Car Talk - Non S2000 General Motoring and Non S2000 Car Talk

Potential S2000 Replacements

Thread Tools
 
Old Mar 24, 2023 | 06:21 PM
  #91  
aaronyuri's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 100
Likes: 24
From: South Wales
Default

Originally Posted by s2k4tony
I think Jason does refer to the tech on tap from our 2 litre forged engine - that can almost keep pace with a 3.2. The fact it's super reliable, reinforced and can be moulded/tuned to suit. It's a one off yes. It's an all time great that finally got noticed
987's by far have a nicer interior (as long as the interior switchgear buttons haven't worn,which they commonly do) , look classy and are ageing well (debatable as just said)
..986 not so much, they are as bloaty & ugly, and odd as 944s. However, it's the Germans service costs and parts replacement which are unnecessarily expensive. All in defence of the badge of course Porsche would say - buy any Porsche, expect dickhead costs. It's daft. Cheap Porsche should be cheap service, including suspension, brakes etc which are obviously made of platinum! But it isn't cheap. Far from it.
You will know- but probably alot more goes wrong (and gets very expensive) with porkers , than Japanese cars, which are more simple. Theres more tech. More tech, when it's early out of R&D means more problems. Ignoring the bore score and IMS , because the majority was resolved. Sorry, actually the bore score did continue for many other models including 911s. Poor production without doubt on Porsches part will scaremonger on the web. 2004-2009 were Porsches worst years for these issues, but still a relatively small amount were/are affected. Still.. it's definitely a few hundred cars. They bolloxed up the engine for half a decade on a number of models. I've also spent alot of time finding out about it.

Having said all this , I wouldn't discount a 987 or 718. Or even an excellent earlier 911. It can still be ragged to be enjoyed if you are trying to slip out of it's comfier personality. I just know that being in company of others that have hammered their Porsche on track, things go wrong, sensors scream "ouch".. whereas Honda, hour after hour, like my S, and friends Type R, just keep going relentlessly. I think it's down to that forging process in Suzuka.
I'm on the fence. I drive my S as a daily and give no shits about the Porsche interior. But I appreciate Boxsters on the road, and tip my hat in respect. Except 986 and that horrid 944/924.
Chris I still think you should get into a Tamora and give us a review.
​​​​​
Perhaps the 3.2 (276), but the 3.4 (320/330 in the S/R) makes the gap a bit silly. But we both know neither of these cars are about speed or acceleration. The F20 is one of the greatest engines made of all time, but I wouldn't go as far to say that the overall S2000 build quality is superior just because Honda invested the majority of their effort into making an engine that is probably unreplicable today, or even by anyone else at the time. The F20's modification capabilities are absolutely limitless, whereas any Porsche has a purist ideology. Modifying a Porsche is usually extremely frowned upon, for example. I've got some engine mods on mine and it's never bothered me one bit. But I certainly wouldn't throw the stock parts away due to the resell value they posses. They are such different cars which is why I said comparing them apples-to-apples is folly. They were designed with extremely different goals in mind and that shows through and through.

Undoubtedly, the 987.1 had a plethora of problems that would scare away most buyers. As I said though, the 987.2 is absolutely the car to buy of the 987 range. Like the interior buttons wearing - that doesn't happen on the 987.2. It's a 987 without any of those niggling (buttons) or scary (IMS/bore scoring) issues.

I've owned my 987 for 6 years and done plenty of track days with no issues; my FK8 (my original S2000 replacement) used to heatsoak like shit if it was midly warm. The 987 has been far more reliable in 6 years than the S2000 I bought a mere ~3 months ago. There are good/poor reliability examples in both directions. I've never had an ECU fail on a car ever! This S2000 has been challenging - my last one was trouble-free. The costs associated with the Porsche badge are excessive though; I wholesomely agree. You have to get the lube out come every service, and of course you can't service it yourself because that makes resell very hard.

I had my original S2000 as a daily and my 987 as a weekend/fun car back in the day. The 987 was always a much nicer place to be; however, there's a lot to be said about beating an engine to 9k repeatedly over and over.

I wouldn't recommend a 718 unless you're going for the N/A GTS 4.0. The turbocharged engines just... suck. The 2.0 and 2.5 718s are a fantastic drive/ride/feel let down by such a soulless engine (first hand experience). The GTS 4.0 also puts you in 981 GT4 terrirtory price-wise.

Decisions, decisions!
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2023 | 12:27 AM
  #92  
s2k4tony's Avatar
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,152
Likes: 281
From: In the land of pies and pasties
Default

It was a shame that Porsche opted for that 2 litre blower. It's regretful that probably the whole range will go electric, unless synthetic fuel gets traction and this govt wake up to it. No doubt still have daft service/inspection costs and a gold battery.
I'd still service any car myself and to hell with resale. You know it's done properly then.


Reply
Old Mar 25, 2023 | 06:55 AM
  #93  
Nottm_S2's Avatar
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 23,296
Likes: 830
From: Nottingham
Default

They like to try and stop you but yeah I agree.

BMW were expensive and shyte on that M car I had. One service they didn't put enough oil in and then moaned about having to give me a 1L top up. It was an £800 service. They also broke the covers on the cabin filters (which they charge a fortune for when pattern parts are like £15 and 2 minutes to fit)

but I don't use honda either except for the free stuff on the e while on it's plan
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2023 | 10:53 AM
  #94  
tjockhult's Avatar
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 973
Likes: 158
From: Dorney Windsor
Default

There is a bit of I saw you coming in service and parts costs for "premium" cars. It's a bit like if you're dumb enough to spend your hard earned cash on a brand without it being a better product you should be fleeced on aftercare as well. Back in 1987 I had my V12 Jaguar serviced and that cost £ 1,500 then, that is £ 5,400 in today's money. I have stuck to more sensible cars after that.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2023 | 12:09 PM
  #95  
Nottm_S2's Avatar
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 23,296
Likes: 830
From: Nottingham
Default

They are a pain to work on but yes, even when I ditched it I think they were charging £200+ an hour

Joke for probably a very average mech

I don't miss it.. just the noise, nothing else, boring steed
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2023 | 07:28 AM
  #96  
chrispayze's Avatar
Thread Starter
20 Year Member
Photoriffic
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,130
Likes: 169
From: Bristol
Default

Well, two mates and I took a long day drive down to our usual March weekender of karting, curry and beer in Newquay. Cracking trip down despite some damp weather (roof up only for a few sections though!). An S2000, an F Type convertible and a new Ariel Atom 4 (with a very waterproof jacket & trousers!).

Superb route through the Mendips, Quantocks, Porlock, Exmoor etc, although some really mucky roads after the recent downpours. I was leading the trio and checked to see if the pace was OK, worried I was holding the Atom up. "No, don't go any faster! You must have some confidence in that car".

Clearly well down on power, but still decent on those sorts of roads, especially in the wet (the handling mods don't harm either!).

In short, it'll have to be a damn fine car to make me leap into something new/different.

Many of the discussions over the weekend were 'what shall Chris get next?', and one person suggested a new engine, given that the rest of the car has been refurbed and is virtually new. With the price of F20Cs going the way they are, one person even suggested going halves on one and storing it for 10 years, just to make a profit! Probably not a bad shout!

To be honest, if there was a solution to the numb steering, I'd be tempted to get a built/blueprinted engine and switch the steering out, then keep it forever...

I will continue my search though. I'm hoping to get a ride in an Evora this weekend. Some kind owners club members have offered.

To be continued...!
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2023 | 12:24 PM
  #97  
Nottm_S2's Avatar
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 23,296
Likes: 830
From: Nottingham
Default

You can get a new block for £5k can't ya? Bargain compared to some of the used slag prices

I still love chucking the std one about and you are right, you can ring it's neck and not be doing 180mph.. my bike is similar, 700 parallel twin, fun but not fast

I don't think an Atom is that

Reply
Old Apr 7, 2023 | 12:31 PM
  #98  
chrispayze's Avatar
Thread Starter
20 Year Member
Photoriffic
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,130
Likes: 169
From: Bristol
Default

Block is £6k at Tegiwa at the moment. Tempted to buy one, and build something interesting with my current block (stroker?), if I can find decent info, I'd like to build something myself. I've done everything else on the car myself!
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2023 | 11:02 PM
  #99  
Nottm_S2's Avatar
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 23,296
Likes: 830
From: Nottingham
Default

I've considered buying one as a spare too haha

Think you are as mental as I am.

I'm sticking with the SC S2000 I think, I enjoy window shopping but nothing has really dragged me. How I ended up with another S2 I suppose

Reply
Old Apr 8, 2023 | 04:34 AM
  #100  
CHIPPO's Avatar
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,524
Likes: 88
From: Soham Cambridgeshire
Default

Renault Alpine !
Reply



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:18 PM.