Discussion
What's everyone's thoughts on choosing between the 2?
I have had a mint 04MY S2000 this year and stupidly sold it for a BMW and now I'm missing VTEC
Looking to get back into one of the above but as the prices have stayed up on the S2000 (which netted me a hefty profit) it would cost me similar money to get into one again and I highly doubt it'll be as good as the one I had previously
If the s2000 was hard top from the factory (not the removeable one I had) there would be less of a competition between the 2 as I'm not massively fond of the soft top, one of the reasons I sold mine in the end so I'd simply go s2k again
Which is why I'm also considering a DC5 integra, always loved them and I'm a real fan of front drivers even after having a couple RWD, I love how savage an LSD can feel on the road too
Don't do many miles and budget isn't really an issue, what's your thoughts on both?
Will I miss the S2K still if I was to get a CW DC5?
I have had a mint 04MY S2000 this year and stupidly sold it for a BMW and now I'm missing VTEC
Looking to get back into one of the above but as the prices have stayed up on the S2000 (which netted me a hefty profit) it would cost me similar money to get into one again and I highly doubt it'll be as good as the one I had previously
If the s2000 was hard top from the factory (not the removeable one I had) there would be less of a competition between the 2 as I'm not massively fond of the soft top, one of the reasons I sold mine in the end so I'd simply go s2k again
Which is why I'm also considering a DC5 integra, always loved them and I'm a real fan of front drivers even after having a couple RWD, I love how savage an LSD can feel on the road too
Don't do many miles and budget isn't really an issue, what's your thoughts on both?
Will I miss the S2K still if I was to get a CW DC5?
Life's too short to own the same car twice IMO 
I've had a DC2 and currently have an S2000... I'd buy the DC2 in a heartbeat if I had to choose one. Not driven a DC5 but people will generally say they're a bit softer and but modern than the DC2...I'd be looking for one of those if I wasn't convinced on another soft top.
Edit: or, if you're not worried about budget... FD2?!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=152...
I've had a DC2 and currently have an S2000... I'd buy the DC2 in a heartbeat if I had to choose one. Not driven a DC5 but people will generally say they're a bit softer and but modern than the DC2...I'd be looking for one of those if I wasn't convinced on another soft top.
Edit: or, if you're not worried about budget... FD2?!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=152...
Edited by doogle83 on Saturday 15th October 20:11
S2000 is the 'purer' car to drive, for obvious reasons. If you like driving for the interaction with the car, the balance, the whole "getting it just right", then a properly-sorted S2000 is probably better, but a good DC5 will communicate just as much with you.
The DC5, like it's older sibling and the FD2, is a hyperactive puppy of a car, and encourages you to drive harder/faster, because it responds to it and most often stays on your side.
I've owned DC2 x2, S2000, FD2 and NSX, and I've driven a couple of DC5s - of that list I'd put the DC5 and the S2000 at the bottom overall, but for very different reasons, and neither is by any stretch a bad car - it's just the others are properly great.
Criticisms of DC5 - steering feels artificially heavy, not genuine-weighted. It also rides very firmly vs all the others except the FD2, and it tramlines/torque-steers more than the others.
It's got a genuinely nice interior though, and the DC5 seats, feeling marginally wider than the DC2 but otherwise the same, are the best of the bunch, and combine with a good driving position. Looks great too, even now.
If you want the purest/best and don't mind it feeling slow, get a DC2. If you can afford an FD2 and don't mind the extra doors, then it's definitely better than the DC5, albeit with very similar DNA. Otherwise you won't feel that short-changed by a DC5, which looks better and is more affordable.
The DC5, like it's older sibling and the FD2, is a hyperactive puppy of a car, and encourages you to drive harder/faster, because it responds to it and most often stays on your side.
I've owned DC2 x2, S2000, FD2 and NSX, and I've driven a couple of DC5s - of that list I'd put the DC5 and the S2000 at the bottom overall, but for very different reasons, and neither is by any stretch a bad car - it's just the others are properly great.
Criticisms of DC5 - steering feels artificially heavy, not genuine-weighted. It also rides very firmly vs all the others except the FD2, and it tramlines/torque-steers more than the others.
It's got a genuinely nice interior though, and the DC5 seats, feeling marginally wider than the DC2 but otherwise the same, are the best of the bunch, and combine with a good driving position. Looks great too, even now.
If you want the purest/best and don't mind it feeling slow, get a DC2. If you can afford an FD2 and don't mind the extra doors, then it's definitely better than the DC5, albeit with very similar DNA. Otherwise you won't feel that short-changed by a DC5, which looks better and is more affordable.
HayesDC2 said:
I'd say DC2 but then I am a little biased. On the FD2 front I would wait a year as they won't need an SVA test and this should (in theory) bring the price down a bit.
Only if the exchange rate improves. You'd have to really, really want one to get a fresh import now. Torque GT have one at the moment and its £2k more than we paid them for a newer one with less miles over a year ago!!I feel obliged to warn in advance that this probably won't be all that helpful!
Back when I owned my DC2 I seriously considered swapping it for an S2000- in my mind it was a faster, RWD, soft-top DC2- but after driving several examples, I discovered it wasn't.
A great car, and certainly quick, but my DC2 just felt so much more fun.
I always thought the S2000 would have benefited from going on a diet, as compared to the DC2 it just felt a bit lardy?
So to answer your question of S2000 or DC5, I would have to unhelpfully say, DC2!
That said, as Havoc pointed out above, the interior of the DC5 is much improved over the earlier Integra. A friend has one and it's certainly a nice place to sit. But if it's purely a weekend car to have some fun in, I'd say go for the purest example.
I do also agree with you on buying the same car again- a year or so after I sold my DC2 I began itching for another one, but having spent the time/effort/money making mine exactly how I wanted I couldn't face buying another one that wasn't mine, if that makes sense.
I finally scratched my itch for another v-tec car with an Accord Type R, and my RWD soft-top itch with a TVR.
When I inevitably give in to my v-tec craving once again, the ultimate Type R for me now would be another DC2 but with the H22 engine from the Accord Type R.
I told you it wouldn't be very helpful
Back when I owned my DC2 I seriously considered swapping it for an S2000- in my mind it was a faster, RWD, soft-top DC2- but after driving several examples, I discovered it wasn't.
A great car, and certainly quick, but my DC2 just felt so much more fun.
I always thought the S2000 would have benefited from going on a diet, as compared to the DC2 it just felt a bit lardy?
So to answer your question of S2000 or DC5, I would have to unhelpfully say, DC2!
That said, as Havoc pointed out above, the interior of the DC5 is much improved over the earlier Integra. A friend has one and it's certainly a nice place to sit. But if it's purely a weekend car to have some fun in, I'd say go for the purest example.
I do also agree with you on buying the same car again- a year or so after I sold my DC2 I began itching for another one, but having spent the time/effort/money making mine exactly how I wanted I couldn't face buying another one that wasn't mine, if that makes sense.
I finally scratched my itch for another v-tec car with an Accord Type R, and my RWD soft-top itch with a TVR.
When I inevitably give in to my v-tec craving once again, the ultimate Type R for me now would be another DC2 but with the H22 engine from the Accord Type R.
I told you it wouldn't be very helpful
Part of how 'heavy' a car feels is down to damping and unsprung weight - big, heavy alloys and/or cheap/badly-set-up dampers will make a car feel/respond more sluggishly than the kerb weight would suggest. The converse is how a big ol' barge can actually feel surprisingly sprightly.
In the case of my recent experience of FD2 vs Octavia vRS (<100kg difference, similar ride quality, WORLD of difference in balance/feel/response), it's down to both of the above.
In the case of the S2000 I think a lot is down to OE dampers being very much "8/10ths" items, and to the geometry, esp. on post-02 cars, being a little too 'safe'. S2000's are ridiculously susceptible to geo set-up, which genuinely can transform the feel of the car.
Ref. "going back to the same model again" - I did with a DC2 - had one near-new for 3 years, sold it as the new job was 40 miles away, then a year later got made redundant ( ), so when I got another permanent job I bought another DC2. Didn't regret it, as learned a lot from the first one and got a very nice one second time around...
In the case of my recent experience of FD2 vs Octavia vRS (<100kg difference, similar ride quality, WORLD of difference in balance/feel/response), it's down to both of the above.
In the case of the S2000 I think a lot is down to OE dampers being very much "8/10ths" items, and to the geometry, esp. on post-02 cars, being a little too 'safe'. S2000's are ridiculously susceptible to geo set-up, which genuinely can transform the feel of the car.
Ref. "going back to the same model again" - I did with a DC2 - had one near-new for 3 years, sold it as the new job was 40 miles away, then a year later got made redundant (
), so when I got another permanent job I bought another DC2. Didn't regret it, as learned a lot from the first one and got a very nice one second time around...Gassing Station | Honda | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff