I'm *thinking* about buying either an s2000, a 350z, or a Solstice GXP. I expect 99% of people on here are going to be all about the s2000. But I wanted to get thoughts on how the s2000 compares to cars like the 350z and the solstice in reliability, maintenance cost, performance, etc.

I'm not too keen on the z3, z4, or a boxster b/c of maintenance cost concerns. The mx-5 is out b/c the only way I'm driving a car that girly is if it can break 60 in under 6 seconds (see Solstice GXP).

I want to keep my cost around 15k plus or minus a few grand.

My understanding is the s2000 got its last major engine overhaul in 04 and became a faster (but lower reving) vehicle. So, I'm leaning towards an '04 or newer s2000.

I'm also a big fan of the Solstice and GXP prices are getting really attractive for '07-'08. I test drove a base Solstice a few years ago and liked it, but it was lacking some in the speed dept. The GXP fixes that with 260hp, 0-60 in ~5.5 secs. I worry a lot about how much these things are going to cost to maintain though, due to the brand being completely axed. Any thoughts on that would be useful.

The 350z is really #3 on my preference list, and as such, I don't know much about what years I should focus on. I remember falling in love with this car in high school, and wanted one for the longest time. I'll definitely test drive one before I buy anything, but its just got an outside shot right now.

12/11/2010 12:02:42 AM

Solstice is a girls car

the 350 is a novelty that wears off faster than most

the s2000 is what you want, and is always good for an interesting drive??

12/11/2010 1:00:25 AM

have you considered a c5, s4, or e46 m3 vert?

my vote is s2000, but it wins by default. the solstice seems cheap/girly to me and the 350z feels heavy and unrefined. i don't like boxsters because they aren't 911s and z3s are lame unless they are a /// roadster. i don't have any experience with z4s, but don't really have anything against them.

as far as s2000s, in terms of 0-60, there really isn't any difference between the ap1 (01-03) and ap2 (04-08). the 2004+ cars are going to feel a bit more refined, have slightly more torque, and have better looking bumpers, headlights, wheels, and exhaust tips. the 2000-2003 is going to feel more hardcore.

i also think mazdaspeed miatas are pretty cool, although i'm not sure i would ever buy one over an s2000 (but absolutely would over the 350z and solstice).

[Edited on December 11, 2010 at 1:10 AM. Reason : ]

12/11/2010 1:06:49 AM

check out the M Roadster I loved mine but as with any roadster, it does not make a good daily driver/only car. S2000's are also great.

12/11/2010 3:16:12 AM

350z roadsters look like garbage.

If you can live with no torque the s2000 is w/o a doubt the way to go.

If you need torque it will be hard to beat either a e46 or e36 m3.

12/11/2010 8:40:35 AM

What is your definition of a roadster ?

I personally define it as a 2 seat front engine rwd car that was designed without a roof.

12/11/2010 8:53:25 AM

The Solstice GXP is by far the most rare and "unique" choice here. If that's something that matters to you I'd say go for it. Your parts/maintenance concerns are well founded though in light of Pontiac and Saturn getting axed. That just means that interior and other really car-specific stuff won't be available for long, but I bet most of the other main things you would need will still be available for years.

12/11/2010 9:18:41 AM

if you drive all three you will know.

the 350z roadster is a really poor sports car. It's a good 'gt'ish convertible though. It all depends on if you want raw performance or a cushy ride.

don't buy an s2k below year 2004. What dubs said is correct but consider you have to shift to 3rd in a 04+ to hit 60. The f22c is flat out better. I would go for an 06 if I were you.

good luck. It's a good time to be a buyer.

12/11/2010 10:02:15 AM

Buying a roadster and caring about 0-60 is doing it wrong.

12/11/2010 12:48:07 PM

i haven't driven a solstice GXP but i've ridden in one and it seemed pretty terrible. incredibly cramped and the visibility was terrible.

12/11/2010 12:49:33 PM

12/11/2010 1:06:39 PM

The 350z looks like absolute garbage as a convertible.

The Solstice/Sky are factory turbo cars, so you can probably extract more power pretty easily, but stock vs. stock, I've never read anything that suggested they would even arguably be desirable over an S2000. I will say that I haven't driven one, though.

I've owned two S2000s (both AP1s), and they are fantastically reliable and cheap to maintain. It's like a Civic with an appetite for sticky tires (which will be the case with any sports car). No kidding, I think the only thing I've ever had go wrong with either of them was my current car throwing a CEL for a vacuum leak when I first bought it (easy, cheap fix)--and that's with >100k miles on my current car, and driving my first S2000 from 35k-75k miles, supercharged the whole way.

S2000s aren't hardcore to the point of being difficult to live with as a daily driver, in my opinion, but they are on the fairly "focused" side of the sports car spectrum. I don't really mind the lack of torque, either, but recognize that they don't feel fast unless you keep the engine spinning in the top 1/3 of the tach. The feel of the controls, however, is fantastic. There's stuff that's faster, with more grip, etc, but S2000s are really great sports cars--a LOT of fun to drive.


I don't say all of that to push my car on you or anyone, but I guess I might as well offer it: I have an '00 S2000 up for sale. 106k miles, and I want $8900. It's in pretty good shape, although if you really wanted a super clean car, you'd need to replace the top and spend a few hundred bucks at a body shop getting the bottom of the front chin spoiler sprayed, along with a few parking lot dings in the driver's door (although for a 10-year old car, it's not bad).

12/11/2010 1:27:33 PM

350Z convertible owns.

That is all.

12/11/2010 3:20:29 PM

350z Roadster is going to be bigger and more comfy than the S2k. It's also got a lot more low RPM power which should make for good driveability. I think it would make a nice touring car, but I haven't driven one so take that for what it's worth.

The S2k is a great handling car, but lacks torque. Not really a problem as long as you don't mind driving it like you stole it. Once you get to the top end of first gear you can keep it in Vtec with each shift. I had one of these for a couple of years. Great fun. Just keep the revs up and go.

I wouldn't rule out Z3/Z4 for maintenance cost concerns. Just get it serviced at a place like Shade Tree Garage or any of the other good independent shops in the area and it shouldn't really cost any notable amount more than the others. I'd still probably go with the 350z or S2k unless you're looking at an M flavor BMW.

[Edited on December 11, 2010 at 3:43 PM. Reason : s]

[Edited on December 11, 2010 at 3:47 PM. Reason : s]

12/11/2010 3:42:30 PM

My Z roadster has more cup holders than seats. The trunk has instructions on how to properly insert a bag of golf clubs.

It is the epitome of luxury and opulence.

[Edited on December 11, 2010 at 9:14 PM. Reason : .]

12/11/2010 9:13:54 PM

the 350z trunk is a joke!!!!

I've driven both cars a few times back to back because my roomie,stein,has one. If I had to drive for two hours I'd take the z, anything shorter the s2000. The z isn't as buzzy and the top latch system is far superior.

12/11/2010 10:02:07 PM

There are 3 different engines in the 350Z roadster -- VQ35DE, VQ35DE-RevUp, and the VQ35HR. They change based on years -- so the newer the car, the better the engine.

You want the HR, but your price range is more in the normal DE range.

Another thing to keep in mind with the Z that hasn't been explicitly stated here is that it's heavy. They weigh in at 3400lbs (which is the roughly the curb weight of a 3 series).

It's a nice car, I love it, but it's far more an Infiniti in Nissan-branding than a "pure" sports car. Oh and if you ever decide to get adventurous and want to track it, keep in mind they don't make a roll bar for it.

Oh, if the top is down and you're going over 60mph, no rain makes it into the cabin.

12/11/2010 11:48:55 PM

As much as I like the S2k on paper, it just doesn't have enough power, I don't care how high you are in
the rev range, there's no torque. I'd rather drive a Z3M roadster. The 350z is too much of a piggy,
the S2k is not refined and gutless. The Boxster S is another refined and pure car choice that's worth a
look. I have very little knowledge of the Solstice choice, but I do know that parts will continue being
available as well as service, so I wouldn't rule it out based on that. Also, Lotus had something to do w/the
design of the chassis, perhaps it's a fun drive...

12/11/2010 11:58:06 PM

NMSJ

Pontiac or Saturn suck and are gonna start falling apart with some miles on them


s2000 FTW

12/12/2010 12:02:06 AM

The Z3 would be a good choice if you've always had a secret obsession to be James Bond from 1995.

12/12/2010 12:10:34 AM

z3m rofl.

12/12/2010 11:43:22 AM

I still say Solstice, just to be different.

12/12/2010 11:50:46 AM

This thread is a joke.

Just buy a civic. You probably won't even notice the difference in performance with the puttering around the city you'll be doing.

Roadster... Hah!!!!

12/12/2010 12:07:01 PM

In all seriousness, just get a miata. You will have plenty of fun.

12/12/2010 12:42:26 PM

S2k all the way.

12/12/2010 1:27:41 PM

Lots of good info in here so far...although it seems I offended a couple of people with my use of the term roadster

Quote :

"as far as s2000s, in terms of 0-60, there really isn't any difference between the ap1 (01-03) and ap2 (04-08). the 2004+ cars are going to feel a bit more refined, have slightly more torque, and have better looking bumpers, headlights, wheels, and exhaust tips. the 2000-2003 is going to feel more hardcore."

This is good to know. For some reason I was thinking the 04+ were considerably quicker. I wouldn't mind more hardcore. I'm having trouble finding many likely candidates within a reasonable distance from Charlotte though. I'll have to keep theduke's car in mind.

Quote :

"The Solstice GXP is by far the most rare and "unique" choice here. If that's something that matters to you I'd say go for it. Your parts/maintenance concerns are well founded though in light of Pontiac and Saturn getting axed. That just means that interior and other really car-specific stuff won't be available for long, but I bet most of the other main things you would need will still be available for years."

This is a good point that I hadn't really thought about.

Quote :

"Just buy a civic. You probably won't even notice the difference in performance with the puttering around the city you'll be doing. "

Ha. I already have a civic for puttering around the city. This would be more for "puttering" about on the back roads.

12/12/2010 6:28:10 PM

Quote :

"As much as I like the S2k on paper, it just doesn't have enough power"

Disagree. You are used to driving stuff that will flatten your eyeballs, and anything less feels weak to you. I've owned two cars that will run WAY into the 12s, and two more that were probably very close to 13-flat, and a stock S2000 has PLENTY of power to keep me thoroughly entertained.

I mean, it's certainly not a "horsepower car", but if you aren't afraid to drive it like you mean it, it will move very respectably. You just have to keep it on boil all the time, which is pretty easy with the help of the S2000's absolutely glorious transmission. I don't find it inadequate around town, either--but it doesn't feel like it has "sports car" amounts of power until 6k rpm.

Quote :

"This is good to know. For some reason I was thinking the 04+ were considerably quicker. I wouldn't mind more hardcore. I'm having trouble finding many likely candidates within a reasonable distance from Charlotte though. I'll have to keep theduke's car in mind. "

The S2k is easily the most "hardcore" of the cars you've listed...and no, AP2s are not faster or more powerful. They have marginally more torque and slightly lower RPM, and have a very slightly nicer interior, and slightly less aggressive suspension tuning. Incremental changes all around, pretty much. If I could pick and choose, I'd basically take an AP1 with an AP2's interior, but whatever, I'd really just buy whatever fit my budget that I found a good deal on.

If you get no-kidding serious about buying my car, I'll bring it up to Raleigh or Durham one weekend.




I think there's a case for a 350z coupe, but that's largely because they didn't make a hardtop S2000. I don't really "get" the 350z roadster (the case for which isn't strengthened by the roadster's exterior styling, which I consider to pretty much be a complete abortion).


The Boxster is a cool car, like Ahmet said...but you need an '02+ Boxster S if you're going to get one. The earlier, non-"S" Boxsters are pretty weak--an S2000 would eat them alive, for less money. Plus, Ahmet will swear there's nothing to worry about, and he's much more of a Porschephile than I am, but I am scared of all the early water-cooled Porsche engines...especially when I know from experience that S2000s are damned near bulletproof.

Z3 2.8 would be fun (dad had one), but an S2000 is about the same price, and will utterly rape it in every way, other than BMW-ness. A Z4 3.0 would match or maybe even better an S2000, performance-wise, and I'd probably buy one over a later-model S2000 if I was looking to spend mid-teens (although maybe you would also consider a C5 'Vette convertible, if that's your thing...very different car from most of the rest of these, though).

If I wanted something really cheap, I'd get either a 1st or early 2nd gen Miata...lots of fun (though very slow) for dirt cheap, and they will run forfuckingever and cost you very little. You can get a really nice 1st gen for probably $4k (or a "workable" example for $3k or so), and an early 2nd gen for maybe $5500-6000. An S2000 is a big step up the food chain, though, and if you can afford the price difference, I think it's worth it.

12/13/2010 12:40:08 AM

I'm certainly not scared to rev something, rev it all you want, it's a buzzy little engine that makes no torque.
I feel like there's just not enough power to have fun w/that chassis. That car feels as underpowered as a platform
as a C5 z06 feels overpowered. That's why it's so popular to double the output on an S2k, cause that's what it
takes to have fun in one. That car's just too poised. I want enough power to make the handling exciting in my
sports cars. It's like a Type R, I'd love to have one on track, but there's no way I'm going to put up w/it otherwise.

I like power, lots of it, but I can appreciate a car that makes little power. Indeed the S2k is the most hardcore
of the bunch, but I'd have more fun in a Boxster S or an M Roadster on a day to day basis.

[Edited on December 13, 2010 at 1:28 AM. Reason : formatting ]

12/13/2010 1:17:03 AM

off topic ....Right now good bmw buys are

'07 335i (coming off of 3 year lease)
'01-04 M3
E60 545i, 550i
'06-07 M roadster/coupe

ive been eyeing '08 550i with sports package and those gorgeous 19"s. you get lotsa car for mid to high 20s.

[Edited on December 13, 2010 at 1:38 AM. Reason : k]

12/13/2010 1:37:54 AM

Quote :

" Z4 3.0 would match or maybe even better an S2000, performance-wise, and I'd probably buy one over a later-model S2000 "

Given equal drivers the S2000 will beat a Z4 3.0 every time. The Z4's only edge is torque which is negated by its heavier curb weight.

Talage if you're more curious about the AP1 vs AP2 differences there's a lot of information about them on the S2000 message board (http://www.s2ki.com).

I've owned an S2000 for two years now and the only thing that bothers me when using it as a DD is it's lack of low end torque (which is further aggrivated in the summer by AC usage). However that's all but forgotten after a weekend at the track. As far as speed...if it were up to me the S2000 would have another 100-125 hp to make it perfect.

12/13/2010 1:41:48 PM