Fri night I traded my RX8 in for an 04 Honda S2000. I am ecstatic to be in a convertible again. I knew the day I sold my Miata I'd be back in a convertible again, but I didn't know it would be this soon.

The '8 is a great car. In-fact, in many ways, it's a better car than the Honda. Both are high revving engines, but the '8 revs much smoother and has better power delivery. To be fare I have to admit I'm still in the break-in period and haven't had the S' above 5500 rpm. So my opinion could change, but I don't think it will. The rotary is just an incredibly smooth operator. The RX8 is one of the easiest cars to drive fast and drive well that I have ever driven. It does everything perfectly. The Honda is going to take some time. It's not a car, like the '8, that you can get into and drive with ease and set a fastest lap in. You've got to learn it first. It seems to require more attention than the Mazda. The '8 is far more roomier than the Honda. I need a shoe horn to get in and out of the S2000. Highway driving won't be as comfortable.

The Honda has it's plusses though. Like, it requires more attention. You have to be involved in what's going on. I never liked the sterilized feeling of the RX8's controls and handling. There isn't much communication between the driver and the road through the tires and steering wheel. No feedback. There are with the Honda conviences as well. My drive back from the dealer was all highway. I got 30 mpg!!!!!! THIRTY!!!! The best the '8 ever did was 20. My gas card bill $400 last month. That's just 30 days of charges. The Honda will help reduce that. And I can now back my car out of the garage. Shut it off. And know with reasonable certainty it will not flood when I start it again. And the biggest plus of all ... THE TOP FOLDS BACK That was the real reason behind the trade. I had a brain fart when I traded my Miata for a fixed top car. I am a convertible man. Last night it was 35 degrees F and I didn't care. I pulled my collar up, put on a hat and gloves and went topless under the starry Wyoming sky and I knew I had made the right decision.

 

I'll try and not be mean since your a newbie, but cmon!!! Have you heard of VTEC?????? Just take that over 6000 RPM and hold onto the wheel because the first time(and the 10th) it's very scary. Make sure you do this at least once during 600 mile break-in. Post back when you've done it.

 

Very Deep!
Enjoy!

 

Why would you keep the revs under 5500RPM? Your car is a 04', I assumed it is an used car since it is Apr 05 now.

 

WHAT? mazda was better than Honda from when???
dude u r not even deserved to drive an S leaving such a comment like that

 

Yellow, I have taken an S2000 to redline. Wasn't mine. It was on a test drive. Actually had some time with the car. The dealer let me take it out for about an hour. There is nothing like revving an engine to 8 or 9K. I have also, obviously, driven a rotary engine. It pulls with much greater ease to the high revs than the Honda. It's so seemless. Like a firm push in your back from idle all the way to 9000 rpm. When you've driven a rotary, get back to me

Carlson, my car is an 04 leftover. It had 86 miles on it when I picked it up. About 160 to go till I can redline it. And once I do, I'll do it again and again and again. Redlining is addictive.

 

Absolutely. The Mazda is a typical Japanese car. It does everything well. Requires little effort from the driver. And is very well balanced ... and sterile. The S' on the other hand requires a little learning. Takes some time to get used to before you can carve up your favorite canyon road. In the long run that will be more rewarding to me. I like a car that requires effort. One that makes you think and stay focused on what you're doing.

 

i dont own either vehicles, but i've driven and rode in my friends s2k (ap2) and rx8 many times.

from my experience, the rx8 is very similar to the s2k, but the s2k just does everything a little better. and i have no idea what your talking about the rx8 pulling harder than a s2k. they are very similar in power. not upto a point where one vehicle pulls significantly more then other. when my friends race each other (always from a roll), the s2k always pulls ever so slightly on the rx8.

 

I've had a pretty "thorough" test drive with a RX8 and i agree with you that it revs more smoothly than the S2K. The rotary is so smooth that it doesn't seem like it is trying at all when it goes to redline. I guess that can be a good thing, but to me, nothing beats the thrill of the f20c screaming to 9000. I know you have the F22c, but still, nothing beats vtec (except turbo + vtec ).

 

[QUOTE=StinkyTofu,Apr 11 2005, 12:21 AM] I've had a pretty "thorough" test drive with a RX8 and i agree with you that it revs more smoothly than the S2K.