Oh, and about the Cooper S - I have a friend who has one and I tried hers out, though by that time I'd pretty much decided on the S2000. The Cooper S is the exact opposite of the S2000 in one way: it's got great torque and is great off the line, but it gets a lot less fun when the engine starts revving.

It does have the best moonroof I've ever seen, though - almost as much glass as a good T roof.

 

There were not many choices in late 1999....and I had almost given up finding an S2000 @ msrp Lady Luck prevailed for me too

 

The one I own now.

Trouble is, when I bought my S2000 in March of 2000, the 6-cylinder version of the Mercedes-Benz SLK was not yet available. When it became available in the Fall of 2000, it was way too expensive.

So I enjoyed owning an S2000 until 4 years later, when I was able to afford my used 2001 SLK 320.

 

Having been a 240Z owner in the past, I really looked hard at the 350Z Roadster. Two things brought me to the S2000, one the S feels more like a sports car should, and two, storage space. There is not enough room to carry my golf clubs in the 350Z Roadster. Also there will be a gizillion 350Z's on the road within a few years. The interior on the Z seems really cheap for a 34K car as well.

The Z3 also attracted my attention, but to get into the same performance range of the S you need the 3.0 and with options it becomes very expensive. Same goes for the Boxster.

I also owned a Triumph TR-6 at one time and the S evoked a lot of the same emotions while driving it, minus the maintenance issues with the TR.

In the end, I would have probably gotten the 350Z Roadster, it does have a lot of potential for performance upgrades that will make it an icon for Nissan, in the tradition of the old 240Z.

 

I like Marco was going to go BMW.

I was saving my money for a used M Roadster.



See Dark Leader, I already had selected a color...

 

Cooper S....but then I test drove the S2000 and realized how much better I'd look driving around town in that.

ps. Thanks Triple-H....now I'm gonna have nightmares Eeeeyyyyuuuuwww!

 

The looks of the Z3s never appealed to me.

The C5 Vette too common in MI, too wide, too soft, too plain (I must add I do like the new one better).

The new Viper too much $.

The Audi TT Turbo $10k more & a heafty 620 pounds more!

SLK lacked the goods for the track, too much $, too many pounds

Although it was not available when I got the S2000, I have since test driven both the tin top & drop top 350Z and found a lot to like but I didn't care for the drop top's looks - and like many of you I have got to have the wind-in-face to really soak up the whole experience.

There was speculation we would someday get the Lotus stateside but I recalled what the name stood for: Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious and felt it wasn't worth the wait.

The Boxster was on my short list but I felt it WAY over priced, the S model was almost $22k more! Even the std one was $16k more.

MR2 did not turn me on.

BMW M roadster -- I just could not get by the looks.

I suspect it would have been a Miata. I was test driving the various Miata suspension setups when I fell for the S2000.

Thank Goodness for the S2000! It has lived up to all my expectations.

 

The Boxter and MR-2 were the others that crossed my mind in 2001. The Boxster was too expensive and not as sporting, and the MR-2 was ugly and underpowered.

The S was a pretty easy choice.

 

For me (all used) it would have been a M roadster, C5 Zo6 ( C6 was not out yet) or a Boxter S . All said and done I am VERY happy with the S