Getting real close to pulling the trigger on a deal for an S2000.

Some concerns and questions.

Do you ever get tired of having no storage space inside the car? At least my Miata had door pockets - as does the Z3 - and both had glove boxes. It is not going to be a daily driver, but it would be nice to have a place to stash some CDs and things. The little nets on the doors are a joke as is the behind the elbow "glove box" - and who put the 12v socket there?

I have never noticed, are there cup holders? Where and how good? I like having one every now and then, but NO WAY is my wife going anyplace in the car if she does not have a cup holder FWW, the 'vette only has one and it is a POOR design.

If I get an '02 or '03, is the stereo "good enough" ? I would only be driving on top-down days so having a mega-dollar system would not make sense, but I do like my tunes. On a related note, the system IS a standard DIN and uses standard size speakers - so an upgrade is fairly straightforward? I was thinking of an in-dash MP3 player with aux in for my XM satellite (Sony PnP I move car to car to motorcycle to office).

Having had a Miata and a 'vette with the Z51 (autocross) suspension, I think I can live with the S2000 ride quality on the less than perfect streets around here - but I have only taken short test drives and on nice roads. Reviews I have read would lead me to think that the ride quality is poor (hey, I know it is a sports car). I take this with a grain of salt, but was wondering...

I am a big (around) guy and the cockpit is a little tight, certainly more room tham the Miata and a little less than the 'vette. How are the seats on long trips? The 'vette seats (surprise) don't have enough thigh support - it seems, but on long trips the seats have been SUPER. On my BMW daily driver (330i) the sports seats feel good and have adjustable thigh support - but they don't hold up as well as the 'vette seats on a long trip (another surprise). One one of the benefits of having an extra car that is a convertible is the weekend getaway - or a day riding on twisty back roads. How comfy are the seats after all day? For a large guy?

My heart is calling for the S2000 as does part of my brain, the other part says Z3. More room, great dealer experience (at least for me), classy looks, more torque, cup holders . Of course there is a big drop off in handling and some in acceleration. The S2000 is about 25% cheaper to insure than the 'vette and the Z3s are about 10% cheaper than the S2000.

Thanks,
Dennis

 

>>Do you ever get tired of having no storage space inside the car?
Not a problem for me. The lack of space encourages a clean car! I now realize that I used to store useless junk in my car - now it's a lot cleaner. The glove box stores everything I need including GPS, CDs, charger cables, etc.

>>I have never noticed, are there cup holders?
One cup holder in center console


>>If I get an '02 or '03, is the stereo "good enough" ?
The 02 stereo is fine for top-up driving, but you'll probably want to replace the speakers and add rear speakers. An amp does wonders.


>>I have read would lead me to think that the ride quality is poor (hey, I know it is a sports car).
Hey, it's a sports car! You'll learn to LOVE the ride - especially around the corners!


>>How are the seats on long trips?
The longest trip I've done is about 2 1/2 hrs - and it's fine!

 

There is another compartment behind the elbow one that has two lager pockets. The 12 V is in a strange place, and kinda annoying with my non built in radar detector, but you could easily get someone to wire it from the interior light cluster. The little nets are a joke. I keep my discs in a case and then put it behind the brace in the footwell that keeps if from sliding forward and under my feet. The cupholder is regular width, and decently deep. It is in the console just rear of the shifter and I think in a crappy position. If you spend a little money to put in rear speakers you can get good sound without mega bucks. It is easy to swap out the original and you can get a pac unit to use the OEM fingertip controls. It has great ride quality. Like you said, it is a sports car and is stiff as hell, but handles bumps pretty good. I liken it to the ride of a big go-cart (I love it for that.) I can't help you on the large guy fit. I'm a medium sized guy and have found that car seats to be really comfortable and supportive. I have driven the SF to LA and did not find myself shifting my body to get comfortable like I have in other cars.

 

I sold a really sweet Miata (a '93 B) to buy my S2000.

They are totally different cars.

If you compare the S2000 to the Miata after you buy it, you won't like it. If, however, you want to move up a notch or three from a sweet-natured Japanese roadster to a wild-assed but in some ways flawed ride, the S2000 is the logical next step.

I've never driven anything like the S2000 before. It's not its specifications that make it so special (in fact, some of them are pretty ordinary); it's something about the way they all work together to transcend being predictable.

The S2000: you either get it or not.

It sounds to me like you should get the Z3. Hurry, there aren't many left.

 

Sounds like you need to take longer test drives in both vehicles before making your decision.

Test the stereo with the top down; take it on smooth and bumpy roads, etc. We can talk about our S2000 and the pros and cons of the car until the cows come home, but ultimately-the final decision will rest with your own personal experience.

Ask yourself what is most important to you in each car; what compromises you're willing to make; make your list and decide from there.

Do you want "The Ultimate Driving Machine," or "The Ultimate Driving Experience?" They're both excellent cars.

-V.

 

The Z3 test drives have been without salespeople tagging along, so I got a LOT better feel for the car.

Every S2000 drive I have taken has been with the salesperson along telling me to slow down - in varying degrees of niceness

Makes it a little hard to get a feel for the car. It is pretty easy to overlook storage space, cup holders, etc when car shopping. I think I "get" the S2000, just wondering aloud about some of the problems with the car - it is not a perfect car - nothing we can afford is, I don't think.


If I get a Z3, it will be a used one. They are getting scarce new and can cost more than the S2000. The last lease quote I got had a 51% residual (gulp) on a 3 year lease! An '03 S2k is 66% and a left-over '02 is 65% - that is A BUNCH of money.

Thanks for the replies - I am leaning toward the S2k. I guess I need to go sit in one again and see if I can score another test drive. Maybe send the salesperson into the store for a beer and drive off and leave them

Dennis

 

Some more questions.

How good are the HID headlight? I don't care how cool they look, how do they light up the road? The HID lights on my BMW 330i are excellant, the after-market Philips ones I added to the 'vette are "too bright" and I have to aim the lights down to keep from blinding folks. Do they S2000 lights light up the road?

When you flip to high beams, do the low (HID) beams stay on too?

How about driving or fog lights? I noticed the car has none. What do most folks use or do they
not bother since they have HID?

What is the cheapest place to get OEM Honda stuff (spoilers, etc) ?

Is the OEM Alarm OK or would it be better to get an after-market one? What does the car have? The alarm has shock and glass breakage sensors, but I was thinking the car would honk the horn (at least) if someone opened the door if the door was locked with the remote.

Thanks again!
Dennis

 

Do you ever get tired of having no storage space inside the car?

For me this has not been an issue. As a matter of fact it has imposed a discipline on me that I should have had all along. My computer, attache case and client files go in the trunk now, where they should have always gone. I no longer leave client files in the car as there is no room. This is how I should have been behaving all along.
I find that I arrive at my client's offices much happier then I used to, and now we (my client and I) spend the first few minutes talking about my car and the drive over. I makes for a nicer start to the visit.

There is only one cupholder.

I no longer find myself getting coffee for everyone in the office. Now I have a great excuse, "I really don't have room in the car". That is how I now answer the cell phone calls I get on my way in. I find that I have just enough cup holders for my coffee!

Is the stereo good enough?

I've heard from many people that the stereo leaves a lot to be desired. For me it's fine. I drive with the top down as much as possible, and I don't like to blare my music. Somehow I don't think a better stereo would much matter under these conditions. When I have the top up I have no problem with the sound. It's a sportscar, not a concert hall, and while I like music alot, everything has a time and a place.

I have read that the ride quality is poor.

It's a sportscar. The ride quality is fine for a sportscar. It is not, thankfully, as soft and squishy as an Accord, a Lexus, a Camry. Nor should it be. It handles as well as most any other sportscar that I have driven. Thats why I bought it. I happen to like the ride.

How are the seats on long trips?

I've been real confortable. I have no complaints. I am small at 5'4" and that might make a difference, but so far I've enjoyed all of my "S" time.

If you really want a sportscar the S should be high on your list of choices. If, however, you really don't want what comes with a sportscar that is another story all together.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DWynne
[B]How good are the HID headlight?

 

I used to own a Z3 and just bought a S2000. I love bimmers but my Z3 was nothing but problems. It was the first year production so they may be more reliable now or I may have had an especially bad example.

Room wise the Z3 was a bit bigger and easier to get into.

The HID lights on the S2000 are GREAT. I's my first HID, but I never thought lights could be so good.

I think the S2000 is more fun to drive, and the suspension set-up 4 wheel double wishbone is more advanced than the Z3.

I'd get the S2000 if I were you, or wait for the Z4 it is more expensive but the resale of the Z3 is going to bite with the Z4 is out.