First off, S2000 > 370Z for me!

A 370Z is way way WAY faster than a stock 240Z! Not even close. The 280ZX turbo was the first Z (after the 240Z itself) as quick in a straight line as the '70-'72 240Z, and that car was not exactly quick by today's standards...

But a 240Z with a bored/stroked L28, 3x2 45mm carbs, big cam and good headwork, now that *is* faster in a straight line

The 370Z wishes it was an overgrown Datsun instead of a 2-seat version of a luxury/sport sedan.

 

Exactly. It is the Honda Fanboy's go to point all too often unfortunately, too bad the F20C has long met attrition with this claim. What you rather drive, an S2000 or the aforementioned Ferrari / Porsche offerings ?

I am sure JonGirl will still oblige the S2000 is a better car.
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People care because of weight savings or else everybody would be throwing huge motors in to their cars, I am surprised that s.hasan546 would ask that question, don't you own a Lotus? What's that have in it? A Celica motor? Why do you think Lotus chose such a small power plant for their car when they could have thrown in a 5.0 liter out of the FJ or Titan - It would generate way more power? But the balance of the car would by thrown off and it wouldn't handle like Lotus is supposed to - weight saving and distribution golden when it comes to cornering something that Honda hand in mind when they built the S, and something that Lotus keeps in mind with each small out engine they put into their cars.

 

You know that a Chevy small block V8 only adds like 50 lbs to the weight of the S2000 right? F20C isn't exactly a light engine...

 

Interesting. Can we put any numbers to that, how much power will a Small block add?

 

You'll note that in almost every review of the 458 and GT3 RS 4.0, it was mentioned that those cars were the specific output champs of the world. More to the point, Ferrari SPECIFICALLY lists the specific output of the motor on their official website (virtually no one else lists that spec, because none of them are the "champs"). If they cared enough to note it, I'd say it's pretty neat that Honda kept them from claiming it through the 360 Modena and 430, not to mention holding back Porsche in the earlier GT3 RS 3.8 and standard GT3.

http://www.ferrari.com/english/gt_sp...58-italia.aspx

 

You'll note that in almost every review of the 458 and GT3 RS 4.0, it was mentioned that those cars were the specific output champs of the world. More to the point, Ferrari SPECIFICALLY lists the specific output of the motor on their official website (virtually no one else lists that spec, because none of them are the "champs"). If they cared enough to note it, I'd say it's pretty neat that Honda kept them from claiming it through the 360 Modena and 430, not to mention holding back Porsche in the earlier GT3 RS 3.8 and standard GT3.

http://www.ferrari.com/english/gt_sp...58-italia.aspx
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As I mentioned before, Ferrari specifically mentions specific output on their official website for the 458 Italia. If it's a big enough deal to put it on the website (no one else does), I'd say they obviously had it in their mind. They weren't able to do it with the 360 or 430, if you remember, and they weren't able to claim the crown.

It wasn't about Honda, it was about everyone, including Porsche's GT3 RS 4.0. Stop putting words in my mouth. Ferrari wanted the crown and so they went and got it. That simple.

Honda had an engineering marvel in the F20C. It's amazing that they built a motor that can last 100K+ miles and rev to 9000 rpm for $33K (in 2000). It's not the pinnacle of automotive engineering, it's just quite amazing that they put that kind of engine in such an inexpensive car and didn't compromise on the design in doing so. The F20C is arguably inferior to the K20 if you build up the K20 appropriately but it has great flow characteristics, it's very strong (600 hp on stock internals) and it lasts a long time despite the incredible redline. That's something to be celebrated.

 

Call me crazy, but I try not to let power define what car I buy...because in this age, if you're willing to spend the money you can always get the power you want, whether it's supercharged/boost/even a 2jz/ls swap into an S and have all the torque you'd want/need if the s2k out of the box is not enough for you. Let's say you buy a used ap1 for low teens, you still have another 12-14 grand before you equal out to that Z,plenty of money to get your torque needs in order..

Overall, as much as I love the Z's, I've driven my buddies a few times, I personally couldn't see shit out of it, the shape of it made me feel like every inch of the car was a blind spot/I was smothered. The weight compared to an s2000 is just immense...not to say it doesn't corner well, but it's just never going to be as tossable an s2k. Then the last and final thing, I personally can't think of anything better at the end of a long day of work than to jump in the car and drop the top for the drive home. But I understand that's not for everybody. Either way good luck with your choice

 

even a LQ9 (6.0L cast iron block) is rated at 350hp and they're dirt cheap. Drop in a LSX block and 400-450 is easy.... and torque.... oh yeah! For $9K you can buy a brand new N/A LSX454 which is rated at 620hp.... and you'd actually get just as good, if not better MPG. The LSX motors are extremely effecient, most of my friends have LS1/LS2's and still get 28-29mpg with well over 400hp.

 

I think it was all the way up until the 458 came out, which wasn't that long ago. But its rather silly, because any one of us can easily uncork the S with typical bolt ons and up that hp per liter, surpassing what the old record was. Go FI and it just got ridiculous the power -to weight- per liter.
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Alas. The same can be said for many other automobile's with "bolt on" modifications. You are not going to gain much with bolt-on's with either the F20/22C, you know that. We are talking factory specification, normally aspirated vehicle's here. If you want to bring Forced Induction into the picture than that opens up a whole new world.
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The 458 produces 123.7 hp per liter, the F20 JDM spec produces 123.5. How much more NA bolt on power is needed? Hell at a meager 30 engine hp additional, which everyone who doesn’t even know what they are doing has achieved, and many have made moderately more. At an additional 30hp bolt on, it puts the F20 at roughly 140hp per liter NA. So it still cleans up by a good margin today, in a 13 year old design and in a car price point of 30k. Don’t cough at it.