Four to five hundred a year on tires? What exactly are you doing with your car???

Its a college car. It will drive from home to college, sit somewhere for long periods out in the weather, and it will drive back home. He won't be putting many miles on it, and he certainly won't be going through a full set of tires every year.

I've seen kids killed in Camrys and BMWs as well as Camaros - its not what you drive, its respect for your car and the road conditions. The S2000 requires respect that a kid maynot have, and a car like a hatchback Nissan 240SX might be a more economical choice. Hatchbacks are great for college b/c they're sporty yet they can still haul stuff.

What else is your son looking at?

 

Your kidding me right? I spent that every 4-5 months when SO2s went.. Dont even go there.

 

Good comments. Any high performance sports car has its downside and risk. No doubt a responsible guy can handle it - an irresponsible kid can get hurt or killed in one. Which is reflected in the insurance rates. If you know you son (you should!) and he can handle it and you/he can afford it - it could be a very, very cool thing to do.

When I was in college, I probably would have run into trouble with a car like this. But I think kids are smarter these days. At least I hope so.

 

My car took quite a beating in college; dings all over the car, nowhere to wash/clean it, and paint is peeling from years of sitting outside. It hurt to watch it happen to my integra, I can't imagine how I would've felt watching it happen to an S2000. Not to mention the risk you'd have of jealous, drunk, college students wanting to "mess up the rich kid's car."

Reliability and driving experience would be much less of an issue in my opinion.

 

Yes, lower profile cars can be good considering the environment they're in at college.

Seriously, how are you burning through tires this fast?

 

I will add a little input to this.

I am 18 years of age and I just got a used MY2000 S2000. My payments are about 280 a month. ( roughly put 3,000 down on a 16k sticker. )

While I AM aware that Geico is shitty, they are letting me be minimally insured for 190 a month. I have had a valid drivers license for 2 years with no speeding tickets, wrecks, etc...

So that puts me at 490 a month plus maintenance. My only income is part time bartending and waitering and thats more than enough to take care of my living expenses plus + S.

As long as your son will respect the S the way its mean to be he will be fine. While I am young, I know the S was not built for people my age, but with respect and fairly good-constant income it CAN be done. Anyways good luck and PLEASE.... hook him up with an ALARM system complete with proxy sensor with a 2 way pager before he goes starts taking it to classes.

 

I'm sure it would be fine.

I wouldn't do it for my son. I'd want him to develop friendships and concentrate on his education rather than worry about a car....

I'd buy him something safe and bulletproof that he could drive into the ground and dispose of after college... when he gets his $20,000 signing bonus with the investment banking firm!

I'd probably go for a Scion Tc, Civic Si, or RSX.

You will hear different opinions, but in mine:
More cost in tires. More sets of tires (summer and winter sets... what's the point of a sports car with all-season tires that stink at everything).

MORE COST IN INSURANCE. If you haven't already, please price insurance before considering this car. Some younger members have found that their insurance payment is more than their car payment....

--Crig

 

18 + "minimally insured."

 

My brother and i are both in college and both bought a S2000. They are great reliable cars and there is no reason not to get one if you can afford it, and that is what you want. I would recommend you have your son go through a defensive driving course at bondurant or a school with a skid car. It will teach him the basics of car control and make him much more comfortable driving a RWD car under any condition.

As far as the tires go, i drive my car very aggressively and dont go through a set of tires as fast as most people..........i dont know if they are drifting or what, but i'd go through a set about every 10-15K miles. After changing wheels and tires they last even longer.

Good luck with your/your sons decision

 

I'm a college student and I have one, and I love it. But I know it's not the right car for every college student. Guarans your son will be gettin laid tho...haha.