About to pull the trigger....but need a favor.

tbonesteak

Hey guys,

I currently drive a MY07 s2000 and am about to pull the trigger on a base non-touring 370 with sports package and manual tranny. Current car:







Now, i testdrove a touring w/ auto at a dealership and i was pleasantly surprised. However, those darn dealerships only give you like a mile of local road per testdrive and you can't even really explore the car's behavior with that kind of a short drive on PERFECT roads. I really would like to make the purchase soon but don't want to be surprised after the purchase with flaws that would have initially altered my decision.

If any one of you fellas would be generously accommodating enough to let me come over and check your car out, i'd greatly appreciate it. I obviously wouldn't be driving your car but i would like to get some time as a passenger on a very short fwy run (to notice road noise), good roads, bad roads (haha im not asking for you to go over potholes), just the general feel of the car in a more extensive manner than what i was able to extract from the testdrive. I also want to hear from enthusiasts, not sales people about the car, etc.

I know this is a lot to ask, especially me being a stranger, but i will provide you any info you want (you can hold onto my wallet, cell phone, car keys, etc) or any other measures you'd like to take to make sure to protect yourself. Please pm me if you're willing to help a brother out and I will try to set up an appt with you. Preferably weekends are better....but i work in beverly hills, California everyday as an analyst for Smith Barney and end at 5pm....so i guess evenings work too if it's late enough. I am willing to drive upto a 30 mile radius so let me know.

Cheers,

Tim

chubbs

That is one lovely car Tim. I have the same aerial on my 350Z!

I can't help you for two reasons, one of which is that I'm in the UK and the second of which is that the 370Z isn't released here yet. However, I have my fingers crossed for you - and welcome - hope you get the Z soon.

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alan93rsa

I had an '07' S2000 and it was a fun car. However, I like the 370Z much better.

If you happen to be coming to Cincinnati I'd be happy to accommodate.

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tbonesteak

Thanks guys for your inputs.

Alan, can you give me a detailed comparo between the s2k and the 370? Im interested in ride quality, road noise, ability to absorb potholes and bumps, wind noise on fwy (in s2k, u cant even carry a conversation without raising your voice on the fwy), power delivery, transmission (altho s2k will own this category), solidity of the car (feel), and any other areas that i may not have touched? I know i'm asking for a lot but please help a brotha out =)

Thanks.

Voivod

I've had extended conversations at 85mph with a passenger in mine without either of us having to raise our voices. I doubt you'll find it loud on the highway, unless you're used to luxury cars focused on silence. I'd go as far to say that it's pretty quiet.

On the other hand, on any kind of rough road you will clearly hear every single pebble your rear tires pick up.

I continue to think that the blind spot complaints everyone was commenting on earlier were a misplaced. People must be used to pickup trucks or something. The 370Z has just as much side visibility as all the other sports cars of this type I've driven.

I'd offer a ride but you're at the wrong end of California. :-P

Honestly, if you're serious and the dealership is being ridiculous, just show up and go as far as you need to in the paperwork, then just announce "I'm not signing this actual buying agreement until I see it on the highway," and walk away if they don't.

arcticreaver

that is one nice looking S2000.

krazedsteve

veryyy nice s2k

GoleX

The license plate is my favorite part!

zZSportZz

Just take it for a testdrive and kidnap the salesguy onto the highway

Whats he gonna do, call the cops and say you went to far on a test drive heheh?

Plus he will be happy after you fall in love with it and buy it (my prediction)

AK370Z

Hey Tim, welcome to the forums. We do have some S2000 owners in our forums. Here are some of the threads:

Anyone come from an S2000?

S2000 owner, just admiring the new 370z

If you were in NJ, I would def give you ride in the car so that you can get a feel for it. Our super mod Onethreefive had a S2000 before. May be I can let him drive my car and he can write a review?

I only had an opportunity to drive a S2000 for maybe 30 minutes like 3 years ago. I will write my input. I love the S2000 suspension. I think it's a bit stiffer than the 370Z. Power - 370Z def has the tq and the HP. Also, you'll find a lot of interior room compare to the S2000. But S2000 gear throws are def shorter than the 370Z.

Good luck. oh btw, SWEET S2000. Big

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alan93rsa

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!

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tbonesteak

Thanks guys for all your help. Alan, i think some of your answers just sealed the deal for me. Thanks for that. Now, let's see if i can just hijack the z during a testdrive. AHHA jk.

alan93rsa

Get a plane ticket !

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AndreZ Cadena

I have also driven the s2k and it is one of my favorite cars, but the 370z wins by a lot in my book. Now and buy the 370z and then lets see some .