16 yr old with s2k or rsx-s
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i have one, but i wouldnt get one at our age... seriously, i love it, but the danger is just asking to be played with.... RSX is what I would go with. The S2000 is fun, but not extremely pratical for a highschool student like me and you. Only two seats... that kinda sucks. RSX once again prevails... That S2000 looks horrid. Im sorry, but damn... I got one before I had a chance to really look into it, and now that i have one im not going to sell it, but they are right... four years from now, you'll be wishing you hadnt got a stock one... Have pride in what YOU made it, not some one eltse. If you want a sporty car the RSX is a good choice, or I was considering a 335 or 325 BMW. The ride on the S2000 sucks too. BMWs are awesome with that... But as you know, there are very many pros with the S2000 also, but its not the best highschool car.
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haha Ok ill have to agreee. i want turn heads at school thats why i would get the S. but i want a RWD. i mean 240's are good to go but all i find are sr20 ones. sooo much trouble if caught in cali with it. and so hard to smogg.
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Also if you feel like reconsidering, you're a high school student. It's annoying driving friends around and what not (when I had my grand cherokee at least).
Now I am always the one getting rides to places, heh. One less worry in my life. You only have to have your girlfriend to take up the only other seat, perfect. Hope I helped in some way. (these are the things I asked myself when finding a car haha)
Take care!
(P.S. the s2000 is a bigger "head turner" than the rsx hehe)
Now I am always the one getting rides to places, heh. One less worry in my life. You only have to have your girlfriend to take up the only other seat, perfect. Hope I helped in some way. (these are the things I asked myself when finding a car haha)
Take care!
(P.S. the s2000 is a bigger "head turner" than the rsx hehe)
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Joined: Sep 2007
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Hey everybody. While this is my first post after joining this forum only a couple minutes ago, this was the first thread I found that actually related a lot to me. But before I get there, I'll quickly introduce myself.
I'm currently 17, and do not own an S2000. I've decided for many various reasons that an S2000 is going to be my next car and am currently in the process of shopping for one. While many would promptly cut me off here, let me explain my history a bit more.
The first car I ever sat in the driver's seat while it was running was my mom's minivan. The only thing I did at that time was pull it out of the garage while my dad was sitting next to me. The first car I ever actually drove was a tiny little hatchback while on vacation in India which had a whopping 64 horsepower with the upgraded CPU (Give it some slack though, because brand new it's only $7,000 fully loaded). This was also a manual car, and started my newfound interest in the manual transmission.
At the time my dad owned a Toyota Prius (don't know what year, but it was the old body style). My sister had a Jeep Grand Cherokee, and my mom had a Toyota Sienna minivan. My dad then sold the Jeep my sister was driving, and gave her the Prius. He then went searching for his next car, something sporty kind of like the Saab he used to have quite a while ago.
The list of cars he considered was pretty large. Mini Cooper-S, BMW Z4, some Saab of some sort, Acuras, S2000... and even the new (at the time) Honda Civic Hybrid with a manual transmission. Then he remembered hearing about the RX-8. The RX-8 and the Z4 ended up being the two he considered (he's taller than me and liked to have more room than I do, so the S2000 was forgotten quickly). He ended up being able to get a good deal on the Mazda RX-8, so that's the car he bought.
Soon after, I obtained my driving permit. I drove the minivan with my dad a lot, and eventually became so confident and dependable that my parents would have me drive on multiple-hour car trips, during which they would nap (I always liked the semi-freedom I felt when they were asleep). My dad then surprised me-- he had me drive the RX-8 with him one day. I had completely lost my touch on a manual transmission, and the RX-8 had so much more power and a much crisper clutch and transmission that it wouldn't have mattered anyway. Eventually, whenever my dad had me drive him somewhere, we would always go in the RX-8.
At the time, the only car I ever wanted to own was a Mini Cooper. I just loved the car, with it's diminutive size and startling handling. At the time I had no clue how a clutch worked, what a turbo was (other than "power-booster"), or even what a mid-engine car was. I was obsessed with my bike, and proclaimed that I would ride it everywhere. "I won't pay for gas, a car, or insurance."
Little did I know that my world would change when I got my license. I perfected my touch with the manual transmission, got a 2007 Subaru Impreza 2.5i (Sedan), and quickly found all the fun roads. Unlike many of the idiots at school, I was surprisingly not interested in going as fast as I could. I was more about noise and acceleration. Handling and agility was what I lived for. I learned how my car drove, what it's limits were, and figured out how to make it sound the best (all stock, I've never done any mods).
I drove the RX-8 at least once a week, always babying it and criticizing myself if the gear ever crunched. I drove my Subie to school, though, and felt nearly invincible in it. That is until the roads frosted over a bunch to the point where I could slide the car around. While drifting left and right on a straight road (this is real drifting, not handbrake drifting), I pushed it too hard and slammed the right side wheels into the curb, getting some bad curb rash, bending a rear suspension strut, and ruining my alignment (of course) as well as the wheel bearings. Some few weeks later and $1,400 out of my savings account which I had built up over a good 7-8 months of working at my first job, I learned that it's not wise to do something you've never done before and then get overconfident when it works the first time.
My parents trusted me though, because they saw how I reacted, blaming nobody except myself, and suddenly respecting my car much more than I ever had. They continued to let me drive, even while my car was in the shop. I drove the RX-8 on another frosty day, where the roads were a bit slick in some places. But I had learned my lesson, and went slow and predictable. I got my car back from the shop, and a few days later we got our big snow storm. The Subie was the only AWD car we had, so I took it out, without any problems. I got together with some friends, who thought it would be cool to take it up to Skyline, our favorite windy road. I learned a $600 lesson which was the same as the one earlier. Friends + Bad Conditions + Over confidence + Curb = Trouble. Same thing as last time.
Now some time has passed. That car has moved on to my younger brother, who recently got his license. I find myself trying to share the expensive wisdom I have learned with him, but sometimes I think it's not quite sticking. I'm a bit happy that he's decided Skyline Road is not for him-- although the way he decided I'm not quite so happy about. (He spun out while driving his friends, running through a bush and somehow getting small rocks wedged between the tire and the rim.)
I currently drive the RX-8 whenever my dad is not, and he has no problem with me driving it. My mom's minivan doesn't sit in out garage anymore, but has been replaced with another Subie. My mom hates the RX-8, because it sits so low, eats gas (I just filled up tonight, got 13.5mpg), and is a manual transmission (she knows how to drive it, but she doesn't like it). But I like it. Keep the revs high and it's got power. Just like the S2000, from what I've read. After having many months of a clean-streak, I got pulled over for the first time ever. I had a friend tailing me when I realized I needed to make a turn, started to stop, and then gave it some gas as they didn't seem to stop (I've had a friend rear-end me before in the same situation before). I wasn't speeding, but the noise was probably loud. The cop kindly let me off with a call to my dad instead of a ticket. My dad realized that the cop probably would have just waved me off if I was older, but being my age he wanted to do something. My dad said it was okay, and didn't punish me.
Some of you might say that was wrong. But I have to tell you... I have since never gone above the speed limit more than 5mph (the accepted limit). I have always been confident, but not an obnoxious jerk who doesn't give way to other drivers. I really like letting people go first, and like even more the friendly wave I get back in return.
Coming back to what I'm here for. I now need a new car, and the S2000 is the prime choice. I want a sporty car that's reliable. That requirement practically spells Honda right off the bat. The S2000 gets good gas economy (compared to the RX-8), is sporty, very reliable, and is cozy and small. I have no plans of ever driving on snow or ice again until someone teaches me, so all-season ability is not a problem.
It's a two seater roadster, which some of you might think is a babe-magnet... something someone my age would like to have. While I must admit it is kind of appealing, that's not why I'm after it. In fact, I'm planning not to park it in the school parking lot but instead elsewhere, where it will not be disturbed (I plan to baby it). I know a good girl when I see one, and would much rather talk to them before I take them for a ride. If I'm unable to talk to them before showing them my car, they're not for me.
In your case, KDL, I think that the S2000, if you haven't already got the RSX, is not that bad. If you've already realized that there's more to driving than being reckless, than you should be fine. That S2000 does look a bit too racy for what it probably is. Try looking for a more traditional S2000. That one's a lot more likely to get keyed. However, if you're racing it on a track, or even Autocross, that one might be a good bet.
Speaking of Autocross, consider participating in it. I just did a month or so ago, and noticed I'm now a much more observant driver, trying to figure out the best way to take a turn, where's the best place to accelerate, and where the power and torque can be found. You'll also be a lot more calm... because when you Autocross, you release all these lead-foot tendencies. There's no risk of getting arrested, and very little risk of an accident. So all hold-backs are gone. You'll get back on the road and feel like you have honor... especially if you win some sort of award, like I did (I got second place my first time ever, while my dad got third).
The S2000 is a great deal, highly reliable, and dependable. Do not mix rowdy friends with it, though. Do not drive in bad conditions. You'll meet people and learn new things if you ask someone for a ride when the weather's bad.
I know this next bit is going to scare people, but buy yourself a radar detector. Don't speed with it. That's not what it's for. What it is for is to show you how the cops always are able to find you. They'll be in places you'll never expect, and have a wide-open shot with their radar guns around blind corners. If you're like me, you'll get a kick out of first hearing the radar detector go off, then trying to find the cops. Whoever is riding shotgun with me when I drive now has that duty. It's a game we play.
Alright, that's it for a decent sized introduction and response. As you can tell, I like to type/write. I use full grammar and punctuation. It's just who I am. Remember, be safe. If you've ever got an urge to be reckless, do yourself a favor and buy Need For Speed: Carbon. Do the "Free Roam" option. Trade off with your friends. You'll save yourself a lot of money, have more fun, and be able to do much more than you can in real life. Or set aside at least $2,000 to fix something. Because chances are, you're going to use at least a quarter of it.
--wirebook
I'm currently 17, and do not own an S2000. I've decided for many various reasons that an S2000 is going to be my next car and am currently in the process of shopping for one. While many would promptly cut me off here, let me explain my history a bit more.
The first car I ever sat in the driver's seat while it was running was my mom's minivan. The only thing I did at that time was pull it out of the garage while my dad was sitting next to me. The first car I ever actually drove was a tiny little hatchback while on vacation in India which had a whopping 64 horsepower with the upgraded CPU (Give it some slack though, because brand new it's only $7,000 fully loaded). This was also a manual car, and started my newfound interest in the manual transmission.
At the time my dad owned a Toyota Prius (don't know what year, but it was the old body style). My sister had a Jeep Grand Cherokee, and my mom had a Toyota Sienna minivan. My dad then sold the Jeep my sister was driving, and gave her the Prius. He then went searching for his next car, something sporty kind of like the Saab he used to have quite a while ago.
The list of cars he considered was pretty large. Mini Cooper-S, BMW Z4, some Saab of some sort, Acuras, S2000... and even the new (at the time) Honda Civic Hybrid with a manual transmission. Then he remembered hearing about the RX-8. The RX-8 and the Z4 ended up being the two he considered (he's taller than me and liked to have more room than I do, so the S2000 was forgotten quickly). He ended up being able to get a good deal on the Mazda RX-8, so that's the car he bought.
Soon after, I obtained my driving permit. I drove the minivan with my dad a lot, and eventually became so confident and dependable that my parents would have me drive on multiple-hour car trips, during which they would nap (I always liked the semi-freedom I felt when they were asleep). My dad then surprised me-- he had me drive the RX-8 with him one day. I had completely lost my touch on a manual transmission, and the RX-8 had so much more power and a much crisper clutch and transmission that it wouldn't have mattered anyway. Eventually, whenever my dad had me drive him somewhere, we would always go in the RX-8.
At the time, the only car I ever wanted to own was a Mini Cooper. I just loved the car, with it's diminutive size and startling handling. At the time I had no clue how a clutch worked, what a turbo was (other than "power-booster"), or even what a mid-engine car was. I was obsessed with my bike, and proclaimed that I would ride it everywhere. "I won't pay for gas, a car, or insurance."
Little did I know that my world would change when I got my license. I perfected my touch with the manual transmission, got a 2007 Subaru Impreza 2.5i (Sedan), and quickly found all the fun roads. Unlike many of the idiots at school, I was surprisingly not interested in going as fast as I could. I was more about noise and acceleration. Handling and agility was what I lived for. I learned how my car drove, what it's limits were, and figured out how to make it sound the best (all stock, I've never done any mods).
I drove the RX-8 at least once a week, always babying it and criticizing myself if the gear ever crunched. I drove my Subie to school, though, and felt nearly invincible in it. That is until the roads frosted over a bunch to the point where I could slide the car around. While drifting left and right on a straight road (this is real drifting, not handbrake drifting), I pushed it too hard and slammed the right side wheels into the curb, getting some bad curb rash, bending a rear suspension strut, and ruining my alignment (of course) as well as the wheel bearings. Some few weeks later and $1,400 out of my savings account which I had built up over a good 7-8 months of working at my first job, I learned that it's not wise to do something you've never done before and then get overconfident when it works the first time.
My parents trusted me though, because they saw how I reacted, blaming nobody except myself, and suddenly respecting my car much more than I ever had. They continued to let me drive, even while my car was in the shop. I drove the RX-8 on another frosty day, where the roads were a bit slick in some places. But I had learned my lesson, and went slow and predictable. I got my car back from the shop, and a few days later we got our big snow storm. The Subie was the only AWD car we had, so I took it out, without any problems. I got together with some friends, who thought it would be cool to take it up to Skyline, our favorite windy road. I learned a $600 lesson which was the same as the one earlier. Friends + Bad Conditions + Over confidence + Curb = Trouble. Same thing as last time.
Now some time has passed. That car has moved on to my younger brother, who recently got his license. I find myself trying to share the expensive wisdom I have learned with him, but sometimes I think it's not quite sticking. I'm a bit happy that he's decided Skyline Road is not for him-- although the way he decided I'm not quite so happy about. (He spun out while driving his friends, running through a bush and somehow getting small rocks wedged between the tire and the rim.)
I currently drive the RX-8 whenever my dad is not, and he has no problem with me driving it. My mom's minivan doesn't sit in out garage anymore, but has been replaced with another Subie. My mom hates the RX-8, because it sits so low, eats gas (I just filled up tonight, got 13.5mpg), and is a manual transmission (she knows how to drive it, but she doesn't like it). But I like it. Keep the revs high and it's got power. Just like the S2000, from what I've read. After having many months of a clean-streak, I got pulled over for the first time ever. I had a friend tailing me when I realized I needed to make a turn, started to stop, and then gave it some gas as they didn't seem to stop (I've had a friend rear-end me before in the same situation before). I wasn't speeding, but the noise was probably loud. The cop kindly let me off with a call to my dad instead of a ticket. My dad realized that the cop probably would have just waved me off if I was older, but being my age he wanted to do something. My dad said it was okay, and didn't punish me.
Some of you might say that was wrong. But I have to tell you... I have since never gone above the speed limit more than 5mph (the accepted limit). I have always been confident, but not an obnoxious jerk who doesn't give way to other drivers. I really like letting people go first, and like even more the friendly wave I get back in return.
Coming back to what I'm here for. I now need a new car, and the S2000 is the prime choice. I want a sporty car that's reliable. That requirement practically spells Honda right off the bat. The S2000 gets good gas economy (compared to the RX-8), is sporty, very reliable, and is cozy and small. I have no plans of ever driving on snow or ice again until someone teaches me, so all-season ability is not a problem.
It's a two seater roadster, which some of you might think is a babe-magnet... something someone my age would like to have. While I must admit it is kind of appealing, that's not why I'm after it. In fact, I'm planning not to park it in the school parking lot but instead elsewhere, where it will not be disturbed (I plan to baby it). I know a good girl when I see one, and would much rather talk to them before I take them for a ride. If I'm unable to talk to them before showing them my car, they're not for me.
In your case, KDL, I think that the S2000, if you haven't already got the RSX, is not that bad. If you've already realized that there's more to driving than being reckless, than you should be fine. That S2000 does look a bit too racy for what it probably is. Try looking for a more traditional S2000. That one's a lot more likely to get keyed. However, if you're racing it on a track, or even Autocross, that one might be a good bet.
Speaking of Autocross, consider participating in it. I just did a month or so ago, and noticed I'm now a much more observant driver, trying to figure out the best way to take a turn, where's the best place to accelerate, and where the power and torque can be found. You'll also be a lot more calm... because when you Autocross, you release all these lead-foot tendencies. There's no risk of getting arrested, and very little risk of an accident. So all hold-backs are gone. You'll get back on the road and feel like you have honor... especially if you win some sort of award, like I did (I got second place my first time ever, while my dad got third).
The S2000 is a great deal, highly reliable, and dependable. Do not mix rowdy friends with it, though. Do not drive in bad conditions. You'll meet people and learn new things if you ask someone for a ride when the weather's bad.
I know this next bit is going to scare people, but buy yourself a radar detector. Don't speed with it. That's not what it's for. What it is for is to show you how the cops always are able to find you. They'll be in places you'll never expect, and have a wide-open shot with their radar guns around blind corners. If you're like me, you'll get a kick out of first hearing the radar detector go off, then trying to find the cops. Whoever is riding shotgun with me when I drive now has that duty. It's a game we play.
Alright, that's it for a decent sized introduction and response. As you can tell, I like to type/write. I use full grammar and punctuation. It's just who I am. Remember, be safe. If you've ever got an urge to be reckless, do yourself a favor and buy Need For Speed: Carbon. Do the "Free Roam" option. Trade off with your friends. You'll save yourself a lot of money, have more fun, and be able to do much more than you can in real life. Or set aside at least $2,000 to fix something. Because chances are, you're going to use at least a quarter of it.
--wirebook
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Just wanted to add... a bit more, beginning with my own personal car options that I considered. I'm looking in the $15k to $17k price range, something a bit sporty, ideally with good handling for Autocross (my newest obsession).
I considered a Mini Cooper-S. Because I used to want one so bad, and just traveled to Germany, where I saw them everywhere. They're absolutely crazy little cars. But too expensive.
I also thought about an RX-7 for a little while. I couldn't find one that was clean and I liked that didn't have way too many miles or a price sky-high.
An Audi TT was also on the list. Until I found out that it's basically a VW Golf with better features. Then I decided I might as well get a Golf and save some money, but that wouldn't be sporty.
Then I found the S2000. Good reliability reports, Consumer Reports loves it, and even recommends buying the used one (something they don't do too often). It's got a great chassis for Autocross. Jeremy Clarkson loved it, which was pretty much enough for me to give it a good look.
Also, a bit more on teen drivers. I cannot tell you how many people I've known who have gotten speeding tickets. One kid doing 130mph in his dad's Porsche on a road with a limit of 45mph. Another doing 80 in a 55mph. Then there's street racing. I will sheepishly admit I've done this once when it was setup, and a handful of times where it was just on the spot and I knew the person next to me. I will let you know that I've never actually been speeding when I've done this. I will accelerate as fast as I can until I hit the speed limit. Then everything is back to normal.
I've never been drunk, and never intend to. I have tried alcohol, and so far only found a little bit of rum in coke to be tasty... probably because it mostly tasted like coke. I love sugar, and have never understood why many people I know intentionally drink to get drunk, when they could instead have some chocolate and go for a drive. I have a lot of pride in being able to say I'd much rather have keys to a car than be able to drink. I'm known as "The Driver", and am always willing to give friends a ride. So far none of them have been drinking, although a couple people I know as acquaintances have been drunk. All I can say is... I've never been so happy to have people get out of my car when they do.
Don't drink and drive. It's just stupid. It freaks me out to know some of my former friends do it. Worse yet, they call me while driving after having been drinking. (Now you know why we're not friends anymore... they're more interested in being drunk and getting laid than anything else.) If you want to drink, talk to your parents, who would probably much rather you drink something with them than did it in secret. Heck, they'd probably even let you get drunk as long as they could keep an eye out for your well-being. If you're at a party, call home and ask for a ride if you've been drinking. I may sound like I'm preaching, but I think everyone on this forum will agree with me. We don't want to be on the same road as a drunk.
There's my ramble. I've been meaning to let that out for a long, long, long time.
--wirebook
I considered a Mini Cooper-S. Because I used to want one so bad, and just traveled to Germany, where I saw them everywhere. They're absolutely crazy little cars. But too expensive.
I also thought about an RX-7 for a little while. I couldn't find one that was clean and I liked that didn't have way too many miles or a price sky-high.
An Audi TT was also on the list. Until I found out that it's basically a VW Golf with better features. Then I decided I might as well get a Golf and save some money, but that wouldn't be sporty.
Then I found the S2000. Good reliability reports, Consumer Reports loves it, and even recommends buying the used one (something they don't do too often). It's got a great chassis for Autocross. Jeremy Clarkson loved it, which was pretty much enough for me to give it a good look.
Also, a bit more on teen drivers. I cannot tell you how many people I've known who have gotten speeding tickets. One kid doing 130mph in his dad's Porsche on a road with a limit of 45mph. Another doing 80 in a 55mph. Then there's street racing. I will sheepishly admit I've done this once when it was setup, and a handful of times where it was just on the spot and I knew the person next to me. I will let you know that I've never actually been speeding when I've done this. I will accelerate as fast as I can until I hit the speed limit. Then everything is back to normal.
I've never been drunk, and never intend to. I have tried alcohol, and so far only found a little bit of rum in coke to be tasty... probably because it mostly tasted like coke. I love sugar, and have never understood why many people I know intentionally drink to get drunk, when they could instead have some chocolate and go for a drive. I have a lot of pride in being able to say I'd much rather have keys to a car than be able to drink. I'm known as "The Driver", and am always willing to give friends a ride. So far none of them have been drinking, although a couple people I know as acquaintances have been drunk. All I can say is... I've never been so happy to have people get out of my car when they do.
Don't drink and drive. It's just stupid. It freaks me out to know some of my former friends do it. Worse yet, they call me while driving after having been drinking. (Now you know why we're not friends anymore... they're more interested in being drunk and getting laid than anything else.) If you want to drink, talk to your parents, who would probably much rather you drink something with them than did it in secret. Heck, they'd probably even let you get drunk as long as they could keep an eye out for your well-being. If you're at a party, call home and ask for a ride if you've been drinking. I may sound like I'm preaching, but I think everyone on this forum will agree with me. We don't want to be on the same road as a drunk.
There's my ramble. I've been meaning to let that out for a long, long, long time.
--wirebook