S1 Elise to S2000??

[Dixie]

Thinking of changing our Clio 172 and S1 Elise for a 02ish S2k. Am i going to be disappointed??

Thing is the Elise sits in the garage most of the time now. We dont need 2 cars anymore cos we both live within a mile from work. Dotn wat to be dissapointed though.

I know the S2k wont be as much fun as the elise on a fast run but as an everyday car i'm thinking it may be a better option. And cheaper than running both.


What do you guys think? Anyone been in a simular situation??

Cheers,

[Cathar]

I sold my 928 and my Seven and got an S2000 this spring. The S2000 took some getting used to, but now I love it. The engine/gearbox combo is just awesome, and the power is more than enough for the type of driving I do (mountain passes & small roads).

I'm finding that I have to be much more careful regarding oversteer, especially since my previous cars were extremely forgiving in this department. The rear can come around very quickly, and you need to be lighting fast with the coutersteer.

Steering feel is also a bit harder to read, but I've gotten used to it now. I'm hoping to improve it with a geometry alignment.

I'm finding the car quite practical, with aircon and a decent sized boot.

Hope this helps!

BTW; here's a pic of the car from 2 weeks ago when I took a day off and did a 500+ mile drive through the alps:


Large Version here

Edited by Cathar on Tuesday 23 October 17:40

[Urban Sports]

Dixie said:

Thinking of changing our Clio 172 and S1 Elise for a 02ish S2k. Am i going to be disappointed??

Thing is the Elise sits in the garage most of the time now. We dont need 2 cars anymore cos we both live within a mile from work. Dotn wat to be dissapointed though.

I know the S2k wont be as much fun as the elise on a fast run but as an everyday car i'm thinking it may be a better option. And cheaper than running both.


What do you guys think? Anyone been in a simular situation??

Cheers,

Why won't it be as much fun?

9000 rpm FFS

And I have driven both, the S2000 is a fantastic machine.

[madras]

it will be just as much fun, probably more. it's a powerful car when you get it above 7000rpm.

[Cathar]

Just to clarify, my HKT Seven would run rings around a standard Elise, but still, in real-world situations where speed is limited by vision, the S2000 isn't that much slower at all.

And the 9200 RPM redline and rifle bolt gearbox make for a lot of entertainment!

Edited by Cathar on Tuesday 23 October 22:39

[ferrisbueller]

IMO There is very little to match an S1 Elise when it comes to the thrill of driving. If you want 9k revs buy an Elise 111R?

Try and make sure you get a facelifted S2k if you choose to go that way.

[madras]

Cathar said:

Just to clarify, my HKT Seven would run rings around a standard Elise, but still, in real-world situations where spees is limited by vision, the S2000 isn't that much slower at all.

And the 9200 RPM redline and rifle bolt gearbox make for a lot of entertainment!

An S2000 is quicker than a standard elise

edited to say in a straight line

edited to say actually it's quicker in the bends too!

Edited by madras on Tuesday 23 October 22:12

Edited by madras on Tuesday 23 October 22:25

[Cathar]

I'd seriously doubt that on stock tires an S2000 is quicker in the bends than an Elise, and I have an S2000.

Edited to add that the point is that track speed doesn't matter, the S is an excellent sports car offering lots of driving thrills.

Edited by Cathar on Tuesday 23 October 22:41

[ferrisbueller]

madras said:

Cathar said:

Just to clarify, my HKT Seven would run rings around a standard Elise, but still, in real-world situations where spees is limited by vision, the S2000 isn't that much slower at all.

And the 9200 RPM redline and rifle bolt gearbox make for a lot of entertainment!

An S2000 is quicker than a standard elise

edited to say in a straight line

edited to say actually it's quicker in the bends too!

I think not.

[Urban Sports]

ferrisbueller said:

madras said:

Cathar said:

Just to clarify, my HKT Seven would run rings around a standard Elise, but still, in real-world situations where spees is limited by vision, the S2000 isn't that much slower at all.

And the 9200 RPM redline and rifle bolt gearbox make for a lot of entertainment!

An S2000 is quicker than a standard elise

edited to say in a straight line

edited to say actually it's quicker in the bends too!

I think not.

In a straight line it is, in the bends the elise has an edge but what car doesn't the elise have an edge on?

[madras]

yeah i wasn't being totally serious about the bends bit. Although I don't find them that quick, but I'm a crap driver.

I know it's not the be all and end all but does anyone have any 'ring times for a standard, 111s or sport 160?

[Dixie]

madras said:

An S2000 is quicker than a standard elise

edited to say in a straight line

edited to say actually it's quicker in the bends too!

Edited by madras on Tuesday 23 October 22:12

Edited by madras on Tuesday 23 October 22:25

Standard Elise should hit 60 in about 5.5 seconds. Compared to 6.2 for the s2k. Although after that i suspect the s2k will walk all over an elise.

I'm really torn. Would help if the pesky dealer would let me drive one!!!

[Urban Sports]

Dixie said:

madras said:

An S2000 is quicker than a standard elise

edited to say in a straight line

edited to say actually it's quicker in the bends too!

Edited by madras on Tuesday 23 October 22:12

Edited by madras on Tuesday 23 October 22:25

Standard Elise should hit 60 in about 5.5 seconds. Compared to 6.2 for the s2k. Although after that i suspect the s2k will walk all over an elise.

I'm really torn. Would help if the pesky dealer would let me drive one!!!

The S2000 offical Honda figures are 6.2 but the majority of tests in reviews that don't take the 6.2 seconds figure come out with usually around 5.5 to 60.

For example

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrive...

Although the general consensus is that you have to be fairly brutal with it to do that probably because of the 6000+ rpm needed to launch it off the line.

[Cathar]

True, you can get it to 60 in quite a bit less than 6 seconds with a VTEC launch, but that's something you won't do in your own car, unless you hate your clutch (ok, I just had mine replaced...).

The thing with VTEC is that you really have to keep the engine on the boil, which can be manic fun, heeltoeing into every turn, keeping it over 6500 revs and then letting loose at the apex and going full throttle up to a 9200 shift point. It's something you really can't do in many other cars.

Still, you will have a power-to-weight ratio better than an MX-5 even below VTEC, which makes for quite a good cross country pace even when you're not ragging it.

Did I mention that I really like the engine and gearbox?

[havoc]

It's a very good car but less 'feelsome' and less playful than your current two (as you've surmised). So depends on your driving style and preferred locations:-

172 similar to my 'teg - B-road machine all the way, neat or lairy it'll do both.
Elise is a neat but intuitive machine...hard work but great fun.
S2000 more of a sweeping A-road machine...I don't push mine near the (very high) limits unless I've a nice large roundabout to collect it on if I get it wrong. If I had to keep just one Honda it'd be the 'teg, but it'd also be a close call...

That said, it's very well built, superb powertrain, and feels very fast when pushed...imagine 172 pace in the mid-range then a whole new engine once you hit 6k!

Oh...and geo changes and a couple of simple mods can improve both feedback and progression...but only so far, don't expect it to get anywhere near Elise-levels.

[Bibbs]

The redline is only 9,000 guys ..

I had piggy backs on mine that showed this. Peak hold dials would occasionally see almost 9,100 on the limiter.
I've now a replacement ECU that had now set the limit to 9,200.

[Cathar]

"only" 9000

[n3il123]

Never driven an elise so can't really comment on that.. however I do have an s2000 and its great... a little tiresome on a long motorway trip (but then I only ever drive it with the hood down!) what I would say about it though is that it is a very practical everyday car one that you can use everyday.. the only reason I have the BMW is the amount of motorway miles I do... otherwise it would be s2000 vtec tastic all the way!

[Bibbs]

Cathar said:

"only" 9000

Yup .. and when giving it some welly, I still hit the damn thing.

Driving deisels is now a no no.

[n3il123]

Cathar said:

"only" 9000

Thought that was the whole point of having a rev limiter...