S2000 vs. the new Federalized Elise
Discussion
I currently own an Esprit SE, and I am contemplating a trade for the new Federalized Elise that is coming to the US. One of the questions that comes to mind is how well would this Elise hold up against some of the competing manufacturers that routinely show up on track day. The S2000 is one of those cars that I sometimes see my rear view mirror...the point is...I'd like to keep it that way. Any Elise owners out there with some first hand experience against the S2000?
....the new 111R + good track driver should be able to stay with almost anything except on the longest of power circuitsHI Deane,
I used to own an 89 Esprit SE- now have a S2 111s (VVC 156HP K series) and have to say, at a track the S2000 will be in your rear view mirror... as will C4 porsches... (more so the tighter the track..)
On windy country roads,with mid corner bumps, the s2000 will be SIDEWAYS (that means slower) while the elise CARVES through the corner... (but a hard driven boxter S keeps up..) from personal experience...
I used to own an 89 Esprit SE- now have a S2 111s (VVC 156HP K series) and have to say, at a track the S2000 will be in your rear view mirror... as will C4 porsches... (more so the tighter the track..)
On windy country roads,with mid corner bumps, the s2000 will be SIDEWAYS (that means slower) while the elise CARVES through the corner... (but a hard driven boxter S keeps up..) from personal experience...
Depends on the driver and track, I chose an S2000 over and elise [rover engined] a couple of years ago. Did plenty of track days and was never over taken by an elise 
quite the reverse! [I did lots of laps in Boxster, Chimera and Elise before I made decision engine and tail happiness did it for me!!!]
Exiges did give me a prob tho'
S2K braking was more effective than the elises, I could brake way deeper into corners, and I was faster down the straights. Nothing in it thru the corners. [I have a few vids of different elises being dispatched] Got a 996 C2 after the S2k and it was no faster on a track, braking was no where near as good.
However I would have a new elise over the S2K as it now has the engine it always deserved [toyota vvt]. The S2000 2ltr honda was a screamer, back then I wanted the elise with that honda engine. [and I didn't really like the elise mk1 styling, too beach buggy]
S2000 is more of a day to day car but wouldn't disapoint on the track. Either are great cars. More power to the elise would be more difficult for the S2k to deal with methinks tho'
PS not driven the new toyota engined elise yet, wife informs me it's a scream [test driven]
>> Edited by hoganscrogan on Tuesday 18th May 09:09
>> Edited by hoganscrogan on Tuesday 18th May 09:11
quite the reverse! [I did lots of laps in Boxster, Chimera and Elise before I made decision engine and tail happiness did it for me!!!] Exiges did give me a prob tho'
S2K braking was more effective than the elises, I could brake way deeper into corners, and I was faster down the straights. Nothing in it thru the corners. [I have a few vids of different elises being dispatched] Got a 996 C2 after the S2k and it was no faster on a track, braking was no where near as good.
However I would have a new elise over the S2K as it now has the engine it always deserved [toyota vvt]. The S2000 2ltr honda was a screamer, back then I wanted the elise with that honda engine. [and I didn't really like the elise mk1 styling, too beach buggy]
S2000 is more of a day to day car but wouldn't disapoint on the track. Either are great cars. More power to the elise would be more difficult for the S2k to deal with methinks tho'
PS not driven the new toyota engined elise yet, wife informs me it's a scream [test driven]
>> Edited by hoganscrogan on Tuesday 18th May 09:09
>> Edited by hoganscrogan on Tuesday 18th May 09:11
The Honda's got a fantastic engine, but the handling is apparently not up to scratch, certainly not on earlier cars. I remember a test drive on TV about 18 months ago where they put the S2000 up against a Honda Civic Type-R on a damp track and the Civic was much faster in and out of the bends. Give them both a try and see what you like best.
Work in the same building as a fella with a far newer S2000 than my 6 yeard old 118bhp MK1 Elise. As luck would have it we also sometimes drive on the same road to Leeds.
Whilst havent actually driven his car (yet ?) in the dry I more than keep up with his car, this despite the fact that he has twice as much power. In the wet though we are both a little more circumspect, me because I cant afford to crash my car (and have v poor tyres to boot) and he no doubt due to the S2000 tendancy to terminal oversteer.
Maybe biased but if I was going to spend nearly £30K on a two seater convertible it would have to have a better badge than a Honda and be far more aesthetically pleasing. To me, it merely looks like a bloated MX5. Do love the engine though.......now thats the ubit they should have put in the 111R.
Whilst havent actually driven his car (yet ?) in the dry I more than keep up with his car, this despite the fact that he has twice as much power. In the wet though we are both a little more circumspect, me because I cant afford to crash my car (and have v poor tyres to boot) and he no doubt due to the S2000 tendancy to terminal oversteer.
Maybe biased but if I was going to spend nearly £30K on a two seater convertible it would have to have a better badge than a Honda and be far more aesthetically pleasing. To me, it merely looks like a bloated MX5. Do love the engine though.......now thats the ubit they should have put in the 111R.
Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff