Hi all - The lease on my 99' Mitsu Eclipse GSX is about to go up, and I am seriously looking at a Suzuka blue S2000 to replace it. i've followed the S2000's since they first came out and I love the car! I have to admit though, the S2000 is not too practical for a daily driver - and right now I drive 60 miles a day to go to work! I'm big into cars, especially driving rare ones like the S2000 - my dad used to have a 94 TT Supra so I'm used to being in a rare sports car and getting looks. I guess my biggest problem here is that the S2000's practicality is my biggest enemy. After reading a lot of posts from you guys, it seems that most of you don't drive it everyday for long distances. And for a car like this, I don't think it would be recommended. That why I bring up the Audi TT - its AWD does put it up a notch for driving in bad weather. I know the 2 of these cars are different, but to me, its a hard choice. The S2000 wins hands down in performance, looks (especially in the new Suzuka blue), fun to drive in the summer, and I love its cockpit - one of the most unique there is in a car today. But the TT (coupe or roadster) is better in the rain or snow, has more luxury features, is almost as rare on the road, and I'm sure it can handle its on on the road. I guess my question to all of you is have any of you ever gone up against a TT? And if you did, how badly did you beat one? I mean I'd love to be a part of the S2000 crowd - you guys are pretty cool and the car is much more rare than a TT - but I have to admit, living on the east coast, I have to worry about snow this time of year, and I know that Bridgestone Potenza S-02's won't fare well against it.

Thanks for all of your imput!~

 

Forget the TT, Audi's are a mechanical nightmare in terms of $$ and they look so... "prissy".

I daily drive mine, and I have managed to put on 6700 miles in the 2 months I've owned it.

I assume that since you can afford the S2k, you can afford another set of wheels and tires for the winter. So my suggestion is that you get a nice set of winter tires like the Bridgestone Blizzaks for the second set of wheels and a good hydraulic jack to make the wheel switchover easier.

When winter comes, just swap out your summer wheels with your winter one's and you shouldn't have any problems driving it in the snow. Rain won't even be an issue as I have driven my S-02's in the rain and have not had any problems with sliding, I just slow down a bit..

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DouglaS2000
[B]Forget the TT, Audi's are a mechanical nightmare in terms of $$ and they look so... "prissy".

I daily drive mine, and I have managed to put on 6700 miles in the 2 months I've owned it.

 

GSX210HP,

Mine is a daily driver too. Now I don't drive 60 miles to work, it is only 10, but I do live in St. Louis, and we do get some snow. I have a second of inexpensive wheels that I got from NTB and had some Michelin Pilot Alpine's mounted on them. I got wheels and tires all the same size (16X7.5 & 205/55R 16). Everyone says not to do it this way, but I'm not racing in the winter, or ever for that matter and it works for me. I drove on them several times in 3-4" of snow and had absolutely no trouble at all. I have a cheap hydraulic jack from Walmart and swap them back and forth.

 

Douglas,


I wrestled with the same issues. When I was looking to get another car, practically was a very large concern for me too. I too commute about 60 miles for work each day. The high points to the S2k are that:

1) It is a Honda, so you know it is reliable.
2) Price to performance ratio is way above the TT.
3) Maintenance is no different than your average civic.
4) The

 

Why not check car mags to see if there are any group test comparisons? Hardly going to get impartiality from S2000 and TT sites!!!

I considered a TT and decided on the following as being the main points for the S2000:

S2000 pro: performance, brakes (TT criticised for this if really pounded), rarer in UK than TT, Honda UK reputation
TT pro: 4WD safety, small rear seats as opposed to none.

If I were to sum up my choices: If you are a family man and need to make a concession to your partner, the TT may be wiser. If you have no children or have another car to carry folk around in and are allowed to be selfish, go for the S2000.

Rather sensible reply, I thought ....

 

Well I'm not a family man, it doesn't matter what kind of car I choose to drive. Thanks for all your replies so far, but hasn't anyone ever raced a TT? The reason I ask is because Saturday a guy and his chic were in a TT Roadster and I decided to try and race him. To my surprise, I beat him! I heard him revving a whole hell of a lot, but I was at least 1 car length ahead of him. Now my GSX is no tire screacher and its my first manual - but somehow I still beat him. I got my GSX mainly to practice driving a manual - after 3 years, I feel that I'm ready for a performance machine like the S2000 - I'm just wondering if anyone has given a beating to cars that's near the same class of the S2000.

 

The best choice depends on how you plan to use the car and much you care about things like comfort and practicality. There's no doubt that the TT -- especially the 4wd coupe -- would be a better choice for 1000-mile days and icy roads. For exactly the same reasons why it's a poorer choice for a twisty road on a beautiful day (should you have any of either in South Jersey )

But the basic question is: are you a compromiser or a hardass? When I was 18, in 1966, I had to choose between an TR4 and a Karmann Ghia. I decided not to compromise, and got the Triumph. I never regretted it. You're looking at exactly the same choice 35 years later.

PS: If you go for the S2000, you will DEFINITELY want a second set of rims and winter tires! You wouldn't believe how lethal the stock tires are on ice.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by GSX210HP
[B]...To my surprise, I beat him!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DouglaS2000
[B]Forget the TT, Audi's are a mechanical nightmare in terms of $$ and they look so... "prissy".

have to disagree as my experience with my A4 and audi service in general have been incredible. the audis are MUCH better built then ever before (please don't hold the Audi 90 against them ) and when mated to the Audi Advantage warranty (basically free everything) they're very reliable.

that said, my S2000 is my daily driver and I enjoy it thoroughly. it's a tough comparison between two very different cars. in terms of day to day driveability, i might give the edge to the TT... like you said, especially in poor weather, but I'd never trade the pure performance driven nature of my S2000 in for that.

... plus, they look so... "prissy".