RobDickinson

Theres a huge list of 2 seates I'd love to buy.

Elise, S2000, Caterham 7, TVR types.

But the RX8 has something they dont. Rear seats. I dont want 2 cars, I need 4 seats. S2000 is a 2 seater sports car, it should be lighter and quicker than the RX-8, if it isnt Honda have done something seriously wrong.

But It doesnt fit my bill, if it fits yours go get and engoy, I know I would!

MarkW

My problem is I dont need rear seats. I have always had 4 seats but my wife has a practical four seater too, its just that Ive never really thought about a roadster before. Its only the delays to the RX8 that has made me restless and start looking around.

I really like both the S2k and the RX8, its unfair on the RX8 as I cant drive it yet whereas Ive driven the S2k.

A guy from www.sk2i.com who lives round the corner from me took me out in his for a blast last night and it was fanastic.

I wish there was a way I could get the s2k now for the summer and have the option to trade it again for the RX8 in Oct/Nov but it would just be too expensive.

Not really sure what to do at the moment.

For jimbobjoes benefit, www.hondas-direct.co.uk will do a UK sourced s2k for £24348 (list 25995), or the s2k GT for £25283 (list 26995).

oilman

If I needed a 2 seater, I wouldn't be buying an RX8!

Does that sound simple?

3rd car maybe an S2000 or Z4 but once my kids finish their schooling!!

Cheers
OILMAN

Lensman

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I don't need the two rear seats but nevertheless the RX-8 is the best new car for under £30K in my opinion. As you know I still have a 350Z ordered but it fails to excite me compared to the Mazda.I fully believe that the RX-8 is a better and more interesting car then either the S2000 or the Z4.

MarkW

Lensman,

I beleive you may well be right. My problem is I am an impatient s0d and I want my car now!

I do like the 350Z, but specced up it is £4k more than the 8, the Z4 (not that keen) is over £30k and the wait on both in next year anyway.

Its my own fault for driving the Honda, I dont think I'll test drive anything else.

I see my choices are:

1) Wait until Oct/Nov for the RX8 (as long as there are no more delays). Hopefully I will like it and all will be well.
Negatives are that it may dissappoint me and I will wish I got the S2k for the summer. I would then end up keeping my current car and by an S2k in the spring.

2) Get an S2k now which I know I will be happy with as Ive driven it.
Negatives are it wont be great in the winter/wet weather, and when the RX8 comes out and you lot all have yours I may well live to regret it.

I 'spose I shouldnt complain about having to make a decision like that.

Mark

oilman

As far as I can see, you have nothing at stake.

If Mazda are going to give our 1k back due to sheer embarrassment then buy an S2000.

Wait until the 8 arrives, test drive and decide. Trade the S2000 for the 8 by all means but don't get out of the queue.

I was thinking of the same for summer motoring but with an A4 cabriolet. (boring but wouldn't lose too much over 4/5 months).

Cheers
Oilman

rael

Depends if you were buying from new and from Audi who are quite ruthless in sales and purchase margins.

I had the same thought but decided to hold on, especially as our end date may even slip some more.

rael

MarkW

It doesnt make it any easier for me when I read reviews like this............

http://www.s2ki.com/forums/showthrea...hreadid=133794

And a yellow one as well just like I am borrowing tomorrow for the weekend :D

I hope the RX8 gets a few reviews like this over the next month or so.

copperband

Having just watched the video on the Multimedia part of the forum showing the race between the various competitors to the 8 I would definately be buying an S2000 if I could

Ed

ChrisW

I don't really want a two-seater or a convertable, but even if I did I would not buy an S2000.

I've only had a brief drive of an S2000, but I thought it was cramped, noisy and had a rather cheap looking interior with very little equipment. From what I have read from various tests (most of which are nowhere near as positive as the one linked to above) it has very twitchy on-limit handling (with no DSC) and lousy steering feel. And it's expensive to buy and is group 20 insurance.

It does have great on-paper performance figures but with a very unusual power delivery: there's not much below 6000, then all hell breaks loose. I have a milder version of this in my Prelude VTEC, so I know that it can be great fun. But it can eventually be a bit frustrating: low revs are fine for pottering around, high revs for all out max performance but there's nothing in between. It just doesn't do "moderately fast".

The problem is not that you have to rev the engine to get the performance (which is fine), but that there is this sudden changeover point between these two completely different engine characteristics. It would be a great track car and it's good for showing off (only to one other person at a time of course). But I don't think I'd want to drive it every day.

I'm not trying to criticise anybody's choice here - if this is the car for you then fine. But none of us hold back with our doubts/criticisms of the RX-8, so it's only fair we feel free to criticise the alternatives too.

cw007

Chris,


I agree with you on that one. I had a test drive in it back in October last year and yeah great fun. NO interior options or at least what i wanted and it would have cost a fortune to have something retro fitted.

Power is great as you say over 5-6000 revs but below that i it is like driving a civic 1.4 nothing extraordinary. hit that limit and its like the wife at that wrong time of the month. Unpredicatable, doesnt have the response at the steering wheel you would expect. Awesome power hence the 20 insurance group

MarkW

By all means critiscise away . I totally respect yours and everyone else's opinions as cars are a highly subjective and emotional subject.

I will let people know more of my thoughts on the Honda (if they're interested) after Ive spent this weekend with one.

Personally I like the interior and it has all the equipment I need (Leather/Aircon/Elec Windows/Mirrors/Roof/6 Speed/Starter Button/Xenons/CD/Airbags/Hardtop etc)

Most of the issues to do with handling etc were addressed on the 2002 facelift, and also the switch into VTEC has been smoothed out. Before I drove it, I honestly believed it to be as you described, but I was surprised to find it feels quite quick low down the revs and its definately not all or nothing.

The bhp and torque figures of the S2k and the RX8 are very similar which is one of the reasons I drove it. I was lead to believe that the Rotary (never having driven one) would be similar to the Honda VTEC engine in that you really have to rev it to get the performance, and low down there is not a lot of power available. If Ive got this one wrong please someone correct me.

My biggest issue with this car is how happy I would be with a 240bhp RWD roadster with no DSC in the wet and rain, as there are several stories of them ending up in hedges. The RX8 is a better all rounder, with the S Im going to have to make some sacrifices to gain the benefits.

Still no closer to deciding. My current plan is to wait until the 24th (my roadshow day) and hope there is a production car there to see. That may make up my mind.

Cheers
Mark

Lensman

The power delivery curve (torque) is a lot smoother on the RX-8 so it should be more useable than the Honda.

rael

Besides what is under the hood I don't think it is actually that attractive as a car, much prefer the 8 shape.

rael

Lensman

I didn't like it in images but when I saw a grey one at the MotorDriveLive event it looked very nice. I saw a blue one on the same day and didn't like it so the colour affects my shape perception.

MarkW

It s funny how colours do affect a car so much. Whereas I have ordered Velocity red on the 8, I dislike the Red on the S and would not order it.

I much prefer the Silver/Grey on the S to the RX8 as well.

I do actually like the yellow too as it is pearlescent, as is the orange they do.

Im also keen on the full red interior as below (but then again I have ordered the tacky Red/Black for the 8 )

MarkW

Forgot the pic....

Lensman

At least on the RHD version they can be arsed to put the handbrake on the right side unlike Mazda!

ed hall

The Honda is too dated to even consider.

Amazing how much smaller it looked on the track (just watched the Nissan/RX8/MX5/S2000/Scooby track race from the main forum.

Edo

It's clearly quicker on a track, but I really dont think it can be compared to the RX-8. Ok, they both rev high, but that is about it. I consider the RX8 to be a competitor to TT (just in terms of seating), 3 series coupe (Common, but competent), Evo (plasticy and dull to look at, Impreza (ditto), R32 (coming round to this one, but it still looks like a golf!)

MarkW

Ive watched the video too, and it did appear that all the cars (apart from the MX5) over took the RX8 on the straights with ease. Im surprised at that as if you look at the performance on paper they are all similar.

Maybe that car had the stuck port problem, because if it didnt and you then take another 20bhp off it to make it a Euro car, it would have been even further behind.

Edo

Amusingly Honda have just sent me an S2000 brochure from my visit at Motordrive (even though I didnt drive one!)

Edo

ooh look, I've become a senior member (I've been called worse!). I must get out more!

renegade_si

Well done Edo. still a few for me to go. Are u going on the 14th too? I'm 5-6pm so all of you going to Henley @ 7-8 or later, you may be held up a little ... by me if theres more than 1 car and its euro spec and not that blue thing at motorexpo / drive

Edo

No, cant be arsed as it is the same pre-prod blue car I saw at Motor-drive...