Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Coupes & Convertibles Honda S2000 Honda S2000 vs. Nissan 350Z
183 messages, Last post on Sep 08, 2007 at 11:04 AM
You are in the Honda S2000 Forum. Your Host is claires
|
Replying to: biancar (Apr 27, 2007 8:19 pm) The S2000 is one of the last serious, uncompromised "sports cars" you can buy new today - and it's no toy. It was built from the ground up to be one of the best sports cars on the road - period. I think the 350Z has a nice blend of performance and comfort, and can see why it's popular. But, if someone is looking for a "grand touring" car with a solid blend of sport and comfort, what does the 350Z have that the MazdaSpeed6 doesn't?
|
|
|
Replying to: fedlawman (Apr 28, 2007 7:42 am) A convertible top. 
|
|
|
Replying to: fedlawman (Apr 28, 2007 7:42 am) Better yet, what does the 350Z have that the G35 and soon to be relaesed 330 hp G37 doesn't? Here's my point (again): The S2000 is truly a ground up lightweight high performance sportscar with as much innovative engineering as Acura put in the original NSX. The 350Z is, as even biancar points out, much more of a GT / Touring car in both weight, size and driving dynamics. I applaud Infiniti for the G35/G37. As a 4 passenger coupe, it has very competitive performance for the price. But the 350Z is not a visceral, tossable, outright hoot to drive sports car, IMO. As for "the convertible top" answer...well, that takes the 350Z even further away from the sports car category. If one wants a convertible 2 seater that weighs 700-800 lbs more than a Boxster or S2000 and only 500-600 lbs less than an Isuzu Trooper, that's certainly your perogative. But I think one is stretching the term beyond reason to call that a sports car/roadster. And in complete denial of the facts to call it "ground up". |
|
|
Replying to: biancar (Apr 28, 2007 8:34 am) Maybe it's just me again, but when I've owned convertibles (an Alfa Romeo and a Miata), I can easily rest my elbow on the door sill, see all around outside the car, and feel the wind in my face and hair. I've noticed that when I see a 350Z convertible, all I can see is the drivers head peeking out from inside the cockpit. It's like they're sitting in a deep tub up to their chin, surrounded by windows (rolled up, of course) and a wind blocker - not exactly my idea of a convertible.
|
|
|
Replying to: fedlawman (Apr 28, 2007 12:13 pm) Maybe that wouldn't be true of habitat cuz he says he's a short guy, but it's what I've seen. And even habitat switched out of his Honda after only 2 1/2 years to get a much more expensive car. FTR, I've only seen people in convertibles/roadsters (of any make) with the windows up and top down in the early spring and late fall, when I suspect they've got the seat heaters on as well, just trying to extend the season. God bless 'em. Personally I very rarely drive like that, but will admit to doing it sometimes. Anyway, I'm very happy with my Z, would recommend it to anyone who's looking for a fun to drive, reliable, very manueverable, roadster. And I'm sure Honda owners feel the same.
|
|
|
Replying to: biancar (Apr 28, 2007 4:24 pm) Actually, I traded my s2000 on an Acura TL 6-speed in 2004 after my Maxima turned 150k miles. It wasn't until a year and a half later that I got the sports car bug again and had an opportunity to splurge. I was considering the Boxster S, but after several test drives, started convincing myself it wasn't worth $25k+ more than another S2000. Then I made the mistake of taking my wife and kids to check out the Boxster S "one last time". When I pulled back into the lot, they were all waiting for me in a 911 Cab. The rest is history. But I still recommend the S2000 over the base Boxster to those that ask. "Maybe that wouldn't be true of habitat cuz he says he's a short guy," Ouch. Did I say "short"? O.K., so I'm 5'7" / 160 +/- and the S2000 fit me like a glove. Care to share your dimensions?
|
|
|
Replying to: habitat1 (Apr 30, 2007 4:36 pm) And I'm surrounded by brothers-in-law and my nephews who start at 6', and the tallest is 6'8". So I think of anything shorter than 5'10" as "short." My husband barely passes 5'10". I'm the shortest of the women in my family. We both feel like midgets when with my sisters and their families. Normal people probably do not feel this way. Interesting factoid: I was doing a little research on the J.D. Power site, and found that about a third of Z buyers are women. (The site doesn't break out demographics for roadsters vs. coupes, so this is all-inclusive.) About one-fourth of S2000 buyers are women. Now it's definitely true that the sides of the Z come up higher than they do on the S. You don't happen to like that; I do. I wonder if it's a female/male difference. Going out on a limb here, I think women in general look for safety and the feeling of being protected, perhaps consciously, perhaps just instinctively. In a roadster, obviously you're much more open to your surroundings, for good or for bad. And perhaps the higher sides just feel more protective? When I test drove the Miata, as a comparison, I felt very UN-protected, especially on the Beltway, and after that thought I would never want a roadster. But when I drove the Z for the first time (and I was comparing it with the then-brand new Volvo C70, which felt comfy but very staid), it felt fast, fun, sexy AND safe to me. Pretty much describes the ideal date, er, car, no?
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: biancar (Apr 30, 2007 9:34 pm)  All kidding aside, I like the lower side so I can put my arm on the edge. I cannot do that in the Z, not comfortably anyway. I'm 5'9" 140lbs. At my size, dimensions, the S fits me in every way. Does anyone else find the seats slippery in the S or the Z? It could have just been the clothing I was wearing at the time...
|
|
|
Replying to: accelerator (May 01, 2007 5:33 am) Anyway - no, I never felt the leather seats were slippery. Never tried the cloth but wouldn't think they would be. |
|
|
Let me start off by saying once I started reading this tread I was hooked and knew I would be joining just to add this. Now on to the good stuff. I like both of these cars. I owned a 72 240Z for 6 years. It was my baby and I bought it lots of toys. It was punched out to a 280 with 11.5:1 compression (AV fuel was a must), gave it a crane rally cam, mikuni 6pack and a decent exhaust. Everyone’s favorite question was did I have a small block chevy under the hood and they were always surprised when they saw the inline six. I have a Mustang, a TR7, a 72 and a 77 Camaro, a ton of motor cycles including a 03 R1 plus some family cars (I have wife and 4 kids). When they released the new Z I figured it was a shoe in for my next car. When the time came I shopped around a drove a bunch of cars. What I drive now is a S2k and have put over 128K miles on it. I commute 135 miles a day in it and except for some really bad traffic days I love it to death. That being said a really bad traffic day is 3 hours of stop and go each way which is enough to drive any stick driver insane. I’m 6’2” and 210 pounds and fit well into the S. The biggest problem I have with it is keeping from getting pulled over for speeding down the back roads once I brake free from traffic. The Z is a great car and I wouldn’t kick it out of the garage but the S2K reminds me of my old 240 so much more that the 350 does. A true light, fast and agile sports car that put a smile on your face the second you got behind the wheel. Don’t know if the original poster is even reading this tread anymore but a lot of people are asking the same question and have found there way here. The reason there are so many different kinds of cars is because we all like something different. The only true way to tell which is best for you is to get behind the wheel of both. The answer will be clear to you, I’m sure. |
|
You are here:
Forums
Coupes & Convertibles Honda S2000 Honda S2000 vs. Nissan 350Z
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2009 Honda S2000
2009 Nissan 350Z
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
