Haha, this thread has made me chuckle! That's settled then, my mind has gone from replacing the S2000 to committing a bank robbery...! ​​​​​​

 

Well I had a look round some Porsches and an Aston today (no test drive available, but it's a local place and they were really helpful in discussing the various models etc). I've confirmed the striking of the Aston off my list. It's biiig! and the chap I was chatting to was very helpful, really listening to what I wanted out of the car. He was also really interested in the S2000 and what I'd done to it.

I sat in a few 981s, 987s and a 997. Surprising (maybe it's not) how similar inside they all were, bar the addition of a touchscreen in some models. They certainly felt a little more 'solid' than the S2000 in terms of shutting doors etc, not surprising. And obviously there's a bit more leather and 'plushness' in the cabin, but nothing that made me think 'blimey, it's sooo much nicer than the S2000'. Maybe that's my lack of taste or that I'm just not that interested in 'luxury', but that's what I found. I was surprised how little luggage space the 997 had - you would really have to use the back seat area on a trip with two of us (maybe even 1 if I had my helmet for karting or track day etc). The Boxster had the same sized frunk but an additional boot. Combined room is probably more than the S2000, I reckon. Cayman has additional room on the engine cover/parcel shelf too.

Edit - looking at the numbers, the S2000 is far smaller (similar to the 987 frunk), but I don't carry the tool case in the bottom and I use the spare wheel well on big trips too, so that's probably why it feels bigger to me.

So, given the extra cost and not really much extra luggage space (without extra weight and size car), I think I'll strike the 911 off my list too. Especially given feedback from those who have driven them as well as Boxster/Cayman.

After chatting through the Boxster/Cayman models, I think the added cost of a GTS over an S is probably not for me either. There's a big premium for relatively subtle upgrades and I don't think I'd personally choose some of them if there was a choice, so I reckon I've be better off getting an S and slowly tinkering over time.

They also had all sorts of 80s and 90s exotica (RS Cosworth, RS Turbo, 993 RS, Cobra, and a DeLorean I sat in), so it was a nice car ogling trip too!

So, I've narrowed down what to look for and test drive, and struck a couple off my list. A useful trip then!

 

I test drove something! TVR T350t fitted with a 4 litre engine rather than the usual 3.6.And some sports exhausts. It surprised me in a few ways, and not in others!

It's a lovely looking thing, in an electric blue and the noise was epic! Like a V8 burble at low revs, then a real race engine sound when on song. But it was mainly exhaust noise, which I think would be wearing after a while. I think it was a bit loud for my tastes, but could be quietened a bit with a different exhaust I suppose. Power, as expected, was high. Even higher than a normal T350 actually, at over 400bhp, so bloody quick in a straight line. Although I was surprised there was no scrabbling (dry roads). I didn't get it super high in the rev range, but there was no need. 5k was fine! In reality, it was too quick for the type of interaction I get enjoyment from (power on through the twisties, balancing the car). Throttle response, being a race-derived, normally aspirate engine, was lovely. Equivalent to the S2000, I'd guess.

Controls and suspension was where it surprised me. I didn't get to push it through the twisties really, but everything was lighter and more compliant than I thought it would be. Clutch wasn't bad, weight-wise and had a very long throw, so was easy to manage. Throttle pedal also had a very long travel - really took some extra 'thought' to push it all the way to the carpet. Steering was VERY light around centre (I'd probably add some caster to weight it up a bit). The steering rack was very highly geared too, 1.5 turns, lock to lock apparently! Certainly kept me awake! The suspension was firm, but actually really decent on rough roads, not crashy at all and very composed. Gear shift was nice, didn't feel a million miles away from the S2000.

Driving position was not great actually. Seat bottoms were very flat, so not much under-thigh support. Pedals were offset to the right and there wasn't a dead pedal, and not really room for your foot to the left of the clutch either. Quite small footwell (small on passenger side too). Seat was slightly facing the centre of the car, too. I could imagine this all bothering me on longer journeys. I had a slight feeling of the cabin being a bit claustrophobic around my head. I think a combination of a low roof line and the close proximity of the roll cage to my head was slightly noticeable. Would probably get used to it though. Maybe I'm a bit sensitive to stuff being near my head at the moment!

The targa roof is definitely not a convertible replacement. The panels need little thumbscrews undoing, rotating some clamps, then the panels into their leather sheepskin 'bags' and put in the boot. There wasn't much buffeting, but it definitely felt more like a large sunroof than an alternative to a soft top. Not worse or better, just different.

I was surprised how 'solid' it felt. Not the 'kit car' feel that TVRs are renowned for. Although this was a VERY well sorted one, and all the niggles had been fixed. Combination of not any major rattles (that I could hear above the exhaust!) and the excellent suspension gave a feeling of quite a high quality beast.

One major downside is that it is very low to the ground, and a slightly longer nose than the S2000, so it won't get up my drive without using ramps or changing the suspension to something with a lifting front. It's doable, but faff. I always knew it could be an issue. On the plus side, it's only 8cm wider and a bit shorter than the S2000, so would fit nicely in the garage!

All in all, great fun, lovely car and incredible performance, but I think the downsides are probably too much for me to replace the S2000. And the performance is just too high to have anything but 'point, squirt for 1 second and feather the throttle it through a corner' type fun, at least without entering licence losing territory. And that's exactly what I discovered I didn't want when I had the supercharger. Even with the normal engine, I think this would still be true. But, now struck off the list.

So, Evora and Boxster/Cayman still only possible replacements list, with Elise & Caterham on the 'additions' list. Plus to option to modify the S2000 further, of course. I need to drive a Boxster/Cayman and Evora...

 

Got to say that is one of the best car reviews I have ever read.
Cracking your skull doesn't seem to have diminished the brain and thought processes much

 

Haha, thanks arsie. Amazing how much you can pick up in a short time in a car when you're concentrating. Not much artistic flair, but a good sense of the facts as I found them, which I'm sure will be useful for me to refer back to when my memory of it fades a bit.

 

It was a good assessment. I think you are looking nearer 200bhp/ton than 300 and a peach of a motor and gearbox amongst the other stuff.. involvement over grunt

An S2 Exige maybe or a well built light kit?

 

Yeh I think 200-250bhp/tonne would be about right. I reckon my S2000 at the moment is probably about 180-190. I wonder, if the S2000 had decent steering feel and a bit more midrange, whether it would have hopped up from 'niche but excellent with a couple of flaws' to 'universally acclaimed'.

An Exige could be an option in addition to the S2000 (I already have the Elise on the list). And I have a Caterham on the list as another potential addition. This would mean retaining the S2000 for more 'GT' type trips with the Mrs. The downside to that is one would have to live outside. A carcoon might make that happen.

​​​​​​​I have noticed a few Evoras come up around the edges of my 'keep the S2000 as well' budget, so that's a possibility too. Same with 987 Ss. A 987 S seems to be great value at the moment.

 

I often considered whether you could retro fit unassisted steering on the S but the stock ECU would not be helpful

I think that is it's key weak point, that and being a 4 banger

 

What do you imagine the ECU issue(s) would/could be? I read somewhere they went electric to reduce the parasitic drag from an engine-driven hydraulic pump. "Derived from the NSX setup, it varies the level of assistance according to road speed and also uses a variable gearing ratio to provide progressively quicker steering as the wheel is turned further." Would that be your ECU dependency?

 

I believe it might be Rog, yeah. The stock ECU knows what the steering is doing and wouldn't if you pulled out the electric assisted rack and went manual. So you'd need an ECU.

I remember the guy fitting the V8 had an issue with it but can't recall the detail. Typically electric artificially firms up with speed to increase stability but all I know is the feel is average. It seems better on my lower car tbh.

It's not the easiest car to read as a result