My pride and joy S1

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:22 am

simon wrote:He's looking at a bloody MX-5 now

i think when purchasing a car, it is only reasonable to try all the available options. I'm looking for a 2 seat sportscar (of which the mx5 is one-no arguments, it obviously is) and there are a few options. mx5, s2000, cockster, z4, elise/exige. and thats about it (for that sort of wonga).

I did test drive an mx5 and it was quite fun. nowhere near as track focused, but still a rather civilised place to be. I'd never driven one, and as is widely printed, the mx5 has a joy of a chassis, is perfectly balanced, and for a flabby sportscar is supposed to be rather a good drive. and it is, relatively speaking.

So there you are.

I'm not going to buy one though.

Post by **simon** » Wed May 10, 2006 11:02 am

The one you haven't mentioned is an MR2. Never driven one but EVO really rate it and I'd seriously consider one if I was in your position. It's actually less practical than an Elise in terms of luggage space and I don't think it can be that much slower on the road (track would be another story). Even Graeme Fraser did an ok job of keeping up on a camping trip last year in his Smart Roadster and it's not fast at all. Worth a look methinks.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Wed May 10, 2006 12:00 pm

Yes thats true. I'd crossed them off the list as in my opinion, the new mr2 is an ugly bast*rd car and I wouldn't buy one however good it was. I couldn't live with a car that everytime i looked at it i thought ' why the hell did they make it look like that'.
the smart, i'd stay away from because of suspect build quality from mercedes/smart, and the fact that smart are in financial sh*t. theyre dropping the roadster and the forfour in a desperate attempt to turn a profit. also, i'm unsure about the way it looks.

(apologies to mr2 and smart owners out there. these are just my (humble)opinions.

rossybee · Post by **rossybee** » Wed May 10, 2006 1:46 pm

Tom, out of your list above, try the S2000 - manic engine (revs to over 9k IIRC

), quick, getting cheap now, and I think they look real purdee

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Wed May 10, 2006 1:50 pm

rossybee wrote:Tom, out of your list above, try the S2000 - manic engine (revs to over 9k IIRC ), quick, getting cheap now, and I think they look real purdee

purdee indeed.

i rang the honda garage the other day to arrange a test drive. he does a 45min drive out of town and down off the a1, so i need to arrange an extra long lunch break to avoid evening traffic.
is it a civic engine, a la mckeann, dropped straight in the front of the s2000?

Post by **Shug** » Wed May 10, 2006 1:58 pm

Nope - it's a 2.2, longditudionally installed, with the gearbox in line. Not the K20A engine.

From rep, you have to rev the knackers off it to get it to pull (but pull it does) and the earlier ones have a bit of a whiplash back end - ie, bit vague and prone to snap oversteer. They are a bit on the heavy side too.

Good cars though - always liked the understated styling and the fact the instrument pack looks ripped straight out of a 1990 McLaren Honda

Post by ed » Wed May 10, 2006 2:00 pm

they are 200bhp so pretty much the same,
well worth a go but i hated the digital rev counter/speedo combo!

rossybee · Post by **rossybee** » Wed May 10, 2006 2:01 pm

Dave with the yellow Superlight had one, and yep, you gotta rag its nuts off to make it shift, but it certainly felt more "special" that any MX5, which to me is quite important in summat like dat

rossybee · Post by **rossybee** » Wed May 10, 2006 2:03 pm

Arf!

Just realised this thread has been somewhat hijacked

Kill-zippy's S1 is for sale

Sorry

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Wed May 10, 2006 2:04 pm

rossybee wrote:Dave with the yellow Superlight had one, and yep, you gotta rag its nuts off to make it shift, but it certainly felt more "special" that any MX5, which to me is quite important in summat like dat

Totally agree. just have to test it now.

although to be honest, i'm sure an elise would crap all over them both in the fun stakes.

rossybee · Post by **rossybee** » Wed May 10, 2006 2:05 pm

ed wrote:they are 200bhp so pretty much the same,
well worth a go but i hated the digital rev counter/speedo combo!

Nope!

237bhp IIRC

Remember Kill_zippy's S1!

Post by **Shug** » Wed May 10, 2006 2:05 pm

ed wrote:they are 200bhp so pretty much the same,
well worth a go but i hated the digital rev counter/speedo combo!

Not as far as I know - gnat's willy off 240bhp actually......

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Wed May 10, 2006 2:06 pm

Shug wrote:
ed wrote:they are 200bhp so pretty much the same,
well worth a go but i hated the digital rev counter/speedo combo!
Not as far as I know - gnat's willy off 240bhp actually......

yeah ed. get your facts right!!!

Post by ed » Wed May 10, 2006 2:09 pm

i stand correct, it must be a tuned dc5 engine!!

ps it didnt feel like 240bhp!!