Discussion
Ok, about £9-10K to spend, which would you get and why?
Obviously after opinions from those who have owned one.
I heard the S2000 drinks oil like a turbo, so checking for cars that have been accidently run dry in the past won't be easy. Only buy 2nd hand from an enthusiast? Also look for clutch wear from people dropping it off the line?
RX8 only issue I can think of are rotary rebuilds at around 80K miles?
Obviously after opinions from those who have owned one.
I heard the S2000 drinks oil like a turbo, so checking for cars that have been accidently run dry in the past won't be easy. Only buy 2nd hand from an enthusiast? Also look for clutch wear from people dropping it off the line?
RX8 only issue I can think of are rotary rebuilds at around 80K miles?
Oo-er, snob alert! 
There's a few around and both go as low as about £7.5K, so 9+ should see a slightly better one, as a general rule. If I wanted a really ropey car I'd pay the same for a TVR Chim or something... or am I now going to be told that is a worth alternative for someone looking for a fun RWD reliable car that can be commuted in and used as a track car (but not modified)?
I'd expect even a 7 year old Honda or Mazda to be largely trouble-free compared to other makes.
Anything else to look out for with these cars?
There's a few around and both go as low as about £7.5K, so 9+ should see a slightly better one, as a general rule. If I wanted a really ropey car I'd pay the same for a TVR Chim or something... or am I now going to be told that is a worth alternative for someone looking for a fun RWD reliable car that can be commuted in and used as a track car (but not modified)?I'd expect even a 7 year old Honda or Mazda to be largely trouble-free compared to other makes.
Anything else to look out for with these cars?
Edited by mattikake on Wednesday 31st October 16:48
My S2000 (face-lift) didn't drink oil in fact it hardly used any but then I never took it on a track
Before I got IIRC it had done 15,000 miles, which were put on it in it's first 5 months of life so it was well run in by the time I got it but hadn't been serviced at 9,000 as it should have been
It like, the RX8 I understand, did like to drink petrol tho', Honda claims 20 mpg round town
I had it serviced (probably just an oil & filter change) before I bought it at 15,000 miles and paid £150 for another service (probably just another oil & filter change) at 18,000 miles a couple of months later hoping it would perk the car up as I knew it wasn't at full performance (I had a Griff before this)
English Honda dealership that done the service did take it back and done a diagnostic at my insistence and reset the ECU to "Honda specification"
Face-lift cars are less frantic but slightly less responsive than pre-face-lift models (I've driven a friend's) and I believe the earlier the car the more responsive (that’s why bikers bought the early ones when new)
Before I got IIRC it had done 15,000 miles, which were put on it in it's first 5 months of life so it was well run in by the time I got it but hadn't been serviced at 9,000 as it should have been
It like, the RX8 I understand, did like to drink petrol tho', Honda claims 20 mpg round town
I had it serviced (probably just an oil & filter change) before I bought it at 15,000 miles and paid £150 for another service (probably just another oil & filter change) at 18,000 miles a couple of months later hoping it would perk the car up as I knew it wasn't at full performance (I had a Griff before this)
English Honda dealership that done the service did take it back and done a diagnostic at my insistence and reset the ECU to "Honda specification"
Face-lift cars are less frantic but slightly less responsive than pre-face-lift models (I've driven a friend's) and I believe the earlier the car the more responsive (that’s why bikers bought the early ones when new)
Edited by Sporting Bear on Wednesday 31st October 21:16
My Honda S2000 never used a drop either... I was expecting it too, had a Integra Type R which used 1/4 litre a week!!! I owned it from almost new and despite reporting the abnormal oil usage to Honda on several occasions, it never missed a beat and I still see it driving through the village near by nearly 7 years since I sold it 
As an S2000 owner myself, I think it depends how well your engine has been run in, in terms of oil usage. I check my oil regularly and it hasn't needed topping up since it's last service in Feb, but then I never track it or run it in vtec all the time.
RX8's do use quite a lot of oil, my mate has one.
If you need something more practical then the RX8 is for you. Having driven both I prefer the s2000 - and looks wise too. I think certain aspects of the RX8 are nice, but as a package its over styled and trying too hard.
RX8's do use quite a lot of oil, my mate has one.
If you need something more practical then the RX8 is for you. Having driven both I prefer the s2000 - and looks wise too. I think certain aspects of the RX8 are nice, but as a package its over styled and trying too hard.
mattikake said:
What are S2000's like in the wet? Do the hoods do well too? I'll be using this in all weather.
As good as the driver - if you've never driven a high performance rear wheel drive car without traction control before then you'll probably crash it at some stageHood is excellent - unless you have a vandalism or theft issue you'll never need a hard top
Once a hard top is fitted you miss out on the many dry days of autumn/winter/spring plus they take up a lot of garage space with their stand too
Plus if you want a hard top you need to buy the GT as retro fitting is expensive and unnecessary (see above)
Oh right. I didn't know you couldn't fit a hardtop easily on a non-GT S2000. Cheers for that info! 
I used to have a 200sx running high power. Never crashed it due to being over-zealous but in the wet the backend would often come out accidently on turbo torque (pretty scarey when trying to cruise at 50% throttle on a motorway!), this is why I'm looking at NA RWD cars for the extra control.
Since thinking about this, I really have noticed how common RX8's are. That in itself is putting me off.
Also just started considering a NA VX220 that are also available as low as £8K. But it's a Vauxhall and the interior is disgusting.
I used to have a 200sx running high power. Never crashed it due to being over-zealous but in the wet the backend would often come out accidently on turbo torque (pretty scarey when trying to cruise at 50% throttle on a motorway!), this is why I'm looking at NA RWD cars for the extra control.
Since thinking about this, I really have noticed how common RX8's are. That in itself is putting me off.
Also just started considering a NA VX220 that are also available as low as £8K. But it's a Vauxhall and the interior is disgusting.
My facelift 2K pulled from 2,000 rpm but had to be at 4,500 rpm at least before it got going and it's power is 7,500 - 8,300 rpm with a redline and limiter at 9,000 rpm
So driven correctly (and remembering that we all make mistakes) there should be no trouble with driving in the wet (I never let the tyres go below 3mm tread on a car like this)
The Honda dealership were unable to confirm if the 2K had LSD so I guess it didn't (?)
You can't compare the practicality of the VX (and its hood) with the 2K, more like different sports than different leagues
IMO the facelift has the better dash and instument display but see my previous posts for driving differences
As far as reliability goes well the 2K has been the No.1 car a couple of times as I always say the only real problem with a Japanese car is it's English dealership
It's the type of car that could be owned by people who have hammered it and neglected maimtanence but if that's the current owner there will be signs with the car or it's paperwork or just by talking to the person
Go out and look at a few, drive a few then do the same with the RX8 and VX
Let us know how you get on
So driven correctly (and remembering that we all make mistakes) there should be no trouble with driving in the wet (I never let the tyres go below 3mm tread on a car like this)
The Honda dealership were unable to confirm if the 2K had LSD so I guess it didn't (?)
You can't compare the practicality of the VX (and its hood) with the 2K, more like different sports than different leagues
IMO the facelift has the better dash and instument display but see my previous posts for driving differences
As far as reliability goes well the 2K has been the No.1 car a couple of times as I always say the only real problem with a Japanese car is it's English dealership
It's the type of car that could be owned by people who have hammered it and neglected maimtanence but if that's the current owner there will be signs with the car or it's paperwork or just by talking to the person
Go out and look at a few, drive a few then do the same with the RX8 and VX
Let us know how you get on
mattikake said:
Oo-er, snob alert! There's a few around and both go as low as about £7.5K, so 9+ should see a slightly better one, as a general rule. If I wanted a really ropey car I'd pay the same for a TVR Chim or something...
I think he's just pointing out what's true as you are going to be looking at the higher mileage ones with that sort of budget. Though there's always one or two bargain gems about! I had a budget of 10k a year ago and looked at S2000s for that price and found them all to be pretty tired inside, especially the drivers seat. Import's were obviously more for the money, but all the ones I saw were 2Fast2Fusious wannabes There's a few around and both go as low as about £7.5K, so 9+ should see a slightly better one, as a general rule. If I wanted a really ropey car I'd pay the same for a TVR Chim or something... 
Still a lovely car!
This one seems to be a UK car and looks quite a good buy...
advert
My 2p's? RX8 really is trying to hard to be trendy, especially on the inside.
ps, no need to have a jibe at the guys TVR either
Windymiller said:
mattikake said:
Oo-er, snob alert! There's a few around and both go as low as about £7.5K, so 9+ should see a slightly better one, as a general rule. If I wanted a really ropey car I'd pay the same for a TVR Chim or something...
I think he's just pointing out what's true as you are going to be looking at the higher mileage ones with that sort of budget. Though there's always one or two bargain gems about! I had a budget of 10k a year ago and looked at S2000s for that price and found them all to be pretty tired inside, especially the drivers seat. Import's were obviously more for the money, but all the ones I saw were 2Fast2Fusious wannabes There's a few around and both go as low as about £7.5K, so 9+ should see a slightly better one, as a general rule. If I wanted a really ropey car I'd pay the same for a TVR Chim or something... Still a lovely car!
This one seems to be a UK car and looks quite a good buy...
advert
My 2p's? RX8 really is trying to hard to be trendy, especially on the inside.
ps, no need to have a jibe at the guys TVR either
Not sure you can compare to a TVR?
itsallyellow said:
Windymiller said:
mattikake said:
Oo-er, snob alert! There's a few around and both go as low as about £7.5K, so 9+ should see a slightly better one, as a general rule. If I wanted a really ropey car I'd pay the same for a TVR Chim or something...
I think he's just pointing out what's true as you are going to be looking at the higher mileage ones with that sort of budget. Though there's always one or two bargain gems about! I had a budget of 10k a year ago and looked at S2000s for that price and found them all to be pretty tired inside, especially the drivers seat. Import's were obviously more for the money, but all the ones I saw were 2Fast2Fusious wannabes There's a few around and both go as low as about £7.5K, so 9+ should see a slightly better one, as a general rule. If I wanted a really ropey car I'd pay the same for a TVR Chim or something... Still a lovely car!
This one seems to be a UK car and looks quite a good buy...
advert
My 2p's? RX8 really is trying to hard to be trendy, especially on the inside.
ps, no need to have a jibe at the guys TVR either
Not sure you can compare to a TVR?
£10K is always the starting budget. I could probably put a lot more of my own money into it if needed (and probably will) but it's just a sensible starting point.
So far for £10K I've been looking at:-
S2000
VX220
Elise
MX5
RX8
In that order. Beyond that I don't think there is anything else worth considering. An S2000 is still the car that ticks all the boxes.
btw, I had no idea the guy has a TVR. Would you spend £10K on a TVR and hope not to spend any more on it afterwards? I already have a Fiat for wasting money on! (£20K in 4 years!)
Edited by mattikake on Wednesday 7th November 09:55
IMHOI have a RX8 230, never driven an S2000 but my RX8 gives 20mpg town use, slightly beter on a long run (250 miles instead of 200 per tank). Yes it likes oil but some cars more than others, depends on your driving. I check mine every 500 miles. Handles very well but can still be tricky in the wet even with stability and TCS.
My kids love it in the bank, boot it OK. Its quiet (needs a borla zaust etc) not amazingly fast but handles very well and is great fun. Not the best built inside and has a few rattles.
My kids love it in the bank, boot it OK. Its quiet (needs a borla zaust etc) not amazingly fast but handles very well and is great fun. Not the best built inside and has a few rattles.
The thing that bothers me about RX8's is how common they are, especially compared to S2000's, and how much I'm used to utterly destroying them in my Fiat, to the point I barely even bother wasting the fuel anymore. In fact I even saw a Fiesta ST really annoying one the other day. How embarrassing must that be? But it's handling I'm after, with a bit of practicality to boot. RX8 is just like a 2 seater but with 4 seats - a grown-up MX5, of which a mk2 MX5 is my back-out cheap option giving me £5K to spend on the Fiat... 400Bhp... mmmm... 
Still not driven one yet and while I actually like the interior styling (hate the exterior), the plastics seem less solid and those in my 10yo Fiat! I could imagine rattles, which is a reason for going for a Honda (the car it will be replacing is currently an 30K mile '05 Accord and it still drives like I just bought it). I think once you taste Honda engineering and build quality you can't ever go back...
What are they like in the wet though, both cruising and driven hard? Fun or scarey?
Anyone know the mpg for an S2000 when cruised around at <3Krpm? Surely it can't be 20mpg as the book says?
VX220 I consider far better vfm than an Elise, even though the interior imo is kack, oh and it's a Vauxhall! Fairly tunable for a NA though. Useless for a reliable daily commuter?
Yet I could do with a boot. Nice engine noise should be considered important too, which wipes all but the S2000 off the list!
Still not driven one yet and while I actually like the interior styling (hate the exterior), the plastics seem less solid and those in my 10yo Fiat! I could imagine rattles, which is a reason for going for a Honda (the car it will be replacing is currently an 30K mile '05 Accord and it still drives like I just bought it). I think once you taste Honda engineering and build quality you can't ever go back...
What are they like in the wet though, both cruising and driven hard? Fun or scarey?
Anyone know the mpg for an S2000 when cruised around at <3Krpm? Surely it can't be 20mpg as the book says?
VX220 I consider far better vfm than an Elise, even though the interior imo is kack, oh and it's a Vauxhall! Fairly tunable for a NA though. Useless for a reliable daily commuter?
Yet I could do with a boot. Nice engine noise should be considered important too, which wipes all but the S2000 off the list!
Edited by mattikake on Wednesday 7th November 12:53
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