Sorry to post another "please give me advice" request, but I have read the posts on this forum for some time, and I find the responses intelligently phrased and informative.

I am on the northern end of fifty, and have had several cars and motorcycles over the years. Most of them I bought and got tired of in short order, wound up selling them and generally lost some money. Over the years I've lost enough money in depreciation to fund a child's college bills.

Now I find myself as an empty nester and the desire to get the "Right car" is biting me again. My first love is Ferrari - being Italian and admiring there cars for years, it's a natural pick. But the fact is that the speed limit in this country makes owning a 150+ MPH car kind of silly. But I'm a sucker for advertising - buying into the hype of the big name toys. Needless to say at my age I also realize that my reflexes and skills are not what they were 20 years ago.

I do enjoy the "rush" of rapid acceleration, and have gotten my rush lately through motorcycles. Frankly my Yamaha R6 (200 HP/litre) can accelerate to 100 MPH in under 7 seconds. I don't have the skill to do that, but some do. The bike is light and fun, and for under $10K brand new with some mods, it out runs any car I've ever had. The problem is that as much fun as it is, I can't take my wife with me, and I don't risk taking the bike on a trip if there is rain in the forcast.

So (finally) my question: Are you happy with the S2000? I see many for sale, at least relative to the small numbers that are sold, and I don't know if this is the car for me. I'm considering a used Ferrari, any Alfa Romeo convertible (don't laugh - I've owned Alfas and they're fun), the new C6 Corvette, various 3 series BMWs, and even the upcoming Mustang (nostalgia is big at my age). For the price of the S2000 new, I can stretch to several of the above mentioned cars for some added money if necessary.

Comments?

 

I am in my late 20s and I have owned a MKIII Toyota Supra and MKII MR2. I haven't had the pleasure of owning much less driving a Ferrari. Although the S2000 is no Ferarri, it is a very high tech sports car, has phenomenal handling and classy looks. If you love high revving motorcycles than the F20C (S2k engine) attributes are closer to a a high revving motorcycle engine than any other engine out there. Although it is not the fastest car on the road, it is by far slow. I think the S2k is relatively a very fast car. It is an absolute blast to drive. I've owned this car since October 2003 and the novelty has still not worn off yet. Especially with the warmer weather coming, it is going to be a lot of fun.

If you are looking at a used Ferarris than how come you haven't considered an NSX?? They are also very fast and great handling sports cars. That would be the ideal car for me because I am not a big fan of convertibles. I would much rather prefer a targa or t-top car.

 

I think a lot of whether the S2000 is the "right car" has to do with your expectation.

The S2000 makes no excuses for itself:
It's small.
You have to rev it.
It's not practical.
It's a bit stiff for some(perfect for me).
It's loud.
It lacks creature comforts(a la Porsche Boxter).

But:
It's fun.
It's going to be reliable.
It'll be cheap to own(relative to some Italian exotic for sure)
It's fun as hell.
It's really really fun as hell.

If going in, your expectations are set correctly, I think this is the car.

I love my S2000. I baby it to death. Every time I fire her up and drive her, I smile. When I have a rough day at work, jumping into the car and just driving down the freeway with the top down makes me smile. You don't have to go fast to enjoy the car.

Buy an S2000, install a decent aftermarket radio, amp, speaker, buy a bottle of SPF 30, a pair of good sunglasses, drop the top... you'll love it. I know I do.

and if I had to do it again, I wouldn't change a thing.

 

The S2000 is not for everyone - thank goodness. It doesn't carry the name power of a Ferrari or Alfa Romeo, it doesn't have the torque and power of the new C6 Corvette, it doesn't have the status of your BMWs, and it won't have the nostaliga of a retro Mustang.

But by now if you've done any homework at all you know this car is something special. Here's just a few snips.......

● Imagine if Formula One engineers built a sports car; well, they did (Motor Trend)
● The perfect roadster (Automobile magazine)
● As long as Honda continues to build the S2000, we

 

As much as I like my S2000, it is not a car for everyone. If you have not done so yet, go read some of the comments in the Should I buy a S2000 thread.

Good luck with your decision.

 

enjoy the s2000 for honda's racing heritage and technology. the s2000 is not a status symbol at all. only enthusiasts will know what you have, and that's what makes it special.

 

I've had 2 Porsches, 4 BMWs, and a Miata before getting my S2000 a month ago. None of them have been as much fun as this car, and it's still too cold here to play with the top down. Once it warms up and the OEM tires replace the snows, it will only get better.

Barry
Dark Predator

 

I'm 25 and the S2000 is the right car for me at this time in my life. There is nothing at it's price point that I would enjoy more or that would suit me better.

 

If you're tall like me, 6'3, and as much of a fatty as me, 240 lbs, the seats will be very uncomfortable on long trips.


Also, stock, the car feels like you need to absolutely abuse it to get it to accelerate.


That is all.

 

I'm sure at this point in your life you realize that any car (or motorcycle) purchase is not in any way an investment. This car, and all you describe are on the emotional side of the spectrum and really should be taken as such. That said, NONE of us can tell you if you will tire of the S (or any sports car) in a short amount of time. In this light if you do go w/ an S, I would suggest a used one, you will depreciate much less on a '00-'02 than if you get a brand new '04.

Last year I was finally in a position to get what I'd been wanting for 10 years, an honest-to-God sports car. I had wanted an S2k since thier inception but I drove the Z-4, TT-quattro, Boxter, kept going back to Honda, it really feels the most "pure".

If I was in a price segment that you appear to describe maybe it would have been different, I would certainly have taken serious note of the NSX as one poster above mentioned, not to mention the Ferrari (I've never had opportunity to even drive either).

Good Luck w/ your decision, Travis