Howdy. I'm trying to decide whether to buy an S2000 or a BMW M Coupe, and I'm more or less deciding I'd need to drive an S2000 for a day (not just a "test drive") to figure out if I could live with it/if it's the right car for me. I already took one for a test drive and really loved it, but of course it is the kind of car you need to drive hard to enjoy.

Any suggestions on how to get ahold of an S for a day? A guy I know who used to work at a car dealer said if you were serious about buying, they'd probably let you 'borrow' one, especially if you're looking to buy used (and I'm in the market for, and would prefer to test, a 2002). In a way I can't really see this happening, but on the other hand, if it's a used car, why wouldn't they let you borrow it if a sale was on the line?

I also considered renting, but I can't find anywhere that rents S2000s in my area (San Jose, CA).

Any tips?

 

They rent them in Vegas

 

Because they know you'll run it around at redline all day. Not your car, why would you care ? I know a guy who rented one and took it to Willow Springs (track) blew the engine and ended up in court where he had to pay $8K for an engine.

Thing is, it's not that hard to project from a 30 minute test drive if you want to own the car or not. I know guys who bought the Lotus Elise without ever sitting in one, let alone driving one.

If you've taken the 30 minute test drive and can't tell if you want the car, then the answer is you don't. Try test driving again at a different dealer.


Steve

 

Wow, good luck with that. Years ago it was common if you were really interested in a vehicle the dealer would love to have you take the car overnight to try to get you to buy it. I've had dealers let me take brand new cars for a weekend-sometimes I would end up buying the car, sometimes not. Now though I think its harder due to tougher insurance regulations on dealers-it can be difficult to even test drive a car without a salesman along with you.

The S is a great car though and if you take the plunge I don't think you will regret it. I've had "buyers remorse" on several cars before but never on the S2000.

 

*shrug*

I understand why they wouldn't want to, this is why I'd hope to be able to borrow one from a dealership, and I'd never ask a friend (unless it was a really, really, really good friend, and I don't have any such friends with S2ks).

I guess the reason I was thinking the dealership angle might work is, they want to sell the car, so as long as you don't actually break it, they're no worse off --they're selling it anyway. They have no long-term interest in the car, other than to get rid of it soon. Of course, if you break it, that's a whole new story...

To be honest, I really loved the S when I drove it. Two things are turning me off, though:

1. I want a convertible, but every single convertible I see in San Jose on a sunny 70+ degree day has the top up. Why? I feel like there's some really good reason for this that I'm totally missing. If I'm gonna be one of those guys and have the top up more than 10-20% of the time (not gonna be a commuter car, BTW), I'd just rather buy something else, something that would be a better closed car. Can anyone explain why so many people run with their tops up?

2. My last car was an M3. While I really, really, really love the cockpit of the S (well, apart from the lame instruments), I get the feeling I might miss the big 6-cyl, and all of the quality touches that BMW puts into their cars.. These things won't be an issue if I love the S like I want to, but it's just not the daily driver the M coupe would be.. hence why I want to live with the S for a day and see what it's like.

 

Forgot to add, I would definitely redline the car quite a bit, but I wouldn't do any burnouts or do anything "out of the ordinary." I hate letting people borrow my cars because I tend to feel that nobody else takes care of their stuff like I do, and I totally understand why a dealership or anyone else would be hesitant to let a person borrow an S.

I didn't bother to say in my initial post that I would take good care of the car, because that fact simply doesn't matter -- whoever would be in a position to loan out the car has no way of knowing that, so they just have to hope for the best.

 

Go buy your Beemer.....................

 

1. I alway have my top down on sunny 60+ degree days in Southern California. I do not know why someone bought convertable cars and have their top up on sunny days, may be they do not like their hair messing up with the top down.

2. My S is my daily car, I bought my S 18 months ago without ever sit in any S before the day I paid for it, and I never regret it.

 

For what its worth (fwiw), top down driving on sunny days can lead to skin cancer, even with hat & shades. Don't ask how I know.

 

Check out exotic car rental places -- they may have an S2000 for rent. The Vegas rental has been mentioned, and Southern Exotic Rentals in Atlanta has a Suzuka they rent.