Hi - 1st Sports Car - Honda S2000 or BMW Z4
Discussion
Hi, Hallowed Members of Pistonheads :P
I'm considering a second hand sports car for the weekends. Mid life crisis, no mortgage etc.
I've narrowed it down to a 2005/06 BMW Z4 2.5I or 3.0I
or
a 2005/2007 Honda S2000 GT probably with Rear Wing/Body Kit.
I am looking to get a test drive of both shortly, but have sat in both, although sat in a 2002 Honda S2000. My initial thoughts were that the BMW Z4 was very polished, seemed to have more aggressive styling and the interior was really nice, very slick. The bonnet looked long!, The Honda S2000 has quite traditional sports car styling, maybe a little boring :/ the interior was dissapointing to be honest and if it were better well, my view would be improved a lot, although it might be the car I was in was older etc. I started both up and the Honda sung more than the Z4, 9K RPM wowzer. Pro's and Con's.
Anyway, it will mainly be a weekend/summer car, although if the weather is good in the winter sometimes. I already have a company car for the week so expect to do 5,000 per annum in this.
I was wondering your thoughts? So far my initial thoughts are the BMW Z4, it wins over style and quality, however I am aware that the S2000 has an awesome performance and will be a little cheaper, so I could probably get a later car. There are also options for a slightly modded car as well.
Tough choice! Looking for a slick, eye catching machine, that I can have fun in and cruise around.
Ohhh about 14K to Spend
I'm considering a second hand sports car for the weekends. Mid life crisis, no mortgage etc.
I've narrowed it down to a 2005/06 BMW Z4 2.5I or 3.0I
or
a 2005/2007 Honda S2000 GT probably with Rear Wing/Body Kit.
I am looking to get a test drive of both shortly, but have sat in both, although sat in a 2002 Honda S2000. My initial thoughts were that the BMW Z4 was very polished, seemed to have more aggressive styling and the interior was really nice, very slick. The bonnet looked long!, The Honda S2000 has quite traditional sports car styling, maybe a little boring :/ the interior was dissapointing to be honest and if it were better well, my view would be improved a lot, although it might be the car I was in was older etc. I started both up and the Honda sung more than the Z4, 9K RPM wowzer. Pro's and Con's.
Anyway, it will mainly be a weekend/summer car, although if the weather is good in the winter sometimes. I already have a company car for the week so expect to do 5,000 per annum in this.
I was wondering your thoughts? So far my initial thoughts are the BMW Z4, it wins over style and quality, however I am aware that the S2000 has an awesome performance and will be a little cheaper, so I could probably get a later car. There are also options for a slightly modded car as well.
Tough choice! Looking for a slick, eye catching machine, that I can have fun in and cruise around.
Ohhh about 14K to Spend
Edited by ShiDevil on Sunday 1st November 15:20
Sounds like they will both do what you want - although I'd say 3.0 Z4 rather the 2.5.
Both are good cars, should be pretty reliable, will be fun to drive, the Honda will probably be a little cheaper to run but no by that much as insurance will probably be more than the bmw even if servicing/running costs are less.
Hondas are sensitive to geo (as the bmw may well be, I dunno) so factor in getting this sorted on either car.
The only way to REALLY decide is test drive both (make sure you try 9k rpm in the Honda once or twice!) and see which just feels better.
Both are good cars, should be pretty reliable, will be fun to drive, the Honda will probably be a little cheaper to run but no by that much as insurance will probably be more than the bmw even if servicing/running costs are less.
Hondas are sensitive to geo (as the bmw may well be, I dunno) so factor in getting this sorted on either car.
The only way to REALLY decide is test drive both (make sure you try 9k rpm in the Honda once or twice!) and see which just feels better.
They both do a pretty similar job albeit in rather different ways.
I'd say the Honda is better built, more reliable and better looking; whereas the BMW is faster, sounds better and I suppose has a better badge. Handling is probably pretty similar although the Honda will ride better if the BMW is on run-flats - there's probably not much in it if the BMW has proper tyres.
Drive both and see which you prefer. As said above, the Honda is very geo sensitive so drive more than one before you dismiss it.
Personally I'd take the Honda, but that's mostly because I'm shallow enough that I couldn't live with the Z4's looks.
I'd say the Honda is better built, more reliable and better looking; whereas the BMW is faster, sounds better and I suppose has a better badge. Handling is probably pretty similar although the Honda will ride better if the BMW is on run-flats - there's probably not much in it if the BMW has proper tyres.
Drive both and see which you prefer. As said above, the Honda is very geo sensitive so drive more than one before you dismiss it.
Personally I'd take the Honda, but that's mostly because I'm shallow enough that I couldn't live with the Z4's looks.
Edited by kambites on Sunday 1st November 15:25
Pooh said:
I always wanted an S2000 until I test drove one, a nice car spoiled by a rubbish engine
not the phrase that sprang to mind when I last drove one, I thought the engine was probably the best part of the package, but maybe comming from a bike background was why I liked it.true it maybe more work up and down the box to get the best from it, rather than just plant your foot and go, but hardly a rubbish engine.
lights fuse sits back and waitsIf the geo isn't set up right it can be utterly devoid of steering feel and it can make it rather snappy on the limit, too. For some reason (that someone else can probably explain, but I can't), some cars are affected much more by the suspension geometry being set up badly than others.
In my experience, the more a car is upset by bad geometry, the better it feels when it's set up right, but that might have been coincidence in the cars I've driven. In any sports car you should probably budget for getting the geometery corrected every couple of years anyway. It's amazing the difference it can make.
In my experience, the more a car is upset by bad geometry, the better it feels when it's set up right, but that might have been coincidence in the cars I've driven. In any sports car you should probably budget for getting the geometery corrected every couple of years anyway. It's amazing the difference it can make.
Edited by kambites on Sunday 1st November 17:02
I've had 2 S2000's and now a 2006 Z4M Roadster ....
The Z4 feels much bigger and much longer. It feels a heavier car but once moving seems similar in handling to the S2000 (having said this please bear in mind the Z4M is different in that the steering is not as 'normal' Z4's and it hasn't got run flats).
The Z4 with the roof down is everything the S2000 is. With the roof up it is far bigger inside. The S2000 is OK but hardly spacious!
I had a 2004 and a 2005 S2000 so both facelift models which handle more predictably than the earlier pre 2004, pre facelift model. I never had a problem with either and found them really easy to drive. They are great when getting on but equally able around town and NOT slow before the Vtec comes in at 6K revs. People make out they are death traps and handle badly with an engine that is gutless below 6K .... I could never agree with that. It will not have the low down torque and acceleration of a 3.0 Z4 but they are not slow. The second S2000 I had was particularly zippy below 6K and positively mad above it. It was noticeably quicker than my previous S2000 and a match for the 3L BMW engine (which is a great engine in it's own right!).
Build quality seems about equal. I think BMW's are over rated in this regard and the S2000 is well screwed together. I am in no way putting down the BMW ... I just think the S2000 build is better than many realise. They are both convertibles so too many 'toys' would be missing the point somewhat but the Z4 has many more options in this respect.
Fuel consumption should be well in favour of the S2000 - I used to get 26-34mpg whereas the 3L BMW engine will struggle to get more than 26mpg in my experience in a 330i.
Servicing for the S2000 is a bit dear and I have found BMW ownership generally cheaper than I expected.
Gearchange on the S2000 is just superb - but only once the gearbox oil has warmed up ... when cold 1st to 2nd can feel like the clutch isn't working !! After 10 minutes driving though it is one of the best boxes I have used.
Which would I buy ... it would be the S2000. I just think the 3.0 Z4 would be too civilised for lots of fun. It would be very competent but just not with the same 'fun' factor - which is why I looked at the Z4M
The Z4 feels much bigger and much longer. It feels a heavier car but once moving seems similar in handling to the S2000 (having said this please bear in mind the Z4M is different in that the steering is not as 'normal' Z4's and it hasn't got run flats).
The Z4 with the roof down is everything the S2000 is. With the roof up it is far bigger inside. The S2000 is OK but hardly spacious!
I had a 2004 and a 2005 S2000 so both facelift models which handle more predictably than the earlier pre 2004, pre facelift model. I never had a problem with either and found them really easy to drive. They are great when getting on but equally able around town and NOT slow before the Vtec comes in at 6K revs. People make out they are death traps and handle badly with an engine that is gutless below 6K .... I could never agree with that. It will not have the low down torque and acceleration of a 3.0 Z4 but they are not slow. The second S2000 I had was particularly zippy below 6K and positively mad above it. It was noticeably quicker than my previous S2000 and a match for the 3L BMW engine (which is a great engine in it's own right!).
Build quality seems about equal. I think BMW's are over rated in this regard and the S2000 is well screwed together. I am in no way putting down the BMW ... I just think the S2000 build is better than many realise. They are both convertibles so too many 'toys' would be missing the point somewhat but the Z4 has many more options in this respect.
Fuel consumption should be well in favour of the S2000 - I used to get 26-34mpg whereas the 3L BMW engine will struggle to get more than 26mpg in my experience in a 330i.
Servicing for the S2000 is a bit dear and I have found BMW ownership generally cheaper than I expected.
Gearchange on the S2000 is just superb - but only once the gearbox oil has warmed up ... when cold 1st to 2nd can feel like the clutch isn't working !! After 10 minutes driving though it is one of the best boxes I have used.
Which would I buy ... it would be the S2000. I just think the 3.0 Z4 would be too civilised for lots of fun. It would be very competent but just not with the same 'fun' factor - which is why I looked at the Z4M
No mortgage you say?.... Spare cash kicking around?
Does this tickle your fancy?
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=tamora+noise...
Does this tickle your fancy?
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=tamora+noise...
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