Does the recession make the S2000 more relevant?
Originally Posted by CKit' date='Jan 2 2009, 06:51 PM
A few years back, I was thinking what I would replace my SC'd S2000 with.
Had a deposit on a Cayman S, but felt there was too much overlap with an SC'd S2000 to justify the price difference. So we bought an RS4 instead and kept the S2000.
Now that the recession is here in full force and luxury cars are piling up in port and in dealerships... I'm rethinking a few things.
In the current economic clime, spending money is gauche and flaunting money is tacky. 30-somethings are less likely to sneer at drivers of economy cars while commuting in their 3-class BMWs, knowing their investment firm may hand them a pink slip anyday. Gone is the some of the bulletproof bravado and cockiness of the young professional.
So that begs the question... what would I replace the S2000 with?
I'm thinking it's the perfect 2009 recession "fun car." It's a 4-cylinder "Honda" (read economical and reliable) and can be had for <$15k in stock form. It's conservative looking enough to prevent raising any hackles and alienating yourself at work.
I'm thinking that my S2000 might see more street use this year and instead of upgrading, I'll add something like a Mini Cooper to the stable....
Have I mentioned how much I love the S2000?
Had a deposit on a Cayman S, but felt there was too much overlap with an SC'd S2000 to justify the price difference. So we bought an RS4 instead and kept the S2000.
Now that the recession is here in full force and luxury cars are piling up in port and in dealerships... I'm rethinking a few things.
In the current economic clime, spending money is gauche and flaunting money is tacky. 30-somethings are less likely to sneer at drivers of economy cars while commuting in their 3-class BMWs, knowing their investment firm may hand them a pink slip anyday. Gone is the some of the bulletproof bravado and cockiness of the young professional.
So that begs the question... what would I replace the S2000 with?
I'm thinking it's the perfect 2009 recession "fun car." It's a 4-cylinder "Honda" (read economical and reliable) and can be had for <$15k in stock form. It's conservative looking enough to prevent raising any hackles and alienating yourself at work.
I'm thinking that my S2000 might see more street use this year and instead of upgrading, I'll add something like a Mini Cooper to the stable....
Have I mentioned how much I love the S2000?


A Mini Cooper S would be a sweet, but I'm not a big fan of the BMW Mini. It's a Midi compared to the original.

Have you driven a Prius?
Originally Posted by my_slow_civic' date='Jan 2 2009, 05:39 PM
Sorry, I didn't know this was your personal forum.
I do not feel guilty. I, unlike you, don't give a shit what my neighbors or society thinks about my purchases. So carry on with your dilemma. I'm sure we all care about your contemplating a Caymen, which in my opinion is much like the boxster. A car for those that want the status, without the price tag. But then again, it fits your persona from the above post.
Maybe I should have just put s2k ftmfw.
I do not feel guilty. I, unlike you, don't give a shit what my neighbors or society thinks about my purchases. So carry on with your dilemma. I'm sure we all care about your contemplating a Caymen, which in my opinion is much like the boxster. A car for those that want the status, without the price tag. But then again, it fits your persona from the above post.
Maybe I should have just put s2k ftmfw.
In my mind, the Boxster S is like a Cayman: One of the best mid-engined sports cars in the world at an affordable price.
You obviously know very little about sports cars.
You don't give a shit about your neighbors or society? Yeah, you're a winner.
It's not my forum. It's my thread. But since you don't give a shit about your neighbors or society, I'm not surprised you don't give a shit about that.
And reading comprehension PWNS you. I was considering a Cayman two years ago and bought an RS4 instead (because it wasn't enough of an upgrade). Now I'm saying that I'd keep an S2000 over a real upgrade.
I'm keeping my s2000 for ever. Ill have too much invested in it to ever sell it.
I do plan to get a new r32 though if everything goes well in about 6 months to keep my s2000 company. All the recession is doing is making it prime season to buy cars for those that can. Its killing anyone in the selling department.
I do plan to get a new r32 though if everything goes well in about 6 months to keep my s2000 company. All the recession is doing is making it prime season to buy cars for those that can. Its killing anyone in the selling department.
Originally Posted by RED MX5' date='Jan 2 2009, 06:42 PM
Given the mods you have already, I think I'd turn the S2000 into a "tralier queen" autocross car. I'm still planning to be buried in the S2000. 
A Mini Cooper S would be a sweet, but I'm not a big fan of the BMW Mini. It's a Midi compared to the original.
Have you driven a Prius?

A Mini Cooper S would be a sweet, but I'm not a big fan of the BMW Mini. It's a Midi compared to the original.

Have you driven a Prius?
I've never driven a Prius, but seen one autocrossed....
Originally Posted by CKit' date='Jan 2 2009, 07:49 PM
You win at life.
In my mind, the Boxster S is like a Cayman: One of the best mid-engined sports cars in the world at an affordable price.
You obviously know very little about sports cars.
You don't give a shit about your neighbors or society? Yeah, you're a winner.
It's not my forum. It's my thread. But since you don't give a shit about your neighbors or society, I'm not surprised you don't give a shit about that.
And reading comprehension PWNS you. I was considering a Cayman two years ago and bought an RS4 instead (because it wasn't enough of an upgrade). Now I'm saying that I'd keep an S2000 over a real upgrade.
In my mind, the Boxster S is like a Cayman: One of the best mid-engined sports cars in the world at an affordable price.
You obviously know very little about sports cars.
You don't give a shit about your neighbors or society? Yeah, you're a winner.
It's not my forum. It's my thread. But since you don't give a shit about your neighbors or society, I'm not surprised you don't give a shit about that.
And reading comprehension PWNS you. I was considering a Cayman two years ago and bought an RS4 instead (because it wasn't enough of an upgrade). Now I'm saying that I'd keep an S2000 over a real upgrade.
I hope you figure your lame dilemma out, as you seem to contradict yourself. Don't worry, I wont visit your personal space again.
Originally Posted by my_slow_civic' date='Jan 2 2009, 07:06 PM
Right back at you. "And reading comprehension PWNS you."
I hope you figure your lame dilemma out, as you seem to contradict yourself. Don't worry, I wont visit your personal space again.
I hope you figure your lame dilemma out, as you seem to contradict yourself. Don't worry, I wont visit your personal space again.
2007: Considered "upgrades" for the S2000. Considered a Cayman S. Decided on an RS4 in addition rather than as a replacement.
2009: I'm happy to still have an S2000 and feel that it's a nice car to have in the current economy.
1. Where's the problem with reading comprehension?
2. What lame dilemma do you keep referring to?
I understood what you were trying to get across.
The S2000 is going to get more recognition for being a "best bang for your buck" kind of a car. With people cutting back on spending more people will look towards it as an option over much more expensive vehicles.
The S2000 is going to get more recognition for being a "best bang for your buck" kind of a car. With people cutting back on spending more people will look towards it as an option over much more expensive vehicles.
Originally Posted by my_slow_civic' date='Jan 2 2009, 04:04 PM
I had a few people ask me, including extended family, why I was purchasing a third car when the economy was on a downhill slide. I work as a firefighter for the state, I have put in over 3900 hours of overtime in the last three years. I had saved my money specifically for the fact that I was going to purchase a S2k. When the money was there, I bought the car I wanted. I wanted to reward myself. My family has a modest house over their head, they are fed, clothed, and are healthy. Yet I still get the snide remarks as to why I need three cars. I feel I don't flaunt, or parade my cars around. My other two vehicles are a Nissan Frontier, and a Nissan Xterra. Nothing luxurious about them. I am one of the fortunate to have a career that will always be needed. Even in the fact of a lost job, the savings should help carry me for a little while.
I do not think spending money during this time is insensitive to others. If you are in a position to do so, do it. To me that is the same though process of keeping up with the Jones family down the street. Reserving yourself because others might view it as tacky is a fault on themselves.
I do not think spending money during this time is insensitive to others. If you are in a position to do so, do it. To me that is the same though process of keeping up with the Jones family down the street. Reserving yourself because others might view it as tacky is a fault on themselves.
$400 jacket here... $150 pants there... $300 shoes here... $200 shirt there... $120 haircuts...
How often do some people go out to eat at restaurants?
Do they really need the $200 mega-super cable package with a thousand channels, pay-per-view, and enough internet bandwidth for a Korean university?
No. They don't. Just how like we don't "need" a small, two-seat sports convertible with enough space for a week's worth of groceries in the trunk. We *could* get to and from our jobs in a Corolla like everyone else... but we don't want to. We worked and saved and got things that mattered to us.
Some people will never understand this, just like I don't understand a $120 haircut or $200 cable.
Originally Posted by tristan_s' date='Jan 2 2009, 09:16 PM
Some people will never understand this, just like I don't understand a $120 haircut or $200 cable.
I wind up spending more in haircuts per year than she does. That's not difficult to understand, right?
We personally don't get anything over basic cable, but we have friends who share a house and each member has different tastes and DV-recorders. $50 x 4 = $200 cable. Less than the cost of 10 Starbucks Lattes for the month per person. That's not difficult, either.
I think that people will understand your S2000 purchase over a Corolla.
That's why I think it's a perfect recession car. You're not going to be a hate magnet.
When we bought our RS4, the salesman was a young guy who saved his pennies to get a used 996 911. In red. He was commenting on the amount of hate, dirty looks, and asshattery he received from the Suburban-driving housewives and Minivan driving fathers.
He tried to explain to them that his 996 cost less than their SUV, but they didn't get it. You can't reason with envy.
That's why I like sleepers. The performance is just for me. I don't need or want the attention of others. If they made a Lotus Exige with a Prius body, I'd buy it in a heartbeat... but that's just me. I'm sick like that.
SC'd S2000 FTMFW!
He tried to explain to them that his 996 cost less than their SUV, but they didn't get it. You can't reason with envy.
That's why I like sleepers. The performance is just for me. I don't need or want the attention of others. If they made a Lotus Exige with a Prius body, I'd buy it in a heartbeat... but that's just me. I'm sick like that.
SC'd S2000 FTMFW!






