard a lot of good things about it.

Thanks in advance

[07ZedDriver]

What year Z and what year S2000?

[gamec0mmander]

You're in the same boat I was 1 month ago before i bought my 350z. I was also debating between the s2k and the z because i heard that the s2k gives a more involved driving experience and all that stuff that you read on the forums. Here's my experience:

Went one day after work to a nissan dealership that was in the same parking lot as the honda one (very convenient i know). i drove a brand new s2k and a brand new base z. Both dealers said i can floor the S*** out of it as long as i dont kill them, so i did. you can guess which car i liked by the end of both test drives from my first line of text. So here are my pros/cons for both and why i chose the Z:

s2k:

Pros: the steering feels like you're in a go cart, meaning its very responsive when you tug on it even a little (doesn't really mean you can corner faster than you could in a z, but it feels like you can). I like the convertible factor because it makes you not care too much about how fast you're going. Rather you just want to enjoy the drive.

cons: WAAAyyyy underpowered until you hit vtech. The dealer said "they are just as fast to 60mph", but the feeling is not there. From 0-6000 rpm, the s2k felt exactly like my friend's 2005 rsx type-s. After 6000rpm it starts to feel alive under the hood, however you get to your 8krpm redline very fast so the joy is short lived. The s2k's digital gauges (I feel like i'm driving on my ps3)

z:

pros: the hr engine has tons of power and is louder than a 2004 z i drove in the past (it feels like it breathes very well and is more alive). You feel the power from 0-7500rpm in a very linear way (no jerks when the vtech kicks in like in the s2k). It feels very solid on the road and it's fairly quiet and confortable on long trips (I use it as my commuter car every day for 120mi roundtrip).

cons: it feels a little heavy so you're not sure if you can take a turn at 85mph (like on a fwy ramp) and if that's its limit or if you can go an extra 15mph above and not die. Most cars that are slower than you will not even try to race you even if you provoke them, lol.

Bottom line for me: If i would have wanted to drive a car really fast all the time and rev to above 6000rpm even in everyday driving mode, i would have considered the s2k because of the fact that there are fewer s2k out there and it made it a little more special. But, since i drive normally sometimes (like when i'm tired after a day's work), i chose the z because i can feel the power even if i just shift at 3krpm and still have a grin on my face. To put it this way: There has not been one time in the past month (since i bought my car) when i did not feel that i made the right choice while behind the wheel of my 350z.

Good luck with whichever car you choose and let me know if you have any more questions regarding other comparison issues. I spent about 2 months reading forums regarding s2k vs 350z comparissons and I was getting more and more confused about what I wanted. And i spent about 2 hours at the dealerships and figured it out right away.

[coleycole]

I was also fortunate enough to test drive the Z (Roadster) and S2000 back to back. Both were stock black on black 6 m/t's traded in to my dealership with 27,000 miles on both. Weird I know but they were here and I was in the market for both. Anyway drove them back to back a couple times and loved every minute of it, but when it came to making my decision it came very easy and 350z it was. Like gamecommander said you don't get the thrill of acceleration in the s2000 until u hit the vtech and at that point ur shifting out of the vtech in another split second anyway. Every second in the Z is a thrill for me at least. Another thing I looked at was overall size in the cabin, I feel much more comfortable in the Z then I do the S2000 comfort and safety wise. There is a plethera of aftermarket vendors and accessories for both cars so its not a matter of finding the right parts and equipment once you decide which car you are going to buy.

My car is not heavily modded yet, as of now I have Intake, Plenum Spacer and throttle body spacer, 19" Racing hart wheels and thats it. My buddy has a heavily modded supercharged S2000, that in first and second gear I keep up with after that its a different story but for not having much done I am happy thus far. I think the Z is just a better overall buy, but it really comes down to what you want and like, I am not here to say one or the other sucks because they don't they are both great in their own ways.

[R350Zz33]

so the z is like pure sex thats my driving experience.

[Burtonboarder950]

I am a nissan whore so its not a tough choice for me. But the fact that the s2k had a hardtop convertible is a HUGE plus.

[rmezz13]

i owned both, which one do i have now..... theres your winner

these guys listed enough pro's and cons for you....

2000 - S2000 AP1 (9000 rev) it was very nice

2004 - 350Z Z33 (64-6500 rev) way more powerful, smoked an 05 s2000 that a friend of a friend owns, from 40 to about 85, 90ish i pulled 2 cars and kept walkin so i let off, plus it was my exit (dont worry there wasn't another car in site and it was on a 4 lane freeway).....

350Z FTW, you'll never regret it, but the s2000 is an awesome car. I will own another AP1 one day but never getting rid of the Z... just when i can afford it i will get another one.

[BlackSmoke]

I think maybe you need professional help of some sort, if you cant make a decision on this then just get a RX-8. Oh and by the way you are in a Z forum. What answer were you looking for.

[dasoupdude]

Wtf you've had zero posts for a while...

Anywhoo unfortunately for me I wasn't able to test drive an s2k ever because the one at the dealer were two yellow ones...and I didn't really feel like driving around a small yellow two seater with some middle aged bald dude on a bright sunny day.

Here's what I would do, bring a small paper and pen, test drive both cars and write a pros and cons section from your perspective. That goes for as your sitting shotgun too. And when that's done, Tally up the points.

[evildky]

the yellow car drives just like the white, or gray or black or blue or whatever color you want, step one, test drive the car that is mechanically most similr tot he car you want, then decide if it's the car for you, the 350Z track drives differetn from the other models, you can't judget he track after driving an entheusiast model, taht being said, if you want a convertivlble gett he s2k, if you want a hardtop get the z, the z's chassis isn't as well engineered for the lack of a roof, I'm a Z guy but nto a convertible guy, the s2k is a fantastic car, if it were availabel as a coupe I might want one

[balleur]

ive driven both and IMO, the s200 feels alot better handling wise and is put together much better, gotta love the quick ratio rack in those things..

[BlackSmoke]

+1 evil

[bmike818]

One question for you? Do you want a convertible or a hardtop. They are both excellent cars. You cant go wrong with either one. They are two different cars...its really hard to compare. V6 vs V4...Coupe vs Convertible...Slick shifting transmission or bolt action transmission.

I had an rsx-S...shifting to redline is fun but does get old.

I love S2ks...but I love 350Zs more.

please know that the S2K gets less mileage than a 350Z...and that the S2K has less power.

Went one day after work to a nissan dealership that was in the same parking lot as the honda one (very convenient i know). i drove a brand new s2k and a brand new base z. Both dealers said i can floor the S*** out of it as long as i dont kill them, so i did. you can guess which car i liked by the end of both test drives from my first line of text. So here are my pros/cons for both and why i chose the Z:

was this in Riverside...lol that is where I tried buying my Z..they said they had a Grand Touring 07....it was an 06 ended up buying a Touring from LBC.

[evildky]

350 NismoZ S2000CRcity: 18 18mpgHgwy: 21.5 21.5 mpg 0-60: 5.3 5.3sec.70ft slalom: 69.4 71.7mphquarter mile: 13.7 13.8sec.skidpad: .96 .99G60-0: 120 109 ft courtesy of road and track

[gamec0mmander]

Yea it was in Riverside. It's a base model though, brand new 07, I got for 24k. The other Zs they had were all 08, no used ones.

One question for you? Do you want a convertible or a hardtop. They are both excellent cars. You cant go wrong with either one. They are two different cars...its really hard to compare. V6 vs V4...Coupe vs Convertible...Slick shifting transmission or bolt action transmission.

I had an rsx-S...shifting to redline is fun but does get old.

I love S2ks...but I love 350Zs more.

please know that the S2K gets less mileage than a 350Z...and that the S2K has less power.

was this in Riverside...lol that is where I tried buying my Z..they said they had a Grand Touring 07....it was an 06 ended up buying a Touring from LBC.

[thomatt12]

Both cars are good and very capable. But I'll choose the 350Z any time of the day.

[V2Zee]

Like all the biased replies here, but it's true.If you want a convertible get the S2KIf you want a hardtop get the ZI own and drove both cars, I have to admit after a hard day's work getting into the Z and driving it home puts a smile on my face Oh and nissan don't have V-tec vroooomm! Oh my bad that's just the lag hehe. Out of the many times I drove the S, I only had the top down maybe half a dozen times, and we're talkin california sun too. Just get the Z, you can't go wrong, if you think you did, well I'll trade you for my AP2, just make sure you get anything but base model for the Z

[dasoupdude]

just make sure you get anything but base model for the Z

Eh.. I have a base model, it ain't bad.

[rmezz13]

the only reason people stay away from base model is because it lacks the LSD in every other model.... nothing is wrong with the car.... you can have the same smile in a base as you can a NISMO.

[dasoupdude]

Dish out a few hundred BOOM you can have the best rear end on the market.

Oh but wait, you don't have the volume buttons on the steering wheel which are an extreme 3 inches closer to you.

[ThuG LyFe]

i think it varies greatly on personal needs and interests. i drove a s2k and a g35 6mt coupe (which is not a z but similar i'd assume) and the difference is like night and day. yes the s2k doesnt have low end power like the z/g but the driving experience is soooo fun. when ur taking the engine to redline u can't stop smiling. not to mention it looks sexier and it's more unique and best part, it's a vert that doesn't look as disgusting as the z vert.

test drive both, some people fall in love w/ the s2k and some ppl like the z more. but you wont now until you drive one yourself. my choice? ap2 all the way and i'll be getting one as soon as i graduate.

[bmike818]

Dish out a few hundred BOOM you can have the best rear end on the market.

...that's what she said!

but seriously, for the Base Z drivers out there. Just be safe on rainy days, the lack of TCS or VDC allows the rear end to get loose easy in the rain. It's cool when you want it to, but sucks when you don't. Maybe it's just me but I get a certain feeling of security that I have VDC to save my butt if I do something stupid...which is alsmost every other day.

[rmezz13]

i don't have VDC or TCS on my performance and i have no problem in the rain at all. In fact i can drive about the same but obviously i am more cautious. I think its the FK452's i got, they are awesome, even in a down pour.... the wipers suck though!

[bmike818]

i think it varies greatly on personal needs and interests. i drove a s2k and a g35 6mt coupe (which is not a z but similar i'd assume)

You know what happens when you ASSume. You just compared a convertible with a 4 seater coupe

...and yes the Z and the G do not drive thesame.

[rmezz13]

You know what happens when you ASSume. You just compared a convertible with a 4 seater coupe

...and yes the Z and the G do not drive thesame.

+1

[SRTtoZ]

the s2000 is a nicce car but it just felt so weak to me...

Z FTW!

[whatsgrip]

Get the 08 Z. a full bolt-on one gave my brothers old stock SS a good scare from from 1st to the beginning of 2nd...lol.. a Full bolt-on S2000 didnt stand a chance with neither of them.

[lushuZpnai]

All opinion and suggestion are welcome.

lets say I have the option to pick a Honda S2K or a 350z with both car in the same price range. What would you guys pick ? Please don't be bias even though you guys love your Z and So do I. Please input on your personal driving experience on both car if you do have driven both cars before. Pros/ Cons , what to watch out for ? any minor concerns etc...

I have never driven the S2K and only heard a lot of good things about it.

Thanks in advance

Come to my dealership in Simi Valley. I have both at my disposal. I'll help you decide.

[Screenname]

Test drive both and see which you like more.

[Vic's Stang]

I have a Base Z model and I kinda was racing a guy while it was raining and we were in a curved street. when I was taking the turn felt like my back tire were loosing traction. I would have almost lost control, but I eased of the accelerator and took control over my car. Thank god nothing happened. I shouldn't have been racing that Saturn Ion piece of sh*t anyway