Originally Posted by commonsense,Jan 28 2006, 02:33 PM

If you know anything about the Japanese, the first year is usually the best. Look at Datsun 240Z's. In fact, the Japs usually blueprint all the engines for at least part of the first year. I've had my '00 almost six years and it has never been beaten by any other S2000. I don't drag race it but I'm fond of 45 mph to 120. 45 is 6000 in second. For that matter, I've never run into a Porsche that can beat it, though I did see 148 mph after letting a Boxster S get a jump on me. But I still went by. Even 911's are chump change if you just get a little jump. 330 hp Mustang SVT Cobras? No problem. Four car lengths from 45 to 125. Yes, it's true I haven't found any Vipers or turbo Porsches to race. But if I get a nice jump and catch them out of the right gear, they'll still lose. I've had no problem with my transmission but I NEVER get on it in first gear. Look at road tests for each year of the S2000. The 0-60 and quarter mile times were fastest in the first year. Typical. Make it great right away. That's the way to get sales. Then you can cheapen it and still make sales. Look at MSRP. It's hardly gone up in seven years. Something's gotta give. Don't want to make you 2.2 guys mad but the move to Suzuka? Disaster. I closely examined an '05 recently and couldn't believe how bad it was. My God, there was one long thick paint drip along both doors. More orange peel. Poor panel gaps. I wouldn't own a Suzuka car for anything. And the 2.2 (2.15?). Forget about it. You have to wring it's neck EVERY TIME to keep it in the power band. I can comfortably shortshift my '00 and stay in the power band. And the 2.0 liters have a higher piston speed than a Formula 1 V-10. Can't say that about the 2.2's. Which, by the way, I've driven and it was significantly slower than my '00. I agree with those guys that the '00's were the best handlers, too. Yes, when the tires wear you get snap oversteer, but this isn't a problem with good rubber at anything up to about 100 mph. The later cars have been 'civilized.' Grab an early one if you can.

Originally Posted by Wisconsin S2k,Jun 29 2005, 01:12 PM

I'd take an 03 suzuka blue all the way.

Originally Posted by commonsense,Jan 28 2006, 05:33 PM

If you know anything about the Japanese, the first year is usually the best. Look at Datsun 240Z's. In fact, the Japs usually blueprint all the engines for at least part of the first year. I've had my '00 almost six years and it has never been beaten by any other S2000. I don't drag race it but I'm fond of 45 mph to 120. 45 is 6000 in second. For that matter, I've never run into a Porsche that can beat it, though I did see 148 mph after letting a Boxster S get a jump on me. But I still went by. Even 911's are chump change if you just get a little jump. 330 hp Mustang SVT Cobras? No problem. Four car lengths from 45 to 125. Yes, it's true I haven't found any Vipers or turbo Porsches to race. But if I get a nice jump and catch them out of the right gear, they'll still lose. I've had no problem with my transmission but I NEVER get on it in first gear. Look at road tests for each year of the S2000. The 0-60 and quarter mile times were fastest in the first year. Typical. Make it great right away. That's the way to get sales. Then you can cheapen it and still make sales. Look at MSRP. It's hardly gone up in seven years. Something's gotta give. Don't want to make you 2.2 guys mad but the move to Suzuka? Disaster. I closely examined an '05 recently and couldn't believe how bad it was. My God, there was one long thick paint drip along both doors. More orange peel. Poor panel gaps. I wouldn't own a Suzuka car for anything. And the 2.2 (2.15?). Forget about it. You have to wring it's neck EVERY TIME to keep it in the power band. I can comfortably shortshift my '00 and stay in the power band. And the 2.0 liters have a higher piston speed than a Formula 1 V-10. Can't say that about the 2.2's. Which, by the way, I've driven and it was significantly slower than my '00. I agree with those guys that the '00's were the best handlers, too. Yes, when the tires wear you get snap oversteer, but this isn't a problem with good rubber at anything up to about 100 mph. The later cars have been 'civilized.' Grab an early one if you can.