Nissan 350Z or Honda S2000 ??
Discussion
For circa 20K I can pick up a low mileage 52 plated 350Z or a moderate mileage 52 plated S2000.
I'm considering going for an S2000 then chopping it in for a 350Z in a year or so.
Which would you have and why?
Obviously I'm particularly interested in the opinion of anyone who has driven both cars.
I'm not interested in any other cars at this point so you're wasting your time extolling Beemers, Holdens or anything else lairy and RWD.
I'm considering going for an S2000 then chopping it in for a 350Z in a year or so.
Which would you have and why?
Obviously I'm particularly interested in the opinion of anyone who has driven both cars.
I'm not interested in any other cars at this point so you're wasting your time extolling Beemers, Holdens or anything else lairy and RWD.
S2000 is an awesome nearly new car for circa £20k, make sure you get one of the improved ones with glass rear screen and modified suspension, lack of torque sub 3k revs is not really an issue because it revs past 3k soo quick, GT version (really just a hard top) worth seeking out as it adds little to value used
How anyone can choose a snotty old boxster or pay 10k for an equivelent aged one is beyond me. IMHO
350Z cant really comment
>> Edited by mustard on Saturday 28th February 21:20
How anyone can choose a snotty old boxster or pay 10k for an equivelent aged one is beyond me. IMHO
350Z cant really comment
>> Edited by mustard on Saturday 28th February 21:20
havent driven either so disregard any opinion I may offer.
However, I think the S2000 is a lovely car and does everything admirably well. Write ups from owners seem to suggest it does what it says on the tin without any major issues.
Not a great fan of the Nissan yet, but as you say, you can change after a year and neither of these motors seem to suffer much depreciation but I guess its the usual rule of a new car depreciating more than a second hand one, unless 350's are attracting premiums but would be surprised a year down the line.
However, I think the S2000 is a lovely car and does everything admirably well. Write ups from owners seem to suggest it does what it says on the tin without any major issues.
Not a great fan of the Nissan yet, but as you say, you can change after a year and neither of these motors seem to suffer much depreciation but I guess its the usual rule of a new car depreciating more than a second hand one, unless 350's are attracting premiums but would be surprised a year down the line.
well this is my thinking - a year old S2000 for 12 months or so, then a year old 350Z. Get the best of both worlds and avoid the single biggest depreciation by not buying new.
I was rather dribbling while loitering at my local Datsun garage the other day though. They've got a demo car in too - Might have to take a test flight next week
I was rather dribbling while loitering at my local Datsun garage the other day though. They've got a demo car in too - Might have to take a test flight next week
Got to be the Z car if you ask me. That V6 sounds glorious and I prefer the low down, good old fashioned grunt compared to the rev-the-nuts-off-it VTEC in the Honda. I also think that the handling of the S2000 is much less predictable, especially at high speed. I wasn't convinced about the looks of the Z initially, but the interior is a very nice place to be. The S2000 is too cramped and that digital speedo was last seen on Knight Rider.
I bought an S2000 a year ago and think it's one of by better motoring decisions. I know some think it's a bit lacking on the amount of cylinders front, but believe me the car's a rocket. I had a couple of TVRs before and it took a little time to get used to the change from 4 or 5 litres to 2. The car is soooo engaging. It's a doddle to drive it like a Morris 1000 if you're not in the mood but rev it and use the gearbox and the thing comes alive. Needless to say the build quality is superb - don't want to tempt providence but nothing at all has gone wrong in 9000 miles. Service intervals are 9000 miles and cost around £150-£180 apparently (although I haven't had one yet). That VTEC engine revving to 9000 is pretty intoxicating as well.
Bit of a biased opinion of the S2000 and I haven't driven a 350Z, which also looks like a good choice, but if you like top down motoring there's only on way to go…
Plenty of well-loved second hand S2000's here:
http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=120
Good luck with the hunt, Paul
Bit of a biased opinion of the S2000 and I haven't driven a 350Z, which also looks like a good choice, but if you like top down motoring there's only on way to go…
Plenty of well-loved second hand S2000's here:
http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=120
Good luck with the hunt, Paul
Corin Denton said:
350Z, smart looking piece of kit, the Honda just looks like any other jap-crap british wannabe!
last summer I was fortunate to borrow an S2000 in Silverstone Grey then the following weekend a Guards Red Boxster and was amazed to find the S2000 turned far more heads despite being the more understated car. IMHO 350Z looks a bit flash whereas the S2000 has some understated style
>> Edited by mustard on Sunday 29th February 10:09
hut49 said:to be honest no. My local Datsun warehouse reckoned the Z ragtop won't arrive over here until next year and I really didn't like the pics I saw anyway..
Can you wait until the 350Z ragtop get here? They're 
If I went for the S2000, it'd be a GT and would spend 75% of it's life with the hardtop on..
IMO roof off motoring is such a rare treat with the weather in this country that it ain't worth the concimitant risk of a jealous twat with a knife strolling by.
Cheers Mustard. Next question then.
Presumably I should go for a genuine UK car?
How do I easily identify an import? Are there agencies that can check their history easily now?
Presumably with an import I'd have the usual crap of wrong suspension setup and tyres for the UK and unobtainable spares? Is the 112mph limiter easily disabled?
And if, on balance, a decent import looked on the cards, how much cheaper can I expect one to be than the equivalent UK car?
Presumably I should go for a genuine UK car?
How do I easily identify an import? Are there agencies that can check their history easily now?
Presumably with an import I'd have the usual crap of wrong suspension setup and tyres for the UK and unobtainable spares? Is the 112mph limiter easily disabled?
And if, on balance, a decent import looked on the cards, how much cheaper can I expect one to be than the equivalent UK car?
stay with a UK car if you can, EU imports are ok, providing they have been registered with Honda UK, if they have then the warranty will remain, (think it might be two years instead of 3yrs though), there are quite a few that have come into the country from Cypress.
At the end of the day only consider one of these if the price is right a good £1500-£2k cheaper)
AS regards to checking a cars origin start of with the service book, looking for a UK dealer stamp.... if its missing or unstamped be suspicious, also HPI reports on imports or quite often vague, giving engine no.s as ' not know' or 'not specified' all to do with the manual process these cars are registered using
>> Edited by mustard on Sunday 29th February 12:33
At the end of the day only consider one of these if the price is right a good £1500-£2k cheaper)
AS regards to checking a cars origin start of with the service book, looking for a UK dealer stamp.... if its missing or unstamped be suspicious, also HPI reports on imports or quite often vague, giving engine no.s as ' not know' or 'not specified' all to do with the manual process these cars are registered using
>> Edited by mustard on Sunday 29th February 12:33
But the S2000 is better, you know it isPaul 2000 said:
Cheers Mustard. Next question then.
How do I easily identify an import?
One giveaway is that imports don't have headlamp washers (IIRC)
Paul
another give away is the alarm remotes should have honda on them
IIRC you get a back smallish square on which is just remote locking and two bigger grey ones which operate the alarm, most imports are fitted with an after market system
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