RE: HonestGuv: Honda S2000

[AquilaEagle]

PS VGS is only on Jap Imports, and is absolutely useless!

[Kong]

RobM77 said:

Kong said:

RobM77 said:

I've driven both the Elise and S2000 as well, and an S2000 is shadowed by an MR2 and MX5 as a driver's car, let alone the Elise.

To be fair i dont think anyone suggested otherwise?

You would need to spend quite a lot of money on a Lotus to go faster than an S2000. Of course the Lotus would feel more 'special' though.

Dinkel suggested the S2000 was a better driver's car than the Elise on the basis of the performance, so I was just clarifying the usual definition.

I'd like to clarify that again actually Being a driver's car is also nothing to do with feeling "special".

In most people's language, a car is a driver's car if it has good steering feel, chassis responses, chassis feedback and progressiveness. It's nothing to do with performance, badge, specialness, kudos, lap times etc. Everyone has their own definitions of course, but this is pretty universal these days.

Sure, i agree with all of that. I know a guy who is a MONUMENTAL TVR fanboy who cannot even entertain the discussion that an MX5 is a better drivers car than his dads Chimaera which by your description id say it probably is.

I think Dinkel was more backing up the articles 'Elise beater' statement with regards to speed, rather than the part about 'drivers car' - though i could be wrong.

Likewise with your definition of 'drivers car', i would say in most people language 'beater' means 'faster' with regards to a performance car. This is why every 5 minutes theres a PH article titled "New Veyron beater" which refers to some one trick pony from the US. A better car? Never!

Anyway i don't mean to be pedantic

[James_N]

AquilaEagle said:

Timing chain tensioner does not need replacing.

They do start to rattle though and need changing around 70-80k. Mine is starting to rattle now so i'll have it sorted at Garage R in barnsley soon.

I always wanted an S2000 since when i first started learning to drive. it was a realistic dream car for me, and I managed to finally get insured for a reasonable price last year, and havent looked back. Ive had it a year now, its all bought and paid for, so this year, im concentrating on getting the siezed suspension sorted, corroded wheels refurbed and maybe a few mods sorted

[rob1234]

Had mine - sold it at 110k (miles) as it needed a new roof and the syncro on 5th was starting to go.

Incredibly fun car when you were in the mood, but boy did it need thrashing - don't think I ever really used 4th or 5th!

Love the prototype ring video. He's a bit handy isn't he...

PS Sounded great with Mugen intake and exhaust once you were on the lumpy cam.

[Pingman]

"She Loved it"

Totally made me LOL

[bga]

Kong said:

Sure, i agree with all of that. I know a guy who is a MONUMENTAL TVR fanboy who cannot even entertain the discussion that an MX5 is a better drivers car than his dads Chimaera which by your description id say it probably is.

My MX-5 was more fun most of the time than my Chim. That said, when the Chim was fun it was MONUMENTAL

[NoelWatson]

alock said:

Honda quoted 6.2. I don't know how Honda measured it though.

A variety of tests logged here:
http://www.zeroto60times.com/Honda-Vtech-0-60-mph-...

Think Autocar got around 6.4.

[6potdave]

I fancy one of these next, seems an obvious step up from my MR2. My dad used to have one and it was a fantastic car until he wrote it off quite badly due to an aqua planing incident.

I would choose one over an Elise because as an every day car it wins hands down every time. I've driven neither but been a passenger in both which gives me a reasonable idea how they drive. I couldn't deal with an Elise every day - the roads round here are awful and it would probably shatter within a matter of months. As a track car I imagine it to be more focused however!

[Kong]

bga said:

Kong said:

Sure, i agree with all of that. I know a guy who is a MONUMENTAL TVR fanboy who cannot even entertain the discussion that an MX5 is a better drivers car than his dads Chimaera which by your description id say it probably is.

My MX-5 was more fun most of the time than my Chim. That said, when the Chim was fun it was MONUMENTAL

But thats what we are saying 'fun' doesnt mean 'drivers car' in equal measure.

[Urban Sports]

kambites said:

tonym911 said:

What Car? tested it at 5.6 in Aug '99.

Yeah that sounds about right to me from what I remember of it.

Very difficult to do that though, you really do need to be brutal with it. In a post 04 model with a clutch delay valve it would be impossible IMO!!

[dunc_sx]

dinkel said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1omexSxiKI

A lap of Silverstone with Jenson Button . . . in an S2K.

LOL he was contracted to honda what would you expect him to be driving?

[muppet42]

Have to say I've always fancied an s2k. Love the restrained styling and the way that engine sounds when it's on song. Never had the pleasure of driving one though - closest was sitting in one at the Scottish Motorshow back when it was first released.

Was certainly quite something to sit in a car like that having passed my test the previous year in a 5dr 1-litre Uno. Even just sat there, the gear change (obviously with the engine off ) felt rather sweet to say the least and the driving position just felt so right. Having only driven a high riding, massive steering wheeled, slack gearbox'd Uno though, I would say that lol

Really, REALLY wanted to get one when my finance finally ends but the insurance being the way it is plus the fact that even the early cars are slightly out of budget means I probably won't be able to stretch to one. Yet anyway

Still though, not given up on a Honda next as I may well get an old CRX or an EP3 CTR if I don't get tempted down the RWD Jap route elsewhere via an s14a or mx5

[JulesB]

Very fun car to drive, drove one a while back, very skippy at the back...

[carinaman]

The late LJKS had a benchmark that said a fast car would do the same time 0-60 and 60-90.

[mrben]

bmthnick1981 said:

Indeed, Cambelt?

I've had one of these, good cars, not the best write up this time though.

these engines are chain .

[GingerWizard]

40mph, 2nd gear, floor the throttle and keep changing up.... they are rapideo on the move....

[kambites]

Urban Sports said:

Very difficult to do that though, you really do need bo be brutal with it. In a post 04 model with a clutch delay valve it would be impossible IMO!!

Yeah, I'd imagine that could add a good couple of hundredths to the change to second (I think it does 62 in second?).

[timmaycock]

I loved mine. But then I swapped it for a Chim as it wasn't 'special' enough to have as a second car.
Comparing the two is a great example of power vs torque, similar bhp's (4l chim)but couldn't be more different in the way its delivered.
Miss it occasionally, mainly when the chim mis-behaves!

[superman84]

Kong said:

Sure, i agree with all of that. I know a guy who is a MONUMENTAL TVR fanboy who cannot even entertain the discussion that an MX5 is a better drivers car than his dads Chimaera which by your description id say it probably is.

I think Dinkel was more backing up the articles 'Elise beater' statement with regards to speed, rather than the part about 'drivers car' - though i could be wrong.

Likewise with your definition of 'drivers car', i would say in most people language 'beater' means 'faster' with regards to a performance car. This is why every 5 minutes theres a PH article titled "New Veyron beater" which refers to some one trick pony from the US. A better car? Never!

Anyway i don't mean to be pedantic

It seems to me that the criteria for 'driver's car' are almost entirely subjective and used by owner's of cars such as MX5s, Elise's etc to justify why they are better than more expensive metal which are objectively superior in almost everyway.

[kambites]

superman84 said:

It seems to me that the criteria for 'driver's car' are almost entirely subjective and used by owner's of cars such as MX5s, Elise's etc to justify why they are better than more expensive metal which are objectively superior in almost everyway.

Yes I think that's a fair comment. Some people prefer the objective stats they can see written on a piece of paper, some people prefer the way a car feels and in the latter category, different people prefer different things. There's no right or wrong to it.