[QUOTE=00S2K01S4]The S2000 isn't a fast car but a fun car.

 

^this

 

Just buy it. I was in the same boat before I bought one. Thought it felt super slow and all. But still wanted one so bad so just bought it. Took it on some twisty turns and fell in love. The thing feels soo good that the "feel" of being fast missing is ok. It still is a pretty quick car just missing torque makes it feel much slower than it actually is.

 

You need to buy a car that gets you excited. It seems that S2000 is not that car for you. Looks are not enough.

Considering how many S2000's are sold over the years, what you're experiencing is perfectly normal. It is not for everyone. Many people on this site are borderline crazy to daily drive one.

Most of your criticisms are valid; but you say you have issues with the gearbox? It is pretty much the best manual transmission ever made... You have to love the shifter to drive an S2000...

I like to think that S2000 is something between a car and a sportbike. It is loud, has stiff suspension, and you need to shift a lot, but it is extremely, extremely fun. My passengers say that my car is too small, loud and harsh. I say, "Hey, it has a windshield, and a back-rest"... I think it is not totally appropriate to compare S2000 to a "car" car, like M3, Z4, 350Z, etc.

Z4 (one with the larger engine) is also a 2-seater soft-top roadster. It is more powerful, has smoother power delivery, more torque, more amenities, quiet cabin, etc... But none of that matters to me. Z4 is way too much like a regular car to be enjoyable.

I am having difficulty explaining myself... Do you guys see what I mean?

 

Go drive a stock automatic civic for a couple months and then buy an s2k lol.

 

It's not a misconception.

Typically a sixth gear is added to a car to make it more economical on the motorway/ freeway as the lower your revs when cruising the lower your fuel consumption.

 

Unfortunately we Brits don't get access to such cars over here!

 

Thanks for all of your further feedback guys.

I will try to arrange a 24 hour test drive with Honda to see if I can get better aquainted with the car.

 

Its true it not a misconception, but it appears honda wanted this car engine to hum along on the freeway around 3K-4K rpm. I believe the shift points for 'good gas mileage' was roughly 3K rpms. If you think about it in terms of cylinders/displacement, its ok.

a V8 6L goes roughly 1.5K at 60.
3x that, since the S is a 2.0L, is 5.5K! so in terms of gas mileage, its not terrible. Of course thats a really rough/bad estimate but you get the idea.

Also, the mpg vs. rpm is not so straight forward. if youre on the gas pedal hard at low rpms, you [MIGHT] be getting worse gas mileage, since your injectors are dumping in more fuel.

The S does feel slow, I agree with ya. but take it around the turns and feel the response. I came from a V8 torque beast to this car, and I DO mis the torque, but I think this car will deff. make me a better driver in terms of handling, driving style, etc. The idea that it has less power also is nice, since I have to do more with less.

 

lolz guys, I don't own one yet, but it is certainly not "slow." It is still a very quick car. 240 horsepower + 162 pounds of torque is no joke, especially in a car that weighs less than 3,000 lbs and spins to over 8,000 revs. The only thing is you have to be a good driver to extract that power, which is what makes it so rewarding.

I'd driven several high-performance cars before I stepped into an S2000 for the first time, and it was EXACTLY what I was expecting it to be. Smooth, consistent power delivery with VTAK! at the top. Can't wait to get my hands on one...