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s2000- convertibe 2 seater roadster.
STi- performance sedan w/ backseat (no standard radio w/ cruise control)
EVO8- performance sedan w/ backseat (radio but no cruise control)

All in all, they may be similar in performance, but between the 3 there are a LOT of differences in creature comforts. Also, out of the 3 the EVO has the harshest factory suspension (very hard setup) but also probably the most comfortable seats (although the ugliest IMO) teh Leather is nice in the S2K but the seats are very small and uncomfortable for larger passengers (along with teh limited headroom of beinga ragtop)

Perhaps your not really lookin deep enough into which one fits your needs best since they are all really different vehicles after you start to compare them as daily drivers. Seems you would be best just figurin out which one comes matched as close to what you want out of your car since they are all basically come as they are vehicles with minimal "creature comfort" add-on options.

 
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Eh, everyone knows I'm not trying to rag. . . but I DO have to ask you:

WHY choose between these three cars as a DAILY driver? Just seems so wasteful to leave the CIVIC LX in better condition than a car you're going to drive every day that will cost you twice as much off the dealer's lot.

Look, I bought my EX coupe in March of 2002. I spent exactly $18,000.01 to get it off the lot. (Stupid sales tax) Sure I've dumped hella funds and even more time into it to make a very viable show car (mild category, in case you hadn't noticed) and I still drive it every day.

What's my point? Easy. When all is said and done it's still a CIVIC. It's still an economy car. It's still disposable, compared to your three new choices. WHY wouldn't you pull the mods from the Civic, sell what you can't put into the new ride, and drive the LX around and rack the miles up on a car that costs nearly NOTHING to maintain? Why take out a TURBOCHARGED car costing in excess of $30,000 and rack up the miles on that in traffic, etc (mainly miles that AREN'T fun) and risk having the delve-out more money to maintain them than the Civic ever would. (Indeed the S2000 is one exception, but the fact that it's the least practical still makes me wonder why you're looking at it as a daily)

If you insist on keeping a lowly Civic (and yes, I'd say the same about MY CAR, too) why spend so much on a daily and NOT on mods for your show car? From what I've seen you've still got lots to do to that thing, and your funds are about to be tied-up in another car. Imagine what you could do with even $10,000 from a new car. . . . Full ICE, turbo, etc, etc. And get yourself a $20-25,000 car, instead. And for God's sake. . . take this from experience. . . 4-doors. Getting a sedan (or something very much like it) would get you so much more car for the money when you have to actually USE IT. Hell, if you're going to spend that much on a car to drive every day, get a 4-door you can take three of your friends in with you to cruise around. Why limit yourself to a roadster?

In the end, it's your money (apparently). I'm not one to tell anyone what to do with their money or time. Hell, I have second thoughts about my purchasing decisions regarding my own show car. I'm just trying to impress upon you the idea of learning from other people's mistakes before you have to make them on your own.

I had a 4-door car as my daily for 10 years. . . LOVED IT. Could hit Costco, Wal Mart, etc. . . fill that sucker up for long trips, and haul my friends around every weekend. Then I had a 1990 Prelude Si for a while. . . . as a daily it sucked total ***. Two doors, almost no backseat, and the trunk was NOT large. I love my Civic now because it's at least larger and has a backseat I would even let my mother sit in, if necessary. Now that it's a showcar, however, I'm going to garage it at the end of the summer and throw MAYBE $4-5,000 at a daily driver. Like a used Civic, Accord, Corolla. . . as long as it's a manual and is at least halfway practical.

Take it for what it's worth. I know you'll enjoy whatever you buy, and that's great. I just hope you can live with that choice in the long run.


Oh, I must know. WHY, if you'd never own a Mits, would you even list it among your short list of cars to look at for a daily driver?

 
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Ok well first of all, who said I had an LX??? I have a 2k2 EX Coupe 5-Speed. And I doubt I can get my car to run 13's and around 300hp. My Civic is a show car that I've invested over the price of it, into it. I want a car that is fast, i can drive normally in everyday, race and kick *** and looks good all at the same time. Why r u so worried about me wasting my money? I'm not. I appreciate ur comments and opinions and I know ur not raggin and I'm not either but thats what I want to do.

 
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D'oh!

My mistake. No insult, intended. But I could have sworn. . . . (Disregard my alzheimers)


Anyway. . . sorry about that. Indeed, I'm certainly not trying to criticize. . . you're still on the young side so, as an old fart, I just figured it was my responsibility to point that stuff out.


Like I said, I know you'll be happy, regardless. And if anything I've said has helped or not in your decision-making, cool.

 
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It's cool man and I thank you for your advice. Have you or anybody heard of anything wrong with any of these cars???

 
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Just the Mits. . . since I have a friend who owns one.

Paint, subpar
Tires, EXCELLENT but these Advans won't last long (10K miles) since they're so sticky

That's about all I know for sure. And the tires problem is EASILY fixed.

 
Rep Power: 469

*screams* EVOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO EVO ----------> THE MATRIX REALLY COOOOO MATRIX

 
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I would say **** those three, get a 350Z would be a bad *** car to have. GReddy has a turbo setup for it and also a dual EVO exhaust for the 350Z which would just make your car the most bad *** out there. Out of the three, I would get the S2000 seeing that they are attractive, aggressive, fast as ****, and it's a HONDA!!! Can't go wrong with that.

The STi is nice but AWD just seems like overkill. The EVO should just be killed.

 
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My friend has a 350Z and that car is so slow! We took it to the track and he got his a$$ handed to him in every race.

 
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wait till 2004.. i heard that the s2000 is gonna be a 2.2 but same hp.. more torque at lower rpms.. softer suspension.. and besides..the s2000 can already hang with the evo and sti which already have turbo.. wen u can modd it yerself and kill them by 2 car lengths.. hehe

 
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I change my mind why not buy you a bad *** Chevrolet Z71 and make it a big *** tough truck and then you can tow the Civic with it ... Just and idea..

 
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LOL...Good Suggestion but not my style. I like sittin LOOOOOWWW. The only kinda truck u would every catch me in, is like a Silverado on some 24's with airbags and a bad *** paint job with a system that pops ear drums. I dont go for that monster truck stuff. LOL But right now I think I'll stick to cars.

 
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speed is not the only thing that defines a car.

it annoys me to see people who look at mag stats and see the evo putting down fast acceleration times and decide that based on that fact alone, it has to be the best car ever made.

if that doesnt describe you and you like the evo anyway, sorri, but i know a lot of people like that.

evo mite be fast as hell, but i'd take an S over it any day. it's got a classic look and feel that an evo just doesnt match. a lancer evo looks like.... a lancer.

definately an s2000. and if you DO want more speed, supercharge it.

 
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I don't like the Evo, I like the STi.

 
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mabye he means mass production

 
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I would go with the STI because (if its going to be a daily driver) it simply more comfortable and spacious all round.

Now in the future if you wise up you make the car you get a bad a$$ vehicle that will rape any car that comes into its path. if that was the basis for the buy i would probably go with the S2000 cause lighter and you get a lot of hp out of a naturally-aspirated four banger.

 
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you live in Illinois, so an S2000 as a daily driver doesn't make too much sense. Also you complained about the size and comfort of the chairs. I only like that car when the top is down anyways, so I'd ignore the S2000 if I was you. A fast car isn't worth back pain and a flat head every time you get out of the car.

I think the new STI looks good, excuse me, better than the round headlights anyways. From what I read in mags though, it seems like it fits more of brutal driver who like beasty engines.

The EVO has more finesse to it. It doesn't need to grunt all it's power to show what it can do. It handles better than the STI and I guess according to you, it should be softer than the STI.

I like the way the STI looks more than the EVO, but I think the EVO would be a better daily driver. And don't worry about the STI not having a radio, I'm sure you would want to change it anyways afterwards. MP3 player, or just a good deck with awesome sound and adjustability. And if you drive on long constant speed roads, that would be the only reason to have cruise control. Truthfully, even on long 6 hour road trips, I always few more secure with my foot on the gas. Maybe because you shouldn't cruise over the speed limit and be more alert to slow down if you see a cop...haha.

 
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STi, enough said..

 
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Id love to have an EVO 8 but its no way worth the $45000+ most dealers are charging. S2k is nice, but you have to do some work to it to make it stand out since a lot of older white people drive it as well. The STi im not a fan of, I say go older WRX and just dropped with 19z looks hella nice.

 
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EVOs can be had at MSRP. . . just have to deal with the dealer.

 
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as a daily driver just note: the STi does not come with a stereo at all. ie no speakers, no deck no nothing.

 
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However, most dealerships include the stereo system bringing the price to about $30,600 or so

 
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I wasnt going to bring up teh "350Z" subject until someone else did, but now that its been said, Im going to be fair and give my overall opinion of the car as a daily driver (since it IS my draily driver)

The 350Z is LOADED with far more dailey driver creature comforts than any of the other 3 cars you are looking for. You can easly seat yourself into an enthusiast model (which offers auto and manual transmissions) for around 26k before taxes. (the 04 are here and the dealers now have to face the fact they wont be able to sell teh 03s at full price anymore)

Already has the volt and oil pressure gauges (mostly for looks, but ARE very accurate) and also a full trip meter computer system in the 3rd dash mounted gauge pod. MPH / Distance to Empty / AVG MPG - MPH / Total timer in miles and h.m.s. since last reset / and stopwatch feature. Manual trans also comes with a tire pressure sensor if you have the 18" wheels (performance model and up only) Also the gauge cluster is definitely a work of are and a step about all your other choices. Steering wheel is slightly generic following the same shape and design of all their other high end models, but is set apart by a chrome Z logo instead of the Nissan one. Seating is INCREDIBLY comfortable for me (150lbs / 5'-9") even in teh touring leather i have. The cloth is a dream, holding you even tighter than the leather when driving aggressivly. You get a great coupe for the price, but you sacrifice a backseat in the Z putting you back in comparison with the S2000 for passenger room. (I did however manage to fit one of my friends in the rear hatch area and close the lid completely. If you ever happen to need to take along a 3rd adult) Ive found that although most the time i dont ever need the backseat, there are times i would have loved having one instead of needing to take more than one car. Gas mileage varies with all cars, but typical with your other choices seems to be on par. I personally have seen as high as 25mpg on the highway doing about 80mph and having the AC full blast cold. I estimate about 27 or 28 without the AC and around 70mph. In teh city i have been getting a really good low 19 mpg and once in a while when driving aggressively ill get as low as high 16 / low 17 mpg.

Dont listen to anything abotu Greddy products for the 350Z, nearly ALL owners i have talked to have little to no faith in their products for the new Z. ATI has a Procharger Supercharger complete kit for around 5 grand that increases the power output to nearly 370 rwhp at only a mere 7psi at 6800rpms. Boost will be fully adjustable with teh kit but is not recommended until you start working internals.

So for the price of a EVO8 / STi / S2000, you can get an enthusiast model Z, and teh ATI full kit and would already outclass all 3 vehicles at the dragstrip and on the street. As far as the track it would still come down to drivers skill in teh corners but those straight lines will go by a LOT quicker.

Its still all your choice but i think ive given you a fair opinion on teh 350Z which ive absolutely loved since the day i drove it home from the dealer.

 
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That makes me want to buy one now. Too bad I don't have the money to do so.

 
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Dude, you should write a book about the Z or something. LOL Just messin with you.

 
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with all the money your going to be spending why not do the k20 swap and see if you can get a custom turbo setup? you'd be set and no one will notice it until u show them. your spending about 30k or more.

 
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I hate to bring this up, but Im an avid autocrosser. And as nice as the 350Z is, in stock form, on an autocross course, its going to get beaten every day by both the STi and the EVO 8 (Both Stock).

SCCA classes the 350Z in B-Stock while both the STi and Evo 8 are A-stock

A-stock > B-stock

the only Stock class over A-Stock is Super Stock (SS)

This isnt that I Dont like the 350Z, far from it. its just that once some one starts talking about what you can do to modify a car to beat other cars, well ........... you can do any thing with enough $$$$$
Thats why I like to compair cars Stock to Stock. compairing modifyed cars against each other brings in to many vairables.

 
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well if the z is in b stock it doesn't compete against the a stock cars right???

I guess you want an A stock car........

 
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True, at an autocross the Z would never go agianst the STi or the EVO, but the point is as a stock car, the STi and the EVO are both faster/more manuverable. I happen to like the Z, but if you are going for all out performance not just 0-60 times, its not the way to go. but It really depends on your intended aplication, and what you want from a car.

Just to note, the S2000 is classed B-Stock and has for the last couple of years dominated the class, it will be interesting to see how the Z fairs against it.

Also, A-Stock has been dominated by Corvettes for the longest time, so far I've heard that the STi is beating the vettes consistantly.

 
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zzyzx, there is some "chatter" that it is thought the S2000 may be moving into A-stock sometime in the future. It's dominance in B-stock has called for somewhat of a "change" from some of the professional drivers.

Again, this is all table talk so who knows what truth there is to it.

Have you heard anything similar?