Hi guys,

I had a few questions regarding the functionality/convenience of S2k's. I'm looking to sell/trade my STi soon, and considering replacement cars.

This will be my only car, I won't have a daily on the side, and I'm wondering how inconvenient is it to have such a small 2 seater with as small as
a trunk as they have? I'm a college student so its not like I have a family or have to drive many people around ever, and I don't need to move too
much stuff. But it seems it wouldn't even be possible to pick someone up at an airport with luggage in one.

I guess I'm asking for some owners to post about their experiences when they were limited by the size and capability of their S2K and how
they delt with it, whether owning a daily, or renting uhauls, etc. I'm really interested in these cars and I'd love to own one, I'd just need to know
how limited I'd be with it to decide if it's really the right car for me. Thanks everyone

 

I had the S as the only car for about a month and it wasn't much of an inconvenience. You'd be surprised how often you drive a car and it's just you. The amount of fun and pleasure derived from driving and owning the car will outweigh any perceived limitations.

 

It makes a great fun daily that will make you look forward to waking up and going to work in the morn

 

I use my S as my daily for driving to school and to work and it is just fine. It is not a ton of extra room but the truck has enough for my books and such or a couple set of golf bags. Plus it always gets some nice attention...

 

But did any of you guys find yourselves in a situation where your S wasn't going to work? Like packing/moving? I'm looking for a what-if scenario...

I'm sure I'm going to love the driving experience and I know for 95% of my driving it's just me and a backpack at most and that's gonna be fine.. Has anyone
been stuck in the other 5% ?

 

obviously there are situations where the S wont work. for instance if you wanted to drive through a jungle, move a piano, family vacations, etc. however you have to think about how often you do those things and whether you would be able to borrow a car from a friend or somewhere else. if moving is your only concern i wouldnt even worry about it, im sure you know someone with a truck that would be willing to let you use it or help you. there are what-if scenarios for every car that would rule them out. there is not such a thing as a perfect car that does everything (except the Skoda Yeti, which they don't sell in the US )

if 95% of your driving is just you and a backpack i think that should answer your question.

 

Unless you have an incredibly small amount of stuff, you will need help moving into and out of dorms/apartments if that's what you're wondering. I had my S in the last couple years of college and it was never an issue otherwise, and hasn't been an issue since. For school, my parents helped with move in, and getting to my current apartment I borrowed (or could have rented) a truck.

The other 99.95% of the last 3 years of owning my S has be no trouble at all. I have no desire to own a more practical car.

 

my current what-if's..

Airport Pickups - I only take the S if they have a carry-on rollar suitcase and personal bag. that's all that fits.

Home Depot/Lowe's runs for the house: top down and passenger seat for the long stuff, anything bigger, and I'm borrowing a car, but hasn't been that bad... yet

Furniture Shopping: yea the big stuff doesn't even fit in my wife's car ('12 Acura TL)

Tires/Wheels: set of 4 fits, don't worry about that.

Work Lunches: I never drive. [=

Road Trips: took em all the time. Not as fun for passenger, but meeh. that's not me.


The S was awesome during my MBA. Room for books, couple pairs of shoes and change of clothes for the gym, and decent hwy mpg (it was a 45-55 min commute).


And oddly i'm shopping for a more convenient car. Why? 2 words. Baby seats.

 

So for travel, you can fit two carry ons, one in trunk and one between legs of passenger, it is tight and only for short trips. Costco run can be done except if you have more than one large item, sometimes I go with top down to fit larger items. Everyday shopping is fine, trunk is good. Larger than in my former miatas or mustang convertibles.

This is not a comfy long distance cruzer for two, it can be done but you had better have the ok before hand from your passenger as it is cramped or can be depending on size of passenger or driver. I do not store things behind seat when top is up, but in a pinch there is extra room there, just remember to remove prior to top down.

PArking is a snap to fit in most spaces.

You can exist as a daily driver solo with this car, but upon semester's end you cannot fit more than your laundry and a few other things in it to come home.

I have two cars and find that I require a sedan several times a month. I also don't like to leave my S outside over night and for now it has that duty now and then.mileage is not great for a 4 cyl due to gearing, which is built for speed, you can expect 20-23 in every day driving and 28-30 on trips, depending on speed and what gears you choose to be in...don't buy this car for great mpg, but it beats a 6 cyl.

 

Thanks a lot guys thats what I was looking to hear. I feel like I can survive with it, maybe the occasional inconvenience but like herfalerf said I can probably
find a loaner or rent something in that extreme situation. I would say the most common situation I might have is picking people up from the airport.

I have done 4+ hour road trips in my STi which is stg 2 and basically straightpiped and not very comfortable itself so I'll be used to that... and even 20mpg is an
improvement so I'll be ok with all that

Thanks again guys, looks like I'll be in the market soon! Looking for a white one around for around 12k...it'll be a shopping process as I understand white is
kinda rare.