I know this is all a matter of opinion, but please specify how the Z roadster is a better car? The S2K is lighter, has a faster 0-60 time, pound for pound a more powerful engine, handles better, and the best reason of all.... it's a Honda! Not to knock Nissa at all, but Honda builds a better car than Nissan! The only argument for the Z's superiority would be more storage room? And if you like the way it looks more than the S2K.

 

The Z and and the S2000 are in totally different car classes. It's kind of apples and oranges, and I dont think you could say one is "better" than the other. Their driving dynamics are worlds apart. One drives the Z with brute force, whereas the s2000 is like a precision scalpel.

BTW from what I have read, many people claim the Z/G35 aren't that fun to drive.

 

thats not really true since the z came out with the roadster....and honda added the hard top to the s2k...lots of reporters and "car gurus" are putting them in the same class...both offer coupes and roadsters...both are rwd...i believe the Z has more hp (correct me if im wrong) but the s2k has probably the best handling next to an exotic hands down.

 

The Z has about 286 hp I believe.

 

Do you thionk you could elaborate more on the problems the first 2 years had?

 

well one had a 00 model and he was drivin one day and some part of the supsension snaped or cracked in half...honda techs couldnt figure it out they tried to blame him on it he was driving on the a street it caused his to spin out... another one had a 01 model his tranny went out on him 4x with in 1 year but they did endup givnig him a new one.

 

The hardtop has always been an option for the s2000; that still doesn't make it a coupe.

One car has a big, torquey 3.5L V6, whereas the other has a high output (for its displacement), high revving 2.2L I4 with an 8000 rpm redline. The lightest 350Z is 400 lbs heavier than the S2000, the heaviest 350Z is 700 lbs heavier. The 350Z can be optioned out to the umpteenth degree, with amenities like navigation and power seats whereas the s2000 is very spartan, and there really arent any options to choose from.

I dont think the average buyer will cross shop between the two cars. Those who dont understand the S2000 wont even test drive it, let alone buy it.

 

A spartan...! I couldn't have said it better myself. Don't get me wrong, I like the 350Z, but the S2K is a real "drivers" car. The 350Z doesn't live up well to it's predecessor, it more of a little playboy's car....

 

350z is faster than the s2k sadly . a hard top beat us about a car length..

 

What's so sad about that? Lot's of cars are faster than the s2000 in a straight line. It's not a drag queen, never was.

 

hmmm i thought hard top option wasnt availiable till 03

 

Maybe you guys don't know how to drive it? Unless the 350Z's top speed is greater, the S2K is faster! I beat a 350Z back when I had a 95' Mustang GT. All I had was a CAI, and exhaust, and once I got to 3rd, I had pulled about a car length and a half in front of him.

I was embarrassed when I tried to race an S2K! He smoked me like a cigar!

 

I test drove an S2000 a couple weeks back. I have to say I was tempted to trade my tC in, but then again a RWD convertible that I barely fit into (6'3") is hardly practical in Colorado with the winter coming up. I'll probably wait until I know I'll be in a nicer climate for an extended period of time, then its either that or an Elise as a second car. The S2000 is faster than the 350Z, btw. Maybe the 300hp variant that came out this year will match it, but the Nissan is an overweight tank in comparison.

 

THe 350z hard top is faster than the s2k. THe convertible is 400 pounds heavier so its not as fast..


And yes my friend does know how to drive it watch the video of him..

 

From road and track's initial tests of the cars.
S2k- 0-60=5.5, 1/4=14.1
350Z- 0-60=5.6, 1/4=14.3

Maybe the results here aren't characteristic of typical performance since the average S2K driver probably doesn't know how to launch well. I'm not going to doubt the fact they clocked the S2000 at a faster time, as thats what they do for a living.

 

Thank you for clearing this up for me. I told you guys, but you didn't want tolisten.

S2K = REAL race car!

350Z = Rich brats car!

 

Have you guys read the latest Modified? How about a 615WHP 2001 S2000! Here's some specs....

Honda 2.0L F20C Inline-4
Balanced, blueprinted and sleeved
10.1:1 CR JE Forged Pistons - 11,000 RPM Redline!!!
NX 100-shot Direct-port Wet System
Precision SC-61 Turbocharger
All stainless piping and P&P head

615WHP/415lb-ft @ 27PSI!!
(515WHP on 93 octane!)

And that's only a small fraction of what's been done....all by a 19 year-old in Hagerstown, MD!

 

^ That's sick!!! I wouldn't mod my S2K like that, but it's very impressive.

 

The rear suspension during the first two years had a tendency to kick out/snap oversteer if you don't control the car. It also had some wheel hop problems due to the hard suspension setup. So if you hit a bump on the road, better hold on and control the car.

Honda gave the latter year S2Ks a softer rear suspension and may have beefed up the drivetrain. This helps with the unwanted loose rear end problem.

 

The 2.2 is a stroked version of the 2.0 liter. It still redlines @ 8k, so for those that like winding it up you can still do that. And they made it understeer.

http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/ro...0403scc_s2000/

But the 2.2 may not be all it's cracked up to be (...so I just drove a '02 again to make sure...damn what a cool job!):

http://www.epinions.com/content_191441178244

For 2004 Honda stroked the engine from 2.0 to 2.2 liters. Peak output remains the same as before, 240 horsepower, but this peak now occurs at 7800 rather than 8300 RPM. Many reviewers have emphasized the larger engines stronger midrange, as indicated by nine more foot-pounds of torque at 6500 RPM, 1000 lower than the 2.0's peak. Me, I didn't much notice the stronger midrange--and I drove a 2002 again to be sure.

What I did notice was the narrower power band. As before, the VTEC system's high-lift cam lobes come into play at 6000 RPM, transforming the engine. Yet the redline is 1000 RPM lower, at 8000 RPM, because engines with a longer stroke cannot rev as high--the limit essentially being the distance traveled by the pistons each second (i.e. piston velocity). Result: the VTEC band is now only 2000 RPM rather than 3000. Unless you shift very near the redline the engine falls out of its powerband. That, and a wider power band is simply more fun to play with.

Wonder if a VTEC controller would 'fix' that problem???