Its been 5 months since I parted with my S and I'm still pining!
Its replacement has to have four doors, (pre-requisite laid down by the other half).
So far I have only come up with one alternative that fits the budget (must be under 40k new to meet the lease budget), and that is the RX8. The 231 PS has lots of kit & is a very comfy coupe that handles well, but perfomance wise its not even a patch on the S. Where on eath did Mazda get their published 0-60 time of 6.4? Road tested down bulls**t hill I reckon. If it does a 6.4 0-60, then the S2k does it in 5 secs.

Anyone have any ideas on any other sexy motors (new with 4 doors) that have rear wheel drive or 4 wheel drive and can meet the overall driving expectations of a former s2k owner? (M5s and S4s are beyond the budget).

Cheers
Phil.

 

<edit> Oh.. you said 4 doors... Not just 4 seats </edit>

Oh well... if you could bend the rules...

I have never liked the RX8.. sorry, not my cup of tea.

Personally I would love to testdrive a 2.8V6 Saab 93 Aero Convertable.
Initially I didnt like the look of them but they have grown on me a lot and that latest 2.8 sounds a lot of fun!



2.8V6 engine version delivers 250hp/350Nm and is matched by unique 17" Aero light-alloy wheels, spoilers, sport chassis, sport exhaust system, leather/cloth upholstered sport seats and a sport steering wheel trimmed in leather.



2.8 Turbo V6 250 hp

Six-cylinder, twin-scroll turbocharger.
Displacement: 2,792 dm3.
EEC rating: 184kW (250 hp) at 5500 r/min.
Max Torque: 350 Nm at 4500 r/min.
Top speed: 152 mph; auto.149 mph 0 to 60 mph: 7.0; auto.7.7.
Overtaking, man.: 40 to 60 mph in fourth gear 5.5 secs; 50 to 70 mph in fifth gear 7.0 secs.
Fuel consumption mpg*: 18.0/37.2/26.6; auto.16.3/37.7/25.5.
Carbon dioxide emission (CO2 ) combined g/km*: 254; auto.266.

 

i do like the sabbs they look nice

 

I just hate Saab's. They trade almost exclusively on this idea that somehow they're built with aircraft knowledge. Funny as most of the new ones are just re-bodied Subaru's or Vectra's.

I'd be looking at a new 5-series, personally. I think they're beautiful, classy cars. I'm not sure what 40k would buy you though. Maybe a 530d?

EDIT: Just checked, and you'd get a 540i MSport for

 

[QUOTE=Bada Bing!,May 13 2006, 11:06 PM] I just hate Saab's. They trade almost exclusively on this idea that somehow they're built with aircraft knowledge. Funny as most of the new ones are just re-bodied Subaru's or Vectra's.

I'd be looking at a new 5-series, personally. I think they're beautiful, classy cars. I'm not sure what 40k would buy you though. Maybe a 530d?

EDIT: Just checked, and you'd get a 540i MSport for

 

Or Evo/Subaru ?
Horrible looking but effective.

 

The insurance would be around the same value as the car with two 17 year old boys on the policy.

 

I'd defend the RX-8 as the only four-door car that's interesting. It's no S2000 equivalent though.

Yes I know M5s go a million MPH and have electric wanking machines built in, etc, etc, but I just find them too capable, too big & too fast for the UK's roads/racetracks. It's not a roadster. End of story.

I think you need both types of car, Phil.

 

The S4 comes in under 40k. And as Field mentioned, you could go for an STI or Evo. But no 4 door car is going to offer a similar feel to the S2000, even though they'll outclass it massively on power, refinement and practicality.

 

Ooh, good call.

WTF is going on in your avatar, by the way?