FR-S vs RX-8 vs S2000 Review - Everyday Driver
 

These guys are my type of car enthusiast, and I've been following their reviews since their early days. Paul is the conservative one, Todd is a touch more extreme. In their prior review featuring the FR-S, Todd described the FR-S' handling 2nd to only the Lotus Elise out of all the sports cars/supercars he'd driven. Here's their latest:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jImHTWfj8aM"]FRS (GT86, BRZ) vs RX8 vs S2000 Review - Everyday Driver - YouTube[/ame]

Good reviews. These cars are constantly compared but I question whether they really should be. Both the s2000 and the RX8 cost much more when they were purchased new than the FR-S/BRZ. Neither of them are still produced.

Sure you can still buy excellent examples of both but they will not come with a warranty like the twins and like new examples of either will cost as much as the twins do brand new.

None of this will matter to the fanbois just like it does not matter to me that I compare my MR-S with a 2ZZ-GE to the twins and it was never actually produced by Toyota. It should have been but it wasn't.

I admire all the cars in the review but if I was to replace the Spyder then the only one I would buy is the FR-S.

Why was this moved while the GTI v E30 v FRS review remains in the main forum?

Warranty is the biggest advantage the 86 has in this comparison, I disagree on the prices thing but that probably varies based on location, you can get good examples of both for sub $20k prices around here. Maintenance could be a killer depending on how DIY you are.

Probably the most relevant comparison test I've seen when comparing apples to apples cars; all relatively impractical, all performance oriented without big numbers to back it up, all in a similar price bracket right now, all with Japanese reliability (rotary myths not withstanding) and all built to put a smile on your face.

Edit: Shoot, you can pick up an RX8 for less than $10k around here, it will likely be abused but rebuilding a rotary isn't the end of the world.

I don't claim to know much about the S2000 but the S2 RX-8's had most of their problems fixed. Reliability reports on the 2009+ models have been limited but positive. They still have the 7 year-100k mile warranty too. The RX-8 needs to be treated like a princess though, high maintenance and finicky.

A 2011 R3 goes for low $20k now, but they were $30k brand new. I'll never buy one with the intention of keeping the Rotary though. It's not worth the hassle, IMHO. They're practically given away once they break 100k if the engine blows.

The R3 seats are the best OEM seats ever to come out in a production vehicle (sans special edition cars with Recaro SPGs :)).

Good review. If Honda made an S2000 2+2 coupe for $32k new, I'd pick that over the FR-S at $26k. The shifter on the S2000 is incredible, and 40 hp and an 8-9k redline would be welcome upgrades. Hell, I might yet pick up an S2000 down the road as a third car.

The s2k would be a big car if it were 2+2. I really wish Honda came out with a 2 seater fixed roof s2k. It would have been lighter than the convertible with the same 240hp. A 2500lb s2k from Honda would have kicked ass.

Agree, a 2500 lb HT S2000 would be awesome. The hard-top would also make the S2000 more practical. I'd definitely consider it, even without the rear seats.

S2K is still an awesome car still after so many years. You suck Honda.

Yeah, you can get them cheap but I was comparing the ones that were shown in the video which were the last models produced and in "like new" condition. There are older and abused s2000 and RX8 around here that you can get for >$10K but those cannot be compared to a brand new FR-S.

I had looked at the RX-8 when I was still looking around, but didn't consider it very long because of the fuel economy and the engine reliability rumors I had seen over and over. I DD my car so it had to be something with good fuel economy. Never really looked at the s2k either, no rear seats and as I'm still under 25, insurance would be higher than on my FR-S. Also I don't like convertibles, hard tops only.

I wanna sit in them. :drool: My favorite is still the Recaros from the Evo VIII/IX. And with the Momo steering wheel, it was nearly perfect.

Anyway, this was a good comparison. I consider these cars to be the closest in category. Even though I like them all, I still like the FR-S the most. Not only is it the most economical and the most practical, but it has the most low-end torque and I like the styling and size of it more. Plus, for some reason, I get a better/more exciting feeling being in and driving the FR-S compared to when I was in and drove the other two. It's kind of like what that guy said about recognizing a hot girl but knowing she's not the one for you. Whereas when I'm around the FR-S, it's like we were meant to be together. LOL cheesy, I know.

So for me, it's FR-S: 1, S2000: 2, and RX-8: 3. :thumbsup:

nice review. Everything I've ever told people about the s2000 vs fr-s.

great review :thumbup: