944 S2 v's S2000
Discussion
Not after a recommendation necessarily (as I'm sure the advice will be clear given which forum I'm posting on), but has anyone here owned a Porsche 944 S2 and an S2000 and can give me a relative comparison about how they compare as daily drivers. I've owned the Porsche before ( and have just sold a 993 911) but I have an S2000 itch that won't go away (love Japanese sports cars and currently have a 1990 Mazda Eunos tucked up on the garage being refurbed). Price wise second-hand the S2 and earlier S2000's are both in the same bracket for me now and already remembering how fantastic the former was I'm tempted to go that way again for my thrills as money is tight and would need to be spent wisely . . . but the S2000 is very very tempting.
(Ahh, go on - just persuade me to buy the S2K)!
(Ahh, go on - just persuade me to buy the S2K)!
Cheers Havoc
Having had some fairly hefty bills (brakes - £1500) when I owned the S2 the S2000 looks fairly good in comparison!
Thanks for the fair and objective sizing up compared to the 968 you've driven. It is pretty much in line with what I suspected and given the 'plus' points you've listed as a weekend car I'm leaning more towards the S2000. I have to admit the that engine really appeals and the looks are seriously killer (+ its more indulgent and less practical = more indulgent and therefore more special somehow).
Having had some fairly hefty bills (brakes - £1500) when I owned the S2 the S2000 looks fairly good in comparison!
Thanks for the fair and objective sizing up compared to the 968 you've driven. It is pretty much in line with what I suspected and given the 'plus' points you've listed as a weekend car I'm leaning more towards the S2000. I have to admit the that engine really appeals and the looks are seriously killer (+ its more indulgent and less practical = more indulgent and therefore more special somehow).
chrisr29 said:
Recently sold my 968 and now have a s2k. The biggest differnce is the engine really...both weigh about the same, both have similar balance, both have the same power output.....but at about the point the Porsche runs out of puff is where the Honda gets into its stride.
Handling wise, I prefer the Honda. Feels sharper and more agile....all this talk of the s2k being twitchy is just rubbish!
Once used to the vtec power delivery it's not really a problem, just need to be in the right gear/rev range for a quick overtake.
Porsche has an over engineered feel to it, Honda has an inteligently engineered feel to it. Honda ergonomics a lot better too.
Economy about the same as well.
Don't miss the Porsche, but would probably miss the Honda....it's a hell of a lot more fun crossing the Alps with the top down ;o)
Damn it. . . .now I'm going to have to find the cash for a trip to the Alps as well!Handling wise, I prefer the Honda. Feels sharper and more agile....all this talk of the s2k being twitchy is just rubbish!
Once used to the vtec power delivery it's not really a problem, just need to be in the right gear/rev range for a quick overtake.
Porsche has an over engineered feel to it, Honda has an inteligently engineered feel to it. Honda ergonomics a lot better too.
Economy about the same as well.
Don't miss the Porsche, but would probably miss the Honda....it's a hell of a lot more fun crossing the Alps with the top down ;o)
I have few colour prejudices regarding the exterior colour of cars as long as they complement the shape and surface angles of the car from a reflective perspective (I used to drive a Speed Yellow 911 which is a real marmite colour in Porsche circles but I absolutely loved it). I think that Nurburgring Blue is a 'grower' but I am not really a fan of the blue interior that a lot of them are spec'd with. It's all just down to personal taste though. . .
My preference would be White (Red seats, black dash), Monte Carlo Blue (Full black interior), Moonrock (Red seats, black dash), Black (Red seats, black dash) in that order. . .
My preference would be White (Red seats, black dash), Monte Carlo Blue (Full black interior), Moonrock (Red seats, black dash), Black (Red seats, black dash) in that order. . .
Edited by OnePaintedMan on Thursday 8th October 10:27
Edited by OnePaintedMan on Thursday 8th October 10:29
havoc said:
OnePaintedMan said:
My preference would be White (Red seats, black dash), Monte Carlo Blue (Full black interior), Moonrock (Red seats, black dash), Black (Red seats, black dash) in that order. . .
I'd swap black and Moonrock around, but otherwise good list.
One point - Monte Carlo blue is only available up to 2003, Moonrock only from 2004, and white I think is just a JDM colour (i.e. import) until maybe 2006...which might be pearl-white then! 2004/05 had Royal Navy Blue Pearl, which is a lot darker. 2006 brought in another blue (forget the name) which is between MCB and N'ring Blue (close to the Clio-182 Cup blue colour, but metallic) which IMHO isn't quite as good as MCB but still quite nice.
Seats - up to 2003 they were either all-red, all-blue, or all-black. From 2004 you could have them with coloured-centres and black bolsters, and the door cards got a matching 1/2-and-1/2 colour scheme too.
richieboy3008 said:
If you're buying an early car, watch out for the suspension bushes, they had seized on mine. I'd get it looked at by a geo shop before you buy.
Advice noted - thank you . . . I'm going to delay my purchase until the new year now as it looks like a job change is on the cards. This stupid recession has really played havoc with my car obsession! I will definitely be seeking further advice from everyone in this forum at that time though.I HAVE to purchase something in the new year though as my stag do is going to be a trip to the 'Ring (my first time) and I am not going to do that in a Mondeo diesel estate (given all the previous sports cars I've owned I'm quite hacked off to be left with two family cars in my possession at this present time - even my Mazda Eunos is in pieces in the garage)!
havoc said:
I'd definitely stretch to an '02+ if you can (£8k should be enough) as the plastic rear screens on the early ones may need replacing (which is IIRC a whole-hood job)...which will eat-up a large chunk of the difference between an '00 car and an '02 car!
Under £8k there's an '02 MCB at S2000-4-U at the moment (they have a mixed reputation on s2ki, and not without reason - treat with caution but you CAN get some decent stuff there), and there's a black '02 GT in Merseyside which reads well but only has two awful pictures advertising it...
I've decided that I want a post 'revisions' car so am now going to budget accordingly (selling the MX-5 'project' that is sitting in the garage as well). Looking for a post '94 S2000 with less than 50K on the clock and around £10K.Under £8k there's an '02 MCB at S2000-4-U at the moment (they have a mixed reputation on s2ki, and not without reason - treat with caution but you CAN get some decent stuff there), and there's a black '02 GT in Merseyside which reads well but only has two awful pictures advertising it...
Having said that their is a VERY tidy looking '02 plate car on here at the moment for about £8.5k that looks good value . . .
andye30m3 said:
havoc said:
N'ring blue ones are for hairdressers, Monte-Carlo blue ones are the quickest!
I wasn't sure about N'ring blue at first, however I have now decided it is by far the best colour and without a shadow of a doubt the fastest by along way.I came to the conclusion just as I handed over a deposit for a N'ring blue on Saturday!
Right guys (and girls) - I've found a car I'm interested in at an independant dealer (It was a harder search than I'd anticipated).
Quick question though. I understand that the most common fault on these cars to look for is seized adjustment bolts on the suspension. Can anybody tell me what the damage is if this needs to be rectified so that I have a figure in mind for negotiation purposes (if required).
I'm hoping the car doesn't sell before next weekend as I only clocked it last night and now have to fly off to Germany for 3 days with work. *Gnashes teeth*
Quick question though. I understand that the most common fault on these cars to look for is seized adjustment bolts on the suspension. Can anybody tell me what the damage is if this needs to be rectified so that I have a figure in mind for negotiation purposes (if required).
I'm hoping the car doesn't sell before next weekend as I only clocked it last night and now have to fly off to Germany for 3 days with work. *Gnashes teeth*
Cheers Havoc - very informative reply as always. Many thanks. I am going to need all advice I can get!
Missed the car unfortunately. . . .only spotted it last night. '04 GT model in Moonrock with the full red interior. 36K on the clock for £11.5K.
Phoned first thing, ready to place a holding deposit over the phone and it had gone. AAAaaaragh.
Oh well, back to the hunt
If you are the lucky new owner and you are reading his . . . WHY? You should be out driving
Missed the car unfortunately. . . .only spotted it last night. '04 GT model in Moonrock with the full red interior. 36K on the clock for £11.5K.
Phoned first thing, ready to place a holding deposit over the phone and it had gone. AAAaaaragh.
Oh well, back to the hunt
If you are the lucky new owner and you are reading his . . . WHY? You should be out driving
Inability to deactivate the passenger side airbag to use a child seat (rare occasions) meant that I had to discount the S2000 for the time being, much to my disappointement. Not all bad though. Picked up a mint 1 owner, full main dealer history, 2001 Porsche 2.7 ltr Boxster today with only 43K on the clock.
Not bad for a stop gap!
Not bad for a stop gap!
Edited by OnePaintedMan on Sunday 7th March 21:49
Thread resurrection! Just found this old thread as I was doing some Christmas googling of car topics in front of the fire.
I'd completely forgotten I'd ever posted this.
To complete the story - after much searching, a lack of decent S2000s on the market and an urgent need for a new car, I ended up getting a 986 2.7 Porsche Boxster in Rainforest Green with full tan leather interior .
I kept the Boxster for two years and loved the way it looked but never really gelled with it as a driving experience (too dull) so sold it at a loss. I then bought a Range Rover Vogue L322, which I still have and last year added an Alfa Romeo GTV Cup (V6). Number 60 of a limited run of 155.
This year the Alfa has been joined by a Porsche 968 Sport! I'm over the moon with that.
Still love the S2000, but I'm happy with my stable as is now 😊
I'd completely forgotten I'd ever posted this.
To complete the story - after much searching, a lack of decent S2000s on the market and an urgent need for a new car, I ended up getting a 986 2.7 Porsche Boxster in Rainforest Green with full tan leather interior .
I kept the Boxster for two years and loved the way it looked but never really gelled with it as a driving experience (too dull) so sold it at a loss. I then bought a Range Rover Vogue L322, which I still have and last year added an Alfa Romeo GTV Cup (V6). Number 60 of a limited run of 155.
This year the Alfa has been joined by a Porsche 968 Sport! I'm over the moon with that.
Still love the S2000, but I'm happy with my stable as is now 😊
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