z4 3.0 or s2000?
Discussion
Hi everyone,
I have narrowed my choice for my next car down to 2 choices: Honda S2000 or BMW Z4 3.0
i am looking to spend no more than 6000
for a z4 i would be looking at something like this http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...
and an s2000 i like http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013... (even though it is high miles)
i am looking for any advice on reliability, running costs, what they are like to drive and which is going to be more practical everyday
Thanks!
I have narrowed my choice for my next car down to 2 choices: Honda S2000 or BMW Z4 3.0
i am looking to spend no more than 6000
for a z4 i would be looking at something like this http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...
and an s2000 i like http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013... (even though it is high miles)
i am looking for any advice on reliability, running costs, what they are like to drive and which is going to be more practical everyday
Thanks!
S2000 is a very raw drive.
It's loud, it,s fast, it has no electronic assistance.
(Maybe abs on some later models)
If the geo is off it massively effects the handling- so you'd want to get that checked at a specialist.
They make excellent second cars, but I personally wouldn't want one as my only car.
It's like a stereo that only has 1-3 or 10, 11 as volume.
Great if you want it to be loud.
But not good if you want a bit of relaxed and peaceful music.
It's loud, it,s fast, it has no electronic assistance.
(Maybe abs on some later models)
If the geo is off it massively effects the handling- so you'd want to get that checked at a specialist.
They make excellent second cars, but I personally wouldn't want one as my only car.
It's like a stereo that only has 1-3 or 10, 11 as volume.
Great if you want it to be loud.
But not good if you want a bit of relaxed and peaceful music.
Edited by Snowboy on Monday 7th October 09:50
I have an S2000 as my main car and I think it does everything well.
Certainly comfortably enough to drive from London to the Lakes, and great fun when you wind up the revs. Personally I like the docile character (which many say is a lack of torque) for daily driving, so when you’re really ‘on it’ it turns into another car altogether.
With the S2000, you will also have random people asking “is that the one that revs to 9k?”
Certainly comfortably enough to drive from London to the Lakes, and great fun when you wind up the revs. Personally I like the docile character (which many say is a lack of torque) for daily driving, so when you’re really ‘on it’ it turns into another car altogether.
With the S2000, you will also have random people asking “is that the one that revs to 9k?”
I owned a 3.0 but have only briefly driven an S2000. In terms of refinement, they were definitely completely different. The Z4 is a lovely GT car, properly good motorway cruiser, silky smooth engine and power delivery and good economy to boot. The Honda in my opinion, would get a bit grating on a daily basis, but that's just me. Both similar performance wise.
Z4 for me every day of the week, ditch the run flats get sport seats and its a fantastic every day car. Miss mine dearly.
Z4 for me every day of the week, ditch the run flats get sport seats and its a fantastic every day car. Miss mine dearly.
Janosh said:
I have an S2000 as my main car and I think it does everything well.
Certainly comfortably enough to drive from London to the Lakes, and great fun when you wind up the revs. Personally I like the docile character (which many say is a lack of torque) for daily driving, so when you’re really ‘on it’ it turns into another car altogether.
With the S2000, you will also have random people asking “is that the one that revs to 9k?”
This ^Certainly comfortably enough to drive from London to the Lakes, and great fun when you wind up the revs. Personally I like the docile character (which many say is a lack of torque) for daily driving, so when you’re really ‘on it’ it turns into another car altogether.
With the S2000, you will also have random people asking “is that the one that revs to 9k?”
The S2k is a great all rounder, no reason you can't drive it every day. I find mine is a nice, comfortable place to put the miles on if needed. It has that split personality as you say, fine for just pottering around town in but the ability to kick its head in when the mood strikes.
It's one of those cars you have to learn to get the best out of it though, on a test drive a lot of people are uninspired because they never get a chance to really wind it up and string a set of corners together. If that's something you like to do, for the money, you'd be hard to beat an S2k for it.
I have an S2000 and have driven a Z4, albeit only a 2.5.
The Z4 was poor in comparison IMO. The ride on BMW's is so hard and really off putting. S2000 however soaks up bumps but is quite noisey - if you are regularly doing 300-400 mile trips then I'd look elsewhere (unless you can commit to doing it with the roof down)
S2000 is more fun, looks way nicer IMO, has the best 4cyl engine ever made and sounds fantastic when you're on a hoon.
The Z4 was poor in comparison IMO. The ride on BMW's is so hard and really off putting. S2000 however soaks up bumps but is quite noisey - if you are regularly doing 300-400 mile trips then I'd look elsewhere (unless you can commit to doing it with the roof down)
S2000 is more fun, looks way nicer IMO, has the best 4cyl engine ever made and sounds fantastic when you're on a hoon.
I've recently purchased an S2000, MY2000 with 85k on the clock.
I've had it less than 4 weeks and have already put over 1,000 miles on it. 75% of that is "just going out for a drive" driving. Took my wife to Goodwood in it yesterday, for 60 miles of back road driving starting at 0600. We had a brilliant day and getting there and back was better than looking at all the exotic metal.
Buy one, you won't regret it.
I've had it less than 4 weeks and have already put over 1,000 miles on it. 75% of that is "just going out for a drive" driving. Took my wife to Goodwood in it yesterday, for 60 miles of back road driving starting at 0600. We had a brilliant day and getting there and back was better than looking at all the exotic metal.
Buy one, you won't regret it.
Owned both but back on my second s2000 now. I wouldn't buy the z4 with those wheels (mine needed a new set under warranty and a second refurb for corrosion on the insides as they get porous and need split for repair so an expensive job, lots replaced under warranty with different styles). Can be a few other issues with electric steering and cracked springs on the z4 (mine had a new rack under warranty and springs replaced twice) but otherwise both fairly simple cars mechanically. Honda is more reliable but some going pop with higher mileage and possibly a hard life at the red line.
Love both and used them as daily drivers, z4 is more comfortable and more of a cruiser with less effort to go quickly but too stiff to really drive quickly on bumpy back roads. Honda has better damping but none of the safety systems of the bmw so you need to be on top of your game to push as hard but it is the more rewarding to live with and more fun.
Cold wet night you would rather be in the z4 with the traction control and heated seats on, dry morning I would rather be in the s2000 with the roof down. Boot space and practicality pretty similar and both get high 20s mpg with 30s if you cruise a bit slower.
Love both and used them as daily drivers, z4 is more comfortable and more of a cruiser with less effort to go quickly but too stiff to really drive quickly on bumpy back roads. Honda has better damping but none of the safety systems of the bmw so you need to be on top of your game to push as hard but it is the more rewarding to live with and more fun.
Cold wet night you would rather be in the z4 with the traction control and heated seats on, dry morning I would rather be in the s2000 with the roof down. Boot space and practicality pretty similar and both get high 20s mpg with 30s if you cruise a bit slower.
In balance to my post above (which concentrates on the positives) I should add that the S2000 is quite loud at motorway speeds, so much so that I much prefer sitting at 70 in my Clio.
Otherwise, the S2000 gives me a sense of occasion everyday, the only Z4 that I would consider on par in terms of PH'ness would be the Z4M.
Otherwise, the S2000 gives me a sense of occasion everyday, the only Z4 that I would consider on par in terms of PH'ness would be the Z4M.
Snowboy said:
S2000 is a very raw drive.
It's loud, it,s fast, it has no electronic assistance.
(Maybe abs on some later models)
If the geo is off it massively effects the handling- so you'd want to get that checked at a specialist.
They make excellent second cars, but I personally wouldn't want one as my only car.
It's like a stereo that only has 1-3 or 10, 11 as volume.
Great if you want it to be loud.
But not good if you want a bit of relaxed and peaceful music.
They all had ABS...It's loud, it,s fast, it has no electronic assistance.
(Maybe abs on some later models)
If the geo is off it massively effects the handling- so you'd want to get that checked at a specialist.
They make excellent second cars, but I personally wouldn't want one as my only car.
It's like a stereo that only has 1-3 or 10, 11 as volume.
Great if you want it to be loud.
But not good if you want a bit of relaxed and peaceful music.
Edited by Snowboy on Monday 7th October 09:50
My wife had an S2000 and the rust protection was shocking for a car of that class. Her's had to have minor surface rust on the rear wheel arches attended to twice.
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