Hmmm Honda boys discussing S2000 vs. Chimaera

[Esprit]

Spotted this on the NZHondas forum (which a friend of mine runs) and saw this discussion pop up:

www.nzhondas.co.nz/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5463

the bit I particularly liked was:
"That TVR is butt ugly!!!!!! IMO
Im not sure why, it just doesnt look properly designed, whereas the S2000 rear end looks sculpted and complete. MMMMMMMMMMMm"

Now the S2000 looking Sculpted?, TVR looking "Improperly designed?" I mean COME ON!!!. what insults me is that these guys are New Zealanders and MY age..... I shudder to think that these are the people going to be running the country with me...... oh wait, I'm pissing off to England..... that just means I'll have to assimilate myself with the ageing nova boys :P

[dennisthemenace]

Esprit they have no taste , how can you compare a s2000 against a TVR ? i know which one id have

[Bodo]

Isn't that a matter of taste, if you want a high revving 4 pot or a deep frequency V8?

If I want high revs I'd go for a

[Esprit]

yeah that's true but i mean the STYLING of rht S2000? was it actually STYLED? I think it was put in a calculator and it spat out exactly what was needed.

[Bodo]

^Hey, Esprit, styling is a matter of taste, too; isn't it?

[Esprit]

Sure is Bodo.... even if it tastes like 8 pints of last night's lager coming back up to meet your toilet

[maranellouk]

Nothing against the S2000 but it doesn't evoke any excitement when it goes by. Nothing wrong with the styling of the S2000 but it looks like a car I'd expect a teenager to drive. The Chimaera is a mans' car through and through. Looks like you need a full b*ll sack to be in the drivers seat.

[madcop]

quote:
Isn't that a matter of taste, if you want a high revving 4 pot or a deep frequency V8?

If I want high revs I'd go for a

Bowtie?

[Esprit]

Mara.... and you'd be the full-ballsacked one driving it ? :P

[Bodo]

quote:
Sure is Bodo.... even if it tastes like 8 pints of last night's lager coming back up to meet your toilet

I wasn't drunk, when I wrote that

But anyway, there are always people who like the taste of 8 pints of last night's lager coming back up to meet their toilet

[Pelo]

Each to their own. I like the styling of both the S2000 and the Chim... but the Tiv is far better IMHO. Us teens are too opiniative for our own good!

[incorrigible]

Have any of you driven an S2000 ? Definately quicker A to B than a Chimaera (especially in the wet)

And there's plenty of room in the back for your scissors and comb

IMHO of course

[SMB]

Autocar drove both back to back, s2000 was a poor 3rd to the Chimaera and Boxster. They also had a long term press car, not exactly the most reliable if I remember right.

[douglasr]

quote:
Autocar drove both back to back, s2000 was a poor 3rd to the Chimaera and Boxster. They also had a long term press car, not exactly the most reliable if I remember right.

In 50000 miles, it had a broken gearbox and a bit of plastic fell off the bumper. The gearbox was fixed under warranty. The 2002 models have been modified accordingly.

My S2000 has just been recalled to fit a different bolt in the engine to improve the oil feed to the No. 4 cylinder. Apparently on track day cars, the oil flow on long fast corners is compromised and can lead to premature bore wear...its nice to know that Honda made the effort to recall cars even though the problem is rarely experienced by the majority of owners.

As I have said before, I really wanted a Chimeara, but lack of dealer/specialist support (I'm in Scotland) and the usual TVR doubts of reliability and potential running costs put me off.

I'm very happy with my decision to buy one...performance is excellent once you change your driving style to suite the engine, its reliable, cheap to run (given its performance) and rare up here in the north. Its also a lot cheaper than a Boxster and has none of the envy crap associated with it.

I intend to scratch the TVR itch one day tho...

[Esprit]

All very very valid comments so far, but I do agree, here in NZ S2000's fall off the road lots and lots, they just dont like NZ conditions/petrol etc.... they ALWAYS seeem to be breaking down.... conversely, all the TVRs I've known seem to handle it okay..... weird eh?

[williamp]

I'm just surprised that TVR's get exported!!!

Does anyone know how many get exported? Where to?

Do you see many in NZ??

[SMB]

Didn't autocar have problems with windscreen cracking on their own aswell? I can't remember the details. Did they recommend the car after the issues they had?

[Esprit]

williamp.... yes theres a few about, bugger all though... I'd estimate a couple of Cerbies in NZ (although never seen one) no Tuscans or Tamoras yet, prolly 15-20 Chims and maybe 20-25 Griffs.... so, not really a common sight on the roads:P

[douglasr]

quote:
Didn't autocar have problems with windscreen cracking on their own aswell? I can't remember the details. Did they recommend the car after the issues they had?

Yes , they did, but I didn't consider that worth mentioning as they came back after it was parked overnight and it had cracked. Basically they didnt like the car because one of their road testers was thrown into a crash barrier on a straight piece of dual carriageway on a wet night "for no apparent reason". Basically it would come down to full throttle, standing water (or diesel) and an unforgiving chassis (or possibly wrongly inflated/worn tyres)...something every Tiv owner has experienced at some point.

[[e-mail]]

I've owned both an S2000 and a TVR, or 18 months each - I had one of the first S2000's in the country and enjoyed it as my first "real" sports car. The S2000 is great fun if you want reliability and practicality with a quick roof. They are relatively predictable when pushed but can be a touch twitchy on the dodgy tarmac we have to put up with in the UK.

Trouble is, they just don't cut the mustard in the torque department. Keeping the thing over 6krpm is a waste of time - you hit 40mph in first b4 you feel anything. After 18 months I traded it in for a Tuscan after test driving Ferraris and Porsches of varous flavours. Nothing beats burying the throttle of a TVR from the lights and hearing the noise the Tuscan / Chimaera (had one of them for 3months too...) makes - the S2000 sounds like a Civic until you hit 9krpm and is a touch , dare I say it, feminine... Add to that that the fact that the boot is too small, the cabin too cramped, the interior bland and reach your own verdict...

No offence to any owners, but I took the Pepsi challenge and wouldn't buy another Honda, even though they are great value...