Hey Guys!
First time poster! Well, I think I've finally made my decision on my next car. My story is a bit long, but I think being fellow car enthusiats you'll enjoy the read. I leased an automatic Mercedes Slk 230 almost 2yrs ago. It was a bit of an impulse car. Summer in LA and gosh darnit I had to have a convertible! I got a good deal on a short 2yr lease, so I said what the heck.. The S2k had just come out and dealers were gouging like mad. Well, I've been looking forward to my next car for about the past year. The slk is a fine automobile, but it's just too refined, and offers minimal driving excitement. For the past year I thought about getting an S2000, and tried my hardest to finish out my lease. Trading in would have been a poor financial decision.
About 3 months ago I got on an M3 Craze! I had to have one for my next car! I shopped, talked, read, etc... I finally got a lease deal of $875 for 36 mos. I was ready to pull the trigger. Than a little voice inside my head said.." What are nuts!? $1100 a month(insurance incld) for a CAR! A car that you drive 8 miles a day to and from work?! Save for a house! Be smarter with your money! Etc....
It was like a smack in the face.. A wake up call if you will.. I just couldn't do it...
I decided to reassess my life, and my car situation. I made a few calls to every Honda dealership in the LA extended area.. What an extreme dissapointment and turn off that turned out to be.. Every dealer immediately quoted 5-8k over Msrp. I was immediately turned off and decided to look at my other options.. I drove a Boxster a few months back and could not believe how unimpressed I was. For 45K I guess I was expecting more. The only Boxster I would get would be the S, and then you're talking high 50's.. No Thanks...
I wound up taking a ride over to the Subaru dealer to find out what all the fuss was about. The test drive was a blast! I was so Impressed with this little $24k car! I thought, "Sign me up!" This'll be the smartest move I'll ever make on a car." I went home, did research and talked with forum members, friends and family. Friends and family couldn't believe I was thinking about getting a subaru. No matter how quick and fun I told them it was. They just didn't think I'd be happy driving a Subaru around LA for 3 yrs. My motto was, Image isn't everything!" Drive it, You'll see!
Could I go back to having a roof over my head on all of these sunny SoCal days? Would I be happy in a wrx for 3yrs or was it just a phase. And again, No Convertible!
Back to the S2k!! I found the list of Msrp dealers on this site and decided to call Ralph at Barber Honda in Bakersfield. He told me he could get me a black on black in 60 days. All it would cost me is $100 bucks to secure the car. DONE! Considering I still have about 2 1/2 mths on my slk lease it will work out perfectly!
That was easy!
Next step, Drive the car! Do you believe it? After all this time and energy I'm yet to drive an S2000, so I have no idea what it's like to drive. I've driven in 2 as a passenger, and a co worker swears he'll let me drive his, that was 6 mos. ago, and still no offer for a test drive. Hmm? As a passenger I've been impressed.. haha..
So?? Am I making the right call going with the S2k? So far it seems to make sense. All I need now is that reaffirming test drive, and if I like it then I'm sold.

Thanks for Listening,
Jp

 

Let me tell you what I came very close to doing before I bought my S.I could not find a dealer anywhere that had an S on the lot I could test drive.I ended up calling Budget rent a car near LAX and was informed the cost of renting one for the day would run $165.00+mileage.Many of dealers make you go through the loan paperwork process before a test drive so they can weed out the people just lookin for a joy ride.However,I did find a dealer in Pasadena that had a 2002 in the color I was looking for (blk/blk) and a 2001 I could test drive.