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any former S2000 owners here?

Joined
25 August 2003
Messages
5
Location
Fairfax, VA
hi everyone. this forum is the most professional, friendly, informative, knowledgable, helpful, and relaxed forum I've ever visited. Just one of the perks of owning a supercar such as the NSX. :) (I'm not saying I have one. haha)

I currently drive a new 2003 S2000, and I was wondering if anyone here has moved up to the NSX from a S2000. Or did anyone have hard time choosing between a new S2000 and the used NSX ?

For me, S2000 is the most rigid and stiff and best handling and fun to drive car I've ever driven or owned. (I'm 26 now). but I know the NSX has to be better. Even if NSX drives like a big SUV, I'd still like to have one just for its looks !

How would you say the NSX compares to the S2000? Is the chassis really THAT MORE RIGID than the S2000? As far as power, we're talkin about a 6cylinder vs a 4cylinder and I know there is no comparison.

And I have a question about the NSX leases. Since cars of these nature sell at MSRP anyways, leasing one sounds like a good deal for those of us who can't afford the chunky monthly payments yet. If you lease at $800/month for 3 years, and apply the payments you have made for the last 3 years as downpayment and buy out the car, the monthly note should be somewhat affordable. Of course, I believe you put in the buyout clause at the time of the lease, and it would be foolish to agree to buy out a honda civic at MSRP at the end of the lease, but since NSXs and M3s and etc sell for MSRPs anyways, leasing a NSX and buying it out seems like a smart move. am I correct?

And did anyone trade in a $30k car for a NSX without taking a big hit? (i'm talkin about a loss of less than $1000 dollars)

I would like to get a used NSX in mint condition someday. And since the S2000 is my second car (Maxima is my daily driver), I think I can trade in my "low miles and mint condition" S2000 for a NSX in 2,3 years and break even. or am I dreaming? Hmmm if I could trade my s2000 in for an early 90s NSX today without losing any money, I'd be inclined to do so. hehe.

*and oh, by "breaking even", I mean I'm hoping I can sell or trade in the S for what I owe on the car.
 
S2000 said:
hi everyone. this forum is the most professional, friendly, informative, knowledgable, helpful, and relaxed forum I've ever visited. Just one of the perks of owning a supercar such as the NSX. :) (I'm not saying I have one. haha)

Welcome to the forum and thanks for the compliments.
To start you off with, here is a thread started by an S2000 owner who got pretty positive feedback regarding the Honda. :)

I currently drive a new 2003 S2000, and I was wondering if anyone here has moved up to the NSX from a S2000. Or did anyone have hard time choosing between a new S2000 and the used NSX ?

For me, I had a difficult choice between the two when I was in the market. At the time, the Honda dealers were still hesitant at selling the S2k at MSRP. But I had played one dealer against the other and he agreed to sell it to me at MSRP. But it really boiled down to chasing a dream car. And that was the NSX. So I had to act on faith and let the deal pass. Gladly, my patience paid off a few months later and my NSX came around. No regrets.

Even if NSX drives like a big SUV...

Not a chance! :)

How would you say the NSX compares to the S2000? Is the chassis really THAT MORE RIGID than the S2000? As far as power, we're talkin about a 6cylinder vs a 4cylinder and I know there is no comparison.

I test drove the S2000 and I agree, that thing is stiff! The NSX has a different feel to it. For lack of a better word, it feels more..."mature." The VTEC hits gradually with the NSX, not like the S2000 where you can feel the jolt.


I would like to get a used NSX in mint condition someday. And since the S2000 is my second car (Maxima is my daily driver), I think I can trade in my "low miles and mint condition" S2000 for a NSX in 2,3 years and break even. or am I dreaming? Hmmm if I could trade my s2000 in for an early 90s NSX today without losing any money, I'd be inclined to do so. hehe.

You're going to take a big hit. You can still trade it in but I wouldn't count on getting as much as you think you would. If you sold it privately, you'll get more money back. Nowadays, the $30k mark is your gauge on the NSX's condition. You can find a 1991 or 1992 mint condition for $30k to $35k. Below the $30k mark, expect high mileage or a salvage title.


*and oh, by "breaking even", I mean I'm hoping I can sell or trade in the S for what I owe on the car.

That depends on how much you put down and your monthly payments on the S2000.
 
I had an 00 silver/red S2000 a few years ago, sold it so I could eventually purchase an NSX-T, which I was fortunate enough to do in May.

I felt the S2000 was more rigid than the NSX, even moreso than the few coupes I've driven. My only gripe on the S2000 was its torque, or lack thereof. I suppose I should also say styling, no comparison there. The NSX is also much quieter and more comfortable on the highway (with the top on).

Will
 
How can an S2000 be more rigid than an NSX coupe?
KEN NSXTASY where are you :)
 
I drove an S2000 a couple of times. There was one for sale here and I thoguht I could get a good deal. I didn't know when I would ever be able to afford an NSX, so it was a good alternative.

Well, I drove the S2000 and a week later drove the NSX. Within the first minute I said to the owner, why the hell would I drive an S2000 when I can drive this! End of story. Had to have the NSX.
 
If you sell your S2k today, the proceeds will just about cover all your costs on the 3 year Acura NSX lease deal (which, is about $850 per month when you add tax to the $799 offer). After 3 years you'll have to turn in your NSX and have no car. If you keep your s2k, after 3 years you'll probably have a vehicle that's worth about 15k.

So there's your trade off - is it worth losing that 15k to drive an NSX instead of your S2k for three years? I think so, but you'll have to make that decision for yourself.

Of course, if Acura decides to mass produce the new NSX, in other words if they screw it up, you'll be glad you've leased this one with a 59k buyout in 3 years.
 
I don't know about the lease option, but it will definately lose you a lot of money if you decide to keep the car for long time. I said so as a general statement, since I never look into one at all.
I always thought the residual value was something like 70k... Maybe I'm wrong.

I just don't understand the mentality of getting rid of the S2000??
Have you absolutley hate driving your S2000? If not, what makes you to be interested in NSX. There's always a better car out there, but if you are satisfied with yours right now, why change??

If you keep your Maxima, I would strongly recomment getting the early NSX though.

I have driven the S2000 before and lived with that for couple days, I could tell you in couple lines just to differentiate the 2:

NSX, when compared to S2000 feels like it had more stability, esp. in High Speed. However the Low speed handling could be a little crumpsy compared to S2000, (basically long wheel base vs SWB) S2000 is a tiny car but with a long nose, however NSX relatively had a shorter nose but a long tail. You will feel the big diff. when you try to drive both at AutoX.
 
My wife owned a S2000 (she now drives a Civic Type R). I think the big difference is that the S2000 feels more rigid and is more tricky in the wet. Furthermore there is a big difference in balance. The S2000 has a 50/50 balance while the NSX has more weight on the rear. You can feel that on the track. The NSX has a lot more margin and possibilities to correct a failure. It is more controlable.
When I drive the NSX it feels more secure. The NSX feels like a supercar while the S2k feels light and tiny.

The lack of torque annoyed me a lot. The Civic Type R is almost as fast but has more torque below 6k revs.
It is true. The Sk is a fantastic car, very stiff and made for the track. For road use it misses a supercharger (ok, also for track use).

Go for the NSX. (but keep the S2000)

Gerard:)
 
Well the reason I'd like a NSX is because it has always been my dream car. The reason I bought the S2000 is because I wanted a convertible for now, and I am not regretting the purchase one bit. I LOVE THIS CAR!! It's awesome. There really is not another convertible I'd rather have for under 100k. If the S2000 costs 80k and if I had 80kto burn, I'd get it. Thats how highly I think of the S2000. Its a beautiful piece of machinery bar none for under 100k in my opinion. And in my eyes NSX stands in a class of its own too. Comparing the S2000 and the NSX is kind of like comparing apples to oranges. I'm not necessarily tryin to "move up" (although it definitely is an upward move) by getting the NSX. For me, having an S2000 and now wanting the NSX is like having a luxury boat and now wanting a space ship, or a bigger house. It is not like a Lexus GS300 driver wanting the GS400, or the GS400 driver wanting the Mercedez E430. I'm not just wanting a "better car" (although once again NSX IS better than S2000). I'm just purely wanting a NSX itself. Plain and simple. And if I had already had an NSX, I think I'll still be curious about the S2000 too, because I had always wanted to experience a convertible. But if I had to choose one, NSX would be my daily ride. Hmmm if I do get one in couple years, I think I better get the 97 and up models. How much do you think a well taken care of 97 hardtop NSX with about 50,000 miles will be worth in 2,3 years ?
 
I leased an S2000 in February 2000 (drove it off the showroom floor in the middle of a blinding snowstorm). I traded it in in March of this year for a well maintained 95 NSX-T. I agree with the comments about the S2000 being stiffer than the NSX. I can OCCASIONALLY hear slight groans from my top while it is in place, and detect vibtation (slight) with it off. The S2000, with its stiff backbone type chassis was the most solid open car I have ever been in. While I also note the lack of torque in the S2000, I truly love, and do miss a bit, the way the engine would just SCREAM when you got over 6000RPM. My screenname isn't 9000RPMan for nothing! The S2000 was also a bit easier to throw around during daily driving, especially in the wet. If I try to throw the NSX, I need to be going much faster, and I do not know if it is as catchable as the S2000. I would really enjoy rainy days in the S2000, as I could take clow corners, and determine my exit angle with the throttle. Also, the S2000 got really good gas mileage, I used to see high 20's, although I got as low as 15MPG a few times. What I disliked about the S2000, was that it was a bit narrow, and I felt wedged into the car. All in all, I still think the S2000 is the best car out ther ein the Boxster, Z4, 350Z, TT class.
 
glad you talked about the X chassis, I believed one time the Car and Driver test it with the Hard top installed, they noticed a lot of noise coming out from nowhere, which is not present when they are driving the stock one top up or down.

The nice thing about the S2000 is that the chassis do flex, but because it's X, you won't be able to tell.

The new S2200 with hard top will be very interesting indeed.
 
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