DWynne

Not a vote or a "which should I get", I just want to know if I have noted all the differences between models. I am on my 2nd S2000 and NFR 2005 model (first was an NFR 2001). My lease is up soon and I thinking I will sell or turn in the 2005 get a 2008 to replace it. If not, then I will keep the 2005.


From what I have read here and other places the differences between 05 and 08:

Drive by wire - could be a bad thing or a good thing?

Stability control - since it has an off switch a good thing

Maintenance minder - good thing, I guess

Outside temp gauge - good thing

New seat design - I don't like it as much as the old design, but not a deal breaker

Headrest mounted speakers - I listened to them at the dealer and thought "so what"

Console metal trim in dark color - really did not like this compared to the 05, but again not a deal breaker

Alloy wheels - yuck, but not a deal breaker

Daytime running lights - a good thing

Revised gauge cluster - this would be the 3rd different design, pretty ho-hum about it

"Retuned suspension" - new for 08, but I have little info on it.

A new warranty - duh, of course the 08 will have a warranty, but it will be 3/36k on the car and 5/60k on the powertrain.


Did I miss anything? About the only potential bad thing I see as a show stopper is the DBW throttle. Searching around I have read positive and negative comments about it. I guess I need to find an 06 or newer to test drive a bit and see if it bothers me or not.

TIA for any input.

Dennis

shotiable

i feel the difference between drive by wire and drive by cable. but i've had my s2000 so long that i think i've come to terms with it. anyway, more and more stuff is coming out for the DBW s2000 so it may not neccessarily be a bad thing. i was a picky kid back then but i have to say its such a minute difference. if i were in your shoes i'd jump on the newer model.

shotiable

btw, if you search up the official springs thread there should be some info about the newer suspension. its significantly stiffer than the 06/07. thats another plus

got_torque?

can u go ITB on the AP2 with BDW (to many acronynms)

hkspwrsche

2006 vs 2008

Wheels as far as I care.. Nothing huge.. 05 bigger difference

DWynne

My 05 DOES have the clutch release delay valve, right? I guess it has not bothered me in the last 3 years then I should be fine in the 08 if the DBW works out OK.

Dennis

Lionheart

An S2k with the new seat design is not an S2k
VSA is a good thing, but will not save your a$$ in extreme conditions.
We managed to 180

GPWonTan

DRL is NOT a good thing. those lights does nothing and it is absolutely FUGLY!
i donno anyone personally who doesnt wanna get rid of it (disabling it).
the wheels & seats are also deal breakers for me (thou the wheels are easy to swap).

DWynne

The 01 I had was much more tail happy than the 05 and I came close to spinning it a few times just out driving around - and not at a real high speed either. Leaving the skid control on all the time makes sense even if it can't overcome the laws of physics .

Dennis

DWynne

I rigged up my RX-8 and my xB to have the fogs on all the time as DRLs . Better to look ugly and been seen than to be hit. I have some driving lights in the garage that I never got around to putting on the S - I had planned on running the all the time as DRLs when put them in. I even got a guy in Canada (eh?) to send me a DRL module for my Miata back when I had it. So to me DRLs are a plus.

On the seat thing, the appear (and feel) to be the same seat except the "helmet hole" is now gone. I have had some custom made perforated leather headrest pads installed in both by S2000s because I didn't like the helmet hole. So the new design does not look as nice and I can't keep my custom pads, but the seat otherwise looked and felt fine.

More good news may be that folks will not want to steal the 08 seats since "everyone" does not like them????

Dennis