hokiemax

Sup nissan Z enthusiasts! I've been a member of my350z and 350zfan for some time now and I will continue to participate in Z forums because I love the 350z and I've only owned nissans, and just wanted to share pics of my new ride you guys. I was dreaming about getting the 350z ever since we all learned it will be produced, but I ended up getting the S2000 instead. But of course I still imagine what it would be like to be driving a Z. I was choosing between the S2000 and the enthusiast Z, and here are the factors that made me get the S2000. Oh and there was a honda dealer right next to the nissan dealer in my town and I just went for a casual test drive and thats how I ended up with the s2000. haha. I can't believe I'm saying this, but as soon as my butt was seated in the s2000, even before I started up the engine, I fell in love with it. I felt "at home". Now heres why I chose the S2000.

1. Convertible. since it was going to be my 2nd car, I figured I'd get MUCH MORE UTILITY out of a convertible. And after 2 months of having the s2000, I realized that I was indeed correct.

2. Leather. For my price range, which was the enthu model, it didn't come with leather. Leather was very important to me.

3. Handling and chassis and feel of the car. Of course the 350z has awesome handling, but it still didn't feel like the S2000. Oh boy S2000 really does have a super rigid chassis and the car literally feels like a go cart. 350z is more of a luxury cruiser sports car compared to the S2000.

4. Interior. The interior of the S2000 is really compact and cozy, and I liked it! It feels like the cockpit of a fighter jet. I guess coming from a Maxima, I really wanted a small sportster.

5. LSD. I was either going to get the base or the enthu Z, and the base doesnt have an LSD, but the S2000 did.

6. Projector HID. Once again, the base Z doesnt have the HID and no Z has projector headlights. Headlights on a maxima sucks and I really wanted a projector headlights, HID or not.

These are the main reasons why I chose the S2000, and I think I made the right decision. But so what. A 350Z is a 350z and I'd still like to have one and I still think about it almost everyday. Its like being married and thinking about your first love and thinking about what ifs. I guess if I had gone with the 350z, I'd prolly be dreaming about the s2000 often too. I love both cars so much.

The S2000, when in VTEC, is really awesome and lotta fun. Feels like how the 350z and the 2k2 maxima feel off the line. power wise, VQ35 is superior. VQ35 starts off the line with the kind of power S2000 produces in high RPM and doesnt stop til redline. awesome. I Yeah I know all about the VQ35. I drive a VQ30 everyday and I'd like a VQ35 powered car too.

Well, just wanted to chime in and say hi.

Pics.
http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbro...selected=336832


And whats up my maxima buddies! (cheston and briguymax and others)

MY350Z.COM

iTrader: (2)

do you remember me? i was VQracer @ Maxima.org

buzzdsm

I think you'll be happy. If the interior of the S2000 wasn't so cramped I'd probably be driving one today. 6'2 220 doesn't fit an a S2000. My knees hit the dash and the steering wheel.

Have fun. Vtec rocks.

350zroadster

iTrader: (1)

Well good luck with the S2000. Oh yeah, give us a holler when you find torque in that thing.....





oh come on, it was a joke

tbcz

The s2k is an awesome car. Good luck with it.

One thing I'm not clear on...you say that no Z has projector headlights...isn't that what the round lens in the below picture is? Or am I mistaken as to the meaning of a projector?

hokiemax

Hey thats projector lights! Is that a 350Z? lol. Is it a custom headlight housing?

and yeah I remember you VQRacer.

I'm tryin to persuade my twin brother to sell his 5spd 2k maxima for the 350z. And oh one of my good friends bought the '04 Z roadster. blue one. It's arriving in 3 weeks. After he breaks it in, we hope to do scientific highway runs and see how it goes.

AndyB

Same here. Before the 350Z roadster was anything more than a marketing promise I test drove the S2000. I am 6'2" and it was much too small for me. Too bad because I would have bought one otherwise.

Of course, now that my Z Roadster is getting closer (October) I am glad I waited. But it does make me wonder how many sales Honda lost in the USA market because it was so cramped.

(not as cramped as a Miata, but that is another story.)

AndyB

Blue Liquid

I was in your shoes but I decided with the Z, especially since my brother owns the S2000 and I'll always be able to drive it. Everything you mention about the Honda is true, it's a fantastic car. I'm happy as can be with my choice, but I still have a lot of respect for the S2000.

zerobanger

Personally, I think the S2000 is more of a race car than a Z. Actually, it definately is more of a race car. Both look great, but the S will have better handling, equal accelaration (at the price of high RPM launches), etc.

I would have a hard time to decide between the two, I think I would deal with the lack of torque and take the S, cause I like lightweight cars..vs cars that could use Jenny craig's services.

Z2k3

Not sure what you mean by "Projector Headlights" but if you mean Xenon headlights (the ones that look somewhat blue-ish at night) mine came with them stock too.

As for comparing the 2 cars well, there are some important differences you need to look at:

1. Base MSRP - S2000 $32,600/350z $26,370 (Both prices directly from the company websites)

2. 1/4 mile/0-60 speed - S2000 14.9/6.3 stock 350z 14.1/5.4 stock (all stats taken from www.car-stats.com)

I don't wanna disrespect the S2000 because I think it's a fine looking car, but you can get better overall performance for cheaper with the 350z. Plus I'm a big guy I know there would not be near enough room for me in a S2000 lol. The way I look at it the only real reason to pick a base S2000 over a base 350z is that the S2000 is a convertible.

neohalo1

I love the S2000--you just can't go wrong with a VTEC Honda, that's for sure! If I were to buy a convert., I would definately buy the s2000--have fun with it!

hokiemax

Yes you are right. That was almost the only reason why I went with the S2000.

Dissident

iTrader: (1)

If I didnt have a bike already, I woulda bought the s2000 as well. Or if I had a second car. But, you can't really go wrong with either one.

tbcz

These are the headlights on all the models with HID (Enthusiast, Touring, Track, Performance) and I'm pretty sure on the base as well, although lit by halogen bulbs there. Not a custom install.

YellowBullet

Not to be picky or a magazine racer, but the same car-stas.com has the S2000 going 13.8 in the 1/4 and 5.2 0-60.

So would you be willing to revise your statement and claim that S2000 has "better overall performance" based on a single fact that some web site has faster times for an S2000 when the tests are done on different days, different surfaces, in different weather and by different drivers?

I didn't think so.

FairladyZ

I personally hate the s2000, it looks like your in a sardine (sp) can, that revs like a two dollar hooker. Every performance magazine has the 350Z ahead of the S2000. They say the Z is more for the track and the s2000 is more for the street. Also the interior of the S2000 is so cheap looking, like most of the hondas.

vincenzobar

mine came with hids?!?! LSD? Acid? I didn't get that with my car? Man I am pissed now!!!! j/k

Oh and i read in R&T they are within a 10th of a sec or so of each other.

Anyway, I agree they do look like sardines!!! thats funny!

have fun with it!

Z2k3

No I wouldn't be willing to revise my statement

I see where you got that 13.8 from though, you looked at the S2000 from the year 2000 and used those times. Well I'll revise my statement when we can compare the 2000 350z with the 2000 S2000, oh wait there is no 2000 350z guess we can't compare the two

As for the 2003 model though every source I've seen has the 350z beating the S2000 (Motortrend, Car & Driver, Road & Track). Personally if you come up against a unmodded 03 S2000 at the track and you are stock too, I'd say you will win everytime assuming you are at least a decent driver.

yooda

I love the S2k. I have a DTB 350z however and when making the descision to purchase I drove both. Both are awesome cars. I've also owned a CBR 929 RR (honda motorcycle) and an Acura (a honda). You cannot beat the reliability of a Honda. PERIOD.

Of course S2k'ers are going to hate on the 350z'ers and vice versa. Its stupid really. The cars are so similar in performance that it will always be the driver that makes the difference, even in street drags.

I got the Z because of the engine (3.5 liters normally aspirated), the stiff chassis, and the perfect balance. The fact that she's a sweet looking beeatch was helpful too. I felt like you just got more car for your money.

The 4 banger in the S2k is an engineering marvel. They tweaked and tuned the hell out of that thing. But from my POV its just about as tweaked as it can get. Sure you can drop a turbo etc, but from the factory the engine comes so highly tuned your performance improvement margin and gains per dollar or yen will be small.

The Z on the other hand is a platform just begging to be modified. The 287 hp that the 3.5L normally aspirated ENGINE can easily be bumped to 450 w/turbos in a safe and sane manner. And thats just the beginning. Everyone has seen the crazy mod's for the skyline engine and thats an older engine w/smaller displacement. Due to the newness of the Z, mods are still under development. In a year or two, we'll have floods of them.

To continue my rambling, lets expand our discussion to the Evo's and the STi's. I love both these cars as well. They hall incredible amounts of ***. the 2.5L and 2.0L engines w/turbos are awesome. THe all wheel drive, HOLY FARKING CRAP!! But again these are heavily moded cars in stock form. Put the same type of mods on a Z and the Z will be faster.

Anyhow, arguing over the best of these cars is a childish one. Its like arguing over the best religion. Whats the point? You believe in the temple of the S2k, I attend the temple of the Z, those guys over there are crusaders for the second coming of the WRX aka the STI, and the Lan Evo guys are wandering the desert driving over the burning bush.

We drive fast, we lateral G hard and we walk away smiling at the end of the day.

At least I do.

alphared

I was in the same situation, S2000 or the Z. have to say, luck I didn't make my final decision in the summer time. I preorder like most, but when summer rolled around I wished I had gotten the S2000 (cause its a convertable). But in the end, the Z was much better car for the price.
Have to say, if leather was one of the main factor, why didn't you look at the touring model? (applies to the headlight and LSD issue too)
I also find it hard to believe that the S2000 is more ridged than than the Z, since it is a convertable.
Can't argue about the size, the S2000 is smaller, but the Z isn't that big either (its smaller than a civic)
Can't say the same for the interior. As plain as the Z interior looks, the S2000 is more so. It really looks like it was an afterthought (which I understand for alot of sports cars)
Not knocking the S2000, Like I said I was about to buy one. The major selling point was that the Z was new and creative plus I want to be the first one on the block to own one (still kinda true today) Plus the Low End torque, I really didn't like how you need to rev to get the torque in honda's.
Well, like you, I'm very happy with the choice I made. And thats really the point right