Discussion
S2000 and Chimera/Griffith... totally opposite ends of the open top sports car spectrum, Caterham excepted! If you like one you're highly unlikely to like the other.
I've never got TVR's, to me a sports car needs to be revved to give it's best. Have to admit they sound nice though.
In many ways the M3 engine has the best of both worlds, BUT it's in a Coupe so you can't really compare and the less said about the Z3M the better. Oh, and anyone who buys an M3Cab just doesn't understand anything about sportscars, what a tragic waste of one of the worlds finest engines.
In my book an 9000rpm rev range is plenty of replacement for displacement.
I've never got TVR's, to me a sports car needs to be revved to give it's best. Have to admit they sound nice though.
In many ways the M3 engine has the best of both worlds, BUT it's in a Coupe so you can't really compare and the less said about the Z3M the better. Oh, and anyone who buys an M3Cab just doesn't understand anything about sportscars, what a tragic waste of one of the worlds finest engines.
In my book an 9000rpm rev range is plenty of replacement for displacement.
I think the 'different ends of the spectrum' comments hit the nail on the head.
It took me a while to get used to driving the S2000, luckily I had the test-drive car for a long weekend so I had the chance to get used to the fact that the real power is over 6000rpm. In fact, the first day of driving the S2000 disappointed me in the same way - where was this 240bhp? Then I followed a sports bike down the A34 and tried the same technique with gears he was using, holding on to a gear lower than it sounded like I should. Not listening too much to the engine and using the gears as if on a bike, rather than like the other cars you have driven makes the S2000 make a lot more sense. If you want more relaxed cruising, it does that in 6th, you just don't have the instant go when you floor it, you have to change down two or maybe even three gears, it's something you get used to.
But I guess that's the compromise, revs or cc's, you can't have both, and Honda chose the former as it shows off their engine building skills (which is what the S2000 is supposed to be, a celebration of all that Honda were proud of from their first 50 years) better than building a large lump and allowing displacement to do the work.
One of the things about owning an S2000 is that it's a unique experience, it's a car that some people 'get' and others don't. It's not a bad thing (and it ensures that the car attracts attention due to it's relative rarity, people seem to like the fact that it's just a Honda, rather than a more 'prestigious' badge), if we were all the same we'd all be driving TTs and Boxsters (ahem....
)
It took me a while to get used to driving the S2000, luckily I had the test-drive car for a long weekend so I had the chance to get used to the fact that the real power is over 6000rpm. In fact, the first day of driving the S2000 disappointed me in the same way - where was this 240bhp? Then I followed a sports bike down the A34 and tried the same technique with gears he was using, holding on to a gear lower than it sounded like I should. Not listening too much to the engine and using the gears as if on a bike, rather than like the other cars you have driven makes the S2000 make a lot more sense. If you want more relaxed cruising, it does that in 6th, you just don't have the instant go when you floor it, you have to change down two or maybe even three gears, it's something you get used to.
But I guess that's the compromise, revs or cc's, you can't have both, and Honda chose the former as it shows off their engine building skills (which is what the S2000 is supposed to be, a celebration of all that Honda were proud of from their first 50 years) better than building a large lump and allowing displacement to do the work.
One of the things about owning an S2000 is that it's a unique experience, it's a car that some people 'get' and others don't. It's not a bad thing (and it ensures that the car attracts attention due to it's relative rarity, people seem to like the fact that it's just a Honda, rather than a more 'prestigious' badge), if we were all the same we'd all be driving TTs and Boxsters (ahem....
)
it's just a Honda, rather than a more 'prestigious' badge), if we were all the same we'd all be driving TTs and Boxsters (ahem....
Agreed - when I had a Beemer, no one complemented it, allowed me out of junctions or pulled out of the way if I was on a thrash in the country. Thats happened numerous times sine I bought the Stook
I'll add another name to the prestige arguement. It's the main reason why I've gone for the Honda rather than a Boxter. If I'm honest I'd rather have the Boxter S, but I have a feeling that I'd p1ss off sufficient clients not to be able to afford it .
At the end of the day though, I loved both cars on long test drives. The Honda, esp in 2002 spec, has a really comfortable ride, which is good for 30k miles a year, but you can still chuck it around like a sports car. Tail out behaviour is always available too
.
. At the end of the day though, I loved both cars on long test drives. The Honda, esp in 2002 spec, has a really comfortable ride, which is good for 30k miles a year, but you can still chuck it around like a sports car. Tail out behaviour is always available too
.A Boxster S costs at least half as much again as an S2000, they don't really complete with each other. Even a 2.7 Boxster is going to cost £8K (with a few must have options) more than an S2000. It's performance is closer to the S than the 2.7.
Looked at in those terms the S2000 is an absolute steal IF you can live without the Porsche badge.
Anyone who knows anything about design and engineering integrity will know that the top Honda's are second to none in terms of engineering excellence. Look at the awards the S2's engine has won.
Don't get me wrong the Boxster is a superb car but I'm not a huge fan of the styling and frankly they're a rather common sight.
Fortunately I don't have to live without the badge as my 993 Carrera wears it and I'm very happy that it does.
Looked at in those terms the S2000 is an absolute steal IF you can live without the Porsche badge.
Anyone who knows anything about design and engineering integrity will know that the top Honda's are second to none in terms of engineering excellence. Look at the awards the S2's engine has won.
Don't get me wrong the Boxster is a superb car but I'm not a huge fan of the styling and frankly they're a rather common sight.
Fortunately I don't have to live without the badge as my 993 Carrera wears it and I'm very happy that it does.
I think that they do compete p-car. I need an everyday car for a reasonable amount of miles a year, which must be fun to drive, must have a removable roof, must sound the b0llocks and put regular smiles on my face.
Basically Boxter S and S2000 were my only real options (you can't buy a standard Boxter can you). Yes the Porsche is more expensive, but that goes into the mix. I am looking for a car to fit my needs rather than budget - which I guess makes me quite lucky.
I would stretch the budget to Boxter S territory if it weren't for the image that I believe that it would portray to clients and staff.
If I were looking at a second car for weekends, I don't think that I'd consider either of these - far too sensible, which is possibly why both cars tend to be racking up miles as daily drivers - that is where they fit IMHO. Tones of fun, even on the daily commute.
Rich
Basically Boxter S and S2000 were my only real options (you can't buy a standard Boxter can you
). Yes the Porsche is more expensive, but that goes into the mix. I am looking for a car to fit my needs rather than budget - which I guess makes me quite lucky. I would stretch the budget to Boxter S territory if it weren't for the image that I believe that it would portray to clients and staff.
If I were looking at a second car for weekends, I don't think that I'd consider either of these - far too sensible, which is possibly why both cars tend to be racking up miles as daily drivers - that is where they fit IMHO. Tones of fun, even on the daily commute.
Rich
They do compete on some levels but for the vast majority of people when they want/need a new car the priorities go something like this...
1 What type of car do I want/need?(saloon,4x4,MPV,coupe,open top sports)
2 How much do I want to spend?
3 What cars can I get for this?
4 Do I want a new one?
5 If not new, how old how/many miles can it have done?
6 Can I s-t-r-e-t-c-h to the one I REALLY want?
Assuning you want a new car, if the answer to the 1st question is "an open top sports car" and the answer to the 2nd one is £25K, then the the 6th one kicks in, and it's a BIG stretch.
I suspect for most the list would be...
Boxster S = too expensive
TVR Tamora = too expensive/everyday reliability??
M Roadster = too expensive/unfortuate image/don't like the looks
Boxster = still too expensive
SLK 3.2 = still too expensive/too soft
SLK 230K = too soft/slow/nasty engine
Z3 3.0 = image/looks
Elise = everyday usability
VX220 = as above/worse badge than Honda!
MG TF 160 = too old/tacky finish
MR2 = no boot/bit cheap and cheeful
Now the Z4 is on the near horizon I expect it will be a real contender, but it's supposed to be a lot more expensive the Z3 leaving the S2000 with even fewer genuine competitors.
1 What type of car do I want/need?(saloon,4x4,MPV,coupe,open top sports)
2 How much do I want to spend?
3 What cars can I get for this?
4 Do I want a new one?
5 If not new, how old how/many miles can it have done?
6 Can I s-t-r-e-t-c-h to the one I REALLY want?
Assuning you want a new car, if the answer to the 1st question is "an open top sports car" and the answer to the 2nd one is £25K, then the the 6th one kicks in, and it's a BIG stretch.
I suspect for most the list would be...
Boxster S = too expensive
TVR Tamora = too expensive/everyday reliability??
M Roadster = too expensive/unfortuate image/don't like the looks
Boxster = still too expensive
SLK 3.2 = still too expensive/too soft
SLK 230K = too soft/slow/nasty engine
Z3 3.0 = image/looks
Elise = everyday usability
VX220 = as above/worse badge than Honda!
MG TF 160 = too old/tacky finish
MR2 = no boot/bit cheap and cheeful
Now the Z4 is on the near horizon I expect it will be a real contender, but it's supposed to be a lot more expensive the Z3 leaving the S2000 with even fewer genuine competitors.
Are you forgetting the turbo VX220? sub 5 second 0-60? Not sure top end, but surely that has to be a serious S2000 contender? And DON't bother with the new Mr2... It is so underpowered it is unbelievable! Go with Mk2 Turbo instead.. 0-60 in 5.2, and tops at 160 +! Plus they are cheap as chips, and reliable!
I would take your golf clubs with you. The boot is decent, but nothing compared to a Mk2 MR2. They may fit in, but well worth checking.
Rich
I can get 2 sets of clubs in the boot of my S2k, no room for folding trollys but you can still get 2 pairs of shoes in too!
Oh, and hello!
Lou
>> Edited by Lou.2k on Tuesday 11th March 13:12
I think one of the points of the S2000 that most people miss is that it doesn't demand you to be in the right mood, more that it will match whatever mood you feel in, from tooling to tescos or giving it some on the backroads. It is a far more complete car than most of it's competitors, and a bargain compared to all of them.
I have a 2001 car that I've put over 50,000 miles on, and although I'm 6'4" I've loved every one of them. And before the TVR owners tell me I don't get it, I also have a Gardner-Douglas Cobra with 5.7 litre chevy tuned to 425 bhp. That, however, only gets used when I'm really in the mood.
Buy an S2000, and not only will you not regret it, you'll also soon get used to it...
I have a 2001 car that I've put over 50,000 miles on, and although I'm 6'4" I've loved every one of them. And before the TVR owners tell me I don't get it, I also have a Gardner-Douglas Cobra with 5.7 litre chevy tuned to 425 bhp. That, however, only gets used when I'm really in the mood.
Buy an S2000, and not only will you not regret it, you'll also soon get used to it...
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