Hi Everyone;

I just returned home to Oriental, NC from New Orleans with a new (used) '06 S2000.

Most of the trip (1200 miles) - through the backroads of LA, MS, AL, GA, and NC - was accompanied by frog stranglin' rain. The S2000, though, proved itself a delight (and water tight, too).

I settled on the S2000 after test driving the new Miata, and a couple of used Boxster S examples. Just recently remarried, my wife and I decided that we no longer needed her '05 Mazda 3 hatchback (She adopted my Audi A8). First thought was to trade it on a new Miata, but the test drive said "Slighty Boring". Not much different than the '99 Miata Sport I bought for my son 6 years ago.

The Boxster S is much better, but I've already had a number of Porsches - how about something different? That's when I started thinking about an S2000, and found this (great!) website. My brother in law actually bought the '01 Boxster S I had singled out, though, and loves it - his first sports car.

So, we decided to sell the Mazda 3 on EBay, and buy an S2000 similarly, knowing we would take a big hit on the near new Mazda 3. The M3 buyer flew in from KY and picked up the car. I flew to New Orleans the next day.

The S2000 is an '06, 12K miles, and I paid $23,500. Yes, it has a few very minor warts, but is basically new. Color is bright blue - not my first choice, but maybe it will grow on me.

Impressions?

1. This is a serious sports car. Handling, engine character, and overall feel are in the sport racing region.

2. I have seen these cars at PCA events. Now I know why they're so damn fast.

3. Character of the car, within my limited experience, is alot like the early 911S - one of my all time favorite daily drivers. The S2000 is tail happy, can be handily throttle steered, has an engine that really wakes up at about 6000 RPM, has phenomenal steering feel; otherwise, it is noisy, suffers from gear rattle, is bog slow at low RPM, and should not be sold to most American drivers (they won't like it a bit). In summary, the car is just about perfect.

Thanks again for a great website!

 

Hey - fellow Carolina newbie here - head on down to the Carolinas owner forum and introduce yourself

Welcome!!!

-KT

 

You nailed it.

I think a long road trip when you first pick up a car is a great way to get to know it.

That's an awfully nice price for an '06. Enjoy the car.

 

Just wait until you drive an ap1!!!