After saying good bye to my 02 Indy Yellow Pearl some 2 years ago, it looks as though I may be returning the the fold of S2K ownership.

I did almost 60K miles in my S over 30 or so months and aside from the replacement of corroding wheels and the occasionally troublesome MAP sensor, the experience was an enjoyable one.

I have been hassling Honda UK's marketing department to see if I could have a Grand Prix White car and whilst no one there would speak to me, I eventually received a call from customer services to say that the S is now available in white - albeit Platinum White, which is a Pearl unfortunately.

I see some things don't change for prospective S owners however - I've been quoted 20 weeks for delivery and the dealers are still iffy.

I'm going to make my choice between two cars this weekend - Lotus Exige S (8 weeks delivery) or a new S2000 Roadster (20 weeks).

 

Welcome back (maybe!)

As you say, there has always been a 20 week lead time if you wanted a colour that the dealer didn't either have in stock or on pre-order based on the assumption that it would sell. Maybe dealers don't think the white will sell that well and so haven't pre-ordered any? Or maybe if the colour is that new no-one has been able to pre-order it before now?

Personally, I'd be tempted to try something new - and I say that as someone who bought two S2000s but started to get "itchy feet" after 12 months or so. Not that there was anything wrong with it - just that after nearly 3 years of ownership it felt like time for something new.

 

Are you insane or just on a nostalga trip

Lotus no contest, different experience I know but a lot of
S2000 owners would like one next, me included.

Russ.

 

The Exige S is a different class... scarey fast cars with handling to match

My mate showed me the performance difference in his compared to my S...It was shocking

 

IS IT?? Since when, and in the UK?

When I met with their head of marketing, I asked about white and said there would be demand for it in the UK, he seemed to infer that Japan wouldn't let the UK have white.

Which is odd, as other places get it.

 

I made a few calls to try and speak with a Product Planner at Honda UK the week before last. They must've been too busy to respond to a mere punter themselves, but after my final call I received a call-back from Honda Customer Services.

A chap called Ifram told me that Platinum White Pearl was now available. I would prefer the straightforward Grand Prix White myself.

I suspect the non-availability of white is nothing to do with Japan. It will be down to Honda UK's product planners to decide what the UK market 'wants' - presumably in combination with what the dealers tell them...

At the risk of ranting, it really gets my goat that I have my personal taste and the manner in which I spend my hard-earned cash dictated by some cheap-suited, gel-haired, wide-knotted-tie wearing, square-toed shoe 'Sales Executive'.

If the paint colour's in the US and Japan, there's no production reason why it can't be available anywhere else - just a matter of a code on a production order.

It's the same situation with a VW Eos, Audis. White cars don't sell according to the dealers. Well I for one have bought many white cars in the past. I made an enquiry about a white Audi S4 convertible a while back and whilst I could have it, it was a special order at a very special price -

 

The Exige in white is stunning, see BoyWonder's.

Russ.

 

Might go and enquire at the local Honda dealer Miss the S so much

 

Keep up Budgie

There was a thread a week or so ago. Pearleascent white is an special order option on 07 cars. Lookers Warrington have on as a demo car.

 

I haven't managed to see an actual car in Patinum White Pearl, but if the swatch I have seen at the dealers is anything to go by, it 's err... very light silver.

I just do not get it why plain Grand Prix White is not available to us Brits - other than the fact Honda don't want to offer a colour which they can't justify a hefty premium for. I think the only standard colour now is New Formula Red.

One major down-side IMHO to the White Pearl is the interior availability - black is OK, but the two-tone black and red is dreadful. Again why can't one have the simple red interior?

Anyway, I went for another test drive in an S yesterday and it has confirmed this is my preferred option, taken as an overall package, to an Exige S, but having to wait 20 weeks for a S car in a colour of my choice is probably a non-starter.