Discussion
Caterham / early Elises were on my radar when I got my second S, but they don't have the daily driver ability (if you value your spine). The S2k is an amazing all-rounder. Comfy/practical enough/reliable to drive it everywhere, yet with that split personality engine that lets you go mad with a chassis designed to handle from the ground up!
I honestly could not think of a better drivers car for the money that ticks all the boxes the S can.
Since they stopped production there's been left a gap in the market for an affordable, fun roadster thats not for girls
Joking aside, I'm sure the NC MX5 is fun enough to drive, but its still a parts-bin car and an off the shelf engine. Lacks the bespokeness and character that you get with an S.
Other than that, maybe TVR Chimera, I nearly went for one of these but they don't tick the reliability box. Sure there are good ones, but I think all TVRs come with that feeling that you better not thrash it *too* hard for fear of something disintegrating. The lil Honda takes a beating every day and it's there in the morning ready to go again.
When the GT86 came out, I was excited. I think this is probably the closest car currently on the market in terms of driver-orientated fun. Unfortunately after seeing a drag race video between a GT86 and an S2k I was forever put off. I know its not about straight line speeds, but the S isn't exactly a monster off the line but it made the GT86 look silly. That extra 40bhp makes a difference I guess.
There's the Boxster - a great car if you get one thats had all the common problems done, but they come with "that image" that you couldn't quite afford the 911. And they are right. There's no way I'd have a Boxster for any other reason than its price point.
Z4M - this nearly took me in, like the sound of the extra cylinder and up 100bhp on the S, but I wasn't a big fan of the appearance, they get good reviews though, I'd consider one again maybe.
I honestly could not think of a better drivers car for the money that ticks all the boxes the S can.
Since they stopped production there's been left a gap in the market for an affordable, fun roadster thats not for girls
Joking aside, I'm sure the NC MX5 is fun enough to drive, but its still a parts-bin car and an off the shelf engine. Lacks the bespokeness and character that you get with an S.
Other than that, maybe TVR Chimera, I nearly went for one of these but they don't tick the reliability box. Sure there are good ones, but I think all TVRs come with that feeling that you better not thrash it *too* hard for fear of something disintegrating. The lil Honda takes a beating every day and it's there in the morning ready to go again.
When the GT86 came out, I was excited. I think this is probably the closest car currently on the market in terms of driver-orientated fun. Unfortunately after seeing a drag race video between a GT86 and an S2k I was forever put off. I know its not about straight line speeds, but the S isn't exactly a monster off the line but it made the GT86 look silly. That extra 40bhp makes a difference I guess.
There's the Boxster - a great car if you get one thats had all the common problems done, but they come with "that image" that you couldn't quite afford the 911. And they are right. There's no way I'd have a Boxster for any other reason than its price point.
Z4M - this nearly took me in, like the sound of the extra cylinder and up 100bhp on the S, but I wasn't a big fan of the appearance, they get good reviews though, I'd consider one again maybe.
True, but I count that into running cost as after all - if you can't run it every day then you need to spend money on buying/taxing/MOTing/servicing/insuring a second car, just so you have your weekend toy ready when you feel you can take it out.
(unless you dont *need* a car for work/etc, in which case crack on!)
(unless you dont *need* a car for work/etc, in which case crack on!)
krunchkin that is one of the things I really like about my S2k. The fact that I can putter quietly around town in the thing, looking like any old hairdressers in an MX5, & no one, including the law pay any attention.
On the bang for bucks, my 4.6L 330BHP TR8, which is a couple of hundred kilograms lighter than the S2k does do it. To be fair however, it took me 5 years & about S2k money 7 years ago to get it to being able to do the job.
It also doesn't do the inconspicuous thing too well either. With an exhaust that sounds like a 10.0 Liter exhausting into a 10" drain pipe, even when just puttering around, but it is fun.
On the bang for bucks, my 4.6L 330BHP TR8, which is a couple of hundred kilograms lighter than the S2k does do it. To be fair however, it took me 5 years & about S2k money 7 years ago to get it to being able to do the job.
It also doesn't do the inconspicuous thing too well either. With an exhaust that sounds like a 10.0 Liter exhausting into a 10" drain pipe, even when just puttering around, but it is fun.
Gaz. said:
My MR2 Turbo certainly equal it, and my Supra would better it for bang for buck. Both quicker in a straight line, the Supra would murder the Honda point to point. Servicing is similar money though the MR2 has lots of little niggles. Cambelt service on the Supra is far less than the Honda 54k service or TCT replacement. Insurance is half as much, tyres last longer on the Supra, about the same on the MR2. The clutch is cheaper to change. Finding a good example of either is not the work of a moment though, you could spend months looking for the right car.
But you've got a tin roof, so just lost 50% of the buzz factor of the S2000 
Edited by scz4 on Tuesday 20th August 14:37
I'd be surprised if a stock supra would be as nimble round the twisties as an S.. They've always seemed like a bit of a barge to me, although I've never driven one
On my road trip at the start of the month round Wales, I was able to get away from all the faster cars on the bends, especially linking together some fast direction changes. Was so nice to be able to get it in that kind of environment where the car comes alive and really makes sense.
On my road trip at the start of the month round Wales, I was able to get away from all the faster cars on the bends, especially linking together some fast direction changes. Was so nice to be able to get it in that kind of environment where the car comes alive and really makes sense.
Gaz. said:
scz4 said:
But you've got a tin roof, so just lost 50% of the buzz factor of the S2000
Both are available as targas, but yes the rag top is a massive bonus in the Honda.
Agree with you though, the initial costs of the S2000 look high for a 2.0 4 cyl car (tax, insurance, servicing etc). However, the amazing thing about the S2000 is in 6000 miles and 2 summers I've had the car has needed absolutely nothing! Usually when you buy a car it needs a few bit a parts here and there. This has been the cheapest car by far I've own in terms of overall running costs, factoring in depreciation especially.
scz4 said:
Gaz. said:
scz4 said:
But you've got a tin roof, so just lost 50% of the buzz factor of the S2000
Both are available as targas, but yes the rag top is a massive bonus in the Honda.Agree with you though, the initial costs of the S2000 look high for a 2.0 4 cyl car (tax, insurance, servicing etc). However, the amazing thing about the S2000 is in 6000 miles and 2 summers I've had the car has needed absolutely nothing! Usually when you buy a car it needs a few bit a parts here and there. This has been the cheapest car by far I've own in terms of overall running costs, factoring in depreciation especially.
RichwiththeS2000 said:
I'd be surprised if a stock supra would be as nimble round the twisties as an S.. They've always seemed like a bit of a barge to me, although I've never driven one
On my road trip at the start of the month round Wales, I was able to get away from all the faster cars on the bends, especially linking together some fast direction changes. Was so nice to be able to get it in that kind of environment where the car comes alive and really makes sense.
You are certainly right there. In the twisty stuff the Supra is very much a point, squirt, stop, turn type car. When you get into sweeping stuff approaching 75 MPH say, they start to work pretty well, & I have not found them as likely to bite the unwary the way the S2k will.On my road trip at the start of the month round Wales, I was able to get away from all the faster cars on the bends, especially linking together some fast direction changes. Was so nice to be able to get it in that kind of environment where the car comes alive and really makes sense.
On that running away in the twisty bits, I think you'll find that is down to the loose nut behind the steering wheel. I find very few keep up with me, & it makes no difference whether I am driving the S2k, my 330 BHP TR8, or even my TR7. I have wondered on occasions if modern drivers are getting slow, or if they are merely trying to keep well clear of that they see as my incipient crash.
I've been following S2000 prices for well over a year since I decided it was the car I wanted to get next. In around May 2012 I was aiming for a £7500 car that at the time would get me a 2004 non-GT with under 60k miles.
I bought an S2000 a little over 2 weeks ago for just that price - a 2005 non-GT with 53000 miles. It's a fascinating market, it really hasn't moved much in over a year except for a small increase due to the good weather.
I have seen that GTs are creeping up though. I initially wanted to get one, but I wasn't able to find one that was right for me, and then an excellent non-GT turned up that I couldn't refuse. Quite glad about that now; I saved a lot of money and having never been in (let alone owned) a convertible before I absolutely love having the roof down.
Cracking car I'm used to driving a car that needs its engine worked (Clio 172 Cup), but the Honda is another step entirely. Bonkers.
I bought an S2000 a little over 2 weeks ago for just that price - a 2005 non-GT with 53000 miles. It's a fascinating market, it really hasn't moved much in over a year except for a small increase due to the good weather.
I have seen that GTs are creeping up though. I initially wanted to get one, but I wasn't able to find one that was right for me, and then an excellent non-GT turned up that I couldn't refuse. Quite glad about that now; I saved a lot of money and having never been in (let alone owned) a convertible before I absolutely love having the roof down.
Cracking car
I'm used to driving a car that needs its engine worked (Clio 172 Cup), but the Honda is another step entirely. Bonkers.Off to see another one on Saturday.
Technically i can't afford t do the deal until after xmas, but if the part ex offer on my car is right and it checks out i might jump early and enjoy the last few weeks of summer.
And then spend every dry day during winter with the roof own too. I am so excited about getting a soft top.
Technically i can't afford t do the deal until after xmas, but if the part ex offer on my car is right and it checks out i might jump early and enjoy the last few weeks of summer.
And then spend every dry day during winter with the roof own too. I am so excited about getting a soft top.
Gaz. said:
The other side of that coin being that you don't lose a ton of money in depreciation.
I have lost around $20,000 (14k GBP) in 5 years and 60,000km. I think that is still a big hit for an 04 plate Honda. Must admit that some of that would be luxury car tax too.Kind of with Hasbeen as I would love to swap around and try out a few different machines.
davidsc said:
I have a 2005 GT facelifted car with 102K on the clock - mint condition, in NFR with full dealer service history, how much would this be worth nowadays? About £7k?
Been following S2000 prices and seen mint 05 in NB with 35k miles that was up for £7.5k a month back being best value. Bargains do crop up on these cars and a little more over the winter months.I've had a Supra and now have an S2000. Both are excellent cars. The Supra does feel much heavier to throw around but on sweeping A roads it is a weapon. Mine had subtle mods was a TT auto Aerotop (removable roof ) and had 400bhp! Forgiving is not a word I would use for a Supra though - how many have been written off by the second turbo coming in at 4k revs!
The S2000 is much more nimble, seems to me to have better outright grip on tight corners - probably due to the lack of weight over the Supra.
Both equally good and both better than each other in different scenarios.
) and had 400bhp! Forgiving is not a word I would use for a Supra though - how many have been written off by the second turbo coming in at 4k revs!The S2000 is much more nimble, seems to me to have better outright grip on tight corners - probably due to the lack of weight over the Supra.
Both equally good and both better than each other in different scenarios.
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