Nissan 370Z Forum - View Single Post - About to pull the trigger....but need a favor.

alan93rsa · 03-22-2009, 10:45 AM

S2000 vs. 370Z my take:

Highway Cruising/Noise - 370Z much quieter. You can easily carry on a conversation in the Z unless you are on some grooved highway and then the Z gets louder. However, that is a function of the tires. Noise from gravel I'm not sure. Anytime I was on a back road with a bit of gravel here and there I wasn't out for a quiet cruise so I don't remember what the S2000 was like. Having recently passed a construction site I can tell you you will hear the gravel clinking in the Z wheel wells.

Stock Exhaust Note - I like the Z's better.

Bumps/Potholes - I don't see a huge difference. The Z may be better over bumps but the 19" tires should be worse than the stock S2000's tires on pot holes. In Ohio we have developed a 6th sense for pot holes, in Jersey they have added a 7th sense.

Steering - I rate a tie. I liked both

Rear end in high speed sweepers - To me the Z feels more stable. The S2000 had the early, 70's, 911 feel with the rear feeling a bit twitchy. Not a bad thing if you have driven a lot of 911's in fact quite a bit of fun.

On Track - I have yet to take the Z on a track. I'll solve that problem next month at Mid-Ohio. I do remember the S2000 being a lot of fun on the track. I let Dave Schardt from ForgeLine take the S2000 out once for an evaluation. Dave came back in smiling and said it felt like a small Cup Car, you had to keep shifting to keep it in the power band. He also commented that the transmission felt really good.

Brakes - the Z wins

Cooling/Oil - The S2000 wins but I think the cooling will be solved shortly at a reasonable cost.

Transmission - I think on just shifting I'd give it to the S2000. It has a great feel. But when you add in the SRM, synchro rev match, I give it back to the Z.

Interior space - It goes to the Z

Power - Z wins

Engine longevity - My gut feeling says that a stock S2000 engine beat equally and hard on the track will outlast the Z engine. (Excuse me I'm having trouble with the zipper on my Nomex)

Mods - There seem to be plenty to go around for both and more coming for the Z, it's new. My favorite one for the S2000 was the KraftWerks super charger. A lot of bang for the buck.

Replacement Parts - They seem to be about the same. Coming from a long string of Porsches I can't believe how cheap the parts are for the S2000 and Z. Two gear sets for a 993 cost more than an entire Z transmission.

Would I buy a Z again - Yes

Would I buy an S2000 again - No

Which car would I pick for a 1000 mile trip - The Z.

Final Note - Since the Cayman S creeps up in hear on occasion.

Would I buy a Cayman S - No. Drove an '08' the day before I bought the Z. It is a really nice car. With a $10K discount on the Cayman it would have meant spending and additional $23K over the Z with a $3K discount on the Z. I could afford the Cayman but it is not worth it. The '09' might be another story.

Now, go get some seat time in the Z!

03-22-2009, 10:45 AM	#11 (permalink)
alan93rsa Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 412 Drives: 16 Cayman GT4 Red Rep Power: 220	S2000 vs. 370Z my take: Highway Cruising/Noise - 370Z much quieter. You can easily carry on a conversation in the Z unless you are on some grooved highway and then the Z gets louder. However, that is a function of the tires. Noise from gravel I'm not sure. Anytime I was on a back road with a bit of gravel here and there I wasn't out for a quiet cruise so I don't remember what the S2000 was like. Having recently passed a construction site I can tell you you will hear the gravel clinking in the Z wheel wells. Stock Exhaust Note - I like the Z's better. Bumps/Potholes - I don't see a huge difference. The Z may be better over bumps but the 19" tires should be worse than the stock S2000's tires on pot holes. In Ohio we have developed a 6th sense for pot holes, in Jersey they have added a 7th sense. Steering - I rate a tie. I liked both Rear end in high speed sweepers - To me the Z feels more stable. The S2000 had the early, 70's, 911 feel with the rear feeling a bit twitchy. Not a bad thing if you have driven a lot of 911's in fact quite a bit of fun. On Track - I have yet to take the Z on a track. I'll solve that problem next month at Mid-Ohio. I do remember the S2000 being a lot of fun on the track. I let Dave Schardt from ForgeLine take the S2000 out once for an evaluation. Dave came back in smiling and said it felt like a small Cup Car, you had to keep shifting to keep it in the power band. He also commented that the transmission felt really good. Brakes - the Z wins Cooling/Oil - The S2000 wins but I think the cooling will be solved shortly at a reasonable cost. Transmission - I think on just shifting I'd give it to the S2000. It has a great feel. But when you add in the SRM, synchro rev match, I give it back to the Z. Interior space - It goes to the Z Power - Z wins Engine longevity - My gut feeling says that a stock S2000 engine beat equally and hard on the track will outlast the Z engine. (Excuse me I'm having trouble with the zipper on my Nomex) Mods - There seem to be plenty to go around for both and more coming for the Z, it's new. My favorite one for the S2000 was the KraftWerks super charger. A lot of bang for the buck. Replacement Parts - They seem to be about the same. Coming from a long string of Porsches I can't believe how cheap the parts are for the S2000 and Z. Two gear sets for a 993 cost more than an entire Z transmission. Would I buy a Z again - Yes Would I buy an S2000 again - No Which car would I pick for a 1000 mile trip - The Z. Final Note - Since the Cayman S creeps up in hear on occasion. Would I buy a Cayman S - No. Drove an '08' the day before I bought the Z. It is a really nice car. With a $10K discount on the Cayman it would have meant spending and additional $23K over the Z with a $3K discount on the Z. I could afford the Cayman but it is not worth it. The '09' might be another story. Now, go get some seat time in the Z! __________________ 16 Cayman GT4, Carmine Red, Buckets, PCCB etc.