I'm considering purchasing a new '03 or '04. A friend has an '03 and has complained about the ride on concrete interstates. After his first trip from Minneapolis to our corporate headquaters near Madison, WI, he was asking people to trade cars with him for the next trip to HQ! He said the bouncing and jarring was too much to take. I witnessed another S2000 driver bouncing like a bobble-head doll while making the same trip. I was in the next lane comfortably cruising in my Xterra - not exactly a soft-riding vehicle itself.

Not being able to enjoy interstate travel is a concern of mine. Does anyone know if the '04 suspension changes have any affect on this "bouncing" tendancy? I read the posts under the topic of '03 vs. '04, but this didn't come up.

Any help would be appreciated - as well as what others have paid for '03's and '04's in the Minneapolis area recently.

Thanks.

 

Go take one for a test drive. IMO, there's really not enough difference between the two to make a difference to someone who is concerned about it. The '04 is a bit less harsh on the freeway but they're both sports cars. Neither of them have cushy suspension designed to suck up expansion joints. Either will make the Xterra feel like a cruiser.

ron

 

maybe he should check for spring spacers

 

WPS - My friend's '03 is stock, he bought it new.

R11 - The problem with testdrives is that it's only some types of pavement and not in our area, but enough of it that my freind didn't want to drive his S2000, and he LOVES his S2000. I've driven the same interstate in my stock Miata, which I'd be replacing with the S2000, and never noticed the rough ride. It's probably not enough to keep me from buying one, but I wonder which I'd be better off with, '03 or '04.

Thanks, both, for your help.

 

the ride is pretty harsh in all S's ... as you know(?) its a tight car - generally speaking - I like cruising on highway's in a firm ride - others feel they'll be loosening their fillings - the difference on highways between my friend's 03 & my 04 is not what I would use to make the decision one way or another on selecting between model years....

 

well the car and driver issue mentioned that the 04 s2k's is almost as comfortable as the mazdaspeed miata. me personally, i think the ride is comfortable but its really subjective. maybe you can go to one of your regional meets and get a ride from both years from members...

 

"I like cruising on highway's in a firm ride - others feel they'll be loosening their fillings"

"i think the ride is comfortable but its really subjective"

You guys may be right. Now that I think about it, I had back surgery last year and shortly after my recovery, my friend was seriously concerned about me riding in his S2k since it "rode so harsh." I just laughed, I thought he was joking, but he wasn't. Maybe he is just more sensiitve to stiff rides than most people.

Thanks.

 

I was looking at 02's before I bought my 04 and there isn't that much difference in ride. S2K's are kind of stiff but not harsh at all over bumps. Over some bumps or broken pavement they are actually better than softer suspended cars.

 

have MY04, and the ride isn't very harsh at all!

 

S2000's are very stiff, but on a regular interstate, I don't experience much bouncing at all.