Is the Honda S2000 really that good ?

***Dave*** · 30-03-2006, 08:33

Just noticed for 2nd year running the AutoExpress Top 100 reader survey has S2000 at #1 again. Knowing there are a few owners on here, the question is ....is it really that good ?

Reason for asking is I may look at a s/h Z4 3.0 or Porsche Boxster for the summer, but was wondering what I may be missing out on. Can't say I like the looks of the Honda as much as the other two & the idea of having to scream the engine sounds a bit tiring after a while.

From memory on TG didn't the Civic Type R beat it round Castle Combe ? .....with a large tail slide on last corner

So over to the Honda salesmen....... what's it all about then, hey ?

kamion · 30-03-2006, 09:16

I see your photo selling career is really taking off.

evilowl · 30-03-2006, 09:20

Not having driven an S2K but owning a highly modified CTR I will give you my 2p's worth...

I'm in pretty much the same position - I'm after some topless RWD action for the summer and I have pretty much decided on the Boxster S. I feel it's a lot more car for the money (I'm looking at spending upto 20k so it would be a 02/52 plate).

The Honda would cost less to run and they are utterly reliable as I know from 2 years of CTR ownership, but I guess I just fancy a change!

BTW it was 5th Gear and the tight twisty track at Anglesey that saw the CTR do the S2K, but it was also a very wet track so not really a proper result. I have no doubt my modded CTR could beat a standard S2K round any track, but that's hardly comparing like for like.

evilowl · 30-03-2006, 09:28

Best thing to do would be to go and test drive them all!

***Dave*** · 30-03-2006, 10:13

Will do....have tried the Z4 already.....very nice, great sound & had such good fun I only got 17mpg avg

. As with any car though it's hard to get a proper feel until you have driven it for a week or so.....thus the low down from owners on good & bad points is invaluable

***Dave*** · 30-03-2006, 10:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamion

I see your photo selling career is really taking off.

I wish

. It's called moving house to one half the cost

SammyC · 30-03-2006, 10:25

Hey Dave, you can buy mine if you want!

I'm downgrading to a CTR very soon.

BTW, I can't believe how much I'm going to miss my S (boo hoo!).

***Dave*** · 30-03-2006, 10:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by evilowl

....
BTW it was 5th Gear and the tight twisty track at Anglesey that saw the CTR do the S2K,...

Obviously also been done at that location, but it was also definetely done at Castle Combe ...I used to live 12 miles away from circuit so knew it well. Think it was either Plato or Tiff driving the CTR & nearly losing it on last corner big time .....track was dry from memory. Just searched google & found other threads on subject (just to check my sanity

)

***Dave*** · 30-03-2006, 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by SammyC

I'm downgrading to a CTR very soon.(

Now don't let the CTR owners hear you say their beasts are a downgrade

Haven't seriously looked at S2000's.....how much are you talking vs £20K Z4's & Boxsters ?

SammyC · 30-03-2006, 10:36

Well mines a 2003 on a 52 plate, done 21k miles and I expect to get around 17k when I px it at a Honda dealers.

They are fantastic cars, way more of a car than the BMW or Boxster BUT both of the others are more flattering as the S has no traction control or fancy gadgets to make you think you are driving god.

As CT said ages ago, he can drive his CTR much quicker from A to B than his S because the CTR is much more predictable. I found exactly the same on my CTR test drive.

If you want a true road racer, get an S, if you are more concerned with ease of use then get either of the others.

BTW, I have nothing against either of the others you mentioned it just they are intended for a different audience.

BTW (#2), 9200 rpm is something else!

BTW (#3), make sure its in the dry, muchos worrying in the wet!

barrymoir · 30-03-2006, 10:41

stick with the z4, a porshe boxter is a hairdressers car

SammyC · 30-03-2006, 12:00

but the nose on the Z4 looks all droopy like its gotten too hot....

***Dave*** · 30-03-2006, 12:13

You definitely have to get it in the right colour & it has to have the big alloys to look decent.

Ref rev range it reminds me of riding sportsbikes.....14k revs. I suppose the S2000 is like comparing a 750 sports bike to a 900 say. I found my GSXR750 had to be screamed to get best from it, yet the ZX9R I had later had more grunt down lower, so more relaxing ( bike...relaxing...ha !!!!) to ride. Expect it's the same with the S2000 vs large lumps (engine not driver

) in the Z4 & Boxster

SammyC · 30-03-2006, 12:40

I would have thought so too.

It's just something you have to get usd to, depends where you come from. My previous car was a Clio 172 which had a similar behaving 2l engine i.e. needs to be reved.

With the S you get normal 2l performance up to 6k rpm and then it switches to the high cams, the touch paper it lit, there are flashes of light and you arrive at your destination three weeks ago (or was that in a film I saw..).

DaveG · 30-03-2006, 13:10

Give the S2000 a test drive.

I intended to keep mine for 3yrs and then move onto something else. Couldn't bring myself to get rid of it. You need to spend a lot more to get a significant improvement. Never had anything go wrong with it and running costs are pretty low.

Was tempted with the Nissan 350Z, have you considered them?

evilowl · 30-03-2006, 13:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJW

Obviously also been done at that location, but it was also definetely done at Castle Combe ...I used to live 12 miles away from circuit so knew it well. Think it was either Plato or Tiff driving the CTR & nearly losing it on last corner big time .....track was dry from memory. Just searched google & found other threads on subject (just to check my sanity

)

Ahh it was driven! Forgot about that one. Here's the video and yeah it was wet: http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...+s2000&pl=true

SammyC · 30-03-2006, 15:22

Probably never got above 5000 rpm if it was wet in the S then!

30-03-2006, 08:33	#1 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,707	Is the Honda S2000 really that good ? Just noticed for 2nd year running the AutoExpress Top 100 reader survey has S2000 at #1 again. Knowing there are a few owners on here, the question is ....is it really that good ? Reason for asking is I may look at a s/h Z4 3.0 or Porsche Boxster for the summer, but was wondering what I may be missing out on. Can't say I like the looks of the Honda as much as the other two & the idea of having to scream the engine sounds a bit tiring after a while. From memory on TG didn't the Civic Type R beat it round Castle Combe ? .....with a large tail slide on last corner So over to the Honda salesmen....... what's it all about then, hey ? __________________

30-03-2006, 09:20	#3 (permalink)
evilowl Been here a while Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: London village Posts: 376	Not having driven an S2K but owning a highly modified CTR I will give you my 2p's worth... I'm in pretty much the same position - I'm after some topless RWD action for the summer and I have pretty much decided on the Boxster S. I feel it's a lot more car for the money (I'm looking at spending upto 20k so it would be a 02/52 plate). The Honda would cost less to run and they are utterly reliable as I know from 2 years of CTR ownership, but I guess I just fancy a change! BTW it was 5th Gear and the tight twisty track at Anglesey that saw the CTR do the S2K, but it was also a very wet track so not really a proper result. I have no doubt my modded CTR could beat a standard S2K round any track, but that's hardly comparing like for like. __________________ Last edited by evilowl : 30-03-2006 at 09:23.

30-03-2006, 10:36	#10 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	Well mines a 2003 on a 52 plate, done 21k miles and I expect to get around 17k when I px it at a Honda dealers. They are fantastic cars, way more of a car than the BMW or Boxster BUT both of the others are more flattering as the S has no traction control or fancy gadgets to make you think you are driving god. As CT said ages ago, he can drive his CTR much quicker from A to B than his S because the CTR is much more predictable. I found exactly the same on my CTR test drive. If you want a true road racer, get an S, if you are more concerned with ease of use then get either of the others. BTW, I have nothing against either of the others you mentioned it just they are intended for a different audience. BTW (#2), 9200 rpm is something else! BTW (#3), make sure its in the dry, muchos worrying in the wet! __________________ Canon 350D Canon 18-55 kit lens Canon 28-105 f3.5-4.5 USM Canon 50 1.8 Mk 1 Sigma 70-300 APO Macro DG Kenko extension tubes My photographs

30-03-2006, 09:16	#2 (permalink)
kamion Getting Comfy Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 160	I see your photo selling career is really taking off.

30-03-2006, 09:28	#4 (permalink)
evilowl Been here a while Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: London village Posts: 376	Best thing to do would be to go and test drive them all!

30-03-2006, 10:13	#5 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,707	Will do....have tried the Z4 already.....very nice, great sound & had such good fun I only got 17mpg avg . As with any car though it's hard to get a proper feel until you have driven it for a week or so.....thus the low down from owners on good & bad points is invaluable

30-03-2006, 10:25	#7 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	Hey Dave, you can buy mine if you want! I'm downgrading to a CTR very soon. BTW, I can't believe how much I'm going to miss my S (boo hoo!).

30-03-2006, 10:41	#11 (permalink)
barrymoir Been here a while Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 369	stick with the z4, a porshe boxter is a hairdressers car

30-03-2006, 12:00	#12 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	but the nose on the Z4 looks all droopy like its gotten too hot....

30-03-2006, 12:13	#13 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,707	You definitely have to get it in the right colour & it has to have the big alloys to look decent. Ref rev range it reminds me of riding sportsbikes.....14k revs. I suppose the S2000 is like comparing a 750 sports bike to a 900 say. I found my GSXR750 had to be screamed to get best from it, yet the ZX9R I had later had more grunt down lower, so more relaxing ( bike...relaxing...ha !!!!) to ride. Expect it's the same with the S2000 vs large lumps (engine not driver ) in the Z4 & Boxster

30-03-2006, 12:40	#14 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	I would have thought so too. It's just something you have to get usd to, depends where you come from. My previous car was a Clio 172 which had a similar behaving 2l engine i.e. needs to be reved. With the S you get normal 2l performance up to 6k rpm and then it switches to the high cams, the touch paper it lit, there are flashes of light and you arrive at your destination three weeks ago (or was that in a film I saw..).

30-03-2006, 13:10	#15 (permalink)
DaveG Been here a while Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kent Posts: 262	Give the S2000 a test drive. I intended to keep mine for 3yrs and then move onto something else. Couldn't bring myself to get rid of it. You need to spend a lot more to get a significant improvement. Never had anything go wrong with it and running costs are pretty low. Was tempted with the Nissan 350Z, have you considered them?

30-03-2006, 15:22	#17 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	Probably never got above 5000 rpm if it was wet in the S then!