New car...S2000, RX8 or Integra R (DC5) Advice please!!!!
Discussion
Folks,
It's that time again, you know I need a new car blah blah blah.....the only real criteria is that it must have very good handling (as I'm coming from an Accord Type-R) and be relatively fast, and cheapish to keep. My budget is about 14-15k tops as and I only really want to keep if for about 6-8 months...so nothing that is gonna depreciate heavily....
The list so far is:
Early s2000 (2000 uk car)
Import Integra-R (DC5)
RX8 (UK)
I don't want a turbo'd jap car like a scoob or evo due to running costs at the moment and a lotus is out for now because next summer I hope to get a s2 exige or 111r....(fingers crossed)
Has anyone driven the above if so what are they like in terms on handling. cost, re-sell etc...any view or even idea's for other cars would be appreciated...
thanks folks.....
>> Edited by bing on Tuesday 18th October 11:46
It's that time again, you know I need a new car blah blah blah.....the only real criteria is that it must have very good handling (as I'm coming from an Accord Type-R) and be relatively fast, and cheapish to keep. My budget is about 14-15k tops as and I only really want to keep if for about 6-8 months...so nothing that is gonna depreciate heavily....
The list so far is:
Early s2000 (2000 uk car)
Import Integra-R (DC5)
RX8 (UK)
I don't want a turbo'd jap car like a scoob or evo due to running costs at the moment and a lotus is out for now because next summer I hope to get a s2 exige or 111r....(fingers crossed)
Has anyone driven the above if so what are they like in terms on handling. cost, re-sell etc...any view or even idea's for other cars would be appreciated...
thanks folks.....
>> Edited by bing on Tuesday 18th October 11:46
Three quite different cars, really depends what you want out of it. Do you need 4 seats, do you want a convertible etc?
I'm biased obviously
but 14-15k would get you into a MY01 S2000, and the residuals are quite strong so it wouldn't lose much. Integras are great, but I wouldn't buy one over an S2000 unless I needed the seats. FWD vs RWD, hatchback vs roadster, 220bhp vs 240bhp - no contest IMHO
I'm biased obviously
but 14-15k would get you into a MY01 S2000, and the residuals are quite strong so it wouldn't lose much. Integras are great, but I wouldn't buy one over an S2000 unless I needed the seats. FWD vs RWD, hatchback vs roadster, 220bhp vs 240bhp - no contest IMHO S2000: Buy it in winter off someone that’s keen to sell and you probably wont lose any money on it if you sell it during the middle of the summer next year, good fuel economy 28 mpg on a long run, cheap to service, the same as a Honda Civic! and 240 bhp
RX8: I’ve heard they drink fuel, approx 20 mpg and will depreciate like a stone, plus are they getting common now?
Integra-R: If you can drive you’d have more fun in a rwd car and it'll get you rwd skills honed for the lotus.
RX8: I’ve heard they drink fuel, approx 20 mpg and will depreciate like a stone, plus are they getting common now?
Integra-R: If you can drive you’d have more fun in a rwd car and it'll get you rwd skills honed for the lotus.
dave99 said:
RX8: I’ve heard they drink fuel, approx 20 mpg and will depreciate like a stone, plus are they getting common now?
They're certainly thirsty but do they depreciate that badly? According to What Car?
Mazda RX-8 Coupe 228 bhp 4dr £22,300
Year 1 £17,835
Year 2 £15,699
Year 3 £13,507
not as good as the 350z but not that bad either
RX8 for 14-15k?? I think that would be a no no. having had the RX8 though I can highly recomend it but mpg is poor. It and the s2000 are fairly similar except the rx8 handles better but both dont deliver their perfomance untill towards 7000 rev so you have to drive both hard to get the most out of them. £14-15k with little depreciation I'd go for a £4k fiat coupe 20v turbo and pocket £10k! 
S2000 all the way and tis is on the autotrader web site
if its a UK car it's a cheap one!! forget what it says about met yellow! indy yellow is'nt met paint from what i remember from selling them!
2002 52 Reg HONDA S2000 2.0i
2 Doors, Manual, Roadster, Petrol, 25,000 miles, Metallic Yellow. ABS, Air conditioning, Alloy wheels, Central locking, Computer, Driver airbag, Electric mirrors, Electric windows, Headlight washers, Immobiliser, Passenger airbag, Power assisted steering, Radio/CD, Sports seats. Insurance Group:20, All cars come with 1 years MOT, fully serviced. £15,999.
,
if its a UK car it's a cheap one!! forget what it says about met yellow! indy yellow is'nt met paint from what i remember from selling them!
2002 52 Reg HONDA S2000 2.0i
2 Doors, Manual, Roadster, Petrol, 25,000 miles, Metallic Yellow. ABS, Air conditioning, Alloy wheels, Central locking, Computer, Driver airbag, Electric mirrors, Electric windows, Headlight washers, Immobiliser, Passenger airbag, Power assisted steering, Radio/CD, Sports seats. Insurance Group:20, All cars come with 1 years MOT, fully serviced. £15,999.
,
if you do want a DC5 maybe haved a word with these chaps:
www.linney.org
i'd personally just go for a uk CTR and save bit more cash. but the DC5 does look excellent and it does have an lsd which is nice.
i would also doubt you could get an rx8 that you'd actually want to own for that much...
i have a mate with an s2k and would recommend it but i'd say it's not the sort of thing i'd want to get to know over the winter...
www.linney.org
i'd personally just go for a uk CTR and save bit more cash. but the DC5 does look excellent and it does have an lsd which is nice.
i would also doubt you could get an rx8 that you'd actually want to own for that much...
i have a mate with an s2k and would recommend it but i'd say it's not the sort of thing i'd want to get to know over the winter...
Neil_H said:
FWD vs RWD, hatchback vs roadster, 220bhp vs 240bhp - no contest IMHO
In just about any other circumstances, you'd be slap bang on the money with that comment.
However with the performance Honda's, it's ultimately down to driver preference.
I know it's not really helping the original question much, but around a circuit there's practically nothing between any of the performance Honda's.
If it was me, I would go for the DC5 - purely because I don't like roadsters.
Why not get a 3.2 911 Carrera for that kind of money. Reliable classy and slow depreciation...
edit:
1988 PORSCHE 911911 3.2 Carrera Supersport cabriolet. E-registration. A genuine factory turbo bodied car, fitted with the later G-50 type gearbox. All the usual features including a power roof, electric windows and seats, fuchs alloys, the car is also fitted with leather sports seats. Quite a rare car on the road these days and the perfect weekend toy to blow away a few cobwebs. Service history from new which includes a selection of bills. Thatcham Cat 1 alarm / immobiliser fitted with certificate of installation.
It's up for £13,000 something...
>> Edited by Munter on Tuesday 18th October 14:23
edit:
1988 PORSCHE 911911 3.2 Carrera Supersport cabriolet. E-registration. A genuine factory turbo bodied car, fitted with the later G-50 type gearbox. All the usual features including a power roof, electric windows and seats, fuchs alloys, the car is also fitted with leather sports seats. Quite a rare car on the road these days and the perfect weekend toy to blow away a few cobwebs. Service history from new which includes a selection of bills. Thatcham Cat 1 alarm / immobiliser fitted with certificate of installation.
It's up for £13,000 something...
>> Edited by Munter on Tuesday 18th October 14:23
I'm biased but go for the S (I have an S)
The RX8 is soulless, it's a good drive but just didn't feel alive so I went for the S. And personally I don't like FWD cars. You learn more about car dynamics in a RWD IMO.
However to confuse matters, if I had to have a FWD car, it'd probably be the DC5 Integra Type R.
Plus points for the S: mpg, noise, handling, rarity.
Negative for the S: insurance costs (group 20!!!), hairdresser image, can't think of anything else.
I have no regrets.
The RX8 is soulless, it's a good drive but just didn't feel alive so I went for the S. And personally I don't like FWD cars. You learn more about car dynamics in a RWD IMO.
However to confuse matters, if I had to have a FWD car, it'd probably be the DC5 Integra Type R.
Plus points for the S: mpg, noise, handling, rarity.
Negative for the S: insurance costs (group 20!!!), hairdresser image, can't think of anything else.
I have no regrets.
dave99 said:
Integra-R: If you can drive you’d have more fun in a rwd car and it'll get you rwd skills honed for the lotus.
Have you driven one?!?!? I've driven plenty of rwd cars that aren't as fun...even as a DC5!
(Neil - most drivers would be quicker wet or dry on British B-roads in a DC2 rather than an S2000, let alone a DC5 vs S2k...and they'd have just as much fun!)
Bing,
I've driven the RX8 and the DC5.
You'll struggle to get ANY high-power RX8 for £15k - a grey import possibly, but I'd be wary there due to depreciation/resale issues. But it's a great car - feels VERY alive, tail is quite happy to get involved in the steering action if you drive it right, and it's proper rapid!
DC5...has a great engine, and so much grip you won't believe - this thing around a track will probably muller Focus RS's, it's got that much ability. But it's got a couple of real downsides compared to the old DC2 (which I had for 3 years and ADORED!!!):-
1) Steering, while hydraulic, feels artificial and numb. I think this is partly down to the 40-profile tyres, 'cause I have a similar issue with my current Focus.
2) Ride and "surefootedness" - on smooth tarmac, the DC5 is a diamond, it really is, but on a rough B-road it hunts camber, it tramlines, there's torquesteer if you're rough with the throttle...it just never seems keyed into the road, and as a result, you never want to take it past 8/10ths, for fear of it biting unexpectedly. Which is a shame because in all other regards it's clearly up for it.
S2000...£15k wouldn't get you one of the '04 refresh versions, with the more forgiving suspension. As a result, I'd be wary - a friend who's a pretty competent driver chopped his in after a year or so because he never felt happy in the wet...loved it in the dry, but feared it a bit in the wet.
Other suggestions:-
- MX5 will feel really slow - just drove one today and it's a rather nice car but the engine never seems to wake up.
- RX7? £12k will get you a minter with a new engine rebuild...280bhp rwd legend??? But fuel bills may be a little scary...and running costs may be a little higher...
- CTR post '04 - they lightened the flywheel and added some minor suspension tweaks, so it's a better car than the early ones, apparently. Still won't be an advance over your ATR though, just newer.
- Import an S15 Sylvia - yes it's a turbo but it looks the mutts, and is apparently a little more sensible a proposition than an Evo/STi.
- Focus RS - supposed to be the ultimate hot-hatch, one of the few fwd cars that would be worth moving to from a Type-R.
Wait - why didn't I think of it before
- If you're after quick and rwd and space isn't an issue, £15k should get you an M-Coupe. Now THAT would be a fun car!
S2000 all the way if you're not fussed with only 2 seats!
The boot is big enough (designed to fit a set of golf clubs) and isn't effected by lowering the roof.
Honda reliability - priceless.
The early MY cars are a bit more frisky at the back, and the later MY cars aren't immune (just ask Mrs Puggit!!!).
Low number of imports guarentees great residuals.
If you're near the Reading area, I'd be happy to show you what it can do
The boot is big enough (designed to fit a set of golf clubs) and isn't effected by lowering the roof.
Honda reliability - priceless.
The early MY cars are a bit more frisky at the back, and the later MY cars aren't immune (just ask Mrs Puggit!!!).
Low number of imports guarentees great residuals.
If you're near the Reading area, I'd be happy to show you what it can do
Early S2000 are appaling in the wet. Reasonalby good in the dry. Later models much better however.
Personaly I'd go for a DC5. Cracking handling, great engine, great gearbox and space for an Ikea flat pack. Plus they are rarer than an S2000 and that makes it cool.
If you have any intion to track day your purchase the DC5 is the only option.
Personaly I'd go for a DC5. Cracking handling, great engine, great gearbox and space for an Ikea flat pack. Plus they are rarer than an S2000 and that makes it cool.
If you have any intion to track day your purchase the DC5 is the only option.
Simon Mason said:
Early S2000 are appaling in the wet.
Rubbish. That old chestnut gets repeated so often, freqeuntly by people with no personal experience. (Not saying that's necessarily true of you, Simon)
Yes, they will bite you if you take liberties when it's cold and/or wet - but no more than any other lightweight roadster with very little in the way of driver aids.
Answer? Moderate your use of your right foot in less then optimal driving conditions!
lurking lawyer said:
Rubbish. That old chestnut gets repeated so often, freqeuntly by people with no personal experience. (Not saying that's necessarily true of you, Simon)
Yes, they will bite you if you take liberties when it's cold and/or wet - but no more than any other lightweight roadster with very little in the way of driver aids.
Disagree actualy thats why I said it. For reference its off power in the wet in the earlier cars thats where its looser than it should be not on power where its everything you ask for.
I don't say anything without the foundation of considerable expereience first
Simon Mason said:
Rubbish. That old chestnut gets repeated so often, freqeuntly by people with no personal experience. (Not saying that's necessarily true of you, Simon)
Yes, they will bite you if you take liberties when it's cold and/or wet - but no more than any other lightweight roadster with very little in the way of driver aids.
Disagree actualy thats why I said it. For reference its off power in the wet in the earlier cars thats where its looser than it should be not on power where its everything you ask for.
I don't say anything without the foundation of considerable expereience first
And Im going to disagree with you
but this could go around in circles and I say that with driving one through rain,snow and sunny days And if you still dont feel safe in an early model its a simple case of getting the geo settings changed
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