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Remember your first ride in an S2000? (56K beware--pics)
It was one year ago today that I got my first ride in an S2000! I was in Colorado with my significant other, Mark, visiting his mom. We went to his uncle's house in Golden for dinner and, much to Mark's delight, we learned his uncle had an S. I had never seen one! Let alone been in one!
His absolutely wonderful and very kind uncle let us take it out the next day. We had a blast and I was hopelessly hooked. I got back to SC and less than a week later had a gorgeous Suzuka in the drive.
Who else remembers when they knew they had to have this car?
I remember mine...it was actually a passing thought that got me the ride.
I was all set to get an Z3 on my way home I decided to stop at a Honda dealer just to try one out...man am I happy I did that!
During that drive, I knew I had to have this car. Went home and told my wife (Denise) and she kind of looked at me wierd and said something like...you've been talking about this BMW convertible thing, now you want a Honda????
Took her to the dealership, put her in the car...she came back looking like this --->, all she said was buy this car!
The rest is history and THE DARK SIDE was born ....
I knew I had to have this car back in 1995 when I saw the first photos of the SSM concept at the Tokyo Auto Show. From that moment on I just kept my fingers crossed it would become reality. Then years later when the revised SSX concept was shown I knew it would happen. I ordered a 2002 in October of 2001; the wait was well worth it for me.
My very first drive was in September of 2001. I knew I was getting an S2000 and I was not interested in test driving a new car because I did not want to hammer on a new engine. Because I did not want to test-drive only half an S2000 I waited until I found a used one for sale at a dealer's lot. The car was a 2001 model with low mileage. I took my salesperson out for one hell of a ride, you see I planned out a very specific route before I ever got in the car, and let me just say, we did some flying...
I had an interest in the car when I saw the SSM and SSX photos, but never really considered it as I had a major jones for a '93 RX-7 R1. My first sports car was an '85 RX-7 and I loved that car, and lusted for the R1. When the engine died in late 2002 I wanted to wait until I could find a decent example of an R1. My wife, however, wanted a new car without the travails and history of a used one, especially a car like the RX-7 that needed a LOT of TLC.
Last Spring we went car shopping, and looked at a lot of cars. BMW Z3 (too small inside and unsure about the convertible), Audi A4 (not sporting enough, too practical), S2000 (gorgeous car but unsure about the convertible), Miata (too small inside and unsure about the convertible), and the Nissan 350Z.
It boiled down to the S2000 and the 350Z. I had been reading about it since it was introduced, and even with the somewhat negative press about it not being a good car for a daily driver I was still intrigued. The first time I drove the S I was absolutely totally hooked. Absolute pure sports car, no (or at least minimal) compromises. The sales guy went with, and being a new car I didn't push it. When we got back I had him take my wife, and she came back grinning from ear to ear. I had to have this car.
To be fair, we drove a 350Z. I have to say, it is a nice car, but a lot more like a GT than a sports car.Lots more room inside (which my wife liked) but it just wasn't the same. Plus, to us it looked kind of... ummm... "froggy" from certain angles.
My wife wanted the 350Z, but said it was up to me as it would be my car. We went back to the Honda dealer and drove it again, and she finally agreed with me, it was the car to get.
Problem was, I still hadn't driven it top down, the weather was bad. I was still unsure about a roadster, a friend of mine had had several convertibles and I didn't care for riding in them (admittedly they were things like a Sebring, a Mustang, etc).
The day I first drove an S top down was when I picked mine up at the dealer. It was an hour drive home on a bright sunny afternoon, and all I can say is my face still has the sh*t-eating grin. I have the top down whenever possible, and I feel this is the best thing I have ever done for myself.
Many of you have already "heard" my story -- my dream car was the mercedes 230 slk Kompressor convertible -- +1 set up a test drive for me -- the car would be my Valentine's Day gift. I went out and drove the mercedes -- YECHHH POOOEYY YECHH, YECHHH -- I HATED IT. I was expecting a sports car drive -- it drove like a stinking Ford Taurus!! (sorry mercedes folks -- that's how it felt to me). Called +1 on my cell phone, told him I really hated the car and I was very sad . (Death of my dream sort of thing) -- +1 said go down to the Honda garage, they've got one of those little S2000s and try that out. So --- I did, called him one block into the test drive and said this is it -- I WANT IT NOW. He knew the car's capabilities -- I knew I loved the way it handled. End of story -- Her name is Valentine and she's a joy.
Remember your first ride in an S2000? (56K beware--pics)
, all she said was buy this car!
....
I still wish your ship had sunk on the way over from Japan...
....I tried to get the factory to paint yours black for you as a surprise 
. (Death of my dream sort of thing) -- +1 said go down to the Honda garage, they've got one of those little S2000s and try that out. So --- I did, called him one block into the test drive and said this is it -- I WANT IT NOW. He knew the car's capabilities -- I knew I loved the way it handled. End of story -- Her name is Valentine and she's a joy.