Should I Buy An S2000?
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: SF
if you love driving, you're going to love this car. It's addictive. Accelerating is the best bit of driving this car, it's a blast. I never even test drove it. i read about it and I knew it was the car for me. Even my boyfirend who has a brand new 350z roadster sometimes wonders if he made the right choice, when I let him drive my car. He lets me drive his Nissan too, his looks way more stylish, it's true, but I find my S2000 much more fun, it's lighter, its racey and it's comfier - i can rest my left arm on the the left door handle, my right arm on the centre consul and the gear stick is in the perfect position. Every thing at arms reach. (Although I would highly recommend never using the coffee cup holder for its intended purpose).
it's a close run thing between those two cars, but I'm a very lucky girl cos I've got one of each to play with
it's a close run thing between those two cars, but I'm a very lucky girl cos I've got one of each to play with
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,063
Likes: 4
From: Durango, Colorado
Sam:
If you think the 350Z looks "way more stylish" you must lack foundation in classic sports car styling. For one thing, the door height shouldn't be that of a sedan (which the 350Z' is). It should share no styling "clues" wint any sedan, which the 350Z does. Come back in 20 years and address the style issue. Your feelings then will be much different. The s2k will have withstood the test of time. The 350Z will be regarded as "one of those silly early 2000's styling experiments". Did you do the right thing? Hell, yes!
Thanks,
Richard
If you think the 350Z looks "way more stylish" you must lack foundation in classic sports car styling. For one thing, the door height shouldn't be that of a sedan (which the 350Z' is). It should share no styling "clues" wint any sedan, which the 350Z does. Come back in 20 years and address the style issue. Your feelings then will be much different. The s2k will have withstood the test of time. The 350Z will be regarded as "one of those silly early 2000's styling experiments". Did you do the right thing? Hell, yes!
Thanks,
Richard
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Lake Worth
Compared with the rest the S2000 is best (if you want this type of car). Price for performance, hands down winner.
See this review:
http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?se...6&page_number=6
Have had mine for over 1 year and it is a thrill to drive EVERY TIME. Find someone with a broken in one - VTEC to 9K and you'll never feel the same way about driving again
.
Pros: Really really really fun car - weeeeee.
Cons: Really really really fun car - wee wee wee wee.
Have fun - stay safe!
See this review:
http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?se...6&page_number=6
Have had mine for over 1 year and it is a thrill to drive EVERY TIME. Find someone with a broken in one - VTEC to 9K and you'll never feel the same way about driving again
.Pros: Really really really fun car - weeeeee.
Cons: Really really really fun car - wee wee wee wee.
Have fun - stay safe!
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: College Station
i am also very interested in buying a s2000, i love the looks, sounds, handling, and acceleration of the car. My only question is this: Since the s2000 will be my daily driver for at least the next 5-6 years (maybe more) i was wondering how much service i would have to have on it... i definitely need a reliable car that wont have any major difficulties within at least the first 75000 miles. If you could provide any problems or repairs that your daily dirivers have had i would really appreciate it.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: North Dallas area
Heck yeah, you should buy one! Here's why I bought mine:
Late last year, my brother picked up a Boxster. That got me lusting for a sports car - something I guess I'd been ignoring since my previous vehicle was a 97 Pathfinder 4x4. Shortly after, a good friend of mine picked up a new Z. I was lucky, and got to drive em both. I originally was looking really hard at buying a Z, but thank goodness, took my time, did my research and came to the conclusion that the first year Z's were having waaaaay to many problems (with the trannys, tires, windows, rattles, and on and on) for me to want to mess with. Plus, I think that first gear in the Z sucks. Too damn short. Anyway, so I continue my research and start looking at the RX8. I like the looks and the rotary engine was appealing to me, and really, the 8 was in the front running for several months. Horsepower issues, A/C issues and some other things just turned me off of the 8. So, I continued my quest and started looking at the S2K; lots of great info to be found in this little community, let me tell you.
Finally came time to test drive em and see how it all turned out, you can only do so much reading and then you just have to go jump in...
Here's how they broke down for me; in no particular order:
Boxster: classic styling. Great performance. Interior was a bit dated on the 99 that I was looking at. Maintenance is sheer drama. I'm not paying $350 for an oil change!! I found the interior to be not nearly as user friendly; again a bit dated in my opinion.
MR2 Spider: similar in style to the Boxster, of course. Interior seemed kinda cheesy, car handled great, with mediocre power. NO FREAKING STORAGE SPACE. Yow. I plan on road trips with the S, and if you plan to do anything more than drive from your house to the movies in the MR2, you're gonna be hurting.
Miata: after driving the Boxster, MR2, RX8, the Miata handled like a dog. Slow, clunky, and it felt like there was lots of body roll, even just toodling around. Plus, at '5"11, I was too tall to see under the sun visors, and too short to see over the top. I knew within 2 minutes of getting behind the wheel it was not the car for me.
RX8: after recovering from my initial surprise, shock, and laughter at the salesman who was trying to impress me with how poorly he drove a stick, I got behind the wheel of the runner up in my decision. I found the 8 to have good acceleration, handled well, and had plenty of room. BUT - I just didn't fit. My head was banging the ceiling (had a moonroof - I know that without the moonroof, I probably would have fit better) and the side bolsters on the seats were too firm. I would say they were comparable to size with the S2K, but unlike the S, where you are all snuggled up in the pocket of the seat, I couldn't get comfortable at all, and I tried for some time. Also, the little door that retracts and exposes the cup holders was in the wrong freaking place. I knew within a very short period of time, my right elbow would go straight through that puppy. I had heard rave reviews that the 8's shifter was comparable to the S2K. I did not find that to be the case. Longer throws, and nowhere near the crispness of my S. Add to that inflated sticker price, VERY low availabilty (at least around here), hp issues, A/C issues, etc and I decided I didn't want to risk it.
The S.
I knew, from the first moment I sat in one (didn't have time for a test drive) that this was the car for me. As stated elsewhere in the forum, just about everyone fits in the S like a glove. Added to that, the performance, style, grace, handling, and cost of the S can NOT be beat. And finally, I can't get the sh!t eating grin off my face when I'm behind the wheel.
It was the choice for me!!
Late last year, my brother picked up a Boxster. That got me lusting for a sports car - something I guess I'd been ignoring since my previous vehicle was a 97 Pathfinder 4x4. Shortly after, a good friend of mine picked up a new Z. I was lucky, and got to drive em both. I originally was looking really hard at buying a Z, but thank goodness, took my time, did my research and came to the conclusion that the first year Z's were having waaaaay to many problems (with the trannys, tires, windows, rattles, and on and on) for me to want to mess with. Plus, I think that first gear in the Z sucks. Too damn short. Anyway, so I continue my research and start looking at the RX8. I like the looks and the rotary engine was appealing to me, and really, the 8 was in the front running for several months. Horsepower issues, A/C issues and some other things just turned me off of the 8. So, I continued my quest and started looking at the S2K; lots of great info to be found in this little community, let me tell you.
Finally came time to test drive em and see how it all turned out, you can only do so much reading and then you just have to go jump in...
Here's how they broke down for me; in no particular order:
Boxster: classic styling. Great performance. Interior was a bit dated on the 99 that I was looking at. Maintenance is sheer drama. I'm not paying $350 for an oil change!! I found the interior to be not nearly as user friendly; again a bit dated in my opinion.
MR2 Spider: similar in style to the Boxster, of course. Interior seemed kinda cheesy, car handled great, with mediocre power. NO FREAKING STORAGE SPACE. Yow. I plan on road trips with the S, and if you plan to do anything more than drive from your house to the movies in the MR2, you're gonna be hurting.
Miata: after driving the Boxster, MR2, RX8, the Miata handled like a dog. Slow, clunky, and it felt like there was lots of body roll, even just toodling around. Plus, at '5"11, I was too tall to see under the sun visors, and too short to see over the top. I knew within 2 minutes of getting behind the wheel it was not the car for me.
RX8: after recovering from my initial surprise, shock, and laughter at the salesman who was trying to impress me with how poorly he drove a stick, I got behind the wheel of the runner up in my decision. I found the 8 to have good acceleration, handled well, and had plenty of room. BUT - I just didn't fit. My head was banging the ceiling (had a moonroof - I know that without the moonroof, I probably would have fit better) and the side bolsters on the seats were too firm. I would say they were comparable to size with the S2K, but unlike the S, where you are all snuggled up in the pocket of the seat, I couldn't get comfortable at all, and I tried for some time. Also, the little door that retracts and exposes the cup holders was in the wrong freaking place. I knew within a very short period of time, my right elbow would go straight through that puppy. I had heard rave reviews that the 8's shifter was comparable to the S2K. I did not find that to be the case. Longer throws, and nowhere near the crispness of my S. Add to that inflated sticker price, VERY low availabilty (at least around here), hp issues, A/C issues, etc and I decided I didn't want to risk it.
The S.
I knew, from the first moment I sat in one (didn't have time for a test drive) that this was the car for me. As stated elsewhere in the forum, just about everyone fits in the S like a glove. Added to that, the performance, style, grace, handling, and cost of the S can NOT be beat. And finally, I can't get the sh!t eating grin off my face when I'm behind the wheel.
It was the choice for me!!
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,707
Likes: 0
From: Camarillo
Ahhhh. I have been having SUCH a bad week / month / year at work that I just HAD to take a break. Coming to this thread put the back on my face.
The only thing that has kept me sane lately is the daily
in my beloved Wicked. I 
that car so much it's not even funny. She is dirty most all the time because I don't have a freakin' spare minute to wash her, but she's just like a prancing racehorse every time I get behind the wheel - fresh, fun, and raring to go.
So ... the answer to the question ... in case you have any doubts left at all:
Y E S !!!
(On my second S and still loving every damn minute of it.)
back on my face.The only thing that has kept me sane lately is the daily
in my beloved Wicked. I that car so much it's not even funny. She is dirty most all the time because I don't have a freakin' spare minute to wash her, but she's just like a prancing racehorse every time I get behind the wheel - fresh, fun, and raring to go.So ... the answer to the question ... in case you have any doubts left at all:
Y E S !!!
(On my second S and still loving every damn minute of it.)
pros: What a sports car was meant to be
