When I was searching for my next car I was looking at 3 cars. So I test drove them all.
It was between a honda s2000 , nissan 350z , bmw z4.

So ill start with the bmw z4 3.0 - A nice car but the pictures on the internet made the car look bigger then it was in real life. It was very small and always had me fealing like I had to go play golf or something. To me the car was wayy to preppy looking and it made me feal that way. But it was a nice ride but not enuff to make me like it to buy it.

Next was the 350z - Ok for a Japanese car it made me feal like I was driving in a ford mustang. The steering wheel was the ugliest thing ive ever seen. And the reliability was in question having had a nissan sentra s-er before and it was a piece of crap always broke down and it was a 2002. And I heard that the manual trans on the 350z was also crap and not reliable. But the power was good but again not enuff for me to buy it.

Then was the s2000 - Right of the bat it looked better then the z4 and the 350z so already I was happy. And once inside it gave me a WOW fealing then a preppy fealing or like I was driving a mustang. Then I took it for a spin and that was it I was sold. This was a drivers car. Its like your wife you dont want her to be sexy and not reliable. You want both and you get it with this car. =]

Well thanks for letting me share. And im a very happy new s2000 owner =]
Take care

 

Wow I was looking at the exact same cars before I bought my S.
I was close on getting the 350 but I found a good deal on an S and got it instead and could be not happier

 

Did the same thing, except I didn't drive the z4 until after I bought the S. I was cross-shopping with S with the 350Z and the rx-8. The rx-8 was a big let down because thats what I originally wanted and the Z was just as you described.

I hear the newer Zs are a lot nicer though. However, the S still puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.

Keep us updated on what you end up getting.

 

No I ended up buying the s2000 last week =] Yea I was looking at the rx8 but never took it out. It looks nice but I heard there engines are iffy on there reliability. And ive seen with them on sale in the papers and internet that there resale value is droping faster then the s2000,z4,350z. So I was like I better stay away from that car. =]

 

z4 m coupe is a f'in monster, awesome car, but my S still feels more raw, but I would like to own an m coupe someday

 

generally, mazda's are pretty bad on their resale value. quality control isn't to par yet.

 

Welcome, and congrats on the car!

 

I used to own a 2002 Sentra SE-R Spec V also. Went through 2 transmissions and 3 engines all under warrenty. Yeah, but when it ran it was awesome.

 

text drove a 2008 350z today also. It had a great exhaust note and it was pretty fast, but like you said it doesnt really feel like a sports car

 

You didn't miss out on much by skipping the test drive, imo.

The RX-8 is a solid car, but it left me with the feeling of "decent at many things, great at nothing." The gas mileage on it was a ridiculous turn-off as I was expecting more substantial gains at time of launch. Really smooth though, as the wankels go.