Skyline owner going back to Honda

[Dylaan]

Hey guys,

My name is Dylan, I'm a 23 year old student from Melbourne. I currently own a 1996 Nissan Skyline R33 GTS-T series 2, but I have just about sold it and I've been looking at getting a Honda S2000.

I've been considering a Nissan 350Z, Mazda RX8 and the S2000. Although it is the oldest and most likely the slowest, I just seem to enjoy them more than the other two.

I've been in the Honda scene a few years ago having owned two Honda Preludes, which were really good cars to me. The list of cars I have owned are:

-1991 Subaru Liberty GX
-1989 Honda Prelude Si 4WS
-1994 Honda Prelude Si
-1996 Nissan Skyline R33 GTS-T series 2
-2000 Toyota Celica SX
-1996 Nissan Skyline R33 GTS-T series 2 (yes, another one)

So I am hoping to add an S2000 to the end of that list because I think they are all round great cars. As you can see I've gone though pretty much a car per year since I've had my licence, I seem to get bored easily. I've decided that if I buy a car that really excites me to drive, I'll be able to keep it for much longer this time.

I've found it a bit hard to find an S2000 community since s2ki.com is mainly Americans and the S2000 section on preludeaustralia.com is quite small, it seems like there are a few members on here that own S2000s.

I look forward to meeting and greeting some fellow members in the future, I leave you with photos of my current car and my past Hondas :)

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/9652/sam1578u.jpg
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg51/scaled.php?server=51&filename=23862423960797387612127.jpg&res=landing
http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/6287/lcbdfbdfb6131bec8a2c45a.jpg

[curtis265]

naice list you got there

[EKVTIR-T]

Hello

That R33 looks sooooo clean.

[Dylaan]

naice list you got there

Thanks, I probably could have gone without the Liberty and the Celica, they were both a touch boring


Hello

That R33 looks sooooo clean.

Thanks mate, it probably is one of the cleanest R33s in Melbourne, unfortunately most people would rather have a cheaper one in average condition that they can just thrash around, so it has taken a while to sell but I've finally got someone who says they are going to buy it. Just waiting for the money to come through....

[butterfingers]

Nah rx8 is slowest. Long ass gear ratios and 1300+kg

[Dylaan]

really? I was just going by what I saw redbook.com.au (even though I know it is wrong sometimes) I saw that S2000 does 0-100 in 6.5 seconds and an rx8 is 6.0 seconds. When I drive an S2000 it feels a bit quicker to me than that, possibly because it is light and has pretty firm suspension from standard.

[butterfingers]

Rx8 is comparable to the fn2. 6.5-7sec

s2000 rated anywhere from 5.7-6.5

But who cares about 0-100 anyway lol.

[FAITHLESS]

Nice R33. I went from a series 2 R33 GTS-T to a Civic and I'm happy as. I do still however get quite sad whenever I see a skyline or drive a turbo car as I totaled mine.
Anyway you should be real happy with an S2000. They're great cars.

[EKVTIR-T]

s2000 rated anywhere from 5.7-6.5

Maybe on a downward hill with a tailwind

[Dylaan]

But who cares about 0-100 anyway lol.

I think I've been in the Nissan scene too long haha

[butterfingers]

Maybe on a downward hill with a tailwind

but like i said 0-100 are all shit.

however, whichever way you look at it s2000 is faster than an rx-8

[DC2-PWR]

Yeah s2000 heaps faster than rx8,

s2000 probably fastest out of the 3 on a track :).

[butterfingers]

Yeah s2000 heaps faster than rx8,

s2000 probably fastest out of the 3 on a track :).

between 350z and s2000, it depends on the track

[dougie_504]

350 is so heavy though!

Would rather have the S2K personally :)

[Dylaan]

yeah the S2000 has always been a boyhood dream car of mine, but I always liked the 350Z too. I'm going to check out a 350Z before I put money on and S2000 just to be sure.

[butterfingers]

yeah the S2000 has always been a boyhood dream car of mine, but I always liked the 350Z too. I'm going to check out a 350Z before I put money on and S2000 just to be sure.

Zs are pretty common, hard to make them stand out. all it takes is a good detail, most Z owners are older ****s going thru mid-life crisis, and dont really bother keeping their cars in good nick.

be the guy with 'that one' 350z turning heads. GL

[Indie]

I'd take the Z because I prefer coupes to roadsters for daily driving. And chucking a hardtop on doesn't count. I have also heard that Zs have less mechanical issues than S2ks, but both cars are lovely.

[Dylaan]

Yeah being a convertible is the only thing that worrys me about the S2000, I feel a bit girly driving with the roof down and it opens the door for future problems like leaks or having to replace the roof. I'm still waiting for the money to come through from the car who is buying my car, I've got the deposit but I should be getting the rest of the money and handing over the keys at the end of the week. I was happy to see how much the new owner loves the car already :)

I did an insurance quote for a 350Z today... $2300 :(

over double what an S2000 is to insure for me

[butterfingers]

I'd take the Z because I prefer coupes to roadsters for daily driving. And chucking a hardtop on doesn't count. I have also heard that Zs have less mechanical issues than S2ks, but both cars are lovely.

I'm interested in s2k mechanical problems. Other than the rumored weak synchros.

[eg5civic]

Older s2000's had a clutch whining problem too didn't they?

By out of the 3 s2000 would be top of my list followed by 350z

[Dylaan]

I'm interested in s2k mechanical problems. Other than the rumored weak synchros.

From what I've found from my research you can expect weak synchros, weak diff, worn out soft top, worn out seats and from what I've noticed on the one's I've driven, the shocks seem to wear out too.

[simmy]

welcome abourd Dolan

[Indie]

I'm interested in s2k mechanical problems. Other than the rumored weak synchros.As Dylaan says above, they have problematic diffs along with the synchro issues. Every car has its idiosyncrasies/known issues, but diffs and synchros are on the costlier end of the scale.

It's also painful having to replace a worn out, battered or slashed roof.

This is to take nothing away from the ideal of owning an S2k; it's just that they can ask a lot of the owner.

[_FeRiO_]

I have a S2000 and my Bro has a 350Z. Both dailys.
My thoughts between the two:

PROS:
350 is more comfortable as a daily. Moor interior room, suspension feels softer and the torque makes driving feel a lot easier/laid back. Stock Stereo is also alot better then the S2000.
Faster than the S2000 in a striaght line and still very planted on corners.
CONS: can feel the extra weight of the car significantly. Boot space is terrible. Poor visibility. Drinks alot of pertrol and many suffer from burning oil (Pre 07') and noisy clutch.

PROS:
The S2000 is a drivers car, seating position is good, pedal position is great, Shifter is short and smooth, steering is sharp and direct and weighted perfectly which makes turning corners fun. Fantastic engine, especially when driven hard. Good on fuel
CONS:
Not as comfortable as a daily. it can be cramped, depending on your height and size obviously. alot more noise from the gearbox and general road noise can become annoying/tiring. Stock stereo is shit.
Try to find one with glass rear window. most AP1's plastic rear window is scratched and faded making it look ugly and hard to see out of.

just a quick comparison for ya, hope that helps

[Dylaan]

That does help thanks,

I'm not sure what the road noise is like in an S2000 because I haven't taken one on the freeway yet, but I was expecting to softtop to make and let in a lot of noise.

Unfortunately in my price range I'm not going to be able to get one with a glass window, but I'll have it replaced myself when the time comes to do so, I've already started looking into it. I really like the way the S2000 drives, but I can see it getting annoying if I ever feel like a smooth quiet drive.

As for visibility, I thought it was pretty bad in the S2000, especially with a fogged up rear window. Doesn't the S2000 also suffer from oil burning like the 350Z?

I've seen that the S2000 and 350Z can use 95 RON petrol, but I'd really feel more comfortable running it on 98 like I do my Skyline

[Dylaan]

welcome abourd Dolan

http://www.lolroflmao.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/bob-dolan.jpg

[butterfingers]

That does help thanks,

I'm not sure what the road noise is like in an S2000 because I haven't taken one on the freeway yet, but I was expecting to softtop to make and let in a lot of noise.

Unfortunately in my price range I'm not going to be able to get one with a glass window, but I'll have it replaced myself when the time comes to do so, I've already started looking into it. I really like the way the S2000 drives, but I can see it getting annoying if I ever feel like a smooth quiet drive.

As for visibility, I thought it was pretty bad in the S2000, especially with a fogged up rear window. Doesn't the S2000 also suffer from oil burning like the 350Z?

I've seen that the S2000 and 350Z can use 95 RON petrol, but I'd really feel more comfortable running it on 98 like I do my Skyline

tbh the s2000 is NOT a good daily. great car, but not daily

[Dylaan]

yeah, I've noticed, but I'm willing to put up with it because I love the car so much. I would love an accord euro for a daily... not that I could anywhere near afford to run two cars

[butterfingers]

do you work far or during retarded hours of the day? if not, just dont have a daily.

saves you alot of money in the long run. petrol, possible resale value (less kms), less repairs because less chance of things happening to your car during peak hr traffic. all adds up.

and after a long hard week of work and public transport and not driving your car, you get ready, dress to impress, dangle the keys to your s2k, hop in and feel like a boss cos youll miss it more.

[Dylaan]

Unfortunately for me I barely ever hate public transport because I hate it more than anything. I go to uni 3 days a week which is about 35-40km round trip and I work 3 days a week also and that is only about 10mins from my house. Luckily my uni and work hours both avoid me from having to drive in peak hour traffic :D

I'm sure I'll save a lot on petrol with the S2000 compared to the Skyline. I don't like the idea of driving it every day, but I'll be finished uni in less than a year so I might move closer to the city or something... hopefully get a job nearby.

[Donfeao]

I'd go S2K bro! Rx8 are great but the revs need to be high up there! S2000 with a hardtop would be the sex!
Good luck with everything! :)

[rice_picker]

S2K ftw !!

[u mad?]

Now go make this same thread on a nissan forum lol

[10KRPM]

how much did you sell the r33 for?

[EKVTIR-T]

nissan won bathurst