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This is a post I never thought I would write. When I bought my S2000 in March of 2003 I was sure I would keep her forever.
In the last year, quite a few things have changed that have forced me to reconsider things, and the bottom line is that I did finally part with my S2000.
The decision really started for me at last year's Wake the Dragon event. I was on my way there and the amplifier for my stereo blew out. This left me with no music to cover up the slight whine from the 4.56 gears, the slight drone from the exhaust, the slight rattle from the short shifter, the scaping over EVERY little bump in the road, and honestly it made the drive there completely miserable. I began seriously thinking about putting it back to stock. I always knew I was going to lose money on my mods, but when Lee had his accident, I realized I could lose EVERYTHING I had in mods. That was the very slight nudge I needed to decide to go back to stock. I went to stock ride height, stock body, stock gears, stock exhaust and intake. I decided to leave the aftermarket sound system (with two new amps), the wheels and the red interior. The DAY I picked the car up from the body shop, I noticed a problem with the engine. I had to have the car towed back to my house. The next day, I dropped the oil pan and there was a LOT of bearing material in it. That meant a spun bearing, and a new short block.
I ended up buying a new short block from Honda, and towed the car to Hondamanwill to install it for me.
I ended up selling the wheels, the sound system, and most of the interior to cover the cost of the repair. I had a fair number of minor issues with the car, but this last major issue really put me over the top. I knew my lease was up in March, so I decided to get rid of my S2000, and get something else.
I did consider another S2000, but I wanted a little more power, and Honda doesn't offer that. I also wanted to be able to track the car, and I sit too high in an S2000 for it to be safe for me on the track.
So it was with a heavy heart, that I decided to trade in my S2000. I ordered a 2008 Corvette Coupe. (it is the 3LT, Z51, manual, with the optional exhaust, navigation and comp grey wheels.) I ordered it with delivery to be done at the National Corvette Museum which is right across the street from the final assembly plant in Bowling Green, KY. I scheduled the delivery date to coincide with the first day of Wake the Dragon 2008.
So on Wednesday the 16th, a friend of mine and his brother drove me down to Bowling Green to pickup the car. We left at about 4:00pm and got there at about 1:30am. We got up and kept the scheduled appointment of 7:45am on Thursday. While we were taken on a private tour of the factory and the museum, the car was in the museum on display for all the visitors to see. Then they went over the car with me before turning it over to me. From there, we drove to Alcoa to meet up with the other Wake the Dragoner's. We were late getting there, since the day was so long at the corvette musem. By the time we ate, went to Walmart for supplies and navigated the Dragon in the pitch dark it was Midnight when we checked in.
We drove the Dragon, the Parkway, the Skyway, and a lot of other roads in the area over the weekend, and really had a LOT of fun. So much fun, that I really didn't take many pictures. My friends did, and I will be sure to share them with you when I get copies.
On Sunday we headed toward home, but I did have a detour in mind. Sunday night we stopped in Indiana for a track event to be held at Putnam Park on Monday.
The track day went well, no issues or problems. No off-track excursions for me. It was a great way to get used to the new car.
So I am both happy and sad. I will miss my S2000, but I am really enjoying the new car too. A big part of the S2000 experience has been all of you. I have met so many close friends because of this community. I have no intention of leaving this group. I plan to be just as active with this community as I was before. I am still looking forward to the cruise to meet the St. Louis crowd, and to ALMS this year. I also have a few more ideas that I am trying to work out some details on for events this year.
As I said, a big part of the S2000 experience is the community, so if you would be so kind, if you have any please post up some of your favorite pics from the last 5 years that might have my S2000 in them.
Sweet ride. Of the short list of cars I would ever consider to replace the S2000 with, the C6 is definitely one of them. You'll have to give me a ride (preferably at a track day )
I'll try to dig up some old pics or vids when I get home.
Does this mean your old license plate is up for grabs
Time for a change
Sunday night we stopped in Indiana for a track event to be held at Putnam Park on Monday.
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