lemme raise the ante...
Our man did a good job of defining the classifications. I have to agree with him that our stook might not be considered a true sports car - depending where the bar is.
For me, the S2000 is a true sports car because it is designed from the ground up for performance. It is not simply last year's econo-box with a sporty chassis put on top of last year's frame and engine. The S2000 is a wonderful work of engineering that combines light weight construction, a specific power plant, limited luxury, and a surgical gear box not found anywhere else.

I don't take any particular offense in one's own definition of a "true" sports car. For me, it is all about my experience with what I can reach; what I can afford.
If I win the PowerBall tomorrow, I could snub all you guys tomorrow by proclaiming that I have just acquired a McLaren F1.

The S2000 has got to be the most fun, and the best performing 2-seater roadster in its class.

Definitions aside, I thought that our man's write-up was well put and thought out. It is, after all, about personal criteria and his search for his next car. I didn't feel snubbed at all.

Come July 4th, I'll be driving around the valley with the top down - watching fireworks with my daughter and there is no better seating. Come the next HPDE season, my S be out-performing most street cars because it has configurable geometry that has been set; and with race rubber... my stook will stick in the corners better ... there is no better seating.

For me, this was the best sports car that I could get for the money - and it is the best fun car. Period. I know of few cars that can be a daily driver, a convertible with somewhat fine appointments, and a performer at the same time.

No, I don't take offense to our man's retort at all. What is most important is that he figures out the criteria for the best car for him. Me, I can't brag enough about the S2000. The more I understand the machine, the more I appreciate it. What really blew me away was how the S performed on the track as stock. A few inexpensive modifications set it over the top.

CB

 

Well I just got confirmation today that the S2000 I bought about a month ago has been wrecked. About a week after I bought it, someone pointed out the badges were in the wrong place, so I knew at that point the fenders were repainted, but I hoped maybe it was just keyed or something. Today, took it to get aligned and they said the left side front and rear can't go any further than +0.2 degrees. I believe normally they should do -1.5 and -2.25 degrees, so either the frame is bent or the control arms are bent, or all of the above.

It sucks because I've already spent something like $21,500 on it between the purchase price, registration, basic maintenance, and so on, and now it's going to probably need thousands of dollars in bodywork to TRY to see if I can get it capable of a proper alignment. If not, I'll be out many more thousands dumping the car and buying another one. I hate used cars. I hate getting a clean carfax report and finding out it was severely wrecked even though carfax was clean.

 

Was it bought from a dealer or a private seller?

 

I understand.
A new car is expensive, but I'm willing to turn the other way because I know where it's been. My previous ride, I bought new too and kept it for 14 years.
Bummer dude. Hopefully it wont' be as bad as you imagine to get it all fixed up.

 

Private sale, "as is" via Ebay. Last friggin time I ever buy a car over ebay, I can tell you that for sure! It's not even like it was a smokin deal or anything, it was still a lot of money for a 4+ year old car.

Yeah, I hope. I begged a local body shop guy to take a look at it tomorrow even though he doesn't normally work weekends, and see if he can make an estimate on what's wrong. I don't know if it's just bent lower control arms, bent subframe, bent ENTIRE frame, or what. When I talked to him on the phone he was saying with used parts, I could maybe get away as cheap as a few hundred bucks of frame pulling, but if it needs subframes, control arms, frame bending, and so on, then definitely more. Still, it sounds like from what he was saying, no way it should be more than $2000.

So basically.. whatever. If I can get the car all fixed up and working properly by the end of summer then it will be ready to rock at the NASA events and stuff. It felt very nice at Arroyo Seco two weekends ago, and it turned out the front anti-roll bar wasn't even hooked up! Rob saw it, it was fast, it just had tons of bodyroll and was very loose. I'm looking forward to how the car does with the front bar now hooked up and eventually a proper negative camber alignment.

 

This thread needs more photos! My S2000, complete with wrongly-placed badge (which I have since removed) at Arroyo Seco Raceway two weekends ago:



And the effects of 0.2 degrees of positive camber on my left rear tire after 75 miles at Arroyo Seco:

 

Nice Pic!

 

Dude...
You have to consider Earnhardt's.
I wouldn't trust my stook to anybody else but Cesar.
Cesar KNOWS the car. Don't take chances.
Consider it...
CB

 

Cesar doesn't do bodywork though, does he? I'm guessing there may be frame damage, which is why I wanted to have a collision repair guy look over the car. The plan is to take it to Earnhardt's after that however to have the rest of the car looked over.

 

no he doesnt but he knows the car!! I think I speak for all of the people that have had ceasar work on their cars that he is by far the the best service technician evar...... go get an estimate from your shop, bring it to Lori at earnhardts and specify that Ceasar take a look... I dont know if earhardhts has a body shop there but they will recommend an excellent shop. If they have to outsource it only the best will be used.
Joe