I'm considering selling my 93 RX-7 R1 for an S2000. I'd like to hear the experiences of anyone in the forum that has driven both cars. I'm wondering if the S2000 will feel anywhere near the same power levels and handling of the RX-7 or if I am just dreaming that the perfect convertible exists.

 

Hey I love RX's and for me to sit here and tell you to get either well basically i can't.. I had an RX and now i have an S. Depends what you want and what you are looking for Best bet is run a search and see what you can come up with I know this has come up often.

:::whispering:::Now my honest opinion (shhh don't tell anyone) wait till next spring and get the RX8... (250Horsies) shhhhh.

Good Luck and hope you enjoy your decision!

 

I have driven my friends RX7 (HKS Stage III) and the S2K, very similar cars but you need to get the SC for the S2K if you want the same power.

 

i think the most important factor that needs to be considered is reliabilty. you can have fuel management and engine management mods up the ass on a RX7 and still end up blowing that shit.

 

Yeah, reliability is a factor to me. I have 2 cars now and I'd like to only have 1...the S2000. I've had a 93 Prelude for 4 years that I love...so fun to drive. Hoping that the S2000 will be similar.

 

I think you've got it backwards - will the RX-7 ever match the S2000? Maybe, with a boatload of mods, on that one magical day when everything works right and nothing breaks. In my experiences with RX-7 owning buddies those days are rare.

Certainly not the complete picture, but check out the relative laptimes from a few recent track events:
http://www.speedventures.net/event_results.asp

I'm sure you'll make the right decision. Good luck!

 

I would say the S2000 is probably the closest thing to the RX7 back in the day. Both are light, and very flickable vs. the heavier Supra & 300Z cars. Both are pretty fast from the showroom. I think the bone stock RX-7's ran about 13.8-14.0 1/4's, but then I have never sat in a bone stock RX7 before. They were very easy to mod. I had many friends who were RX7 lovers, had a few in the 350-400 hp area, but they kept on blowing the engines no matter what they did. If you have a moderately modded RX7, I would go to a Vortech SC'ed or Speedcraft turbo'ed S2000 as probably the closest feel to your RX7.

 

I was looking at 93 rx-7 with only like 50k miles on. the guy was soooo anal about it. He replaced all the little hoses with silicon hoses...took him two days. He changed the oil ever 2k miles. He let it idle for 5-10 minutes before driving it...and after driving it. I almost bought it...the next week while it was warming up, the engine burst into flames!!
The extra performance is not worth it....if i have to go through this. Granted it is not the engine, but the turbo system that mazda f-ed up. The Rx-8 does have 250 HP (10 more then the S2000), but i also weighs at least 200 lbs more, has a softer suspension, and has a low torque high revving motor...sounds like an S2000 touring coupe to me. I think i will stick with the S. If I want more performance I will go with something more reliable then the TT RX-7.

Also, I'm not sure why people sometimes assume a stock rx-7 is faster then the S2000. In the US the rx-7 has 250HP stock and weighs just slightly more...seems to me the performance is pretty close. It might feel faster....that doesn't mean it is.

 

another factor you may want to consider that is a plus for the S2000 is the engine sound...for me an important consideration To me the rotary in the RX-7 sounds a bit like a sewing machine...while the NA F20C sounds racier. the sound it makes while redlining in a tunnel with the top down is

btw:

RX-7: 2826lbs, 255bhp, 217ft-lbs.
S2000: 2809lbs, 240bhp, 153ft-lbs.

best acceleration numbers i've seen for stock cars is:

S2000: 0-60: 5.3sec, 1/4mile: 13.9 sec
RX-7: 0-60: 4.9sec, 1/4 mile: don't remember

 

well, when i actually weighed my car on a scale, with a 1/2 tank, full interior and spare it weighed 2780. So i think honda may have been a little too generous with the weight, but overall very compareable cars in terms of stats and feel. The rx-7 does feel like it pulls harder though.