S2000 vs 911 996 C2 vs 350Z

[topless360]

Having sold my MX5, I've spent the last few weeks hunting for my perfect S2000 but it's proving difficult so I'm casting my net wider.

The car will be used as a daily driver with the occasional weekend mountain road drive. What do we reckon? Budget will be around the £10k mark.

I am going to see a very early 996 on the weekend, it's the poverty spec 3.4 Carrera. I'm slightly concerned that it'll be a disappointment and not at all engaging or 'sporty' compared to the S2000 which in my opinion has one of the greatest engines every produced.

Or would a decent 350Z be a better proposition than the 911? They do have similar power afterall and the 350Z may feel fresher being a much younger and lower mileage car (at this price point).

Running costs or fuel economy are not an issue, I don't plan on keeping the car for too long. My main criteria is that it must be fun and engaging to drive while being subtle enough to leave parked up in town.

[RegMolehusband]

Oohh - 100% for the Honda S2000 i.e. me.

I bought one a couple of weeks ago. I considered Porsches but in the end the Honda won on probable reliability, fun, looks (IMHO) and likely appreciation over the next 5 years. The Porsches seemed to represent a minefield.

[williamp]

elise?
XKR with 400bhp?
z4?

loads of choices for £10k. enjoy the search!!

[T0MMY]

Elise or VX220 would be my choice but it depends how comfortable it needs to be in the daily driver role.

I'd say a £10k 996 is a riskier proposition than an S2000 if that matters at all. They're such different cars that surely a test drive in all 3 will answer your question pretty quickly?

[DanielSan]

At that budget an s2000. I loved mine, but saying that I love my Impreza I replaced it with a lot more....

[Bloitus]

I had the same choice a year ago... went with the 911.

[kambites]

I would (and did) buy an Elise.

However, out of that lot I'd probably go for the 911. I found the S2000 to be a wonderful engine in a rather medoicre chassis and the 350Z just felt heavy and poorly resolved. The 911 is as much a GT as a sports car but it sitll drives significantly better than either of the others, IMO.

[dvshannow]

kambites said:

I would (and did) buy an Elise.

However, out of that lot I'd probably go for the 911. I found the S2000 to be a wonderful engine in a rather medoicre chassis and the 350Z just felt heavy and poorly resolved. The 911 is as much a GT as a sports car but it sitll drives significantly better than either of the others, IMO.

Yes s2000 has a great engine and gearbox but it does not handle that well and really is quite a snappy back end

[kambites]

dvshannow said:

... and really is quite a snappy back end

That's something I've read a lot but don't really agree with. The S2000 never felt snappy to me, just poorly damped and utterly lacking in feel through the steering and chassis which, coupled with the rather fast steering, made it feel darty and rather insecure. Rear-end breakaway wasn't particularly sudden, just hard to predict.

If anything the Elise is harder to catch if it really lets go; the difference is that the Elise tells you it's going to let go before it actually does. Come to think of it, the same is probably true of the 996 as well.

[PGNCerbera]

The 911 is a totally different class. And the C2 will be the one to hold onto long term too. Make sure it's a manual too

[BugLebowski]

For 10K you'll get a decent S2000 or a ratty 911. I'd go S2000 personally.

[bga]

I've had an mx-5, s2000 and a 996 C2. Between the 911 and the S2K I preferred the 911, however you will get a better S2k, it will feel fun and it will cost less to run . Only you know what works for you so try both. They are very different cars.

[moffat]

I had two S2000's and if I could have had a 911 instead it would have been no competition!!

[Bill]

Your three all have very different characters soiI'd have to try them all and see just how knackered the 911 was. I'd also look at the Boxster, Elise and VXT, and (don't laugh) Griffith.

[topless360]

Interesting replies. The Elise I would rule out because I can only afford the 120bhp versions at that price, I want to get a 111R or possibly an Exige in the near future so would rather itch that scratch properly.

The 996 I'm seeing is very leggy but has had a recent rebuild by a reputable specialist. And it is of course manual.

I guess the only reason I'm even considering it is because finding the right S2000 is taking time. There seems to be a high demand and very short supply right now.

[Kawasicki]

The 911 is sporty, you will see for yourself.

[J4CKO]

I have a 350Z and would go for the 911 if feeling brave, with a suitable slush fund, S2000 I wanted to love but felt a bit flat unless going mental, 350Z is a bit "stodgy" but I preferred it to the S2000 which would have driven me batst eventually, Z4 is a good compromise.


What about a Boxster ?

[Krikkit]

At your budget I'd be looking at a Griff/Cerb, an Elise, a Boxster S and an XKR.

[Jasandjules]

Out of that list I'd have a TVR Chimaera

A 911 I'd be worried is a bit ropey and a 350Z (sorry to all the owners) just isn't a sports car to me, for fun you want a two seater convertible.

That leaves the S2000...

[J4CKO]

Depends whether you want a hobby/project or a daily driver.