/Fail

The S2000 gets pretty good mileage even at those high RPMs. 20/26 MPG is pretty good for a car like this.

 

I miss my VTEC kick. We had it tuned out for smoother power delivery when we went with a smaller SC pulley.

While the kick was fun, smooth is faster.

 

I see you HAVE NOT said a single thing about the suspension.

This is like (imo) 80% of what you are paying for.

The s2k is all about the handling, NOT all out power.

You can however add monster power as you did with your toyota.

BTW, I love my stock exhaust, quiet when driving normal and just enough sound when you get on it.

 

Did I hear you say the MR2 had better pull? I drove a number of cars before buying the S2000. MR2 was one of them. All were stock, no turbo. I found the MR2 a lot of fun but certainly not the race ready ride I get from the 2000. Small point but you also can't carry even an overnight bag in an MR2 if someone is going to be in the passenger seat. If the turbo kicked the MR2 to the point that it had more punch then a 2000 then that is impressive. I looked at a mini with a turbo and still not as quick as the 2000. I never drove a 2000 with a turbo so don't know what it would feel like but I am guessing that putting a turbo and VTEC together must be a kick in the pants. Having said all that, the 2000 is not a drag racer but I agree with above comments that it can be run hard and your speed comes up much quicker then you expect.

 

Thank you all for your detailed feedback - I appreciate all of your input.

Firstly please don't misunderstand me, I am not trying to come into the S2K community and run the cars down!

I guess I was just surprised by my drive today as it didn't quite match up to my expectations. I guess with them having had five years to brew, the car was always going to struggle to live up to my own hype. This is precisely the kind of feedback I wanted. Perhaps I should try and arrange an extended test drive through Honda UK so I can get a better feel for the car.

RE the E46 M3, that is a stupendous car. I have never driven such a practical yet exciting performance car. Everything about it is exemplary. The power delivery is incredible, it feels utterly glued to the road and yet my mate averages 25 mpg, which knowing his driving style is no mean feat! However over here in the UK a good M3 will set you back around

 

Hey Jake,

My old MR2 was a MK2 Turbo (think pop up headlights) which was around 255 bhp with a few basic breather mods. They are good for 0 - 60 in 5.5 seconds stock. They have pretty monster torque which makes them very quick in a straight line, though you have to be very careful in the bends as they have a mid mounted engine and tend to 'pendulum' if you loose the rear and don't correct in time.

Getting very dated now though as they are based on a design originally penned in 1990.

I guess you are referring to the MK3 MR2 which is the soft top that looks like a mini Boxster. Yeah they are good fun but got nothing on an S2000. That model only had 138bhp and a 1.8 NA engine.

 

I can respond to the 4k rpm highway speed issue. That was the very 1st thing that I noticed about my S2k. Going from a K20a2 6spd which on the hwy is at around 3k, I honestly had to check on several occassions to make sure I was not still in 4th gear. It was one thing that bothered me at 1st, but after a 18 hour highway drive home it became on of the things I really liked about the car.

That gearing makes the car feel as if it has power whenever you need it in 6th gear. I would get behind slow people go down to 55-60, when I got my chance to pass, I would just leave it in 6th, step on the throttle and I was on my way.

To be honest I don't understand what made it feel so much better than my K-swap civic, because the civic actually made more torque/hp and was lighter, but for some reason 6th gear passing felt effortless in the S compared to the civic.

 

I thought the MR2 turbo was a mere 200hp out of 2.0 turbo charged liters. Doesn't the S2000 have more? And the S uses the same size motor. Or are europe MR2's different. Wasn't the NA MR2 a 2.2?

The MR2 turbo was a great looking car.

 

the lack of torque in the S2000 makes it seem like it's not very fast.

 

The s2k is not for everyone. I know my first drive left me unimpressed. I was driving an e36M3 at the time. But I've now owned the s2k longer than any other car and it still keeps me entertained every drive.

If the e46M3 has some financial downside, have you considered the e36M3. Since you are in the UK, the e36M3 should have the nice 321hp Euro motor.