S2000 - OK for a guy that's 6"1??
Discussion
Well, I'm 6ft and its a perfect driving position. If you were much taller I dont think it would be a good fit.
Easy to live with day to day - light clutch superb gearbox, not much luggage space, but not bad.
Stereo and speakers are s
t but are easily replaced.
Refinement on the motorway not too hot but liveable. (bit too much engine/wind noise).
Ride is fine, fairly soft.
Average MPG prob 25-28 depending on how you drive. 35 is just about achievable.
Service intervals on my year are every year/9k. Dealers generally good, but avoid for brakes/suspension etc as they just charge too much - use an independent.
Easy to live with day to day - light clutch superb gearbox, not much luggage space, but not bad.
Stereo and speakers are s
t but are easily replaced.Refinement on the motorway not too hot but liveable. (bit too much engine/wind noise).
Ride is fine, fairly soft.
Average MPG prob 25-28 depending on how you drive. 35 is just about achievable.
Service intervals on my year are every year/9k. Dealers generally good, but avoid for brakes/suspension etc as they just charge too much - use an independent.
Would I fit in one of these comfortably? - If your 6.1 and 20 stone you might struggle, try sitting in one and find out
Also, what are they like to live with day to day? - Fine
Stereo any good? - No post 07 speakers are OK but the headunit needs to be replaced
Refinement on the motorway any good? - Fine, its a good GT car
Ride around town? - again fine, depending on what your your looking at ever year getting progessively softer, so 99-01, 02-04, 04-07, 07-09, The exception being the new GT100
Average real world MPG? - If MPG concearns you go buy a diesel
Service intervals + typical costs? - every 9k typically £200 or thereabouts
Dealer service? - Varies soooooooooo much
Also, what are they like to live with day to day? - Fine
Stereo any good? - No post 07 speakers are OK but the headunit needs to be replaced
Refinement on the motorway any good? - Fine, its a good GT car
Ride around town? - again fine, depending on what your your looking at ever year getting progessively softer, so 99-01, 02-04, 04-07, 07-09, The exception being the new GT100
Average real world MPG? - If MPG concearns you go buy a diesel
Service intervals + typical costs? - every 9k typically £200 or thereabouts
Dealer service? - Varies soooooooooo much
Edited by Pie n Chips on Wednesday 23 September 13:11
daveknott5 said:
Would I fit in one of these comfortably?
I'm 6'3" with 34" leg and it's tight but OK. I have the seat as far back as it will go and reclined against rear bulkhead. With a lid on on track my head sticks out the top a bit though.daveknott5 said:
Also, what are they like to live with day to day?
It's my only car, perfect for my 15 mile cross country commute where you can cruise along revelling in the top down motoring experience, taking in the countryside as you go, or drive it like you've stolen it when running late. Engine is a bit marmite, I love driving it all the way to the red line, others say it's a tiresome experience, be prepared to change gear lots to extract full performance.daveknott5 said:
Stereo any good?
Stereo on 04 onwards cars is better than the earlier cars - extra speakers in the roll hoops, may be the doors too. I find it OK but nothing amazing, easily upgradeable with new head unit and speakers that retain the dashboard control functions.daveknott5 said:
Refinement on the motorway any good?
Top down it's quite breezy and noisy, top up it's quite noisy, drive for yourself to see what you think. With a hardtop on it's a much more refined experience.daveknott5 said:
Ride around town?
Generally the cars got softer with each major revsion, bar the 09 cars which are more like the original late 90s/early 2000 examples (spring, damper, roll bar and geometry changes IIRC).daveknott5 said:
Average real world MPG?
I average around around 27mpg, mostly top down when the weather allows, 50/50 split between cruising along and using the all the revs.daveknott5 said:
Service intervals + typical costs?
9000 miles, easily self serviced if you're competent with the spanners. 9k (dealer ~£120) and 18k (~£180)are glorified oil changes, 27k (~£300) adds checking valve clearances, changing diff oil and brake fluid, then the cycle repeats. Other biggy is either 54k or 72k where plugs and gearbox oil are changed, but that's mainly parts costs. I've decided to do all the work on mine myself as it's just out of warranty. It's a chain cam drive so no belt to change at any time.daveknott5 said:
Dealer service?
FHSH is no bad thing. If it's an older car history from a recognised indie or a caring owner with all receipts etc. is no bad thing either.daveknott5 said:
Any help appreciated!! thanks all!
For me there was no other car available at similar price which offered the package of performance, reliability, fun, tweakabilty, simplicity to work on etc. of the S. Go drive one to see if you like them. Handling can feel a bit edgy if you're new to RWD lightweight sportscar. Tyre brand and wheel alignment affects the handling massively so it's worth getting it set up correctly or adjusted to your preferences. The adjustment bolts in the suspension are prone to siezing solid rendering adjustment impossible, even on newer cars. It's a big job with lots of labour (~£1k+) to fix as it involves stripping the suspension and rebushing.Get over to www.s2ki.co.uk for all the info you'll ever need at your fingertips.
Set aside half a day if you visit s2ki.co.uk - there's an absolute mine of information on there, plus some good people.
Advice above is good - don't expect MX-5-like 'foolproof' handling, but with the right geo and tyres it doesn't bite like its reputation would suggest.
Agree with Pie - as the car got revised, the suspension and handling got steadily less 'aggressive', but the interior got steadily better - glass rear window from '02, better-looking seats and centre console from '04, (optional) VSC from 2006 with a DBW throttle...so depends what your budget is and what's important to you...
Advice above is good - don't expect MX-5-like 'foolproof' handling, but with the right geo and tyres it doesn't bite like its reputation would suggest.
Agree with Pie - as the car got revised, the suspension and handling got steadily less 'aggressive', but the interior got steadily better - glass rear window from '02, better-looking seats and centre console from '04, (optional) VSC from 2006 with a DBW throttle...so depends what your budget is and what's important to you...
Day to day the S2000 is just fine. I do a daily 60 mile round trip on the M4 and at 70-80 the road/wind noise is more than acceptable for this type of car. I see 28-30mpg driven smoothly at those speeds. If the weather is good then I'll skip the motorway and take the scenic route where the car comes alive with VTEC on full chat... but of course mpg goes down! Ride is pretty good too, clutch and gear change nicely weighted. Find the stereo ok, but most seem to disagree. Only had the one service so far (63k so a small one I think), done by highly recommended specialist TGM. I found it be far cheaper than expected, approx £180.
If you fit in (your far taller than me) then go for it, it’s a very useable everyday car.
Happy shopping!
If you fit in (your far taller than me) then go for it, it’s a very useable everyday car.
Happy shopping!
I'm 6'1", no problems fitting in.
Had a Y2k one, had it for 8 years as I couldn't find anything else I like better / could afford to upgrade
Also ride motorbikes so a bit biased about the engine - the closest car engine to a bike! on the right road, especially with the roof down its really addictive. Below 6k rpm pretty gutless, you just have to adjust how you drive it
Stereo is complete and utter rubbish - well it was on an early one. Actually used to turn it off on the motorway as its that bad
Motorways?? Hhmm, know I'm getting old as towards the end of owning it, was being driven round the bend by the wind / engine noise. Below about 75mph OK, but long periods above that, made my ears ring. Even tried driving it on the continent and had to keep to 75mph ish, if on motorways.
Always had mine serviced by Honda main agent, was not that expensive, as nothing ever went wrong.
Handling - brilliant, as said previously drive it on the throttle. Easy to drive in the wet - slow down! Seriously in the wet, if approaching corners, keep it below 6k then no problem.
As mine was an early one had plastic rear window,but it was always garaged, so it and the roof were still on the original when sold earlier this year.
Gearbox is really great, best I've ever driven.
Tyres - always bought the original factory fit make and model, could always get a good deal on them
Boot space was big enough (just) for week away touring Northern Europe - 2 of us.
Get a decent time on a test drive and so long as you are not an old git like me you will probably love it
Had a Y2k one, had it for 8 years as I couldn't find anything else I like better / could afford to upgrade
Also ride motorbikes so a bit biased about the engine - the closest car engine to a bike! on the right road, especially with the roof down its really addictive. Below 6k rpm pretty gutless, you just have to adjust how you drive it
Stereo is complete and utter rubbish - well it was on an early one. Actually used to turn it off on the motorway as its that bad
Motorways?? Hhmm, know I'm getting old as towards the end of owning it, was being driven round the bend by the wind / engine noise. Below about 75mph OK, but long periods above that, made my ears ring. Even tried driving it on the continent and had to keep to 75mph ish, if on motorways.
Always had mine serviced by Honda main agent, was not that expensive, as nothing ever went wrong.
Handling - brilliant, as said previously drive it on the throttle. Easy to drive in the wet - slow down! Seriously in the wet, if approaching corners, keep it below 6k then no problem.
As mine was an early one had plastic rear window,but it was always garaged, so it and the roof were still on the original when sold earlier this year.
Gearbox is really great, best I've ever driven.
Tyres - always bought the original factory fit make and model, could always get a good deal on them
Boot space was big enough (just) for week away touring Northern Europe - 2 of us.
Get a decent time on a test drive and so long as you are not an old git like me you will probably love it
Im 6'6'' and I fit in my mums 05plate 2s000 pretty easily. getting in and out can be a little undignified, but once im in its all good
stereo is alright, but who wants to keep the stock stereo?
Ride is astoundingly hard! Harder than my lowered civic, harder than my dads corvette c5, i fear i may end up with a crooked spine if I drove it for too long.
stereo is alright, but who wants to keep the stock stereo?
Ride is astoundingly hard! Harder than my lowered civic, harder than my dads corvette c5, i fear i may end up with a crooked spine if I drove it for too long.
Lozz_D15 said:
Im 6'6'' and I fit in my mums 05plate 2s000 pretty easily. getting in and out can be a little undignified, but once im in its all good
stereo is alright, but who wants to keep the stock stereo?
Ride is astoundingly hard! Harder than my lowered civic, harder than my dads corvette c5, i fear i may end up with a crooked spine if I drove it for too long.
Something's been done then, they just don't ride that hard as standard.stereo is alright, but who wants to keep the stock stereo?
Ride is astoundingly hard! Harder than my lowered civic, harder than my dads corvette c5, i fear i may end up with a crooked spine if I drove it for too long.
As for fitting if you're 6'1, well I only just fit at 5'10.
These cars are very narrow, smaller inside than an MX5 and the seat is set too high. The steering wheel doesn't adjust either.
Take a good long test drive before commiting.
My first car was an S2000. Nurburgring blue.... sigh..
6'1" is ok - I am that height and I was fine.
Agree with everything said about s2ki.com and just try it.
The engine is marmite.
Gearbox is lovely - I went on from the S2000 to a 997C2s and a Vantage V8 and the S2000 box is best of the lot.
My tip - warm the tyres up before you go bonkers and remember that once the VTEC kicks in you are driving a very different car!
Go for it!!!
6'1" is ok - I am that height and I was fine.
Agree with everything said about s2ki.com and just try it.
The engine is marmite.
Gearbox is lovely - I went on from the S2000 to a 997C2s and a Vantage V8 and the S2000 box is best of the lot.
My tip - warm the tyres up before you go bonkers and remember that once the VTEC kicks in you are driving a very different car!
Go for it!!!
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