With critically acclaimed styling and loyal followings, Nissan's 350Z and Audi's TT coupes and convertibles are two of the most popular sports cars on the market.

They play in a competitive category that also includes the BMW Z4, the Honda S2000, the Porsche Boxster and DaimlerChrysler's (nyse: DCX - news - people ) Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class convertibles, as well as General Motors' (nyse: GM - news - people ) Chevrolet Corvette coupe and convertible.

While the 350Z and TT do not have enough horsepower to challenge the most expensive names on that list, the base prices for that group of cars start in the mid-$20,000 range and stretch to $52,000 for the 400-hp 2005 Corvette convertible and up to $61,000 for the 355-hp Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG.

The 350Z and TT fit differently into that lineup of vehicles. The 350Z is the value-conscious choice in this category. Unlike the TT, which has a much nicer interior, the 350Z is not a premium nameplate--but it is a great sports car.

The two cars are close both in terms of price and performance. The TT has the advantage of optional all-wheel drive, which is great in snow, while the 350Z can be hellacious on wet roads if you're not in the mood for sliding around. (However, the Nissan's rear-wheel- drive configuration appeals more to sports car purists than the TT's optional front-wheel-drive layout.)

The 350Z has the trump card in terms of horsepower, with a 300-hp, 35th-anniversary model for 2005, but the TT's flagship 3.2 quattro series offers a high-tech, sequential manual transmission (you change gears with paddles on the steering wheel). This transmission doesn't use a clutch pedal, but it is much faster than similar units thanks to its use of two clutches, and can simulate a racing technique called heel-and-toe downshifting by blipping the gas during downshifts to make them smoother.

In sales performance, this matchup is no contest. In the first ten months of this year, the TT's American sales totaled only 18% of the 350Z's. Audi sold 6% more TTs than Mercedes sold SLKs in the same period, but the TT equaled only 36% of the sales of BMW's Z4. The rejuvenated Corvette outsells the TT in this country by about 7-to-1. Sales of both the TT and the 350Z have declined this year; perhaps now that the cars have been on the market for some time, the public has cooled off from its enthusiastic reception of what at the time had been seen as striking new designs.

However, the lesson of the cars' sales figures is that room exists at both the top and the bottom of this already expansive category of vehicles. Premium automakers enjoy having two-seat roadsters in their lineups. BMW, Porsche, Cadillac and Ford Motor's (nyse: F - news - people ) Jaguar subsidiary have them. In addition to the SLK, Mercedes has its flagship SL-Class, which can cost six figures. Mark Igo, general manager of Nissan's Infiniti subsidiary, said in an interview in January that his brand would love to have such a vehicle.

At the other end of the price spectrum, the success of the 350Z suggests that General Motors is thinking in the right direction with its forthcoming Pontiac Solstice roadster. While the company has not yet announced pricing for that vehicle, expect it to cost closer to $20,000 than $40,000.

In an interview last year, GM Vice Chairman Robert A. Lutz said that he championed the Solstice's development because "the world does not need another $40,000 roadster." Maybe he's right. Maybe it needs more $25,000 roadsters--and more $60,000 roadsters. For a more detailed look at the segment, please see the slide show that follows.

Click here for the slide show.

http://www.forbes.com/vehicles/2004/..._1117show.html

 

My Z will take that Audi to school. Probably not on ice, but I'll leave racing on ice to folks who like bungee jumping.

 

It's kinda a weird comparison. In nearly every aspect of the article (except for cabin comfort), the Z beats the TT.

 

Hey... total newb here seriously thinking about getting a Z. Are they really that bad in the rain? In the summer? They slide around a lot?

 

Its a damn rwd sports car! Traction is limited when wet.

 

I've never had problems in rain...but during the dry season if it does rain there is so much oil on the road that it could be a problem.

 

Most rwd vehicles are a handful in the rain, however most modern rwd vehichles such as the Z have some combination of traction control, vehicle stability control and limited slip differential to help you. What is more important, however is driver behavior and the condition of your tires. If you drive like a meathead and have bald tires, it does not matter what vehicle you drive.

AWD is more secure in inclement whether,however, it is not a failsafe nor foolproof.

 

High performance RWD drive vehicles are only difficult to handle on wet, gravelly or oily roads if you are gong to fast for the road conditions. Most of the time when you lose control of the vehicle it's due to operator error. You have to be constantly alert and slow down when the conditons dictate it!

 

I drove from Cleveland to New York in a heavy downpour going about 90-95 mph the entire time. I did not have 1 problem with traction.

 

You are taking crazy pills.

 

Are there tires out there that give you the best of both worlds: high performance but decent traction in the wet weather? Yes I know dumb question but again I'm new to the RWD sports car thing.

 

It rains here a lot and the only problem I have is when I floor it on slick oily roads. But if you drive like a normal person, rain isn't an issue.

There are all kinds of tires. I'm sure there are some decent tires that do better in the rain than strict perf tires. But you will have to sacrifice something in order for them to handle water well.

 

That's absurd.

 

Where I live it does not hardly ever rain, but the few times it did, oil does rise to the surface making for a slick road. But if you drive with common sense you won't have any problems. The guys who crash there cars are people who drive like there in dry conditions weaving in and out of traffic. Just drive careful and you'll be fine.

 

Z does not handle well on wet roads. I've had two serious hydroplane scares at moderate speed.

 

To hell with rain, what about the friggin snow??!! Driving the Z in the snow or ice is like a King's Island amusement park nightmare ride. I will NEVER do that again LOL.

I dont see how the author can even compare the TT and the Z...I have smoked several TTs, no sweat.

 

That's not because the road was wet...you hydroplane when you're going too fast through a puddle.

 

I thought I read somewhere the the designers of the S0-3's thought of the design like this:

Most drivers never can reach the full potential of the maximum dry performance tires, so they actually designed the tires with wet traction in mind by limiting the dry traction, but keeping it at a limit far more than most driver would need in the dry.

I can't confirm that, but I swore I read it in some magazine.

Also, I believe that the Pilot Sport A/S tires are good in rain too.

 

Sounds like there are some varying opinions here on the wet road topic. I drive carefully in the rain and at safe speeds, I just don't want to be hydroplaning all over the place. We get quite a bit of rain here in Philly so it's important that it's relatively safe while driving smart. As far as the snow goes.... If I was ever to drive the Z in the snow I would without hesitation put Blizzaks on it first. I've heard nothing but good things.

 

is the TT changing style very soon???