Life after the S2000

[pilotb777_300]

Well guys after a year and a half of owning one of my fav cars in the world the S2k I've finally sold up. I have owned the car for about 1.5 years and I feel the time has flown by. I feel sick at the thought that I have to hand the keys over to someone next week and never drive her again I'm almost certain no car will ever live up to the driving experience of the S2000. I hope none of you have to sell you pride and joy as I can honestly tell u its hard letting go. Unfortunately life circumstances require I have a 4 door car as a 2 seater is no long acceptable.

I have been and always will be a die hard honda fan. my first car was the accord euro followed by a short period of time with a honda CRV then the S2000. I'm trying to work out what to get next. I would like to stick with the honda brand, however I feel honda is trying its best to put me off with their latest models ! Nothing has the heart of the S2000 or the old DC2R's. Anyways my choices now are fairly limited. go back and buy a luxury CL9 euro or a base model CU2 or a civic sport. I welcome any other suggestions as well for around 25-30K second hand.

I'm asking this in the S2000 section as I would like some advice from the perspective of S2000 drivers who may have driven some of these others cars and can maybe direct me towards a good step down from the S2k that wont get me bored driving to and from work every day. Something I can have fun with while also being practicle and can hold onto for the next 10 years or so.

Cheers

[seihoa]

I know your a die hard honda fan but ever thought going to the dark side? wrx? sti? evo?

4 door with lots of fun.

[euromandeluxe]

When you say practical, 'how' practical?

Many consider the RX-8 as a thirsty four-door S2000 coupe.

[l__i__l]

I went from a dc5r to S2k than back to dc5r

i was in the same situation needed a 4 seater

[9large]

There's life after an S2000?

It's tough to find something even mildly exciting in Honda's current lineup compared to the S2000, but for what they've been designed for, a CU2, FD2 or FN2R are good for four seats.

To get four doors in that price range in a half decent package, I'd look elsewhere unfortunately (i.e. WRX/STI, GSR EVO, Golf GTI, or older E46 325 and S3s).

[pilotb777_300]

Thanks for the reply guys. The problem with the wrx/sti evo and even the golf GTI is a realibility and maintenance issue for me. I'm after something that will last me at least 250K on the clock and another 10 years. I just purchased a property and am about to get engaged so its downhill financially for me from now on unfortunately ! I need something that will cost me minimal $$$ to run which would definetely mean older european cars are out of the question.
I've had friends with forced induction cars before and they;ve had all sorts off issues with turbo seals leaking, bearings need replacing over time, drive train failing (WRX) due to big torque numbers etc... the list just goes on. The only subaru I may consider is the STI but I'd be looking at list 35K for a good low KM example.

My old accord euro CL9 was a great car. Lasted me 5 years with only regular oil changes and nothing else in terms of maintenance. It was semi decent to drive felt nice around the turns (after market suspension) engine pulled great from low down and it felt much torquier than the S2000. I dont wana be owning the same car twice though which is why I'm considering a CU2 however I heard they dont drive as nice as the CL9

The type R or Type S integra is an option which I think would be a great drive but is it really a 4 seater ? can you get 2 adults comfortably in the back ?

Eastern honda have a 2005 Type S for sale with 70K on the clock selling for 23990 which isnt a bad buy I dont think. I might have to go test drive one and see what they feel like on the rd

[seihoa]

You only run into problems with turbo cars mainly when u start playing around with boost and taking short cuts and doing hectic hard launchers on the wrx/evo.

[LEWD]

If you want to risk get a E36 M3, otherwise, you can get a 330Ci E46 manual for that kind of money, both of these cars are much better prosepcts as practical cars that are fun to drive. Personally, Id rather take a taxi than drive a Euro Accord.

[euromandeluxe]

Haha Pete
(it's shivesh btw)

anyway, those E46s are starting to age and it's not uncommon for things to go wrong. A couple of people I know with them have run into heaps of problems (radiator, starter, VANOS seals, rear subframe tear). Thankfully BMW agreed to fix the subframe issue as they had previously acknowledged it was a design fault and offered out of warranty repair (it was going to cost around 10k!). My friend was lucky as he was the third owner and the car was 10 years old LOL

I had a CL9 Euro Lux, the manual box was great (with a Comptech short shifter throws were as short as in the S2000) and it felt planted with just a rear swaybar and some lowering springs. At the end of the day though it's big, heavy FWD that won't do if you're really after a driver's car.

Would definitely drive the (slightly modded manual) CL9 over taking a cab though!

[TypeS]

The type R or Type S integra is an option which I think would be a great drive but is it really a 4 seater ? can you get 2 adults comfortably in the back ?

Depends on how tall and obese they are really

I’ve had no problems fitting average 165cm tall adults in mine; we’ve gone on 2-3 hour straight road trips comfortably.

Boot space is the best part though fold down the rear seats and you can fit two mountain bikes in!

If that’s your thing.

[tay113]

What I am doing now is have a much cheaper 5th hatch to run about.hope that fits your lifestyle with best of both world.prolonging the life of the s2000,striking a balance of harmony.home and boys toys tay

[pilotb777_300]

hmmm just a thought that has occured to me.... maybe a mazda 6 MPS ? I didnt mention before that I actually had a 3MPS for a very short amount of time but had horrible torque steer so I got rid of it pretty quick. Maybe the 6 MPS might be an improvemement (although not a honda )

as for the CL9 I actually found it to be a fairly nice drive... pulled nicely in all gears, I had the short shifter as well as the rear sway bar and lowe pedders springs... car drive great. The gear ratio's were a bit of a mess specially going from 1st to second but other than that it wasnt too bad. It had nothing on the S2000 though. Different worlds apart. if you guys had a choice would u go lux CL9 man or std CU2 man