yeh preludes are coo, to bad they stopped production.. I think im the only one who digs the last gen prelude design. They looked coo

 

Report...
I am pretty damn close to upgrading from a 2002 to my04. This morning I had the opportunity to put them through my favorite back roads in a back to back fashion. Here's my personal conclusions...

1. The 04 2.2L is a better S2000. I still think it was SAF to keep the name..
2. The big overall difference is this... The previous models were competition for buyers who might enjoy owning the Lotus Elise. The 04's are not...
3. The shift action is amazingly smooth, but the snicket snicket has gone bye bye. The delay shit drove me nuts but maybe I do not know how to manipulate it.. Holy delayness'...
4. The reduced redline is only apparent if your not watching the road but rather your tach... In this rendition you realize rather quickly that the power is there. If you hear her start to really holler, just shift and you'll keep accelerating-hard. If the NSX, the new v10 M5 and Porsche GT all can work with an 8 grand rev limit so can I.
5. Handling is well, disgustingly spot on. The rear is a tad over soft, this would be my biggest my05' request for improvement. The Clutch valve thingy is a strong second.
6. I want one since it won't cost me a dime in this deal. I may take delivery in the morn but I have another issue...

-The berlina I was planning to buy was the damn guinea pig.. 172 miles !!!!!!!! Pulsating brakes, felt like passenger side front rotor was warped. BumpBumpBumpBump-ShakeShake!!! The paint was swirled to hell, a couple of nice hairlines..Sheesh. Sad thing was after I brought it back so i could hop directly into my 2002 for comparison, another guy walked up and fell in love with this TOTALLY USED s2000. I told my salesman he could have it.. I would never buy a car categorized as new in that condition. Anyhow, being that everything else is lined up, the sales manager still wants to do the deal. Here in lies my dilemma...

Remaining 04's include 1 showroom Rio(Tochigi) with some barely detectable bolster wear, two GPW's (1 Tochigi, 1 Suzuka), 1 Silverstone/Blk(Suzuka), 2 Suzuka(Suzuka) and a Sebring/Blk(Suzuka). I cannot decide on a color. Suzuka and GPW are not going to happen. I have Sebring now and I "could" do it again with the new wing & chin spoiler which are included in the deal. The Rio is crazy and might very well happen.. but what do you think they will do with the seat bolster? Oh and the Rio already has a decklid spoiler so the new wing sp. is out of the question. The silverstone is the cleanest S2K on the lot when u get down to the smallest details. This will be tough...

It's a long shot but I'm going to find out what's available as a dealer trade. I was hooked on the Berlina as it would match my motorcycle in the garage very nicely... The Rio is calling me though. Public & police attention is a concern though..

sidenote: The VIN counts started over when they moved production to Suzuka. Essentially they're two my04 #2's 3's 4's etc...

 

I decided on the Rio... Asked about repairs for the shot bolster, he suggested color match? I begin to get a little peaved but was excited that I would be getting the Rio. I asked for the key so I could check the mileage... I hear a command for the porter to have the car prepped for new car delivery. I again ask for the key and the sales manager explains tha the battery is disconnected. I reply, "no big deal , let's connect the battery". I get a pause... Then he proceeds to tell the porter to do so. The key shows up(valet key) and I proceed to turn the ignition. 120 fkn' miles.

Before I have a chance to hop out and return the key(damn it's easier int he 04) the "blah blah" begins to spew from my now returned salesman and his manager.. As I made my last walk around I caught a litte curb rash on passenger rear wheel. I walked out and went for a 50 mile ride in my S2K. I came home to a VM with a very apologetic offer to find whatever color I may want. He should have offered me an 05 for all that bullshit....


If only they still offered an all red interior combo, I would be more into this...