This is quite a dilemma. I'm considering getting an Rx-8 after finally deciding to get my favorite car, the S2000. I was about to purchase a used 2001 S2000 with 25k miles on the clock for $24k, until I came across a deal for an Rx8 6MT (non GT) for $24,454. I test drove the Rx-8 a while back, but didn't really get to punch it. Speed doesn't really matter to me, as I'm coming from an SRT-4. Both are sexy cars, but the Rx-8 has practicallity over the S2000, and the performance isn't too different. The S2000 slightly edges the Rx-8 in both speed and handling, although the Rx-8, from what I hear, is a beast when it comes to the twisties too. I'm 20 and have to pay for insurance and the car, there the S2000 would kick my *** at, I'm not too sure the Rx-8 would be that much different though. S2000 gets the gas mileage award between the two. As far as I know, the reliability is better as well. I'm just scared that if I get the Rx-8, I will regret getting the S2000. Are there any previous S2000 owners here? Is there anyone my age with an Rx-8, maybe they could give me a good estimate to what I'll be paying in insurance. Anyone with opinions or comments feel free to throw down some advice.

 

3 year old S2K that's potentially been thrashed or a brand new 8?

........hmmmmmm, the choice is obvious.

 

I had the same problem 2 years ago. Either a brand new, fully loaded S2k or a 6-year old Nissan Sentra. I bought the Sentra. It handled better, better gas mileage, more room and was a chick-magnet BEAST. :D

 

If you only have one car, then get the rx-8 because it's a much more practical everyday car, and it's almost as fun to drive. And it's less common than the s2000.
Isn't $24k for a 3-yr old S2000 a bit steep?

 

LOL

ChWMeiNThG, it depends on your situation. The RX8 is the closest you can get to the feel of an S2k (or Miata) while having 4 doors and a comfortable ride. But it's not as fast as the S2k and while the RX8 handles *very* well, its limits are lower than the S2k's.

I've never owned an S2k, but I've driven it many times. It's more of a toy... its suspension is relatively harsh and you can forget about hauling people or your stuff (while you'd be surprised at how much you can fit into the 8). Camping, shopping, day-trips, vacations, etc may be more of a challenge in the S2k. But if you don't mind its limited utility, go for it. If you want a practical sports car with slightly less performance, go for the RX8.

I just realized that you more-or-less wrote all that in your initial post and I'm not really telling you anything you don't know. *Shrug*... I guess all I can add is write down all the pros and cons of both choises and good luck with your decision.

 

Insurance on the 8 is rather inexpensive.

 

most insurance companies see the rx8 as a 4 door sedan with a 1.3L motor. So they consider it a safe car with a small motor.

It's 500/6mo for 200k/300k full coverage insurance for me in FL.

 

Let's see....your asking this on the worlds largest RX8 forum.........I bet people here tend to lean a little toward the 8.....

 

woah first off you'd be getting ripped off with that 01 s2000....those are going, fully loaded, for around $19,000 with that kind of mileage in my neighborhood

get the RX8, otherwise you are getting a boring Honda :P

 

you would buy something from the "evil empire?" are my motorcycle ties showing?

yamajj

 

If you are really serious, you should test drive the 8 and the s2000 again for an extended period. There are obvoius tradeoffs between the two, but I think you'll notice you won't be missing much getting a brand new 8 for a used s2000. Regarding looks, the s2000 never did anything for me. When I saw the 8 I was like wow. Also, unless it has an extended warranty, the s2000's warranty should be expiring soon and you got 4 years in the 8 as security. The body of the 8 is brand new while the s2000, although classic styling, is due for an facelift .

I can fit 2 golf bags in the trunk also!

 

When I traded my 01 S2K in with 38K they gave me 17K for it ... The S2K's trunk actually was not that bad unless yoyu want to shop at Home Depot every weekend. I was 23, single, a non-home-owner, minimalist loft dweller when I drove it and it was PERFECT for my lifestyle. ****, I even fit my 6"1' Al Merrick surfboard in the passenger seat and I could close the top (stupid rain!) if I took the fins off........!

A far as the RX-8's space is concerned, It wasn't even an issue when I bought it. For me it was the non-back breaking ride, sweet interior, and the sexy s2k_esque looks.


Oh yeah, buying a used S2K is like marrying a former hooker: You know for a FACT that **** was thrased many, many, many times before you ever got into the drivers seat! hehe

 

Is $24,5k even a good deal for a non GT Rx-8? Thats not out the door either. Earlier this year me and a friend were able to bargain the price down to 28k out the door with GT package.

 

i was in the market and couldn't wait for the rx-8 (and didn't want to get it while it was still 'teething') so i currently own a 2003 s2000. let me just say this, i've never had more fun driving or riding in any car. granted, i've only ridden in a ferrari and never driven one, but i personally know a guy who owns a 360 and an s2k...

personally, i still find certain angels of the rx-8 to be a little iffy, but the car is definitely striking and unique, as well as more utilitarian. here are some fairly objective (or consistently subjectively noted) things to consider:

s2k:
pros
* roadster
* vtec rush
* great tranny
cons
* tiny
* harsh ride
* loud

rx-8:
pros
* rotary smoothness
* great suspension
* can lug 4 peeps + more cargo
cons
* gas mileage
* unproven reliability (as with ANY new powertrain)
* i actually can't think of a 3rd con to even it out. maybe jackass dealerships? keep in mind that you will only see the 2-3% of complainers on internet boards until the car has been out a while and people really appreciate it, and dealerships learn more about it.

now, look at my join date..you will see i have been around here for a LONG time (not quite as long as Elara though ) and i have always been interested in rotaries since i got a ride in a 1990 rx-7. i would say that, had i been in the market NOW instead of last august 2003, i probably would purchase a 2005 rx-8 just because of the mix of utility and sport. are you going to track the car? are you going to auto-x it? do you plan on keeping it stock or modding it? these are all factors to consider when purchasing a sports car. i know i will likely never take my car to more than 6-7/10ths of what it is capable of on the street. keep in mind, there is no DSC/TC on the s2k!!

do i regret my purchase? hell no. this is one hell of a car and one hell of a technologically advanced engine. but the same can be said of the rx-8. just think about what you will be using it for. i am 23 and have my own place, but it doesn't have a garage. i find that i can make grocery runs with ease, as well as fit my skis in with the top up and put some LM-22's on and enjoy winter.

you also mention that the s2k is _fully loaded_. what does that mean? there aren't any options really on the s2k at all, unless you include aero pieces (worth probably $1k) and the hardtop (worth prob. $2k). i would say that price is high as well, unless it is in perfect condition and comes with the hardtop (and even then it is not a great deal). i know a guy personally who has fewer miles on the same model year, and has a vortec SC with AC (among various other upgrades) that is selling for less...that's 300 rwhp.

sorry i didn't mean for this to get so long, but i check these boards almost every day to keep abreast of any new developments with my 9k cousin. don't be hasty and make sure you take as much as you can into account. i would go for the new rx-8, or look for a better deal on the used s2k.

thanks for reading,

havyn.

 

I HAD to respond because my '04 RX-8 sits next an '01 S2K every night.
My husband owns the S2K. I was dead set on a 350Z Roadster until we drove the RX-8 and I went home with one that night.

I have the touring and apperance package so my 8 has some extras that his S2K does not but I can't put my top down either. Both ARE very diffferent rides. While he says that he is somewhat envious of my smooth ride and forgiving clutch he wouldn't trade the roar of the engine and feel of the road that he gets in his S2K.

All in all they are different cars and it does come down to what you want in the end. If insurance makes or breaks the deal then the RX-8 is WAY lower than most others cars. I pay much less than he does and even less than I did on my previous car a '99 Acura Integra GS!

 

I'm quite familiar with the S2000, its just that I tend to like a car for a bit, then want to try something new, and I can't be doing that anymore. I cruise a lot more then I actually goto canyons, and I dont autocross. I'm gonna go test drive the Rx-8 today, hopefully I can punch it. I just need a estimate on how far you can push its limits I suppose.

 

Read this review:

Road Test: 2004 Honda S2000 vs. Mazda RX-8 vs. Nissan 350Z

BTW, you asked about anyone your age...I got my 8 when I was 22, so not far off. Paying about $5000 CDN a year for insurance, though

 

There is a lot more room for performance with the RX8. Thats not to say there aren't tons of performance options out for the S2000, but for reasons that should be obvious to anyone that knows their *** from a hole in the ground, the RX8 has more potential. This is the case in both the handling and engine performance catagories. A 400 rwhp S2000 would require a major reworking of the bottom and top end of the motor, massive porting, complete new valve train, pretty much everything would have to be changed or modified, not to mention that you would plug the vtec anyways which destroys the whole point of the engine. Thats like droping an piston engine in an RX8. As for a 400hp RX8, no doubt that would require internal modification too, but reworking a rotary to take that kind of power is nothing compared to reworking the Honda motor. You could get that kind of power safely with forced induction and porting only. Nothing else internally would have to be done.

To sum it all up, you will be able to get more power out of an RX8, easily, than out of an S2000. Plus, with the Mazdaspeed body kit, lowering springs, and 19 inch wheels, it looks better than any S2000 on the planet. And you can fit more than one friend in it.

Maybe this will help you make the choice??

 

When there is a choice, ALWAYS BUY NEW. A used car, even a Honda, will start to cost you time and money, and you don't know where it's been or how it has been maintained.

The S2000 is a great sports car, no doubt. But any used car is bound to be a question mark.

 

i still wouldn't take a rx-8 over a s2k on looks alone...call me crazy. also, the guy clearly stated that speed wasn't what he was after...after all, his neon could beat either of these cars, so i kind of doubt he is looking at massive engine mods or anything beyond i/h/e really...

i'd also take honda reliability over mazda any day (ford influence doesn't help). that being said, i'd also buy new over used as long as it's built in japan (which both are).

 

No one can tell you what to do here! Drive both cars yourself and go from there!

 

Consider one thing ... If you buy a Brand New 04 RX-8, it will have 4year/50,000 mile warranty .... if anything happens to the car, it is covered. By contrast, if you buy a used 01' Honda S2000, which, unfortunately, you do not know how the previous owner treated it, you will receive no warranty because it just expired. If something does happen to the car, you will pay big for it, Honda parts are'nt cheap at all!!! Oh, and by the way, The RX-8 will be cheaper to insure ..... Believe You Me!

 

The RX8 is cheaper on the insurance because it's 4-door. Yep, sportscarfreak hit it right ... you have more warranty years on the RX8. Remember, the RX8 has more space to carry people and luggage. So, if you bought the S2000, you may regret it when practical situations arise and you need to haul people or stuff. Sports wise ... the RX8 is a real sporty car and heads will be turning. And remember, you get a brand new car (not a 24000 miles used car).

 

i have been all over the net trying to find bad ratings about the rx8. sure it is easy to find the positives, but i wanted to find what people didnt like about it. The only complaints i ever found
1. didnt drive well on wet surface when driving hard...well who cares
2. trunk button in an awkward location...whatever
3. trunk is too small....its a sports car

I checked many different reputable sources and these were the worst i could find...not bad

PS. the renesis won 2003 engine of the year (not too shabby)

 

neither
go get a '05 rx8...