Trying to choose a car....

[nando]

You must be a friggin giant because I have a tall friend who DDs an S2000.

I'm not that big but every Japanese sports car I've ever been in gives me claustrophobia..

[mrsleeve]

Why did you ask

easy answer is easy..................... S2K with out hesitation and this is from a person that all but despises anything out of the honda/acura stable

[varg]

You must be a friggin giant because I have a tall friend who DDs an S2000.

[Shock(/\)ave]

I couldn't fit into an S2000 (or a Z3M Coupe) because my height and limb length apparently fell outside of their design specifications.

I've had two low mileage E34 M5s: one which I never warmed up to and sold after giving it a light restoration, and the one I have now which is easily one of the best cars I've ever had. You really need to treat them as individuals and judge them based on the car sitting in front of you.

[2mAn]

S2Ks, E30s, and most any 20ish+ year old car will bite if you are being foolish, but like any car you work your way up to a level you can handle.

As to usability, it's fine, and with VTEC being what it is you have a sedate ride below whatever and a party up high, which is fun.

x2

S2K and cool VTEC cars are the mullet of the cool ride category

[roguetoaster]

S2Ks, E30s, and most any 20ish+ year old car will bite if you are being foolish, but like any car you work your way up to a level you can handle.

As to usability, it's fine, and with VTEC being what it is you have a sedate ride below whatever and a party up high, which is fun.

[mach schnell]

I have heard the same thing, that the N55 is far more reliable than the N54, since they changed injectors and some other design elements. From perusing the 1-forum, the 135 owners love their cars.

I do like the E34 M5. Basically a bigger E30 M3, handles well when lowered and fun to rev out.

The S2000... also fun to rev, but I wonder about (a) the usability of it, with the power at the very very top of the rev range (even more so than an S38), and (b) I drive a lot of canyon roads, and the S2000 seems to have a reputation for getting tail happy with dynamic suspension changes. The roads I drive are twisty, and there is a lot of switching back and forth between hairpins and sweepers, off-camber vs banked, etc. I wonder if the S2000 is a car that will bite you if you’re not careful, or if you have to get into an emergency braking situation while transitioning between corners and upsetting the suspension.... ?

[Stanley Rockafella]

Stanley if powerful doesnt translate to fun in Canadian, then Maybe I shouldve described it as a blast of maple syrup to the face at 9000rpms (ok 8200RPMs bcuz AP2)

:nice:

I also agree with you on the 86es. Still sometimes wish I kept it.

[2mAn]

I owned a E34 M5. Bought a stock 86-ES the day after I sold it. I was happier with the eta....

Stanley if powerful doesnt translate to fun in Canadian, then Maybe I shouldve described it as a blast of maple syrup to the face at 9000rpms (ok 8200RPMs bcuz AP2)

[bruner]

S2k’s are the gey. E34 m5 or ban.

[Stanley Rockafella]

Who wants a car that is powerful AND reliable... psh

Nowhere in that sentence do I see "fun/enjoyable" mentioned.

[e30austin]

My vote is E34 M5. That will be my next car purchase.

[2mAn]

Seems like r3v has spoken here, hope you deliver on the S2K OP.

Well, we should be helping him find an E30 before he does something smart and buys a Honda. Who wants a car that is powerful AND reliable... psh

[roguetoaster]

Seems like r3v has spoken here, hope you deliver on the S2K OP.

[agent]

An E82 is a nice car but it's also a modern BMW with an N55 and from what I've been told it has all of the same problems as the N54, which is quite a few.

I don't know if that's accurate. While I'm sure it's true they can both have the types of issues that are common to FI powerplants, I was told in no uncertain terms by a friend and current dealer tech (who is also a member here) that the N55 is far more reliable than its predecessor.