MarkW

Ive always wanted a Mazda , thats why they have my £1000 The Honda is great and is my backup plan I hope I dont have to use.

I read those comments, very good! Also the Australian review with the 350Z, and the Monaro.

Just watched the German vid in the multimedia section as well - very nice footage of a red one. Car sounded very good as well :D

Looking forward to Clarksons comments......

oilman

So I'm not alone with my shiney red one then!

Welcome back to the land of people with great taste MarkW.

Cheers
Oilman

morganrogers

.... Great taste , but in red - obviously !

M.

The Ace

OK guys, you have to help me a bit out here......

I mean, when comparing the S2K to the RX8, the RX8 is cheaper, much newer, with the awesome Renesis, and can seat 4 relatively easy.......

S2K is a strictly 2-seater, has also an awesome engine (was the best engine under 2,5lt, now its the Renesis ), and only used can its price be compared with that of the new RX8.....

Granted, I havent driven the RX8 (not here yet, nor in Greece, where I'm from), but is it so bad that you would rather ditch it for a S2K ?

Could anyone shed some light into this issue for me ?

jimbobjoe

welcome to the forums "The Ace"

The heart of the discussion of the S2K over the RX-8 is the driver appeal.

Yes, the RX-8 is cheaper, more practical, higher specification etc, but the word is that for uncompromised driver 'fun' the S2K wins. It's a true sports car (and convertible too!).

So for blasting round country roads the S2K is a clear winner (or so I'm told).

As for price, a new S2K can be had in England for £22,300. (£4K less than list price!). Depreciation on the S2K is also a known factor, and is very low. With the RX-8 we can only guess.

The discussion is therefore centred on whether the driver appeal of the S2K outweighs the practicality, and cool newness of the RX-8.

I'm still sat in the middle on this one

The Ace

Alllllllrighty then.......:D

I know for a fact that S2K is razor-sharp when it comes to handling, steering and cornering, but it can also be unforgiving (due exactly to this sharpness)

A new S2K for 22,3K quids ? Damn.....the rest of Europe cannot hope for anything below 55K EUR -> 34K pounds. I know this for a fact for Greece at least......

As for the RX8, its still not here, and in Greece there's going to be just one model (the Cosmo, with 240HP and full extras) for 40K EUR.

However, I'm currently not thinking for either one of these.......since I sold my TII, I'm aiming towards a nice '95 FD

Acceltoexcel

Funny how it comes down to these two cars. I just took delivery of the S2000. If you want the perks go with the RX-8 but if you want the thrills go with the s2000. I, obviously, went for the thrills. It's everything everyone says it is! I'm sure either way will lead you to a nice piece of equipment. I only wish that i could've gotten a nav system for the s2000. I don't need the back seat. Those two attributes will define what you pick other than that everything else doesn't matter. I still respect the RX-8 and the drivers of those cars. I'll even wave when I go by! Or visa-versa!

MarkW

I didnt expect to see this thread back at the top again

I hope it's not an omen with my test drive coming up this weekend, in case I am disappointed.

It seems like a devil pops up in my head every now and then and shouts "S2000" when Im feeling worried about the RX8

renegade_si

Mark, wasn't the one you were looking at, ahem, yellow?

:D

MarkW

Only yellow because the garage were selling it and I got it for a 24 hour test drive. Wouldnt buy it though.

I fancy Silverstone or Berlina Black with Red interior, or Monte Carlo Blue , mabve Nurburgring Blue as well with blue seats. No must stop it... I dont want an S2k, I want an RX8.....

The Ace

May I add that a black S2K with the -sparkling- red leather interior is AWESOME ?!?!?!

Lock & Load

The s2000 is a nice car however it has one snappy chassy that is unforgiving it has caused many an s2000 driver to loose c.ontrol and smash his car.

So before you drive this car hard you better be a advanced driver otherwise you will find youre self around wraped around a pole as 2 of my friends have .

THe s2000 is nowhere as forgiving as the rx8 .

The Ace

Yeah, but also the S2K is a "true" sports car (although RX8 can be considered a "sportscar" in the wider sense of the term), a lot faster than the HIGH-Pow RX8, and it hasnt made any compromises (space, weight or comfort-wise)

MarkW

You mean like this Ace?........ :D :D

mr_digital_uk

We're talking about two very different cars here!!!

A really unusual, sexy, technically wierd, four-seater, unique (you won't see many on the road for a while), great sounding, and almost as much fun to drive RX-8 OR

The even better, but slightly boring looking, much more impractical, and technically your standard Honda stuff S2000.

I admit it's better ... faster ... better track performance but....

For me it's just not different enough

MarkW

The S2000/RX-8 debate has been done to death over the previous few pages, I was just really posting a pic for The Ace as he likes the black/red so much :D

However there's no way you can describe a naturally aspirated 2 litre engine pushing out 240bhp with a 9000rpm red line as technically standard. This engine has the highest output per litre of any production car in the world, and is truly something special.

I may have to agree on the looks and practicality though

The Ace

Exactly !!!!!

As for practicallity/looks, I will -partially- disagree with you. I mean, you dont EVER expect a 2-seater/2-door cabrio to be practical now, would you ?
And Looks ? Well, its no Miura, but the S2k has the "aggresive-yet-elegant" look down GOOD !! :D

And I will also disagree with the fact that the F20 makes the most HP/lt. I dont fully agree that a 1.3lt rotary should be compared to a 2.6lt piston engine, therefor I think that the rotary engine makes the most HP/lt (240HP/1.3lt). However, the F20 is indeed a wonderful piece of machinery, up there with the M3/M5 engines, the V12 of San'Agata, and the beasts of Ferrari