I also bought for performance and value, I also loved the look of the S2000 myself.... and others must feel that way too, tonight was a perfect example why.

I pulled up to a stop light, there was a yellow Z3 in the far right lane, I pulled up in the far left lane, leaving the center lane open. A Jeep with four people (all young) pulled in between us, and they all stared over at me and gave me a thumbs up! They talked among themselves, "Is that a Honda?" "Yeah, it's one of those new S2000s". In the few seconds we were all stopped they never even looked at the BMW!!! The light turned green, I gave them a wave and pulled off...

Hell, call me weird, but that is just a good feeling to me!

 

All my life I wanted a convertible, and when Honda came out with the S2000 a couple
of years ago, my dreams came true. I've had Honda's for the past 20 years, and my
wife's car is a Honda, so I probably will own Honda's for the rest of my life. Hell, I had
three Honda motorcycles in my teens and early 20's. I've never had a bad experience
with a Honda product.

Looks had a major impact on my first impression of the S2000. The first time I saw
one I was blown away that Honda came up with a car like this. Second, and most
importantly, I am a dyed-in-the-wool Honda believer in performance, service, reliability
and value. I would have bought the car even if it looked like a Z3.

So yes, the S2000 "look" made a huge first impression on me, but that doesn't make
me an insecure person for it; that's what I have a wife of 15 years for: to tell me what
my insecurites are!

-V.

 

*Maybe it's because I'm a technophile. Hondas are very efficient and smooth, and do so with leading. However, they keep it simple (remember the old commercials?) and put a little extra quality where other car makers take shortcuts. I love working on them.

*The car is ME. I'm not a egotistical person at all, but I love to drive and I can't be happy without a car that fits my style and attitude towards life. The color, the flexible nature of the drivetrain, convertible, fun to drive, and reliable.

*I've been liking Hondas for years, and I feel Honda made a special treat for us by making this car and keeping it affordable. I couldn't say no!

 

1. honda reliability... 2. it's a convertible... 3. i want to enjoy what i drive before i die...4. two-seater... 5. the mr2, miata, z3 didn't appeal to me...AT ALL...

i never make eye contact with the drivers' eyes around me so i have no clue if people are looking (unless they make it obvious by sticking their head out their windows)... although, when filling up at the gas stations... there's a lot of noticeable staring going on...

oooooooooh & the ALL-RED INTERIOR

 

1) If there's one thing you can be racist about, it can be cars. Honda is the last of the purebreeds. Toyota has Prizms, VibeGT. Ferrari is a Fiat. Volvo is a Ford. Saab is a GM. Can someone tell me what the hell a Denali is, a suburban maybe with a different grille and cup holder. Slight deviation with the Passport, but Honda shouldn't be making SUV's anyways.

2) Heritage, after reading about Honda's F1 program and engine design in the 70's to 80's I was hooked.

3) Bleeding edge tech, 9000RPM and how many HP/liter.

4) While riding in any one of fixed up, exhausted, blow-offed, boosted car, no girl has ever said, "Oh god that engine sounds so awesome." Even Martha ****ing Stewart would say that riding in the S.

5) You can't ignore the HID's

6) I can hear when the engine is low on oil, wants new plugs, hates the mugginess, loves the cold air and wants more pedal.

7) I'm an engine-phile, no other make, with the exception of BMW is really pushing the envelope these days. Upping displacement to make more power doesn't count.

More to be said, but tired.

 

OK, I'll admit it, I am shallow. I bought the car just for the looks. To be honest, I know nothing about cars, and when I bought it, I really had no idea I was buying such a technological marvel. The performance was the bonus for me (and actually, after having had the car for a few months I am now a performance convert). If I could have afforded the Boxter S at the time I would have bought it... Sad but true.

Why would I buy a car based on looks? My daily driver is a 95 Civic hatchback. It just yells out "fresh out of college and still paying off student loans", even though I have been out for several years. The bizarre thing is that the only thing I am status conscious about is my car. I don't give a crap about clothing, house (hmmm, but my grass has to be green), or other possessions.

Now, on to reality, as a marketing/accounting major (got to through in the accounting thing because for us business types it is higher up on the status scale ), I know that status plays a vital role in almost every purchase decision made buy consumers. As was previously pointed out, if the Aztec had the same performance as the S2000, I doubt there would be a bunch of us running out to buy them. OT, what the heck were their (the Aztec) designers thinking of and who the heck was in their focus group????

 

Caveat: I live in San Diego

1) Miata: Every guy I see in one is 50+ with their wife in the passenger's seat and waiting to challenge me

2) Miata: The unfortunate outlet of the High School Dork looking to change his image

3) Z3: It looks like a Penis with scrotum, enough said, look below

4) Z3: I'm straight with a girlfriend, didn't want to give off the wrong signals, every successful gay guy in Hillcrest (Gay district) has a Z3 to attract all of the "boys."

5) Z3/Miata: Every 2 seconds on the freeway I don't have to ponder why I didn't get that color, oh and guess what the HID's are either an option or aren't available

6) Miata: You don't see S2000 guys running out to put a Mustang engine in one, enough said

7) Miata: Never seen an S2000 guy want to put speakers in the headrests, the engine sound is enough, but there are plenty of Miata posts on how to turn your Miata into a push button Miata via an OEM S2000 button from the dealer

8) Miata: Prostate not quite there yet

9) Z3: One way street

 

Wow, Synapse, you really like Miatas and Z3s ?
Why are the looks "we" get so important? --> Amusement Factor! They make us SMILE ! Like driving this car!
Personally, I bought this car based on magazine comparisons. If I could get a car which could out perform cars priced 10K-20K more, that I felt I could afford, it was a no-brainer. $30K was a bit out of my price range (although I can afford it, it seemed frivilous), but for a few $$ more than Miatas and MR2s, the differences were well worth it. The equally priced Z3, which I've desired since I saw it in the 007 flick, fell short of the S performance-wise, unless you added $10K in options. My wife and I decided we wanted a rag-topped roadster--and the Honda was the best bang-for-the-buck--Thats' why I bought mine. The attention the S2K gets "in public" is just added "SMILE FACTOR."

 

I bought my car because I love the letter S and wanted to get all of Rick's accessories, so I won't forget what car I am in. Seriously, I used to have a CRX Si, and I would have loved for it to be a convertible. After that, I had a Prelude Si, which again I wished was convertible, but I always wished had one more gear on the highway. As soon as I heard that Honda was answering my wishes, I knew I was getting one, as soon as finances would let me. Best decision, ever. I just met someone with a '57 T-Bird that has lasted through several marriages, and looks awesome. He got that car in 65 cuz he liked the way it looked, and has spent the last 30+ years making it run better. When 2030 rolls around, I want my S to look that good, and run as well. He's still pulling low 14's, and the sound of that 50's V8 exhaust was almost as cool as VTEC.

 

Thanks for the feedback all.