[kcdc368]

Maybe it's because I am getting older (45+), but I sometimes feel like my M5 is too powerful for occasional canyon drive around LA.

I miss the fun of reving the engine to get the power I need. (There is no need to rev much to get the power from M5's turbo V8 - I often find myself going 90mph+ on local freeway without meaning to go that fast.)

So I am thinking about something lighter and less powerful that I can enjoy the fun of driving again without going too fast.

I have narrow my choice to 3 candidates with budget of $15k~$20k:

1. Datsun 240Z - Everything looks fine on paper and there are many modifications available to tune to car (engine and ride) to what I like, but I am worry about if a 40 year-old car would be to big of a departure from a modern car.

2. Miata - Is the answer to everything really Miata? I feel the engine is a little underpowered.

3. Honda S2000 - a rev-happy engine and many aftermarket options.

I don't want to pose the question in forums dedicated to those cars because members on those forums are predisposed to their own car.

Thanks for any input you guys care to give me.

[overcoil]

All great cars. I like the S2000 better then the Miata, however with no real experience, I read the Honda was a bit to inclined for lift-off oversteer, and if your out exploring at speed it can be that one time in a blind turn you lift off for a bicyclist or other inconvenience and you lose it.

I myself would love to have a 240 or 260-Z. There is a feeling with old cars that's hard to duplicate with modem machines. And you can have lots of fun even at the speed limit in older cars.
And there are great sources for parts and modifications for Nissan's. And finally the 240Z is a great exterior design and the interior is one of the best. Wooden steering wheel and shifter knob, the dash shape. I think about ten years ago Nissan was buying up old 70's Z's and doing excellent restorations on them and selling them on the open market.
I think the Z is one of the last chances to get a classic excellent sport car, and after the Toyota 2000, the seconds best looking Asian sports car.


About the steering wheel on the 240 it's a wood plastic composite, maybe a third material mixed in.

[Alpine F31]

+1 on the 240Z. I drove a completely stock 280Z recently and was surprised by how great it felt.... smooth inline six, nice shifting 4 speed (may have been a 5 speed), great dash layout, communicative steering and most importantly, adequate power. The styling is timeless and whether you leave it bone stock or modify it, there is plenty of aftermarket support for the car.

The S2000 is great on the track but it's gutless at low RPM's so not that much fun unless you have room to rev the shit out of it.

The Miata is fine too, but not really a classic like the Z. I find the engine in the Miata uninspiring too. I do think the brand new MX-5 looks great, and I haven't driven one so maybe it's better now.

[kprocivic]

S2000. There is nothing like banging gears at 8k or 9k depending on the model. I think the s2000 is just enough power over the miata to keep things fun. The 240 sounds excellent as well, but with old cars come old problems especially as a dd.

[P7X]

All 3 you'll need to rev the nuts off them to go anywhere so it might as well be a 240z, one of my favorite cars

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by kcdc368

Maybe it's because I am getting older (45+), but I sometimes feel like my M5 is too powerful for occasional canyon drive around LA.

I miss the fun of reving the engine to get the power I need. (There is no need to rev much to get the power from M5's turbo V8 - I often find myself going 90mph+ on local freeway without meaning to go that fast.)

So I am thinking about something lighter and less powerful that I can enjoy the fun of driving again without going too fast.

I have narrow my choice to 3 candidates with budget of $15k~$20k:

1. Datsun 240Z - Everything looks fine on paper and there are many modifications available to tune to car (engine and ride) to what I like, but I am worry about if a 40 year-old car would be to big of a departure from a modern car.

2. Miata - Is the answer to everything really Miata? I feel the engine is a little underpowered.

3. Honda S2000 - a rev-happy engine and many aftermarket options.

I don't want to pose the question in forums dedicated to those cars because members on those forums are predisposed to their own car.

Thanks for any input you guys care to give me.

What do these words mean? I don't understand this language.

[NickyC]

Z4M Roadster. They can be had now in the high teens for a decent example I think. Absolute bonkers car for the money, I'm on my second one now and hope to never sell it!

[black82c]

I personally would go with the 240. There are so many more options when it comes to this car, compared to the other two. While I was stationed in Japan, I hung out with a locals at the tracks in the area. Once in a blue moon you would see an S2000. It was always 180, 240, AE86, and GTR. Not to mention the ease and verity of the swaps which are available for the platform. The biggest problems with it were the diff, and as anyone that has been around them more than a minute could tell you... The dreaded DASH CRACKS.
Great platform for any grease monkey, weekend or otherwise. Send me a pm and il give you a form to check out. Still kinda new here and can't remember if I can/should post links to other forms. Lol

[Desmo85]

For 20k you can get a E89 Sdrive30i.
Naturally aspirated 3 liter inline 6 that you ll have to Rev to get power. Smooth engine, droptop. Test drive one

http://cpo.bmwusa.com/used/BMW/2010-BMW-Z4+sDrive30i-b23c07480a0e0ae77546168ad44d616e.htm

[chillindrdude]

E36 M3 coupe...

[Sephiroth]

I chose the S2000 as you can see. Its reliable and cheap to maintain.

It's power level is just right for zooming around town or the backroads while being able to enjoy the entire rev range. When you feel like you want torque, just jump into your M5. Its steering isn't the best so definitely go drive one and see for yourself.

[aloksatoor]

A porsche 944 S2 ?

[Nkc]

If you're under 5'10 then Miata.

[Overpar56]

Originally Posted by Nkc

If you're under 5'10 then Miata.

Agree. Unless you're looking at the 2016 and that one fits me better. More space left of the clutch pedal vs NA-NC versions. I'm 6'1" and the NB we have is a tight fit. My friend has an s2000 CR and that's a tight fit too. Passenger footwell is tighter than the Miata. Trunk space on either is not Costco-friendly.

The S2000 gets magical over 6k The Miata will grate on you at higher revs. The new Miata Club Sport looks really good.

[eluded]

Datsun- Really? It's old, it will break, unreliable, doesn't handle.

Miata- Great little car, weighs nothing, handles amazing in parking lots (some call this autocross), reliable, it gets great mileage, needs a lot more power

S 2000 -- overpriced. Amazing how these things hold their value. They are quite possibly the worlds fastest car. It's my understanding that the current tire technology still does not allow one to fully hook up at wide open throttle in the s 2000. You also need to be extremely careful as wide-open throttle can cause retinal detachment.

That being said the S2000 would be my pick.

[vachss]

I drove a 240Z for 10 years and eventually modded the shit out of it (Weber carbs on a 280 motor, race suspension, etc...). With all that it couldn't hold a candle to a decently set up Z4 coupe - let alone a Z4M. As far as I'm concerned the Z4 coupe was BMW's successful attempt to bring the old Z-car into the 21st century. It improves on the original in every way.

[3798j]

^vachss pretty much nailed it...the E86 is a continuation to the 240Z.
My search four years ago for a light, good handling sports car included two of the models you're considering...the MX5 and the S2000. I test drove examples of both and truly liked both (with a preference for the S2000). Then I tested the Z4 coupe and my search was over. I'd like to add that I'm an old car hobby enthusiast. I've got three sports cars from the '60's that I enjoy very much. While the 240Z is a more modern vehicle than them, the 240Z (or any other car from the '70's) doesn't hold a candle to your other considerations. My suggestion....add the E86 to your list.

[DocWeatherington]

Originally Posted by kcdc368

Maybe it's because I am getting older (45+), but I sometimes feel like my M5 is too powerful for occasional canyon drive around LA.

I miss the fun of reving the engine to get the power I need. (There is no need to rev much to get the power from M5's turbo V8 - I often find myself going 90mph+ on local freeway without meaning to go that fast.)

So I am thinking about something lighter and less powerful that I can enjoy the fun of driving again without going too fast.

I have narrow my choice to 3 candidates with budget of $15k~$20k:

1. Datsun 240Z - Everything looks fine on paper and there are many modifications available to tune to car (engine and ride) to what I like, but I am worry about if a 40 year-old car would be to big of a departure from a modern car.

2. Miata - Is the answer to everything really Miata? I feel the engine is a little underpowered.

3. Honda S2000 - a rev-happy engine and many aftermarket options.

I don't want to pose the question in forums dedicated to those cars because members on those forums are predisposed to their own car.

Thanks for any input you guys care to give me.

s2000

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by 3798j

^vachss pretty much nailed it...the E86 is a continuation to the 240Z.
My search four years ago for a light, good handling sports car included two of the models you're considering...the MX5 and the S2000. I test drove examples of both and truly liked both (with a preference for the S2000). Then I tested the Z4 coupe and my search was over. I'd like to add that I'm an old car hobby enthusiast. I've got three sports cars from the '60's that I enjoy very much. While the 240Z is a more modern vehicle than them, the 240Z (or any other car from the '70's) doesn't hold a candle to your other considerations. My suggestion....add the E86 to your list.

I have to say I agree. Find a nice E86 Coupe. Keeps it in the BMW family, has the right amount of power for the chassis and very fun to drive.

[FriskyDingo]

I think the S2K is overrated. It's not the delicate handling ballerina so many make it out to be. But it is fun, and it'll be reliable. Nice ones bring $ though.

Miatas I think are even more overrated. I think they are quite possibly the most overrated car ever. Every one I've ever driven just felt soft. Light, and pure, but soft. The softness was the overwhelmingly defining trait.

A clean 240 would be awesome. I've never driven one, but I think the old school feel might compliment your modern rides nicely. And I love the way they look.

I would also throw a FR-S/BRZ or older Boxster into the mix.

[PLCZ4MC]

No z4 non M in the list? The 3.0S Coupe would be such a good one. Just my opinion.

[mrkoven]

s2k obvious choice out of those 3.. 240z is ancient and miata looks like crap