Hi to all of you,

Not the best place for an impartial answer I realise but

 

Take a test drive sir! (DEALERSHIP)

Its seriously the most fun car I've been in...and Ive had a bunch of random cars. Nothing thats near a elise though, so not much of a comparo here.

Its pretty practical, its my DD & its not bad. its slammed too, so If it was slightly raised I'd have no complaints at all.

 

http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/cto/988890242.html

check that out your answer is right there!

 

All of those other 3 cars will be more raw than the S2000, which is great if that is what you want. The S2000 won't beat you up nearly as much, and everything is more refined.

And it's rock-solid Honda reliable. And you can fit a couple of sets of golf clubs in the trunk. And the soft top goes up and down in 5 seconds. And, and, and.

Test drive a few S2000s to see what flavor you like best. AP1 has a 9000 RPM readline for more of a rush. AP2 are good too, just a little softer to the senses in stock form. Add an exhaust and coilovers to liven any of them up a little.

 

For me, the Elise, and moreso the 7 and 7 variants, are a bit too harsh. The S2000 is every bit as much of a drivers car, without any of the downsides. BUT, it IS heavier, so the driving experience is quite different.

I've driven all the cars you asked about (and considered them all before buying the S2000), and for me, it was NOT an easy decision. However, having owned the car for going on six years now, any doubt about it being the right choice have long since vanished.

40 years ago I'd have been all over a Super 7 if I had had the money, but all my finances would support was an MGA. Now, I'd rather have the Honda.

That said, nobody can make this kind of decision for you. Drive all the cars you're considering, repeatedly if necessary, until one of them "rises to the top."

 

The guy I bought my S from has a Seven. He says the S2000 definately filled the thrill on the street that he got from his Seven on the track.

I drove the Elise before buying the afforementioned S2000. For street use, they perform very similarly. If you want to pay more money, have more exclusivity, and not fit a golf bag, buy an Elise. The S2000 gave me the same thrills for less money and more practicality.

Good Luck on your decision.

 

The S2000 is my daily driver and it works great in that role.
It's comfortable, ample room, suspension is sporty, yet compliant, etc.

I prefer 2 wheels, but I cannot think of a better daily driver if you must have 4 wheels.

It's not the best performer out there, but it has just the right combination of performance, comfort, and driving feel.

Actually, one of the things I enjoy with the S2000 is the lack of power, when commuting in some of my other vehicles I could never really enjoy giving it full throttle. With the S2000, you can do that every once in a while without getting arrested. Not to say it's a slouch...it really is just the right amount for fun commuting on public roads.

Same story with the suspension, it's not the best handling thing I've been in, nor is it really soft or sporty, it's just right. It's firm enough to let you know what's going on, yet soft enough that you can drive in comfort.

My commute to work is 45 minutes one way, 35 of which is stop/go traffic at 0-15 mph. The other 10 minutes are local roads and on/off ramps where I can give it a little throttle...for me at least, the S2000 works great on my commute.

And for long distances, the S2000 really shines also. I could go a full tank without stopping to stretch. When you hit the twisty bits you might wish it was lighter and more agile, but it's worth the slight compromise when consider the practicality of the vehicle.

 

I agree with the 'test drive' suggestion. The only '7' I have come across at the track was not being driven to it's potent I am guessing, because he wasn't very fast. I know they are usually a very quick and fast car, so this guy was either just learning or the car was not up to spec.

Now the Elise on the other hand is VERY fast and is basically a go kart with a roof and doors that is street legal. My guess is that it would be as much fun as your 7, just more practical.

 

Since I already own an S, my next choice is an Elise/Exige, but since you don't own an S, I can't claim the Elise/Exige would be the car you want or need. Just as everyone else has mentioned, test drive the three cars and see which one you'd feel more comfortable with driving.
Remember this much, though: what the S2000 lacks in acceleration compared to the Elise and 7, it makes up for in comfort and drivability.

 

Very good point.