Autoworld's Best of 2002
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From: Locust Grove, VA
A great article from Autoworld's Best of 2002!
From Class - Luxury Convertibles
"When the price of a convertible climbs above $30,000, the character of the car usually undergoes some significant changes.
Luxury features pop up everywhere, from automatic tops to navigation systems to killer stereo systems. What also gets added to the fresh-air mix is a significant increase in performance, starting with more horses under the hood and more grip in the corners.
Autoworld's three high-dollar choices for top-down driving fun offer the best in performance and luxury."
"Audi TT Quattro...blah blah...unusual shape...blah blah...exceptional handling...at about $40,000, the TT Quattro is a very satisfying ride."
"Being fans of all-wheel drive performance machines, we couldn't help but add the Porsche Carrera...yata-yata...300 horsepower...the Porsche six at full song, the wind and exhaust create a wonderful symphony. But at a list of about $83,000, its a symphony few will ever conduct."
"That's why our top pick for best convertible with a price tag above $30,000 is the Honda S2000, which, at about $33,000, gives you a roadster that handles like a race car and goes like stink, provided you're willing to rev its little 2.0 liter, 240-horsepower four cylinder up to and beyond a motorcycle-like 8,000 rpm.
There were only two real complaints about the 2001 model: It had a plastic rear window, which was badly scratched in every S2000 test car we drove, and the slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission could get a bit notchy-feeling after some prolonged aggressive use.
Both complaints have been addressed for 2002. The rear window is now glass, and Honda has worked on the shifter and gearbox to make it smoother and more durable.
Though not a big car - overall length is 162.2 inches, about a half-foot longer than a Mazda Miata - the interior isn't cramped for two adults, and the trunk is big enough to hold a weekend's worth of luggage. Seats are excellent, and controls and instruments are properly placed, once you get used to the slightly gimmicky placement of the stereo controls, and the fact that you crank the engine with a big red button instead of the ignition key.
Add to the car's appeal Honda's well-deserved reputation for reliability, and the S2000 is an awfully appealing package. Of course, we won't try to talk you out of buying one of the other finalists, but we like the idea that Honda has produced a world-class roadster at a price attainable by plenty of customers."
From Class - Luxury Convertibles
"When the price of a convertible climbs above $30,000, the character of the car usually undergoes some significant changes.
Luxury features pop up everywhere, from automatic tops to navigation systems to killer stereo systems. What also gets added to the fresh-air mix is a significant increase in performance, starting with more horses under the hood and more grip in the corners.
Autoworld's three high-dollar choices for top-down driving fun offer the best in performance and luxury."
"Audi TT Quattro...blah blah...unusual shape...blah blah...exceptional handling...at about $40,000, the TT Quattro is a very satisfying ride."
"Being fans of all-wheel drive performance machines, we couldn't help but add the Porsche Carrera...yata-yata...300 horsepower...the Porsche six at full song, the wind and exhaust create a wonderful symphony. But at a list of about $83,000, its a symphony few will ever conduct."
"That's why our top pick for best convertible with a price tag above $30,000 is the Honda S2000, which, at about $33,000, gives you a roadster that handles like a race car and goes like stink, provided you're willing to rev its little 2.0 liter, 240-horsepower four cylinder up to and beyond a motorcycle-like 8,000 rpm.
There were only two real complaints about the 2001 model: It had a plastic rear window, which was badly scratched in every S2000 test car we drove, and the slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission could get a bit notchy-feeling after some prolonged aggressive use.
Both complaints have been addressed for 2002. The rear window is now glass, and Honda has worked on the shifter and gearbox to make it smoother and more durable.
Though not a big car - overall length is 162.2 inches, about a half-foot longer than a Mazda Miata - the interior isn't cramped for two adults, and the trunk is big enough to hold a weekend's worth of luggage. Seats are excellent, and controls and instruments are properly placed, once you get used to the slightly gimmicky placement of the stereo controls, and the fact that you crank the engine with a big red button instead of the ignition key.
Add to the car's appeal Honda's well-deserved reputation for reliability, and the S2000 is an awfully appealing package. Of course, we won't try to talk you out of buying one of the other finalists, but we like the idea that Honda has produced a world-class roadster at a price attainable by plenty of customers."
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From: SF
Originally posted by Steve2K
... the trunk is big enough to hold a weekend's worth of luggage.
...the slightly gimmicky placement of the stereo controls
... the trunk is big enough to hold a weekend's worth of luggage.
...the slightly gimmicky placement of the stereo controls
Two nits to pick:
1 - I assume that is a weekend's worth of luggage for one person or two men, because in my experience once I get my girlfriend in the car with me for the weekend we've got stuff crammed behind seats, under feet, etc.
2 - am I the only person who loves the stereo controls? I was traveling and driving a rented Subaru about a month ago and kept reaching for the volume control and hating it when I didn't find it.
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