Honda S2000 - Would you?
Discussion
For - It looks like it will fit me perfect and the ergonomics look bang on. I think it's a nice looking car without being too "look at me". It's a genuine 2 seater sports car which is what I am after. Honda reliability (so i've heard). It's considerably cheaper to buy than a Z4M that I would prefer, i.e the head rather than heart choice. Revvy naturally aspirated engine. Convertible when summer comes. Depreciation over a year or 2 looks like it won't be much.
Against - Over £10k to buy what is a 6 or 7 year old honda. £485 for a years RFL (I know that the 06 and earlier ones are cheaper but not many of them about and prefer to have a low 05 onwards one). Only 240bhp for what is high RFL. 28mpg the best I will see? Potentially costly repairs on fabric roof and/or mechanism? Quite old looking typical jap interior with exception of the digital speedo.
Talk me in or out of it, if you will.
Against - Over £10k to buy what is a 6 or 7 year old honda. £485 for a years RFL (I know that the 06 and earlier ones are cheaper but not many of them about and prefer to have a low 05 onwards one). Only 240bhp for what is high RFL. 28mpg the best I will see? Potentially costly repairs on fabric roof and/or mechanism? Quite old looking typical jap interior with exception of the digital speedo.
Talk me in or out of it, if you will.
Edited by Al U on Thursday 6th November 21:31
I just picked this one up pretty cheap (the pics don't do it justice)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261637418934?ru=http%3A%...
It's awesome!
Having been used to a bike engined kitcar, I like the power delivery,
It sounds great, taking it up to 9K RPM, you really feel it coming to life after 6K RPM.
The seats are fantastically comfortable.
It is a little tail happy mind!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261637418934?ru=http%3A%...
It's awesome!
Having been used to a bike engined kitcar, I like the power delivery,
It sounds great, taking it up to 9K RPM, you really feel it coming to life after 6K RPM.
The seats are fantastically comfortable.
It is a little tail happy mind!
far more entertaining than the alternative Z3 bland dross on offer - just be careful in the wet Interesting responses. That looks like a lot of S2000 for £4k but if I was in the market for an early one I'm not sure I could live with those seats! Certainly unique.
Not sure that having to rev it would bother me that much to be honest. I do like the look of the cocooned in driving position. Tell me, can you rest your arm on that central trim and go through the gears without having to reach for the gearstick if that makes sense?
Not sure that having to rev it would bother me that much to be honest. I do like the look of the cocooned in driving position. Tell me, can you rest your arm on that central trim and go through the gears without having to reach for the gearstick if that makes sense?
I loved mine, but you did have to be "on it" to get the best out of it, and that can lead to some fairly eye opening speeds, but it was great fun when you were in the mood.
Be sensible in the wet, or on greasy roads, they have a bit of a reputation for being a handful in the wet, and it's true, I binned mine whilst coming out of a round about in wet conditions, driving too quickly.
The interior might be a bit basic but it's solid and shouldn't cause you any problems, the same with the engine and (superb) gearbox, servicing and parts aren't dear either - plenty of specialists around too, I'm not sure when you live but TDI North in Warrington are a good, reputable firm.
This may all seem a bit doom and gloom but they are cracking cars - I really enjoyed owning mine, although I was only young so it really ate into my finances, o well!
Be sensible in the wet, or on greasy roads, they have a bit of a reputation for being a handful in the wet, and it's true, I binned mine whilst coming out of a round about in wet conditions, driving too quickly.
The interior might be a bit basic but it's solid and shouldn't cause you any problems, the same with the engine and (superb) gearbox, servicing and parts aren't dear either - plenty of specialists around too, I'm not sure when you live but TDI North in Warrington are a good, reputable firm.
This may all seem a bit doom and gloom but they are cracking cars - I really enjoyed owning mine, although I was only young so it really ate into my finances, o well!
Edited by Axionknight on Thursday 6th November 21:57
Axionknight said:
Be sensible in the wet, or on greasy roads, they have a bit of a reputation for being a handful in the wet, and it's true, I binned mine whilst coming out of a round about in wet conditions, driving too quickly.
Hmm. This will be my first rear wheel drive car so maybe it could be a baptism of fire? To be honest I would probably take it easy and just try to get used to the car progressively.
Al U said:
For - It looks like it will fit me perfect and the ergonomics look bang on. I think it's a nice looking car without being too "look at me". It's a genuine 2 seater sports car which is what I am after. Honda reliability (so i've heard). It's considerably cheaper to buy than a Z4M that I would prefer, i.e the head rather than heart choice. Revvy naturally aspirated engine. Convertible when summer comes. Depreciation over a year or 2 looks like it won't be much.
Against - Over £10k to buy what is a 6 or 7 year old honda. £485 for a years RFL (I know that the 06 and earlier ones are cheaper but not many of them about and prefer to have a low 05 onwards one). Only 240bhp for what is high RFL. 28mpg the best I will see? Potentially costly repairs on fabric roof and/or mechanism? Quite old looking typical jap interior with exception of the digital speedo.
Talk me in or out of it, if you will.
Don't buy one over £10k. The best ones to get are the 2004-early 2006, avoiding the higher road tax, and the drive by wire throttle.Against - Over £10k to buy what is a 6 or 7 year old honda. £485 for a years RFL (I know that the 06 and earlier ones are cheaper but not many of them about and prefer to have a low 05 onwards one). Only 240bhp for what is high RFL. 28mpg the best I will see? Potentially costly repairs on fabric roof and/or mechanism? Quite old looking typical jap interior with exception of the digital speedo.
Talk me in or out of it, if you will.
Edited by Al U on Thursday 6th November 21:31
The roofs are cheap to replace - £280 all in for a mohair. The roof mechanism is very reliable and I've not read about a single failure - unlike the Z4 - which is all over the forums, and costs circa £1k to replace.
Get out and test drive one and you'll know it's worth it, £7-8k should net you a perfect one.
Early ones have dodgy handling - 2004 onwards are better.
Al U said:
Hmm. This will be my first rear wheel drive car so maybe it could be a baptism of fire? To be honest I would probably take it easy and just try to get used to the car progressively.
It will bite if you go daft, especially in this weather. I wouldn't rule out earlier versions to avoid the full whack tax, you shouldn't have any problems with the roof - the mechanism is simple and strong - just be careful of the plastic window on the early versions. Watch the last (2009?) versions - a few had dicky engines, but most should have been picked up by now.If you're spending over £10k, a Z4M wont be considerably more, but the running costs of one will be. You need to drive both of these as you'll either love them or hate them.
mattcov said:
Al U said:
Hmm. This will be my first rear wheel drive car so maybe it could be a baptism of fire? To be honest I would probably take it easy and just try to get used to the car progressively.
It will bite if you go daft, especially in this weather. I wouldn't rule out earlier versions to avoid the full whack tax, you shouldn't have any problems with the roof - the mechanism is simple and strong - just be careful of the plastic window on the early versions. Watch the last (2009?) versions - a few had dicky engines, but most should have been picked up by now.If you're spending over £10k, a Z4M wont be considerably more, but the running costs of one will be. You need to drive both of these as you'll either love them or hate them.
The S2000 really got under my skin and I would have a 3rd.
Roof down, third gear, 6000+ rpm and a cold air induction kit one of the best noises.
I personally love mine! My second car after a 90hp Fwd Leon. Started out looking at 5k examples, ended up spending more on a 55 plate. I'm 8 months or so into ownership and haven't stopped smiling whenever it's the weekend or a road opens up in front of me.
As for some downsides, you'll never feel comfortable in the rain at speed because of forums, you'll probably have a near miss, you definitely won't 'slowly get used to it' if you're anything like me either.
Also pretty awful in crawling traffic, and definitely do the mod so you can put the roof up and down while on the move.
As for some downsides, you'll never feel comfortable in the rain at speed because of forums, you'll probably have a near miss, you definitely won't 'slowly get used to it' if you're anything like me either.
Also pretty awful in crawling traffic, and definitely do the mod so you can put the roof up and down while on the move.
Al U said:
Axionknight said:
Be sensible in the wet, or on greasy roads, they have a bit of a reputation for being a handful in the wet, and it's true, I binned mine whilst coming out of a round about in wet conditions, driving too quickly.
Hmm. This will be my first rear wheel drive car so maybe it could be a baptism of fire? To be honest I would probably take it easy and just try to get used to the car progressively.These aren't 'chuck em about with abandon' cars like an MX5, they take learning and caution, back off at 9 or 10 tenths and they can whip round, take a brave pill, keep your foot in and they'll slide controllably.
Utterly fantastic engine but I just couldn't gel with mine in the way I could with the little topless Mazda.
I was going to but one for my wife but after doing my research got scared off by the engine failure horror stories. I still went and looked at a few but all had badly repaired accident damage which made the decision easy.
Bought an SLK300 instead. Just as quick and handles very well plus the bonus of a hard top in the winter.
Bought an SLK300 instead. Just as quick and handles very well plus the bonus of a hard top in the winter.
Jaska said:
I personally love mine! My second car after a 90hp Fwd Leon. Started out looking at 5k examples, ended up spending more on a 55 plate. I'm 8 months or so into ownership and haven't stopped smiling whenever it's the weekend or a road opens up in front of me.
As for some downsides, you'll never feel comfortable in the rain at speed because of forums, you'll probably have a near miss, you definitely won't 'slowly get used to it' if you're anything like me either.
Also pretty awful in crawling traffic, and definitely do the mod so you can put the roof up and down while on the move.
It was the original tyres that were an issue in the wet, my first one was a bit of a handful especially in the wet round oulton park As for some downsides, you'll never feel comfortable in the rain at speed because of forums, you'll probably have a near miss, you definitely won't 'slowly get used to it' if you're anything like me either.
Also pretty awful in crawling traffic, and definitely do the mod so you can put the roof up and down while on the move.
my later car 55 plate was more than compliant, forums instill unfounded and unescessary fear sometimes!Fun cars to drive no doubt about it.
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