Hey everyone. I'm Brian, I've been reading over the forums a bit lately to try and learn a bit about the S2000. I'm a 21 year old guy working full time while going to school for auto-tech. Currently I drive a 1994 Toyota Celica which has been a great car, but now with 135,000 miles it's starting to need a lot of little work. (I have a list of things I need to do within the next 5,000 miles) When I started looking at new cars I already knew I wanted RWD, preferred convertible, and most likely Japanese or German.

All in all, the S2000 is at the top of the list. Also looked at the Toyota MR2 Spyder, Pontiac GTO, Audi TT, and Mazdaspeed Miata. As of now I've never driven an S2000, but I like everything about it: looks, performance, Honda reliability, etc etc. I'd like to spend less than $20,000 so that limits me mostly to 2000 and 2001 models it seems.

Not to make this a long post but I'm also not sure if I would keep my Celica to gut and make into an Autocross car, sell my performance parts and make it a DD, or just sell it. Or sell my Kawasaki...hmmm

Anywho, hi everyone, glad to be here

 

Welcome to the site, hope you find what you're looking for.

 

To drive it is to know it. I'd look at a 2002 if you could, less TSBs and a glass rear window make life easier.

 

keep the celica as a daily driver... and buy the S and built it into a much better autocross car

oh.. and welcome!

 

Welcome aboard, I hope end up with an S2000. Definitely look at buying any AP1 (00-03), you should be able to find one for 20 grand or less.

 

Well guys, I just found one that may be mine tomorrow. I work at Carmax, we just had a 2002 traded in today. It's a silver 2002 with 11,000 miles and we're not going to sell it on the front lot because it has "major frame damage." I looked into it and it has a clean carfax, the "frame damage" is the front bumper core support was re-welded when the owner rear ended someone. Car drives amazingly and is in great condition.

The best part: it's $16,115. I could have it in my driveway after taxes and everything for 17-18k. Good deal IMO, and with that kinda price I think I can keep my Celica as my DD, but I'll have to sell my motorcycle.

The bad thing: the buyer who did the trade in put his name on it before it was even in the computer system, which is technically against policy but no one on management cares enough to do anything. That makes me second in line. He has 48 hours to decide. He may buy it, he may not, I've seen his name on every nice car we get in wholesale and he usually just fizzles out from it.

 

^^^You'll have to keep us updated.

 

I just filed my loan application, so that should be done and a check ready by this afternoon. I'm going to go to work early to see if that guy has made up his mind, and hopefully buy MY car

 

What the heck would anyone want to buy an S2000? The car:

- is very cramped inside
- can't do 0-60 in 5 seconds like you buddy's M3 can
- can't finish 1/4 mile in 12 seconds like your cousin's Evo can
- doesn't have 300 lbs of torque that your neighbor's STI has
- doesn't have a 180mph top speed
- has a super long hood and small rear window
- has a stiff ride
- no trunk space whatsoever to move bricks around in weekends
- people think it's ugly
- the passenger side is even smaller than the already-small driver's side
- you can't add another 50hp by putting in a boost controller
- your parents think that you are crazy for spending so much money on this dinky car
- the high rpm is annoying as hell on the highway
- has no back seat, so you can only take one person out at a time
ya da ya da ya da ...





































Are you still convinced that you want the S2000? If so ... then get it!!! hehe naw .... Just messing around with ya. The S2000, out of the cars that you listed, is probably the one that offers the most performance out-of-the-box. Miata and Mr2 Sypder are probably pretty better in AutoX, but in terms of having decent power while balancing handling capability, then S2000 is the choice. The TT, on the other hand, is less of a sports car than it is a semi-luxury convertible.

Anyway, test drive and see how you like the cars. good luck and keep us posted!

 

Good Luck