[QUOTE]Originally posted by shingles
[B][QUOTE]Originally posted by Duffer
[b]
How many times have you done this: When someone ask: "What kind of car do you drive?", you just answer: "A Honda" You know that you drive one of the most exciting cars on the road today, and that's enough. You don't have to make sure that they know that it's just as hot as the "flash" cars. That's Character! And I see a lot of that "No apology" attitude here on this board.

 

If the s2000 were a dog, it would be an Australian Cattle Dog -- nips the heels of the big boys (sometimes runs circles around them) and comes from half wild / half domestic breeding.

 

As does half our population I'm sure

 

I have to say "Honda S2000". Some people know what that is, the majority don't. Either way, they are still impressed when they see it.

IMO, hondas seem to have character, but it is very subtle. To look at the car is to miss the point. Drive it and own it for 100,000 miles, if you wanna appreciate it fully.

An analogy might be with Mercedes-Benz. Their cars are generally initially uncomfortable with clumsy controls, badly equipped, usually in hideous colour combinations and spectacularly poor value for money. As the mileage goes up, you grow to respect them more and more, on long journeys and in bad conditions even more so. If you crash it heavily, you fully appreciate where the money went!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jesse H
[B]I just thought of a silly analogy that still somewhat relates to the original topic

 

Unfortunately, some people's own lack of true character encourages them to count on the badge of their high priced european cars to display their own character. These are usually those who would view a car as economically and performancewise sweet as this as lacking character.

I read an NSX site open forum about this same lack of respect regarding charater. Someone said:

People will often state that an Italian car is like a Italian woman. You'd better treat her with care beacause she can be fisety (sp?), a bit unpredictable, and have all sorts of quirks that you will need to learn about and learn how to react to. (No flames please, I'm married to a beatiful/wonderful Italian girl.)

So if the above is true, what makes a woman who is always there for you, gives you no trouble, is a total blast to hang out with, and makes you happy every minute your with her lack character???

Character is a product of characteristics. If some of the quirkey characteristics of many of these exotic cars are required to "have character", then I would say no thanks. I'll stay with my faithful but boring little stooky. Knock yourself out with the pains in the ass you call character.

 

There's lots of vehicles with serious quirks I could have bought (and have in the past). I choose the S2K partly because it IS a Honda and I expect minimum quirkiness and maximum reliability. It goes back to semantics, but to me the soul of this vehicle is a 9000 RPM wail and it has just enough character for me.

 

Character in a car does not always mean negative traits although in my original post that is what I cited.

Much of a Jaguars character is because of Connolly leather, real wood dash, wool carpets and sensual body styling. These are all good things.

The S2000 IMHO has tons of character (good kind) because of it's hyperkinetic race bred engine that revs to 9000 rpm. It is a bold answer to those who contend that Japanese cars have no character.

 

My old roomate was telling me about a ride he recently took in his friend's new Modena. While revving his engine with open road in front of him, his friend said "Now, let me show you where all the money went.." Upon dropping the clutch the engine died and wouldn't start again. I can't imagine how embarrasing it is to be seen pushing your $150K car to the nearest gas station. But I suppose this too must be part of it's "character"

j

ps. he sold the ferrari soon after.