Discussion
Hello. I have just sold my Tuscan and I thought I would be sensible for once and allocate 12-13K for a reliable Honda...I had my eyes set on an S2000, which I drove recently and was not very impressed. The car felt like it had an on-off switch in terms of accelaration, had very neutral handling (OK, for some this is a good thing), an akward driving position (I am 6ft 3, the non-adjustable steering wheel was on my lap)and the electronic dash board was not exactly to my taste.
I then went on to drive the Civic Type R which really impressed me. It felt at least as fast, it was very agile and manouvreable with loads of traction (and a slightly light-dettached feeling though) a lovely interior with its white dials and chrome gear knob, a bit more torgey in my opinion and overall great, great fun. It made me feel 10 years younger (back to the time when I was driving a tuned Fiat Punto GT, only this one could do more than just blast out on a straight line).
A part of me is finding it difficult to go from what I perceived as a "supercar" to a hot hatch. 13K would get me a 2003 low miler Type R or a 2001 S2000.
Please share your opinions, knowledge and experience with me...
I then went on to drive the Civic Type R which really impressed me. It felt at least as fast, it was very agile and manouvreable with loads of traction (and a slightly light-dettached feeling though) a lovely interior with its white dials and chrome gear knob, a bit more torgey in my opinion and overall great, great fun. It made me feel 10 years younger (back to the time when I was driving a tuned Fiat Punto GT, only this one could do more than just blast out on a straight line).
A part of me is finding it difficult to go from what I perceived as a "supercar" to a hot hatch. 13K would get me a 2003 low miler Type R or a 2001 S2000.
Please share your opinions, knowledge and experience with me...
"I just can't imagine a CTR impresses more than an S2000 . . . "
...I have just sold a Tuscan...impressing is not top of my list at the moment...
It seems the running costs for both are ridiculous compared to the Tuscan...£283 for a service? Try £1200!
Maybe I should buy both, I could actually afford them after selling my TVR!
But then again it would be nice to spend some money on something other than cars for a change...and not scrape the bottom of my drawer to get money for petrol for my new car
All good info so far guys...
...I have just sold a Tuscan...impressing is not top of my list at the moment...
It seems the running costs for both are ridiculous compared to the Tuscan...£283 for a service? Try £1200!
Maybe I should buy both, I could actually afford them after selling my TVR!
But then again it would be nice to spend some money on something other than cars for a change...and not scrape the bottom of my drawer to get money for petrol for my new car
All good info so far guys...
I don't need or want anything in particular (in terms of seats, doors, roof, roadster, coupe etc), except something cheaper and more reliable to run that the Tuscan -well, that 's easy!- Apart from that it is driver's thrills (first) and raw pace (a close second)...
>> Edited by mercurius on Saturday 25th June 17:36
>> Edited by mercurius on Saturday 25th June 17:36
Integras are nice and have great pace but I am not too sure about the styling (OK, so the styling has a little to do with it also). Both cars I drove were 2004, well looked after by a main dealer...what I felt was that the S2000 was not powerful enough to justify its presence...it looks faster than it actually is and combined with the on-off engine feeling and bad seating position, I felt a bit...cheated! She also did not seem to be up for "fun and games" but perhaps this is just me stepping out of a Tuscan...she felt too neutral, too sorted!
On the other hand I felt comfortable in the CTR, it felt as fast as the S2000 -without saying "I am not as fast as I look" the handling was great fun as I threw it around the corners and I thought the interior was less "tacky"...(not too sure about the 1980's-corolla like-rev counter the S2000 has). I also felt that however good the S2000's gearbox is (though they have been known to spit their gears out) the Civic's was even better...As a matter of fact I think it was the best gearbox I have ever come accross -and I have driven a few cars in my time-.
Believe me, I am also trying to talk my self into an S2000 (having ruled out the Boxster and 911 option)...from Tuscan to Civic will feel a bit harsh! Then again that grin on my face as I squeezed between traffic on a b-road in the little Honda...
>> Edited by mercurius on Saturday 25th June 18:09
>> Edited by mercurius on Saturday 25th June 18:10
On the other hand I felt comfortable in the CTR, it felt as fast as the S2000 -without saying "I am not as fast as I look" the handling was great fun as I threw it around the corners and I thought the interior was less "tacky"...(not too sure about the 1980's-corolla like-rev counter the S2000 has). I also felt that however good the S2000's gearbox is (though they have been known to spit their gears out) the Civic's was even better...As a matter of fact I think it was the best gearbox I have ever come accross -and I have driven a few cars in my time-.
Believe me, I am also trying to talk my self into an S2000 (having ruled out the Boxster and 911 option)...from Tuscan to Civic will feel a bit harsh! Then again that grin on my face as I squeezed between traffic on a b-road in the little Honda...
>> Edited by mercurius on Saturday 25th June 18:09
>> Edited by mercurius on Saturday 25th June 18:10
All great stuff, and all of what you have written accurately captures my thoughts about both cars...
I am a great fan of RWD but also a "sucker" for a good hot hatch...I hardly noticed the lag on the CTR. The reason? I never changed gear before hitting the rev limiter...I even downshifted to 4th a couple of times and hit the rev limiter immediately...you know you are driving a car that can manage its "horses" when you are going faster than you actually think -OK the light steering and short gear ratio may have had something to do with it-. I just couldn't stop driving the car to its limits!
I also observed that the CTR goes up to 8K rpm and the S2000 up to 9K...I realise that even though the CTR feels "perkier" (that is the exact word I would use, thanks) the S2000 has a wider V-tec band...
I must admit that I was not intimidated by either...and I did not want to either...I had enough adventure to last a life time in the Tuscan...having said that, I did question how you could maintain the oversteer in the S2000, without missing the "zone"...or pull out of an uphill tight bend in the CTR...
This is turning into an interesting little "comparison" forum, and I don't think it is as unlikely as some might feel...I know one is a RWD roadster and the other a FWD hot-hatch but they are very evenly matched in terms of performance and thrills I feel...
Maybe I will get a CTR for 6 months and then part exchange with an S2000...or vice versa!
I am a great fan of RWD but also a "sucker" for a good hot hatch...I hardly noticed the lag on the CTR. The reason? I never changed gear before hitting the rev limiter...I even downshifted to 4th a couple of times and hit the rev limiter immediately...you know you are driving a car that can manage its "horses" when you are going faster than you actually think -OK the light steering and short gear ratio may have had something to do with it-. I just couldn't stop driving the car to its limits!
I also observed that the CTR goes up to 8K rpm and the S2000 up to 9K...I realise that even though the CTR feels "perkier" (that is the exact word I would use, thanks) the S2000 has a wider V-tec band...
I must admit that I was not intimidated by either...and I did not want to either...I had enough adventure to last a life time in the Tuscan...having said that, I did question how you could maintain the oversteer in the S2000, without missing the "zone"...or pull out of an uphill tight bend in the CTR...
This is turning into an interesting little "comparison" forum, and I don't think it is as unlikely as some might feel...I know one is a RWD roadster and the other a FWD hot-hatch but they are very evenly matched in terms of performance and thrills I feel...
Maybe I will get a CTR for 6 months and then part exchange with an S2000...or vice versa!
"Is it an easier drive than a TVR then?"
Mate, pretty much anything is an easier drive than a TVR on the track...having said that of course, I would find it very hard to believe that an S2000 could keep anywhere near a Tuscan...
RE: TVR pulling over for S2000 to go past:
I have found the Tuscan faster than the S2 Exige, a match for 911 Turbos and by far faster than standard Evos and Subarus over several track days (dry conditions)...I am pretty much convinced that if a TVR let you through in an S2000 it was down to the driver...
Moving from a Tuscan to an S2000 I would love the opposite to be the case, but let's keep it real here!
Mate, pretty much anything is an easier drive than a TVR on the track...having said that of course, I would find it very hard to believe that an S2000 could keep anywhere near a Tuscan...
RE: TVR pulling over for S2000 to go past:
I have found the Tuscan faster than the S2 Exige, a match for 911 Turbos and by far faster than standard Evos and Subarus over several track days (dry conditions)...I am pretty much convinced that if a TVR let you through in an S2000 it was down to the driver...
Moving from a Tuscan to an S2000 I would love the opposite to be the case, but let's keep it real here!
With regards to the TVR, you cannot put it on a track unless you have some confidence...it is simply not possible...you will lose it either under braking, whilst downshifting or upon entry -or even exit- at times...under no circumstances is it slow on the track though. It is happier on power tracks (Brands Hatch GP and Indy are all time favourites) however my observations also included tracks like Cadwell (originally a motor bike, tight track) Goodwood (a combined track) etc
With regards to the S2000, I have only ever had a chance to see one. It was the man's first track day, so we were in different groups (and I also felt it safer not to risk asking for a passenger ride). If this car is as fast as you guys think it is, then I am hoping to get my hands on this stealth rocket.
I promise to let you know once I get the chance to compare the pace.
With regards to the S2000, I have only ever had a chance to see one. It was the man's first track day, so we were in different groups (and I also felt it safer not to risk asking for a passenger ride). If this car is as fast as you guys think it is, then I am hoping to get my hands on this stealth rocket.
I promise to let you know once I get the chance to compare the pace.
I have taken all your comments and the general literature on board and have armed myself with a 2001 Honda S2000. I actually preferred the set up, driving position and engine characteristics to the 2004 I drove.
Silver with black leather and a black hood. Picture soon to go on profile and first impressions to be reported as soon as are recorded.
Thanks for all your comments and help. No doubt I will get to know some of you better.
Silver with black leather and a black hood. Picture soon to go on profile and first impressions to be reported as soon as are recorded.
Thanks for all your comments and help. No doubt I will get to know some of you better.
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