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

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by liteyouup

Keyboard warrior bench racers...

I've done my fair share of track events. 6 club time trial class championships between the 240Z and S2000. But whatevs...

[Ganthrithor]

S2000s are awesome and always seem to perform nicely at autocrosses, but I'm with Todd on this one: I wouldn't want one as my only car, and if I was going to get a toy car for weekends it would be an Elise or an air-cooled 911. The Elise is just a sweetheart of a car even if the shifter sucks.

I'm loving my BRZ as a "compromise" car though: roof, seats (and the best kind of seats-- ones you can offer to people but that they'll probably turn down ), and good gas mileage while still being a lot of fun to drive. I'm really pleased with it as an only-car.

[vangisback]

Originally Posted by Ganthrithor

S2000s are awesome and always seem to perform nicely at autocrosses, but I'm with Todd on this one: I wouldn't want one as my only car, and if I was going to get a toy car for weekends it would be an Elise or an air-cooled 911. The Elise is just a sweetheart of a car even if the shifter sucks.

Way to compare apples to potatoes, genius. Please tell me when you can buy a used Elise for under $25k. While we are at this game, let me just say that if I were to buy a weekend toy, it would not be an Elise or 911. I would get an Aventador.

[Flufffyninja]

Originally Posted by cfusionpm

For sure. It's a fantastic piece of engineering. An uncompromising driving machine. Nearly 14 years ago, they managed to get 240hp out of a 2L engine revving to 9,000rpm in a convertible chassis that's stiffer than most coupes. Would I love one as a weekend car? You becha. Would I drive one every day? Not a chance.

I did from 2002 until 3 weeks ago. 100,000miles and loved it.
Why wouldn't you like it as a daily driver?

[cfusionpm]

Originally Posted by Flufffyninja

I did from 2002 until 3 weeks ago. 100,000miles and loved it.
Why wouldn't you like it as a daily driver?

I can't stand convertibles, and although my back seats are almost useless, they make great storage shelves and actually do hold a person from time to time.

[CSG Mike]

Reliability...

We've already gone through 2 engines on the BRZ. Completely stock with no power adders. Not even an intake.

My S2k is at almost 120k, and I drive the S2k harder.

[Mandy]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYPZKExY93w"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYPZKExY93w[/ame]

How do we explain this then?

[Flufffyninja]

Originally Posted by cfusionpm

I can't stand convertibles, and although my back seats are almost useless, they make great storage shelves and actually do hold a person from time to time.

So it's the lack of the extra seats that's the deal breaker for you? (Apart from the convertible issue. Any particular reason why?)

It's amazing how much stuff you can get in an s. Suitcases for 2 week holidays, snowboard and suitcase for a 10 day snowboarding holiday. 4 person tent + kit for a long at Car meets. I know one guy who even had a towing hitch fitted so he could pull a trailer

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Reliability...

We've already gone through 2 engines on the BRZ. Completely stock with no power adders. Not even an intake.

I'd be very interested on more info regarding those engines. Mind elaborating?

[HotLavaMann]

I've owned an S2000 (AP2) when I got on the list to buy the FR-S. The S2000 drives like a dream. I just found the cockpit too cramped and the seats woefully uncomfortable. I looked into replacing the seats with something better but the seat selection was only going toward more cramped.
So I sold it and now I drive an FRS. The FRS gives great road handling but I do occasionally miss the pull of the S2000 when VTEC kicks in. Can I modify my FR-S to give me 240 HP? Probably and I may do that someday if I can keep the car decently quiet.

[cfusionpm]

Originally Posted by Flufffyninja

So it's the lack of the extra seats that's the deal breaker for you? (Apart from the convertible issue. Any particular reason why?)

It's amazing how much stuff you can get in an s. Suitcases for 2 week holidays, snowboard and suitcase for a 10 day snowboarding holiday. 4 person tent + kit for a long at Car meets. I know one guy who even had a towing hitch fitted so he could pull a trailer

More the convertible than anything else. I don't like the wind noise and the psychological effect on security. I would probably never have the top down, and to get a dedicated hard top was another 3k on top of a 35k car. I used to drool over them when I used to work at a local Honda dealer right when the AP2s came out. Couldn't afford one at the time anyway, but I always hoped for a cheaper coupe version. That's basically the FR-S.

[Flufffyninja]

I never found the wind noise too bad but horses for courses

I always subscribed to the if they haven't decided to name the storm then there's no excuse not to get the roof down

[WolfpackS2k]

S2000 used prices vary according to the time of year and region of the country.

FYI I purchased my 2007 MY S2000 in December of 2008 for $21,300, here in North Carolina. Car only had 4800 miles on the odometer.

My BRZ is a much easier car to live with day to day, however the lack of power (compared to S2000) has been getting on my nerves faster than I thought it would. It's not entirely fair to the BRZ, as I didn't think my S2000 had enough power either. After having my BRZ for 3 months I am now trying to determine if I want to turn to the aftermarket to make it fast enough for my liking....or do I want a year or so to see if there is a stock vehicle out there that I can afford that meets my requirements.

[Ganthrithor]

Originally Posted by vangisback

Way to compare apples to potatoes, genius. Please tell me when you can buy a used Elise for under $25k. While we are at this game, let me just say that if I were to buy a weekend toy, it would not be an Elise or 911. I would get an Aventador.

Because BRZ - S2k is definitely an apples-to-apples comparison when you get down to it. You know, different number of seats, hard top vs convertible, new vs used, largeish price difference between the cars as purchased new, etc.

HERE is an Elise for ~$30k. Yes, you can get the FRS cheaper, but there are plenty of people paying in the neighborhood of 30k for BRZs, especially on the west coast. Low-mileage S2ks also seem to go for ~28-30k, so not far off there either.

If you want to say S2k - Elise is an odd comparison, be my guest-- they're both pretty-impractical convertibles with excellent handling and small displacement, high-revving engines. Both cost ~$30k with low mileage. Both are great weekend cars.

Way to pick a shitty supercar for your hyperbolic example, though.