RE: Honda S2000: Catch it While You Can
Discussion
steve1386 said:
jakesmith said:
Running costs are the only reason why you'd pick this over a Bosxste surely?
Series 2 Boxter S (or later) would be the only decent alternative, otherwise the S2000 was a much more exciting car to drive...faster too!I went from my S2000 into a 987 Boxster S which was a good bit faster, which you would expect from the beefier 3.2ltr engine. The Boxster was a seriously accomplished machine but honestly left me feeling a bit ‘meh’.
I miss the S2000 more than the Boxster. There was just something raw in its appeal. Always put a smile on my face to drive and preferred the ‘could easily bite you’ on the limit appeal (as silly as that sounds).
Edited by crispyshark on Thursday 29th October 12:43
From the reports of crashes above by people who have had them it echoes my own experience. In 2001 I did a track day at Jonathan Palmers in Beds and thought that although the engine was great the chassis just wasn't up to the mark. It felt very unsettled in the rear as you approached the limit. On the day it was the car that was spun most often as well (even more than the Caterhams!). I didn't lose it when I drove it but it wasn't for lack of it plotting to kill me.
That experience has pretty much put me off them ever since. I appreciate them for what they are but I think I'd rather a Z4 (for less money).
That experience has pretty much put me off them ever since. I appreciate them for what they are but I think I'd rather a Z4 (for less money).
Still the car I miss the most. My engine went pop at 120k miles, at exactly the time the values had plummeted - I reckoned on it being worth 4k as a working vehicle, so took the decision to break it.
Hindsight, hey! It'd be worth what I'd paid for it, now.
I put the proceeds towards a MUCH faster (in a straight line) "tweaked" Chimaera. It was more of an event to drive than the S2K - for which you can read - less enjoyable, less comfortable but more shouty. Then I crashed it.
I think the biggest mistake I made was modifying. Every change I made to that car (suspension, polybushes, breathing, single exhaust) spoiled it a little bit more. I did love it though. The sole reason for not going back is that I don't believe in doing the same car twice - there are too many great ones out there.
Hindsight, hey! It'd be worth what I'd paid for it, now.
I put the proceeds towards a MUCH faster (in a straight line) "tweaked" Chimaera. It was more of an event to drive than the S2K - for which you can read - less enjoyable, less comfortable but more shouty. Then I crashed it.
I think the biggest mistake I made was modifying. Every change I made to that car (suspension, polybushes, breathing, single exhaust) spoiled it a little bit more. I did love it though. The sole reason for not going back is that I don't believe in doing the same car twice - there are too many great ones out there.
Tried a couple a few years back - can't say I was blown away tbh, went for an MX-5 in the end.
Seemed like a sports car that didn't really tick any boxes fully to me. Was it fast, no. Was it slow, no. Was it a bad handler, no. Was it chuck-able/slid-able/predictable (i.e. a good place to learn RWD), no. Did it look great, no. Did it look bad, no. Did it have a nice interior, no. Did it have a bad interior, no. Etc, etc, Sort of in no-man's land if you get what I mean.
Still, can't fault the way it's held its money in recent times though. Maybe i'm missing something, wouldn't be the first time, lol.
Seemed like a sports car that didn't really tick any boxes fully to me. Was it fast, no. Was it slow, no. Was it a bad handler, no. Was it chuck-able/slid-able/predictable (i.e. a good place to learn RWD), no. Did it look great, no. Did it look bad, no. Did it have a nice interior, no. Did it have a bad interior, no. Etc, etc, Sort of in no-man's land if you get what I mean.
Still, can't fault the way it's held its money in recent times though. Maybe i'm missing something, wouldn't be the first time, lol.
lostkiwi said:
From the reports of crashes above by people who have had them it echoes my own experience. In 2001 I did a track day at Jonathan Palmers in Beds and thought that although the engine was great the chassis just wasn't up to the mark. It felt very unsettled in the rear as you approached the limit. On the day it was the car that was spun most often as well (even more than the Caterhams!). I didn't lose it when I drove it but it wasn't for lack of it plotting to kill me.
That experience has pretty much put me off them ever since. I appreciate them for what they are but I think I'd rather a Z4 (for less money).
Every time I drive the S2000, it reminds me that I've got to be really, really dialled in and paying full attention to extract the most from it.That experience has pretty much put me off them ever since. I appreciate them for what they are but I think I'd rather a Z4 (for less money).
But when I do and the gear changes are in sync with the direction changes, my what a sensation it gives.
C7 JFW said:
Every time I drive the S2000, it reminds me that I've got to be really, really dialled in and paying full attention to extract the most from it.
But when I do and the gear changes are in sync with the direction changes, my what a sensation it gives.
I think this is probably bang on, and probably answers some of the questions above about not being blown away. You couldn't extract the blown away feel on a lazy drive, and maybe that is a bit of a downfall, you had to be on it, working it hard, and then the rewards I thought were great, really great. Something maybe you wouldn't experience if you drove it once for a short period.But when I do and the gear changes are in sync with the direction changes, my what a sensation it gives.
Saying that, I now have a Cayman S, and I can appreciate how its better in the fact you don't have to work the box all the time to gather the pace. Maybe I got lazy too?!
C7 JFW said:
Every time I drive the S2000, it reminds me that I've got to be really, really dialled in and paying full attention to extract the most from it.
But when I do and the gear changes are in sync with the direction changes, my what a sensation it gives.
As you know the biggest issue with them is poor geometry and tyres will bite you!But when I do and the gear changes are in sync with the direction changes, my what a sensation it gives.
Is this a new phenomenon for 10 year old "modern classics" to start increasing in value, or has that always happened if the car is rare and desirable enough? I used to think you had to wait at least 20 years before cars started rising in value, and that was only once most had rusted off the roads and those left had been restored at least once. Not knocking it, just wondering.
Bought a 2005 with 19k miles in summer 2008 for £14k. I've put another 80k miles on it in the last 6 years in all weathers as my daily driver.
Spent the last year wondering what to replace it with and haven't come up with anything the correct side of £30k. Now it's going up in price it is becoming harder to justify replacing it because the depreciation difference between it and the replacement is getting larger.
Maybe I'll turn mine into a summer/weekend car and buy something cheap for the winter commute instead.
Spent the last year wondering what to replace it with and haven't come up with anything the correct side of £30k. Now it's going up in price it is becoming harder to justify replacing it because the depreciation difference between it and the replacement is getting larger.
Maybe I'll turn mine into a summer/weekend car and buy something cheap for the winter commute instead.
Lil'RedGTO said:
Is this a new phenomenon for 10 year old "modern classics" to start increasing in value, or has that always happened if the car is rare and desirable enough? I used to think you had to wait at least 20 years before cars started rising in value, and that was only once most had rusted off the roads and those left had been restored at least once. Not knocking it, just wondering.
Its a knock effect of low inflation, low savings rates and low gold prices. People are putting money in to classic cars and paying stupid money for them.
Those that aren't able to pay stupid money come down the tree to stuff like the S2000
That's why I bought my 5th one
bigalx said:
Looked at these but went for an E36 M3 Evo Convertible instead - still both of them would have been fairly solid "investments".
Me too although I went for the M3 Coupe.Friend has one, have had a drive and it's pretty hyper compared to the evo - you barely need to turn the wheel to go round the corner! S50 motor in the BMW is quite a thing, however.
Lil'RedGTO said:
Is this a new phenomenon for 10 year old "modern classics" to start increasing in value, or has that always happened if the car is rare and desirable enough? I used to think you had to wait at least 20 years before cars started rising in value, and that was only once most had rusted off the roads and those left had been restored at least once. Not knocking it, just wondering.
I think it's a function of how boring new cars are.Mikes2k said:
I've had mine 5 1/2 years and can't bring myself to sell it. Too much fun. I'm treating it to a new roof next weekend ready for the winter.
I enjoy driving over to Germany every year, a lap of the nurburging in a Honda S2000 is driving nivana
Sounds familiar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dJiuI-C6ygI enjoy driving over to Germany every year, a lap of the nurburging in a Honda S2000 is driving nivana
MIP1983 said:
Mikes2k said:
I've had mine 5 1/2 years and can't bring myself to sell it. Too much fun. I'm treating it to a new roof next weekend ready for the winter.
I enjoy driving over to Germany every year, a lap of the nurburging in a Honda S2000 is driving nivana
Sounds familiar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dJiuI-C6ygI enjoy driving over to Germany every year, a lap of the nurburging in a Honda S2000 is driving nivana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx_TecmQHoM
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