2003 S2000
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,323
Likes: 28
From: Longmont, CO
Some more random Boxster S obversations (drove it again this afternoon.)
As for tracking my car - as a professions race car, no, it's not perfect. Brake cooling and rollover protection are two of the biggest things it's missing. As an occasional DE car, yeah, it's near perfect. Tires and alignment are extremely important, however. At one point my car was extremely loose, but new tires and an alignment the week before an event cleared that up entirely. I had an absolute blast - not oversteering, no understeering. The ultimate level of grip wasn't where I wanted it, though - S02's really are quite amazing for a street tire, but they're not anything like the Hoosiers on the 944. I also wish the below-6000 torque was closer to the 6000-9000 level...
- The shifter throw is huge. Not nearly as snickety as the S2000.
- Drive-by-wire throttle control is... weird. Not bad, not good, but it takes some getting used to. It just doesn't respond in the same manner than a cable controlled throttle does. Nevertheless, throttle response is excelent.
- The biggest power rush in this car comes, like the S2000, towards the upper rev range. About 3500, it seems.
As for tracking my car - as a professions race car, no, it's not perfect. Brake cooling and rollover protection are two of the biggest things it's missing. As an occasional DE car, yeah, it's near perfect. Tires and alignment are extremely important, however. At one point my car was extremely loose, but new tires and an alignment the week before an event cleared that up entirely. I had an absolute blast - not oversteering, no understeering. The ultimate level of grip wasn't where I wanted it, though - S02's really are quite amazing for a street tire, but they're not anything like the Hoosiers on the 944. I also wish the below-6000 torque was closer to the 6000-9000 level...
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Newport Coast
K, maybe I can spit my 2 cents and perhaps reduce any drama over our cars becoming "obsolete"
Cent the first:
It is true that Honda seems to keep a very tight information net around minor changes to their cars, but this is mostly because they are insignificant to the average owner. In essence, why would anybody wait till next year for (5 hp, 10 more watts out of the stereo, etc.) and still have to pay inflation and ridiculous dealer markups? Exactly, the only way that we, the buyers, would care is if we are bloodsucking enthusiasts. They know they can afford to just let us sweat.
Cent the last:
From viewing the dubbed "Best Motoring, International Volume 1" time & again, we can see the way Honda has produced minor changes to its performance cars over time. At first, Honda built the NSX, and later introduced the NSX Type R. The Type R was vastly superior, of course, but took a good amount of time to arrive. When the Integra changed body styles in 1993-1994, the Integra Type R was immediatly reduced. Also, the reworked 1996 Civic quickly came with a Type R version. Today, we can see the new Integra Type R and Civic Type R already being released.
My point being, if Honda was going to give us a SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED version of our beloved two thousand, then if not a Type R, we probably would have long had it coming.
The S2000 was a great departure for Honda. Honda knew that it was making a calculated risk in building this outrageous car and still distributing it everywhere. Japanese businessman (at least in the car industry) seem to be very conservative when distributing any real sports car to remote markets.
IF we get a change for 03, they will not be engine related. I predict a power gain of 5-10 hp in 2004 to keep the car interesting, but I would expect that this S2000 runs in its current body style into as far as 2006. If we get a Type R version, it will be after the body style change, and either rollcage equipped or some sort of reinforced hard top. The S2000 will not receive i-VTEC AT ALL until the new body style.
In a worst case scenario, the S2000 would disappear or run slightly too long, as the NSX of yore.
Would we get a "GSR" or "Si" version? Some god-awful sport package?
Probably not, because the car has no options as is. I am aware of the Japanese version with the trippy steering wheel, but that hardly counts at all.
If we even did get an "S2000 GSR" then it would be fruity, because they'd badge it as an Acura and make it the "S2000 Type S"
That was too long.
Cent the first:
It is true that Honda seems to keep a very tight information net around minor changes to their cars, but this is mostly because they are insignificant to the average owner. In essence, why would anybody wait till next year for (5 hp, 10 more watts out of the stereo, etc.) and still have to pay inflation and ridiculous dealer markups? Exactly, the only way that we, the buyers, would care is if we are bloodsucking enthusiasts. They know they can afford to just let us sweat.
Cent the last:
From viewing the dubbed "Best Motoring, International Volume 1" time & again, we can see the way Honda has produced minor changes to its performance cars over time. At first, Honda built the NSX, and later introduced the NSX Type R. The Type R was vastly superior, of course, but took a good amount of time to arrive. When the Integra changed body styles in 1993-1994, the Integra Type R was immediatly reduced. Also, the reworked 1996 Civic quickly came with a Type R version. Today, we can see the new Integra Type R and Civic Type R already being released.
My point being, if Honda was going to give us a SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED version of our beloved two thousand, then if not a Type R, we probably would have long had it coming.
The S2000 was a great departure for Honda. Honda knew that it was making a calculated risk in building this outrageous car and still distributing it everywhere. Japanese businessman (at least in the car industry) seem to be very conservative when distributing any real sports car to remote markets.
IF we get a change for 03, they will not be engine related. I predict a power gain of 5-10 hp in 2004 to keep the car interesting, but I would expect that this S2000 runs in its current body style into as far as 2006. If we get a Type R version, it will be after the body style change, and either rollcage equipped or some sort of reinforced hard top. The S2000 will not receive i-VTEC AT ALL until the new body style.
In a worst case scenario, the S2000 would disappear or run slightly too long, as the NSX of yore.
Would we get a "GSR" or "Si" version? Some god-awful sport package?
Probably not, because the car has no options as is. I am aware of the Japanese version with the trippy steering wheel, but that hardly counts at all.
If we even did get an "S2000 GSR" then it would be fruity, because they'd badge it as an Acura and make it the "S2000 Type S"
That was too long.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 657
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area
The "special" edition NSX's never had any real engine work done. Most of the improvements were done to the suspension.
I would love to see a S2000 type S Zero which would get rid of the power steering assembly, power top, and add a super stiff suspension. Paint the car in Monte Carlo blue here in the states and I'll be the first in line.
I would love to see a S2000 type S Zero which would get rid of the power steering assembly, power top, and add a super stiff suspension. Paint the car in Monte Carlo blue here in the states and I'll be the first in line.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: beverly
I took my test drive up to 9k (less than 600 miles) and ended up buying a different car (without the side strakes, etc.), so someonel else bought that one. Give the guy a break. I didn't have another "broken in" s2000 to try. Couldn't see myself plunking down my 32.4 and hoping I liked the car's capabilities.
Dealers should have one car for test drives, but that's a financial burden they're not willing to assume, at least the dealers I've been to.
What's a prospective customer to do?
Chaz01
I didn't know about this board then, and have since found that some people may be willing to give demos. If I had known that....
Dealers should have one car for test drives, but that's a financial burden they're not willing to assume, at least the dealers I've been to.
What's a prospective customer to do?
Chaz01
I didn't know about this board then, and have since found that some people may be willing to give demos. If I had known that....