First of all, this is quite a long post, and bare with me cuz i'm not going to bother spell checking or even proofreading simply because i'm so tired. I'm not the greatest writer in the world, but here's my story and driving impression:

Ok, for those of you who dont know. I recently got in a pretty good wreck with my beloved CRX. Check the link in my sig if you want to read about it . I love the car, i really learned how to drive aggressively on some of the local mountains and deserted back roads (Glendora Mountain Road [GMR], Turnbull Canyon, etc). This is the car that really taught me how to communicate with a vehicle when driving it at its limits. On 3.5.04 i was involved in an accident that, as i said before, totalled my car. For the past two months i've been considering one of two options. Either get another CRX, and build it the way i always wanted to, since i would have quite a some of money to do it (a sleeved b16 or b18, very low weight, and unimaginable suspension) , or look to get a more grown up car. That car: Honda S2000.

I've been surfing this forum, and s2ki.com for nearly 2 months now. Learning, researching, getting specs, watching videos...getting comparisons. The whole bit. And since the whole insurance ordeal is just about completed now. I knew that it was time for me to actually get behind the wheel, not just to sit in it as i had before, but to take it for a spin.

Driving Impression: (i know i'm not a car and driver writer...but here it goes)
After juicing the car up, i was tickeled to the pedal feel of the clutch. It really felt like the stuff dreams are made of. No Civic, Integra, CRX that i've ever driven has ever had this kind of clutch feel. The next thing i really noticed, the stock shifter. Honda really did well w/ this, its very well engineered, the gates are incredibly close, and the feel of the actual shifts are very crisp and direct. Taking it for a spin, the s2000 seems to drive just fine for me in daily driving. I've driven a few toque monsters, and more torquey cars (Mustangs, Corvettes, SS Camaros, and actually a Porsche which was actually lovely) but unless you're used to cars like this, and then make the transition to the s2000, you're not really going to feel the lack of torque. If you're moving from aCcivic hatch, or in my case a CRX...or even an Integra with a little more displacment, you're going to feel the improvement in torque. (Then again, I would say that my CRX has just as much low end "go", no really because of the torque, but because it was using the Japanese B16 first gen S1 cable crossmission [in 5th gear on the freeway, i would be doing about 74 mph at 4000 rpm...very close]) Getting through the 5 o'clock traffic went by without a hitch, and then i got it on to some less traveled roads where i was able to let it loose. Flooring the car anywhere from 2k to 5k rpms, the car moves. Not with a huge sense of urgency, but it does move. The tone of the engine is that of a regular car i would say. But as soon as you get past around 5500 revolutions, the tone of the engine completely changes...somewhat of a Jeckyl and Hyde transformation. One you gas it at that point, it doesn't just move...but sprints. And the tone really turns into a very interesting sounding ballad of high revs. The steering felt exception without any lag whatsoever which i experience in some other vehicles with power steering, and the locks to turn felt just about right. From what i can tell, the brakes of the S2K were really something to bark about. Something I can actually say that i liked quite a bit, both the pedal feel and pressure applied felt phenominal.

What i walked away with:
After coming home today, i am convinced this is a great car, and really something worth buying. Unlike some other people out there, i'm a youngster (19 will be 20 in mid June) and i dont have filthy rich parents that are willing to buy me whatever i want like some other kids my age. If i want this, i have to work for it...and every dime put into it will be out of my pocket. May not be worth anything to some, but it means quite a bit to me.
Though there are so many things i love about the 00-03 S2000 models, there are a few things that i must say...i'm not a fan of:
1) lack of space - not just in the cabin or hip/shoulder room. This isn't really a concern to me, because i'm a smaller person (on a big frame though ) about 5'4" 160 pds. So the feel in the seats is great...not too lose, not too tight. The lack of space that i'm actually talking about is A) the boot. the trunk is really not something to brag about, but then again, this is hardly a grocery getter by design, but really an engineered driving machine. B) lack of storage compartments. From what i noticed, there was the "glove box" that sits in the back part of the center console, and the pop up tray that sits right down in the middle. other than that, there's no too much space to store goodies, and even the glove box if i may add is quite small.
2) blind spot - the thing i loved about my CRX so much, was really...the blind spot, or lack thereof . My brothers Sil Eighty (Japanese s13 front with the 180sx rear) on the other hand, has a horrible blind spot. The rear quarter panel windows are in such a position, that you can't see anything through them, so that in conjunction w/ the rear pillars allows almost no rear visibility. Sorry to say, but with the top up, the s2000s rear visibility is even worse than that. For those of you reading who have one, you probably do this already, but for those of you considering getting one...well, expect to rely HEAVILY on your mirrors. Almost entirely actually.
3) I've always liked a good stereo. Never had subs in my car (couldn't afford to have the weight in there) but i do enjoy audio quality. Its a nice sounding system, but really its sounds very empty coming from only 2 front speakers.
4) I ran into this @ the dealer, but not being able to unlock the passengar door when inside the car. Basically, no power lock switch, rather you have to reach across the console and do it manually. Not a huge problem, but for lazy people like myself its somewhat of a pain.
5) I test drove a 03 model, but the thing i dont really like too much about the my00 and my01 cars are the rear plastic window. Though it can be replaced with a glass unit with about 8 hours of free time on your hands, it really looks cheap.
Honestly, those are my only problems with the car that i can actually think of off the top of my head. I've always given praise to the s2000, but not i can really give my for a well designed roadster.


sorry for such the long post guys, but after driving that...i couldn't help myself

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SimbaDogg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
sorry for such the long post guys, but after driving that...i couldn't help myself </TD></TR></TABLE>

Good to hear that driving the S2000 excites you. Many people don't even know, until they drive one (I never wanted one until I drove one)

 

HOLY **** THAT'S A LONG POST

Enjoy your S2k

 

 

whats up simba? I went to prado view with you. Probably dont remember me but I used to live over by Kevin Reddy in the houses near you. My name is Scott Turner. If your really serious about picking one up and wanna take one for a less tame ride just drop me a PM. I live over by santiago now but we could go for a spin. BTW its an 02 berlina black that I picked up at an action for 21,000$ with only 11,000 miles. Still under warranty.

 

lol, scott whattup man. yeah i remember you man. didn't you play hockey back in the day. you lived @ the bottom of san pointe...or is it san almada. definetly man, i'll hit you up sometime. when did you pick up your s2?

 

hmm, what about insurance. You're 20. Don't be surprised if insurance is over $200 a month. Probably MORE.

 

nice post!

i felt the same way about MY02. i knew i wanted the glass back window and the all red int. so i narrowed my choices to the 02.

but this is a car you have to drive to really know what other owners are talking about. this is an affordable roadster and a good daily driver. i use MY02 as my daily driver and sooner or later i'll get a beater of some sort. but i'm just having too much fun with the car since i've bought it.

all the things you said that you didn't care for are all valid points. but once you own the car, you'll learn and love to look past them.

but either way, enjoy your new s2000 my friend. i know i am.

 

the S2K is not for daily driving. Since you are still young get something more practical. Join the darkside, WRX, EVO, or STI. But if you must insist, it is a nice ride and expect your insurance to be around $300 a month.

 

hey simba yea it was san almada, yea just PM me on S2ki my username is 9kFever. I bought it back in march. Later man.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by steven975 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hmm, what about insurance. You're 20. Don't be surprised if insurance is over $200 a month. Probably MORE.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Not quite...
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by worlds tallest midget &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the S2K is not for daily driving. Since you are still young get something more practical. Join the darkside, WRX, EVO, or STI. But if you must insist, it is a nice ride and expect your insurance to be around $300 a month.</TD></TR></TABLE>
i remember this came up in the post previously, and this has been discussed numerous times. But basically, there's nothing about the s2000 that makes it incapable of being daily driven. There are thousands of people who use this car as daily drivers, including many women. Why would a Evo or STI be considered a daily driver and not the s2000...i mean, especially in the case of the STI i think it would be the other way around. Considering how getting a am/fm/cd player was an option when it first came out. Its one thing to love a car so much that you only drive it on weekends, down to the beach once in a while, or to local track events. but when you love it so much that you dont daily drive it, and you think all other people who do are crazy for doing so...well, you're blinded by your love. make sense to anyone but me? i'm just trying to say, there's nothing about the s2k that makes in incapable of being a daily driver. It does come with an AC, and sound deadening material (unlike the lotus elise, but you can get a a touring package that includes a fully carpeted interior and sound deadening material for i believe an extra 1500), and am/fm/cd player...all the amenities of a daily driver if you ask me.

oh, and to answer your insurance question...the best thing u can do is get a 2nd car to insure under that same policy. i was looking @ eastwood insurance for example, and asked about full coverage on an s2k...and they said that it would be around 350 a month. i mean, i could afford it, but i would never want to pay that much for a car for insurance. then i asked about insuring a 2nd car, and whether there was a discount for it. tony, the super rep, told me that with the same policy, and adding on a corrola/civic w/ just liability would bring the total cost to about 250 a month for both cars. about 250 for both cars, about 70 for the 2nd car, 180 for the s2. i more or less convinced my parents that they really need to get a third car. since my dad gets about 15 mpg in his tacoma, and my mom about 20 mpg in her sienna any car that gets 30 mpg plus will help them a lot on gas especially since his commute is 250 miles to work, weekly, and my mom about 210.

i've seriously examined every facet of this. for you guys who want an s2k, and can't afford the insurancee (mostly younger folks) if you have a sibling that has a car, add them on...it'll save you tons of dough

 

you must be telling them that the S2K is your second car and you will be driving it on a limited basis (and Tony probably "assumed" your dad/an adult would be the primary driver). If you get into a wreck and your insurer discovers that you drive it more than what you said, that could be grounds for either a) fraud or b) denied coverage, which will SINK you financially most likely.

It just doesn't make sense that both vehicles are cheaper than one. The only way is if it were set up with the S2K as a low mileage secondary car and/or with a different primary driver. If that's the case, don't trust the insurer to cover you if you are not honest with them. There are many insurers happy to take your money that will deny you a claim. How reputable is Eastwood, because I have never heard of them. I know other insurers don't follow this pricing model; if this is standard fare for Eastwood they are on the path to insovlency. insuring a young driver that cheap (no offense to you) is totally unprofitable. I would GUESS that a 20year old with a S2K is 20% likely to total it in the first year.

Generally, adding a second car is cheaper, but not cheaper than one. my GSR was 720/6months and the s2k is 806, and they were 1100 together. the 350 for one/250 for 2 thing sounds VERY fishy. sounds like the beater is primary w/ liability and the S is secondary with limited mileage. DON'T TRUST THEM to cover you if the worst comes. happens all the time!

 

actually, no.

when i talked to him. which was actually a few times over a week or so. i told him that the s2 was going to be the primary car, which was going to be insured under me alone. whereas the other "beater" was going to be a secondary car which was going to be insured w/ both myself and my father.

 

Wait, i'm 19 and i was also looking at the S2 to get for my 20th bday (April 2005). i can afford the car, my parents arent filthy rich, i work hardcore, but i was wondering about insurance. parents said that i'd have to put it all under my own name, and by the looks of this...i'll be paying like 300+ per month. You guys said that if i add another car under my name, for instance, my sister's car, it'd be cheaper? you sure about that?

 

Simba,
something just smells fishy about it.

read the contract carefully! if you are in violation, they don't have to cover you...but they can still take your money! Just make darn sure you know what you could be getting yourself into. the guy selling you the policy has motivations OTHER than yours. caveat emptor!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by steven975 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Simba,
something just smells fishy about it.

read the contract carefully! if you are in violation, they don't have to cover you...but they can still take your money! Just make darn sure you know what you could be getting yourself into. the guy selling you the policy has motivations OTHER than yours. caveat emptor!</TD></TR></TABLE>
oh for sure...i mean, that was over the phone. good looking out. but once it came time to get everything down in writing thats when i'd really bust out he magnifying lense

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SimbaDogg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And the tone really turns into a very interesting sounding ballad of high revs. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I really liked that Sounds like a good driving experience. I'd love to have an S2000.