I second your quote cedric, rear wheel drive is not always the best in the wet.

 

If they'd have left the hardtop off the S would have won!

 

They were, at least, very complimentary about the S2000 - which is better than some of the magazine coverage !!

 

Very entertaining, but obviously the idea was to get the CTR over the line first.. with Plato ridiculously sideways through the last, the S could have easily taken the inside line but decided to back off instead. Mind you the start wasn't exactly even - was it just me that thought the guy in the S jumped the gun?!

Obviously there would have been no point in running the test in the dry. That said though I have to admit, the CTR is one hell of a car for the money... that's got me thinking, I wouldn't mind having one as my 'sensible/wet weather' car

 

pity most of the 'facts' they presented were wrong

 

Did you notice that they switched off the traction control on the S2000?

Jason was definitely driving all out, did you see the way he took out the corner marker when he cut the apex? He was definitely allowed through and the way he was all over the place on the last corners, the S2000 driver clearly backed off. The S2000 looked to be the easier to drive. Still it was exciting and IMHO showed the S2000 in a good light.

I have the whole programme on tape if anyone local missed it.

 

With my S2000 being driven less and less recently due to the arrival of my baby daughter, I have been giving some thought to getting either an Accord Type R or a Civic Type R, as we could all go out in it together if needs be.

The Driven review, whilst flawed, was yet another great testamonial to the Type R Civic's strong performance and handling. Sure the S2000 is the better car but like the Integra before it the Civic R is an affordable alternative and gives 80-90% of the fun for 65% of the money (if you add aircon).

The main problem with the idea of me getting a CTR is not the performance, as the number of times I use the full performance of the S2000 is really rather limited (probably just to track days).

It is the fact that I really like the top down motoring and the "special feeling" you get when driving the S2000 (even after 2.5 years).
I also love the rear wheel drive, the ability to over- or under-steer with correct throttle/steering control and the all round balance of the S2000.

Then there are the looks. The CTR isn't a stunner, although in Black it looked better than the Silver one I've seen in most of the magazine reviews, probably because black hides the tall boy proportions better than Silver. The S2000 still turns heads even in Bournemouth where S2000s aren't exactly rare and are pretty much at the bottom of the price league of convertibles in this area (MGFs and MX5s excluded).

And blatting around with the family on board is probably not the best idea. My wife was scared to death when I drove her around Bedford Autodrome in the S and I can just imagine the arguments if I had a CTR, especially if we have baby Alice on board.

So I guess I've just persuaded myself to keep the S2000 a little longer.

Besides, after Driven tonight there will be too many boy racers buying the things, especially at 16 grand and the insurance situation could get a lot worse.
Expect me to eat these words if (and when) I buy a CTR! Perhaps we could be a 3 Honda family again.....

 

I seriously considered the CTR as you know after the test drive. Theres no denying it's hellish quick, fun to drive and has the advantage of being a family/load lugger to boot. I think you hit the nail on the head Paul, I couldn't bear to part with the top down experience, and when it comes right down to it, the S is the far better machine.... there's no real comparison. I'm going to stay totally impractical for a good while yet.

 

It's a tough one to call!

I said to my friends before the test that:

- if it was wet
- depending who was driving
- and what the "news scoop" was

that one of the hot hatches would "win".

I'm glad it was the Honda C-TR out of the three, as it confirms that Honda has the right idea re. chassis, engine (oooh yes!) and of course the marketing "halo effect".

Luckily, my wife was watching at the same time (we live apart during the week due to my work ) but.....


.... she said "Perhaps, we can trade in the Citroen Picasso for the C-TR and I can race you! We'll have a look in the Dealers on Saturday" - I always knew I loved her!


Now, to the program:

- An S2000 with "traction control", did he really make sure it was turned off, if so, where's the switch then? -
- An S2000 with "20 BHP more than the C-TR" -
- Not sure the guest driver was trying very hard - the S2000 looked very sedate round that last corner -
- The S2000's engine didn't sound very extended into VTEC land -
- Jason is the current UK Touring Car champ and the other guy drove a standard Boxster to the track-


Still, I enjoyed it overall - but want a re-match - in the dry!

 

They should have raced the S2000 against that blokes Boxster, now that would have been fun.