The main reason I love the NSX, Boxster S, Cayman S and Lotus Elise so much is because of their mid-engine design.

Imagine hearing the F20C screaming behind your ears at 8800RPMs as you shift with the super-slick transmission into 2nd gear and chirp the tires on a warm summer night with the top down....orgasm I tell ya....

And let's suppose that a mid-engine S2000 would have great steering feel like most mid-engine cars do. I'm talking about being able to feel all the road-front tires grip changes through vibrations sent from the steering wheel to your finger tips.

So how much would you spend on a new mid-engined S2000 with improved steering feel?

 

assuming 300whp?

 

No that's the catch

Engine output stays the same. I want to see what people are willing to pay for only the *feel* of a car. Seems like Porsche is based on this, but then again they have the badge to back it up.

You can, however, turbo your mid-engine S2000 and have a 300RWHP mini-supercar

 

It would look totally different.

I can't make that bet.

 

There's nothing about a mid-engined layout that makes steering feel better or worse.

A mid-engined S2000 would be worth to me exactly what a front-engined S2000 would be worth. For me a mid engine is a means to an end, not the end itself.

 

I'd pay $37K

an all new car should have significant improvments that most cars of 08-09 have which a car from 1999 does not.

Such as stability control, side curtain airbags, more up to date ergonomics (ie. tilt/scope steering wheel), etc..

So it would be niave to expect it to cost $33K the same as it cost in 1999 (IMO) b/c 1999 that would be like $37K (or more) todays dollars.

An Elise does not have many modern features but an Elise has been around almost as long as the S2000 (I believe). I am talking of Boxster S level of features. Also the Elise being a more stripped car so the S2000 is not in that class unless we were talking about a 2300-ish lb S2000 (with current engine power level) in which case I would pay about as much as an Elise costs.

Honda makes an Elise FTW

 

I voted $40K. I appreciate the added power, comfort, space, sound, luxury, etc. of the Cayman S, but the handling and steering feel are prob. two of the biggest factors that influenced me to switch.

 

If everything stayed the same, and the cabin and engine location were simply switched - eh, just the same price.

Bump it up to 300hp and add in a few high tech features, and it'd be worth $55k. (Basically, an NSX priced to what it should be.)

 

I know mid-engine doesn't = steering feel, but let's just imagine the S2000 had great steering feel.

 

Awesome. Every time I try to convince myself to upgrade out of my S, I just realize again that there isn't anything I like more that isn't double the price. A mid-engined version would give me a little variety -- I voted $40k!