I test drove an S2000 yesterday - had to see what I thought of this little roadster compared to my FD. My comparison:

The S2000 was incredibly tight - no squeeks, clicks, dings, nothing just a tight, well built car that handles extremely well. Very confident car going into turns and nice tight gears with a butter-like shifter. Even with 153 lbs of torque - it had nice throttle response in a any gear. This is a sports car - I've heard people say they are a roadster - but no sports car. this is definitely one of the most fun cars I've ever driven and easy to drive (addicting) One thing I was waiting for though is ...power in the vtec range. I took the car up to the 9K redline and I didn't get the kick in the pants. I was doing 90 on a backroad but still I didn't have that "holy ***** I'm gonna wreck" like I do in the FD - just an incredible, fun little sports car that I would recommend to anybody.

I took my FD down the same windy road I drove the S2000 down minutes earlier. The cars felt about the same in the turns with the FD having a quicker steering response (more like a go-kart) There all the squeeks, rattles, and other noises related with a 10 year old car My FD was insanely faster but I can't say that it was as much fun to drive around those turns as the S2000. I think my car might be too fast . Funny because every single person at the Honda dealer was gawking at the FD - the manager trying to get me to trade it in. Everywhere I go everyone absolutely loves the FD. I would miss it if I got rid of it.

 

I know how you feel. Car getting old, creeks here and there, my drivers door squeaks all the time when its locked, still performs awesome, but new is new. To bad there isnt any new sports cars out now that have the same style and drivability as the FD, Exotic, fast, unique, eye turning road machine. All in one.

 

My roommate has an S2000. I've spent several hours driving it, including one 400 mile road trip. I'm not a big fan of it. The leather feels like it's made out of dried elmers glue and plastic. The headrests, while very modern looking, aren't comfortable(notice they have a big gaping hole where your head is supposed to go?). The leather on the door panels feels cheap, and there is no padding behind it, yet the leather is somewhat loose. I agree the interior is much tighter, but it feels pretty low rent.

The engine sound also leaves a lot to be desired. It has a corseness that reminds me of my last ride in an old style dodge neon. It's a complete dog below 6000 and even then it's nothing special. I routinely drop my roommate like a stone off the line and on the highway. Even when my second turbo was completely non functional I used to humiliate him.

Oh and the stereo sounds like ***, but I heard they've fixed that for 2002.

I don't mean to rant, it's a decent car, but obviously not my choice. I just can't see why anyone would drop 32 when the same experience(with better interior quality) can be had for 10k less in a miata.

just my 2000 cents(get it?

 

This past april I sold my 93 and bought a s2000 and it was a big mistake. Yeah the car is fun to drive and I like its look but the torgue really is awful no punch at all until v-tech ( however it will smoke a miata ). After about 2 months of looking for that old kick in the *** I sold it and now have two
mint fd's with very little squeaks or rattles and all the bolt ons working perfectly and could not be any happier. For 32k its still the best pure sports car made today I just wish mazda would get off it *** and bring us another 7.

 

Plus, it's really hard to drift a s2000, (need I say more?) man, they are not even the same category if you go to race.

I don't know s2000's curb weight, but when I found out the door is pretty heavy. For a roadster, it's a nice car.

 

yeah, if the car was like 25K it might be a better buy but 32 beans? I really liked the throttle response 'for 240 hp n/a". The handling was impressive - I have Nitto tires on heavy chrome 18s so I don't have the same nimbleness I had with stock 16s. But I was so disappointed in the 6-9K vtec where it is supposed to fly - it doesn't at all. When my car is at 5-7.5K range i most of the time fight control of the car (cool ) and I'm only running 13 psi. With a supercharger this car could be a fun weekend car that I could live with. My FD is pretty modded but even when my FD was stock I felt more of a rush from the TTs than in the S2K. I just wish I could have my car new again.

 

I think my next car may be an ultima GTR. At $27K they are cheaper than the s2000, of course it comes unassembled w/o a powerplant
I bet it would be cheaper to put a 3 rotor in one of those than an FD though. hmmmmm

 

The other end of the S2000 spectrum is the M roadster. The new one being voracious and much more expensive. Even a used one is still quite hairy chested. These aren't as good a handler, but have the power to make uo for it. The handling kind of makes it more fum to drive.

 

There all the squeeks, rattles, and other noises related with a 10 year old

(Funny how your Fd squeaks.) My 95 FD does not have even one tiny twitch of a squeak. I guess having only 9k miles can do that to my car.

Hey Kwikrx7, you are correct about the almighty FD, it's definitely a true sports car.

Automax

 

there is another thread about the lotus elise being brought to america for 2004 model year. and for ~38k. as far as I am concerned, that is the only replacement for my FD (on this side of $80k)

 

I'd rather have an sub 4 second ultima I have also spent a lot of time driving the now old M roadster and like it much better than the s2000. I guess you get what you pay for. My only major complaint about the M roadster is the seats are uncomfortable(needs more thigh support). I haven't driven a new m roadster, but have driven a new M3. Great car, but the engine sounds much different than the old one. Whereas the old one had a strong baratone growl, the new one seems much rougher and high pitched. It also makes a goofy resonance noise that sounds like an exhaust heat shield is loose when you string it out. The funny thing is if you read the early magazine reviews on it many of them thought it sounded great, but the more recent articles criticize the sound-go figure.

 

The reason you guys don't feel the vtec punch is that u've been drinving the fd too much seriously i had a type r before this, and i used to **** my pants when vtec kicked in when i first bought it, over time it felt weaker and weaker even tho the time slips kept dropping, I sold it to a friend and got the FD, now when i jump back im my ex ITR, I can't even feel the vtec punch at all !!! i was WTF all i heard was the change in exhuast note

moral of the story is once u go fast you can't go back,... or maybe stop driving the fd for a month then go test drive the 2tooK:p

 

Look at those mods. You might feel the same way driving a stock FD.

 

Are they actually selling the S2000 for 32k where you guys live? I just went down to one of the Honda dealers here in Scottsdale and they were selling one with 3k miles for $39,000. I was like WTF! The new one they had was $40,000. Its a nice car and I wouldnt mind having one but for those prices how could you justify it.

 

I know no one here likes american cars, but Vettes can be had for 40K, (hardtops and targas) While a bit bigger than the M roadster and S200, I'd say it's a lot more car, not only that, but the aftermarket poteential is insanely huge, how fast you wanna go?

 

Please!
Don't even try to compare our RX7 supercars(yes supercar and not exotic) with S2000 toy fun car. Where is the fun at $30k+ toy?
Want fast drag, get a Viper GTS modified (now that is fast)

 

I wonder how long the clutch will last when driven to achieve that 1/4 time It takes a lot of RPMs to get those "massive" 225s rears to break loose

 

new Vettes can NOT be had for anything less than ~$45,000, and new S2000s are selling for not much more than MSRP around here now. no more dot commers buying them...thats why. no more outrageous mark-ups like before too.

i love S2000s. i like everything about them. ive gotten a ride in one...and LOVED it. the sound of the engine is amazing, it corners like a mother f*cker, and the car just looks hot. who gives a **** if they are not that fast in a straight line (they are still damn quick). there comes a point when performance is not the first priority in a car. an S2K is a MUCH better car than any C5 short of a Z06...straight line performance aside. with a C5 you get a played out, un-original, girly, piece of garbage car that you see every corner. around here, no one takes a second look at C5's. they are trash. they are just complete American pieces of garbage.

i will gladly take any S2000 over a non Z06 C5 ANY day.

 

no...they could spin their tires pretty easily. and those "massive" rear tires are the same size as on a stock FD.

 

I must chime in here since I have recently purchased a 2002 S2000.
But instead of typing what I already typed before here check this thread out

S2000 Vs RX-7

 

Just thought I'd chime in here in response to the Ultima GTRs.

http://www.ultimacars.com/fra_pricing_ordering.htm

Pricing starts at $89,000. How did you (CCarlisi) get a figure of $27,000? Are you asking them strictly for the car w/o the engine? They can't sell you just the car w/o the engine. There would be no profit. (Although, they may not be selling the cars for profit anyway). I would think that somewhere in their paperwork, they would have to sell you the car complete in order to sell you the car. Also, BTW, the engine used in the Ultima is a GM LS1 V8 (available w/ any other American V8 or your choice though).

 

Used S2000s can be found under $30,000 at http://www.carmax.com

Vettes are fast and not bad looking, but VERY common around these parts. Of course so are 911s but I'd drive one if I won one!