I've already posted this thread in the Member's Corner. However, since I've always hung around the Type-R Forum, I also wanted to post this here FYI and to say thanks to all the ITR guys for dealing with my newbie questions.

Gather 'round, fellow Honda-Tech members, I've got a story to tell. If you would please bear with me (and my endless digressions), I'll tell you how it all began...

My love affair with Honda - and their uber excellent products - started at the goofy, slap-bracelet-wearing age of 9 (I understand that older H-T members may be lost on this reference, but I'm sure some younger members will fill them in). At the time, my brother was fascinated with the high-revving dirt bikes that shrieked past our home on a daily basis (which were owned by lewd, irreverent neighborhood kids)... by the way, dirt bikes are quite common where I used to live - in uber conservative Jawjah (Georgia). Back to my point, within a couple months (and after several hours of pleading by my brother), I became one of those irreverent neighborhood kids... and received Honda #1. It was Honda's Z50R dirt bike: 50cc's of pure Honda engine technology, dinky 10 inch white powdercoated rims (97 ITRs have nothing on me), front and rear drum brakes, 3-speed clutchless sequential manual transmission, and terrific vinyl graphics... resulting in a top speed of 30 mph (downhill, with lots of wind) and one very happy boy (my brother got a Suzuki DS80: 5-speed w/clutch, working headlight, yellow paint, knobby tires, engine-kill switch, and a kick-*** two-stroke engine... end result: 0-40 in <7 seconds enough torque to pop a wheelie). Right away, we noticed my Honda was far more reliable and refined than the Suzuki, regardless of the abuse it had received (numerous crashes, 1 flip, and several gallons of old gasoline). Moral? Honda Z50R: $1100, Suzuki DS80: $1600, Having my own Honda and learning to coordinate clutch and throttle at the age of 9: Priceless.

The second Honda came less than three years later. After our delightful (not!)Murray walk-behind lawn mower crapped out, our family agreed to invest in a riding lawn mower. After much research and bickering, we finally splurged on a deluxe model Honda Harmony riding lawn mower... Honda #2. It's mid-engined, rear wheel drive, and has five speeds (Turtle to Rabbit). Honda quality all the way. Pretty soon, I became my family's yard man and was trying to find every excuse to cut the grass. Great fun...

Then came my third Honda. At nearly the same time we purchased the lawn mower, my brother had turned 16 and purchased a 5th gen 5-speed Civic EX Coupe. Although I must admit that he was the one who turned me on to the import scene, he took a wrong turn and began to "rice" out his car before there was even a term for it: clear corners, single wiper conversion (spray painted yellow!!), 16 inch Konig wheels, Eibach lowering springs, limo tint, rear spoiler, 5Zigen exhaust, 2 10" Kickers with Amp, and a stock(!) engine.. it was the epitomy of what define as rice (all show, no go, and a young asian kid in the driver's seat bobbing to some beats). Well, unfortunately (or not, depending how one views it), the car was passed on to me when I turned 15 (BTW, my bro moved on to an Acura RSX Type-S)... Honda #3, fwd Honda #1. Finally, after several years of scrutinizing various car magazines and lusting over Ferraris, I had a car I could call my own. I spent my time driving around the neighborhood (illegally... <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emwink.gif" BORDER="0"> ), trying to master the heel-and-toe downshift, and VTECing my way to Barnes and Nobles for some more magazines. Nevertheless, I was never satisfied... the car had lackluster acceleration and enough rice to feed the hungry children in China. Thus, I went on the net, and began to search/research my next vehicle... which brings me to Honda-Tech. After taking a ride in a 2001 ITR, I had pretty much decided that it would be my next vehicle. Every day, I would search on Autotrader and Classified Ads for a Used ITR, but had no luck. Several of them had either been abused, wrecked, or way overpriced. Months went by, and I finally made a decision...

After making a deal with my parents (I would pay half + insurance + maintanence), we agreed to order my next vehicle... a 2002 Honda S2000. I went to the Honda dealer, talked with the sales person and placed a $500 deposit securing an incoming S2000 for MSRP!!! I am PSYCHED!!! I think I may have set a record... HondaVtec =youngest S2000 owner @ 16?

I want to thank you guys for answering the newbie questions I post and for the great discussions you share. Honda-Tech.com is definitely the premier Honda forum on the internet!

Cheers,
David <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/embeer.gif" BORDER="0"> <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emcocktl.gif" BORDER="0">


[Modified by HondaVtec, 8:39 AM 1/11/2002]


[Modified by HondaVtec, 8:54 AM 1/11/2002]


[Modified by HondaVtec, 8:57 AM 1/11/2002]

 

Good luck on your new ride.

 

spoiled brat...J/K, you seem to really appreciate your situation

 

Ross - thanks for the comments... You're right, I am truly grateful to be in such fortunate circumstances. If there is one thing I hate, its an unappreciative brat who has been spoiled by his/her parents. I will be paying for the down payment, insurance, maintanence, gas, and half of the monthly payments by working a part-time job. Considering my passion for automobiles, I believe that working a few days a week for such an exquisite vehicle is well worth it.

 

Congrats! Good stuff, S2000 brand spankin' new at 16. Watch the oversteer.


[Modified by Type Goch, 3:10 AM 1/11/2002]

 

indeed, be carefull in that car

and congradulations, never forget you are one lucky kid with great loving parents,

 

Congrats, but just one question...

How do you expect to fulfill your obligation at just 16 years old?

Jason- who thinks that expense is a bit too much...

 

Congrats

Flux - who wonders what kind of girls he could have got at 16 with an S2000 instead of a Yugo...

 

Do yourself a favor, attend a few autocross to explore the limits of the car. Getting driving experience in autocross may save yourself in an emergency situation on the street.

Congrats on the S2000 !

 

.....not a flame, but I sure hope your parents know what they're doing.

I've seen far too many sports cars + young/ inexperienced drivers = dead kids + other dead kids who where racing...

Drive safe. I'm on the same roads you're on.