Roadster or coupe?

exedy699 · 10-17-2011, 01:54 AM

So as of now I have a coupe 350z and a 2011 scion tc (my DD), but I wanna trade my 350 for a new 370 (hence me being here lol). I've been doing my homework, and after going through all the choices I ended right back with Nissan. Now, I test drove an s2k not long ago, and sure its old, and sure its smaller and more "raw"; but i loved the feel of a roadster.

My question to you folks is, should I get the roadster or coupe? No, I will not be tracking the car, and I will be using it for long commutes in all types of weather. So what do you guys think? Guys with roadsters, do you have any major issues/complaints? Cargo size is smaller, thats a given.

11Thumper · 10-17-2011, 01:58 AM

I have both the 370Z (coupe) and an S2000. Totally different cars. My only gripe with the S2000 is being more worried where I park it (soft top). The 370Z feels like a luxury car compared to the S2000.

Do you park in a garage? If not, skip the rag top.

exedy699 · 10-17-2011, 02:00 AM

I understand they are different beasts. It's the engineering of both that I'm attracted to, in the end I might end with both but for now I wanna start with one.

Should I assume then you have a coupe z? I am not sure what type of parking I will have, as I will be moving soon for a new job, new state...so who knows?

11Thumper · 10-17-2011, 02:21 AM

My Z is a coupe, not the roadster. It was a hard debate for me (I garage my cars) but I decided on the coupe. I may regret it if I sell the S2000, but perhaps not. No idea.

If you don't have a garage for sure the elements will do a lot of damage to a soft top. Count on replacing it every 3-4 years.

exedy699 · 10-17-2011, 02:35 AM

Yikes, that often?

bvl · 10-17-2011, 06:53 AM

A properly cared for top should not need replacing that frequently. Its a cloth and not vinyl top (which tends to wear faster especially due to UV and other exposure).

That said, I do agree with the poster that a roadster that sits outside all the time is going to wear faster. Bit hard to quantify of course, but it will happen.

I am a roadster fan (having driven a roadster for the past 12 years, now year 1 into our ZR). The Z's top is complicated, and when it does require replacing (I would estimate 8-10 years of normal wear and good care) it won't be inexpensive. My previous car is 20+ years old, and only on its second top. It spent a mixture of its life in/out of garage depending where it lived.

Follow the Roadster forum and a few top issues have occurred as well. Teething pains I would hope as the engineers dial in a few wear buffers in the design. Ours suffers wear spots in two places and we should be getting a warranty replacement later this year which is good on one hand but not so great on the other: I don't really like the idea of replacing a complicated top so early in its life.

- b

WICKED_GRIN · 10-17-2011, 09:01 AM

I owned a ’09 red 370Z for a year and decided to trade up to 370Z Roadster and it was the best move I ever made! I test drove a S2000 a while back and really thought it needed at least 50 more horsepower!!

exedy699 · 10-17-2011, 10:33 AM

Ah , very well. As of now my living conditions are not sure; but I always take care of my cars. I would most likely buy a cover to protect it from weather.

I will make sure to check in the Roadster section for more info. Now, does anyone have complaints in the noise department with the top down? The s2k i drove was loud, but it was due to an aftermarket exhaust. But I am just wondering how you guys feel it at different speeds, like city cruising, or highway driving.

Thanks again for your help everyone

RandyD · 10-17-2011, 10:40 AM

since i got the roadster, my opinion is already biased...

but i love it.

the noise is not bad at all. you can still have a conversation at high speed. road condition will affect this a bit

all worth it.

djpathfinder · 10-17-2011, 10:48 AM

OP, I think you answered your own question with the statement "I love roadsters".

exedy699 · 10-17-2011, 11:12 AM

Haha

I love them, sure. But I am not sure if I like the sacrifices! Thats why I am doing my homework

Rui Z · 10-17-2011, 11:25 AM

Doesn't a Z roadster cost as much as a Z coupe and a used 2003 S2000? I say get a coupe and S2K and sell your tc.

edub370 · 10-17-2011, 11:26 AM

the coupes lines look much mo betta!

exedy699 · 10-17-2011, 12:01 PM

Yes I agree the coupe looks better... but i like the roadster AND its benefits. Hence my dilemma.

I just bought my tc 5 months ago so i have no need to sell a brand new car for a used possibly abused car that will be my daily driver.

shadoquad · 10-17-2011, 12:05 PM

The coupe is maybe prettier (opinion) and has a small performance advantage, and it's cheaper. If those matter to you, that's the way to go.

The roadster looks amazing still, has cooler seats and that wind screen in the back... It has seat coolers. Most importantly, and I've said this repeatedly on here, roadsters have a cooler driving feel. You may not be going as fast, but with the top down, you feel like you're going a million times faster. There is nothing that replaces a convertible's top-down feel.

I own a coupe, and I love driving it every time I get in, but the Roadster is wonderful, too.

10-17-2011, 01:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
exedy699 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: KC Posts: 118 Drives: you crazy Rep Power: 14	Roadster or coupe? So as of now I have a coupe 350z and a 2011 scion tc (my DD), but I wanna trade my 350 for a new 370 (hence me being here lol). I've been doing my homework, and after going through all the choices I ended right back with Nissan. Now, I test drove an s2k not long ago, and sure its old, and sure its smaller and more "raw"; but i loved the feel of a roadster. My question to you folks is, should I get the roadster or coupe? No, I will not be tracking the car, and I will be using it for long commutes in all types of weather. So what do you guys think? Guys with roadsters, do you have any major issues/complaints? Cargo size is smaller, thats a given.

10-17-2011, 10:48 AM	#10 (permalink)
djpathfinder A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 12,910 Drives: 2012 GT-R BE Rep Power: 733	OP, I think you answered your own question with the statement "I love roadsters". __________________ 2012 GT-R Black Edition Jet Black 2010 370Z 40th Anniversary // SOLD

10-17-2011, 11:25 AM	#12 (permalink)
Rui Z Track Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: (.)(.) Posts: 931 Drives: 8====D Rep Power: 16	Doesn't a Z roadster cost as much as a Z coupe and a used 2003 S2000? I say get a coupe and S2K and sell your tc. __________________

10-17-2011, 11:26 AM	#13 (permalink)
edub370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2011 Location: KCMO Posts: 3,458 Drives: 09 370z S/T 6MT Rep Power: 20	the coupes lines look much mo betta! __________________ 09 370Z ST 6MT//Injen CAI//Greddy CBE//TP//TSW's//Swifts//Stillen lip//Whiteline sways 326whp/268tq

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10-17-2011, 01:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
11Thumper Track Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 754 Drives: '11 370Z, '01 S2k Rep Power: 17	I have both the 370Z (coupe) and an S2000. Totally different cars. My only gripe with the S2000 is being more worried where I park it (soft top). The 370Z feels like a luxury car compared to the S2000. Do you park in a garage? If not, skip the rag top.

10-17-2011, 02:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
exedy699 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: KC Posts: 118 Drives: you crazy Rep Power: 14	I understand they are different beasts. It's the engineering of both that I'm attracted to, in the end I might end with both but for now I wanna start with one. Should I assume then you have a coupe z? I am not sure what type of parking I will have, as I will be moving soon for a new job, new state...so who knows?

10-17-2011, 02:21 AM	#4 (permalink)
11Thumper Track Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 754 Drives: '11 370Z, '01 S2k Rep Power: 17	My Z is a coupe, not the roadster. It was a hard debate for me (I garage my cars) but I decided on the coupe. I may regret it if I sell the S2000, but perhaps not. No idea. If you don't have a garage for sure the elements will do a lot of damage to a soft top. Count on replacing it every 3-4 years.

10-17-2011, 02:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
exedy699 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: KC Posts: 118 Drives: you crazy Rep Power: 14	Yikes, that often?

10-17-2011, 06:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
bvl Enthusiast Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: PA Posts: 362 Drives: MB Roadster (sold) Rep Power: 14	A properly cared for top should not need replacing that frequently. Its a cloth and not vinyl top (which tends to wear faster especially due to UV and other exposure). That said, I do agree with the poster that a roadster that sits outside all the time is going to wear faster. Bit hard to quantify of course, but it will happen. I am a roadster fan (having driven a roadster for the past 12 years, now year 1 into our ZR). The Z's top is complicated, and when it does require replacing (I would estimate 8-10 years of normal wear and good care) it won't be inexpensive. My previous car is 20+ years old, and only on its second top. It spent a mixture of its life in/out of garage depending where it lived. Follow the Roadster forum and a few top issues have occurred as well. Teething pains I would hope as the engineers dial in a few wear buffers in the design. Ours suffers wear spots in two places and we should be getting a warranty replacement later this year which is good on one hand but not so great on the other: I don't really like the idea of replacing a complicated top so early in its life. - b

10-17-2011, 10:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
exedy699 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: KC Posts: 118 Drives: you crazy Rep Power: 14	Ah , very well. As of now my living conditions are not sure; but I always take care of my cars. I would most likely buy a cover to protect it from weather. I will make sure to check in the Roadster section for more info. Now, does anyone have complaints in the noise department with the top down? The s2k i drove was loud, but it was due to an aftermarket exhaust. But I am just wondering how you guys feel it at different speeds, like city cruising, or highway driving. Thanks again for your help everyone

10-17-2011, 10:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
RandyD A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Potomac Falls, VA Posts: 2,977 Drives: 2010 370z 7AT Roadst Rep Power: 20	since i got the roadster, my opinion is already biased... but i love it. the noise is not bad at all. you can still have a conversation at high speed. road condition will affect this a bit all worth it.

10-17-2011, 11:12 AM	#11 (permalink)
exedy699 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: KC Posts: 118 Drives: you crazy Rep Power: 14	Haha I love them, sure. But I am not sure if I like the sacrifices! Thats why I am doing my homework

10-17-2011, 12:01 PM	#14 (permalink)
exedy699 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: KC Posts: 118 Drives: you crazy Rep Power: 14	Yes I agree the coupe looks better... but i like the roadster AND its benefits. Hence my dilemma. I just bought my tc 5 months ago so i have no need to sell a brand new car for a used possibly abused car that will be my daily driver.

10-17-2011, 12:05 PM	#15 (permalink)
shadoquad A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: . Posts: 42,608 Drives: . Rep Power: 3886	The coupe is maybe prettier (opinion) and has a small performance advantage, and it's cheaper. If those matter to you, that's the way to go. The roadster looks amazing still, has cooler seats and that wind screen in the back... It has seat coolers. Most importantly, and I've said this repeatedly on here, roadsters have a cooler driving feel. You may not be going as fast, but with the top down, you feel like you're going a million times faster. There is nothing that replaces a convertible's top-down feel. I own a coupe, and I love driving it every time I get in, but the Roadster is wonderful, too.