Article in this months Porsche Post where they took a 2.7 Boxster, Z4 3.0 and S2000 to the Isle of Man (done in tandem with the Top Gear test)

Article is written by Richard Heely (their man inside Top Gear) though I feel the magazine editor has had quite some input

It is actually quite a well balanced article aside from the paragraph I quote here:

'However what wasn't clear from the televsion programme was that Jeremy got to the Isle of Man by turbo-prop rather than Honda VTEC. Perhaps if Jeremy had driven the little buzz box 200 miles up a relentless motorway to get there, he'd have had a slightly different view. That joy fell to me and I can tell you that the novelty of an engine that revs to 9000rpm quickly wanes. The engine may be clever but it isn't particularly smooth and never feels as though it really likes being revved to its limit. Which is a shame because anything less than maximum revs leaves the car feeling distinctly ordinary. No doubt some of you are thinking that we're supposed to be car enthusiasts, surely having to work a bit is part of the joy of having a sports car? Well all I can say is, try it.'



He does also say that the S2000 is well suited to speed-limit free mountain roads where you can enjoy the 9000 revs and 'It is small and neatly sprung making it properly chuckable. It feels sharp in a good way'

So the S2000 doesn't want to rev to 9k?? I beg to differ! Having driven 5000 miles round Europe in one I'd say it is plenty refined enough for cruising... thought I'd share to see some feedback

Tif

 

having owned mine for 2 months now i find that it is perfectly refined. i find the wind noise in the motorway at 80mph much more intrusive than the engine noise.

 

it's not smooth in the way a V6 or Straight-6 is granted, but mine revs smoothly and eagerly all the way to the red line

 

I have.....and still do.
18,000 miles in a year, mostly motorway miles, and have no problem with it whatsoever.
Jeez....I bet he gets his arse wiped by a maid too.
People review sportscars, and expect them to drive like a Rolls.

wtf?

 

The Boxster unit is obviously much smoother, but is it noisy! Like a food mixer behind one's ear.

I cannot imagine it being less wearing on a long journey.

The 2.5's throttle response was no where near as crisp, either. I can't imagine that's got better with electronic throttles.

Now, I like the Boxster, but I do suspect some of its owners don't want to understand the S2000.

 

46,000 miles last year and a lot of them motorway miles. The guy doesnt know a thing, clearly

 

As for being smooth ??

I dont know about anyone else but that was half the fun of the VTEC engine, waiting for that magic 6k to come and then get that extra wollop of noise and power.

How i miss the sound of VTEC early in the morning

 

Simmo,

That ain't fun, it's an addiction!

VTEC is habit-forming.

 

IMO the S2000 engine feels every bit as smooth as the Prelude (balancer shaft) engine you just have to change down and rev it a bit more to get it to pick up quickly. A four cylinder is never going to be as smooth as a 6 or an 8 (but it is a lot smaller and lighter and that's the whole point with the S). How's that a problem if you are concentrating on your driving and anticipating what the road/traffic in front is going to do?

If you don't want to concentrate like that then maybe you have a mindset like the famous Winebago driver who, after picking up his camper, hit the freeway and set the cruise control expecting it to steer as well before wandering into the back to make a coffee!

 

Why drive 200miles up a motorway when you can make it stretch to 300miles on the A roads