Drove an s2000

[vping]

Holy smokes!!. Had to take a ride into Manhattan yesterday with a co-worker. Top down, perfect weather. So on the way home he asks if I wanna drive. Nahhh..... OK /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

This thing flies. Corners unbelievably. I jumped on the highway and ran it through the gears. 8500 rpm in 3rd with room to spare @90 MPH.

I tell me wife later in the day and she can say is ohh no /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif

I've never driven a car as fast or as tight as this.

 

[DrEntropy]

They're VERY quick. I tried to explain the car to some friends of mine, they drive one, but come home with a Nissan Zed car. BAH! As far as I'm concerned they've up-screw'd. S2000 rode "too hard"!! Some people just don't understand. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

 

[Basil]

I have a friend with an s2000 and I agree they are very nimble and fast. Probably one of the most amazing cars in that class I've ever driven though was the Mazda RX7 Gen 3 (The one that looks like a little Dodge Viper) with twin turbo. The first time I drove it, it almost got away from me because the amount of acceleration was totally unexpected.

Basil

 

[bugimike]

I have a friend with an s2000 and I agree they are very nimble and fast. Probably one of the most amazing cars in that class I've ever driven though was the Mazda RX7 Gen 3 (The one that looks like a little Dodge Viper) with twin turbo. The first time I drove it, it almost got away from me because the amount of acceleration was totally unexpected.

Basil

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif Why did Mazda ever move away from that to the RX8? Didn't they know they had a GREAT thing going there???!!! That car looked right and went even better! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif

 

[lawguy]

Same reason Toyota killed the Supra- they couldn't sell enough. Fine cars that few buy (and share nothing with higher production cars) do not a good business plan make.

 

[Bret]

I've never driven a S2000 but I've seen'em in action a few times. Not as utilitarian as the Mazda MX-5/Miata but quite civilized for tooling around town but becomes a wild-eyed possessed feral cat when pushed to the upper quadrant of the rev range.

The only drawback of the S2000 IMO is that it’s not really long legged – meaning if you truely want to go on a long trip (say LA-Vegas), you’d better ship your luggage ahead or pack really light. Because you’ll never be able to carry more than a shaving kit & a small suitcase. Absolutely no storage & makes my 78B’s boot & behind the seat storage look down right cavernous.

 

[MoPho]

Now go drive a Lotus Elise, the S2000 will feel like a truck /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif

 

[Bret]

Now go drive a Lotus Elise, the S2000 will feel like a truck /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif

Oh yeah I forgot - I got a chance to rent one of these for a day a couple of weeks ago. Loved it but if I ever had to haul anything other than my laptop I'd be in trouble. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

 

[MoPho]

Now go drive a Lotus Elise, the S2000 will feel like a truck /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif

Oh yeah I forgot - I got a chance to rent one of these for a day a couple of weeks ago. Loved it but if I ever had to haul anything other than my laptop I'd be in trouble. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

A bit of an exaggeration, it actually has a pretty decent boot for such a car, I have fit my camera case in one and it is the maximum size allowed for airplane carry on luggage, so it is plenty for a weekend getaway.

Besides, luggage is extra weight /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

 

[Bret]

Now go drive a Lotus Elise, the S2000 will feel like a truck /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif

Oh yeah I forgot - I got a chance to rent one of these for a day a couple of weeks ago. Loved it but if I ever had to haul anything other than my laptop I'd be in trouble. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

A bit of an exaggeration, it actually has a pretty decent boot for such a car, I have fit my camera case in one and it is the maximum size allowed for airplane carry on luggage, so it is plenty for a weekend getaway.

Besides, luggage is extra weight /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

Exaggeration? You haven't seen my computer bag have you? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

My point is as much as I loved the car I couldn't get any of my tools or test equipment in it. Luckily I didn't need to travel to a site for work and was just tooling around town. Otherwise half of my stuff would have been in the passenger seat.

 

[Twosheds]

I've never driven a S2000 but I've seen'em in action a few times. Not as utilitarian as the Mazda MX-5/Miata but quite civilized for tooling around town but becomes a wild-eyed possessed feral cat when pushed to the upper quadrant of the rev range.

A young man autocrosses an S2000 locally. His times are VERY low! And he never shifts out of first.

 

[MoPho]

Exaggeration? You haven't seen my computer bag have you? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

My point is as much as I loved the car I couldn't get any of my tools or test equipment in it. Luckily I didn't need to travel to a site for work and was just tooling around town. Otherwise half of my stuff would have been in the passenger seat.

Yeah, but who buys an extreme two seat sports car for it's practicality? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif


That's what the daily driver is for

 

[Bret]

Yeah, but who buys an extreme two seat sports car for its practicality? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

That's what the daily driver is for

True enough. I was just merely pointing out that neither the S2000 nor the Lodi would be a practical vehicle if a second car isn't a real option. Especially when compared to other more sporty vehicles that seem a little more versatile.

But it’s not just about a daily driver. I mean as fine a vehicle as the S2000 and the Lodi are, I feel that unless you travel light (key word) it might not be the best choice.

In my case if I don’t want to drive the girlfriend’s SUV or my full sized Supercrew truck and wish to take one of my “fun” cars on a long road trip I have a bit more room to cram stuff into.

 

[vping]

I'll have to agree that it was a bit bumpy. Very stiff but fast & fun.
I was getting towards the end of my ride and I decided to do some real hard side to side steering - like Nascar cleaning off their tires. Felt awesome. Well in front of me was a Maurano. sp. I go to the light next to him and I think he was checking out my "aggressive" steering. He guns it at the light. I really did not give a hoot so let him go. I'll tell ya, as fast as that little Honda was, unless I was totally ready, probably would have beaten me off the line. That SUV was really quick. Automatic so he had the upper hand.

 

[Nunyas]

... Automatic so he had the upper hand.

you gotta learn to shift faster... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif

 

[vping]

I did not even bother to tell you the truth but the throw on the shifter was real short.

 

[aeronca65t]

My neighbor has one and I've been in it. A very nice car, but surprisingly heavy at 2850 lbs (but not the worst-the BMW Z4 is a bit more and the Audi TT is about 400 lbs more).

The engine is quite peaky in a way that implies the clutch will suffer. But over all, a neat, fast car that is a bit nicer than my Miata but a fair amount more in cost.

The only thing I did not like was the plastic rear window.
I'm not sure if it's been said above, but these cars are no longer in production.

The last-gen RX-7 is one of the best looking coupes I can think of and an excellent performer as well.

 

[GregW]

I was thinking of buying an S2000 back in 2000. At the time, there was a huge dealer markup. One dealer had a second sticker in the window that tacked an additional $15,000 onto the price of the car. I was on an S2000 forum around the same time where one guy was bragging that he got his car for only $6,000 over MSRP. I like the car, but I couldn’t bring myself to pay privilege money.

 

[healeyneil]

My "better half" drives hers on a daily basis. She can get her golf bag,trolley and grip in the boot OK. The only things I dont like about it are, the potential parts prices (for things like suspension bits) and it goes thru tyres pretty quick. You can drive it like an ordinary car if you keep it under 5000 revs, but when you let it rip to the 9000 red line its astonishing. Its even got heater vents directly behind where you hands go on the steering wheel !