Ive been lurking on the board for a few days, and reading as much as possible about the car. I will test drive one in the next couple of days, but in my experience its only after days/weeks of ownership that you get to know a car.

My last two cars have been a P1 and S4. This will be my everyday car. Reading the motoring press it seems that in the wet on a bumpy road and pushing on I will change underpants when I get home.

Is this true ? (I dont believe everything I read) If so can any mods help calm it down ?

How is the car in this lovely climate we have ?

Do I need to avoid B roads ?

Is it possible to have a lovely exhaust note /

Any thoughts on the link posted below.

http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/Forum1/HTML/010084.html

Appreciate any unbiased help

Jonathan

 

Have mailed you my opinions.
Hope the test drive is OK.

That scoobynet is slow but worth the wait.
Interesting post. I don't agree with the following though...
"The back end twitched after every gear change at high revs, the whole car seems to get progressivly lighter the faster u go (lack of wing I guess) to the point i thought we were going to take off"
It hasn't 4wd and you must be smooth with the throttle to get the best out of it. The back end can twitch a bit but usually because of the fact one wheel is off the ground slightly due to the very rigid chassis and stiff springs. The diff does its job though and I've never had a moment whilst nailing it over bumps.

As for the Integra R comments, whilst the Integra feels fast it really isn't in the same class. Around a twisty track the cars are pretty even on performance and this can be translated to the public roads.
Another comment from the forum:
"But its not a "drivers" car - step from my integra into the s2000 for a spin round a roundabout and it feels like its got a big hinge down the middle. "
Hmmm. Learn to drive!
The Integra corners well but the S2000 does it better if driven properly. You cannot nail the throttle on bends but smooth power will see you through at greater speeds than an Integra. Plus the Integra is a pretty dull car to look at.
Not that I dislike the Integra R. I think it is a great car and a cheaper way to have nearly as much fun as an S2000 but it isn't in the same class. For less experienced drivers it is a safer car - more chuckable. For experienced drivers it is a fun car with plenty of ability but experienced drivers will get more out of the S2000.

 

Chins,

I bought a used S2000 with 15K miles in November last year. Mine too is used everyday which, having read a lot of posts from the other guys, seems less common. I have put on 5K already - and I love it more every day.

Just getting in the car and starting it up still feels very special and puts a smile on my face. The type of commuting you do should be a consideration, as longish daily motorway commutes in the winter are not a strong suit for the car as the ride/wind noise can start to get on your wire if you aren't in the mood.

Day-to-day handling issues are not a problem if you use a little maturity with the throttle. Whilst it is very easy to get sideways if you are in the mood, it is possible to make very rapid progress with a little restraint. I was very nearly put-off by the press write ups, particularly 'CAR', but was massively surprised by the ride quality when I got to drive the car myself - I suppose these things are just too subjective.

A long drive is the only way to decide, but you should think hard about practicality if this is your main car & not get carried away on a VTEC induced head-rush ! If you can get over the practicality issues, and can afford to run one properly, then I would say go for it !

Good Luck,


Dan

 

I've had my S2000 for 1 and a half years now and the car never fails to excite and please.

I disagree with the post you linked in though.

It is a very safe car to drive fast on motorways, a roads, b roads and the sort of roads that don't get a rating around my freinds home in Hastings.

It is possible to get the car out of shape if you want to or are inexperienced but I've always found that all you do is take your foot of the accelerator and let the car do the rest. Then a split second later you can floor it again.

I've also had my car on the track where I could open it up against another 12 of the beasts and it was controllable excitement all the way.

As for an every day car, no problem apart from the speeding fines and bans. As I found out when I got stopped for doing 150mph on the motorway at Southampton.

Buy the car and enjoy the fun, excitement and exclusivity.

 

I've only had my S2000 for 1 month now and I use her on B roads and A roads every day travelling to work (about 25 miles).
So far I've been very impressed with my s2000.

I was nearly turned off by the reviews... but once I got inside one and drove one for myself then I fell in love with them. It is a joy to drive everyday. Cornering is like a dream and overtaking is heaven. The seating position is very snug and you don't have to lean into bends like in most cars. You get total control of the steering as you can 'feel' the road beneath you, but in extreme situations the LSD takes care of nasty little bumps and slides.
Also the gear change sounds delightful.. sometimes I drive without music just to hear the engine (sad but true)..

Other cars move over for you when they see you in their rearview mirrors and it turns peoples heads in the street. Also they are not so common like boxsters or mx5's... plus they are Jap = good engineering.

The only problem I had was in the snow last week and the back end came out whilst changing gear at 30mph on a straight road, but it was rather slushy so that could happen to any car.

 

Chins,

I've had mine for 3 weeks now (second-hand with just over 9K on the clock) and it's been smiles all the way.

A 5 year drean fulfilled.

My S2K might even be the reason why I am enjoying my work - that adrenalin rush driving to work in the morning.

I've never owned a car this powerful before, but I have never felt that the car has got away from me, if you see what I mean. I must admit, however, I haven't driven it in the wet yet.

In the March edition (I think) of Top Gear magazine, they reviewed the S2000 alongside the BMW Z3 and Alfa Romeo Spyder V6. The only criticism of the S2K was it's requirement for super unleaded petrol.

To quote a colleague of mine at work...."Go on my son!!!"

Tony
Red/Black W

Yeah, I know it's 1.40 in the morning but I found this forum and thought I'd spend a few minutes checking through it.

 

I also use mine as an everyday car, and experienced a straight road 30mph back end kick out, which I have been only able to assume was a patch of oil/diesel or something under one wheel.

All morning I had been playing with the car, hanging the back out round corners etc, then the little blighty kicked me back and I tailed it into a wall, luckily no-one was hurt and driver and passenger were hardly bumped.

Now i have it back, I think its a great everyday car, PROVIDING YOU TAKE CARE IN THE WET, there is loads of power, and the stock tyres aren't the greatest wet weather tyre, but in terms of wind noise (I have the hardtop and have even thought of selling it to save storage space, noise is reduced, and it looks superb though), comfort, the gears, plenty of space for a fortnights shopping for two, room for at least a weeks luggage and there are so few around.

I have no problems in saying use it as an everyday car, but remember its a sports car, so maintain it, ie check the oil regularly (it loses/burns lots initially) and buy decent cleaning products.

Enjoy the car, I love it.

Ross

 

Hi all,
In answer to the specific question re the feel of the car on really wet and bumpy roads, I have just returned from a 40 mile drive on exactly that kind of road.
I may as well make it clear that I am no expert driver and only rarely get the tail out.
At no time did I feel any lack of composure whatsoever while on such roads. I last drove that road in a civic 1.6 iLS, in the dry, and the subjective speed difference does not feel that great. But the feeling of speed was definitely there.
FWIW
John Moriarty