| Author |
Message |
Michael Yurinko (Gage)
New member
Username: Gage
Post Number: 30
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 04, 2002 - 12:30 pm: | |
In all fairness, the Toyota and Honda have a wider range of buyers. I would guess almost half being comuting women. Toyota learned years ago from the failed Fiero sales to put power steering in the MR2. The cars have to attract a wider market than Ferrari. At least it's a variable power steering. The values drop the faster you drive and completely shuts off at 80 mph and higher. I'm sure new Ferraris have the same thing. Most car buyers are looking for a 'no brainer' easy to drive gas savers. Thus cars like the MR2 and S2000 must comply somewhat to that prenotion.
So again, there is no comparison. Thank God! Or should I say Thank Enzo? |
G.Peters (Wfo_racer)
New member
Username: Wfo_racer
Post Number: 41
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 7:43 pm: | |
WH,
I track the car often but most of the problems stem from street use it seems. We cracked a header not long ago , clamps coming off and hoses popping off is another. Seals tend to blow off and this causes some of my leaks , the displays on the dash have gone out. Mostly just small annoying things that tend to happen. But in the cars defense my friend and I drive the hell out of the cars we avg around 1100 miles per month, he has a 355. All summer we both run Hoosier slicks on the street .
Dave, that may explain why you feel the disconnect with the streering. The S2000 has a interesting power streering system.
WFO guys, |
Dave328GTB (Hardtop)
Junior Member
Username: Hardtop
Post Number: 225
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 11:14 am: | |
WFO
I did run the S2000 to 9K repeatedly. Perhaps all the reviews I read gave me too high of expectations. No doubt the car has great performance for the money and I would like to thrash one on a track for a while. I would like to try one with a hardtop on also to see if that reduces the jiggles. So far, every non Ferrari I have driven has relatively numb steering. However, I have only owned pre power steering Ferraris, so that might be a factor.
Dave |
Willis Huang (Willis360)
Member
Username: Willis360
Post Number: 918
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 9:53 am: | |
G.Peters,
Your 360 goes to the dealer on a monthly basis? Why? Do you just drive it on the track? |
G.Peters (Wfo_racer)
New member
Username: Wfo_racer
Post Number: 40
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 12:50 am: | |
Dave,
Did you run the S2000 to 9000 rpm's to hear the pipe. I bought one around five months ago and I find it a great value. 0 to 60 in about 5.1 seconds ,.91g's on the skidpad, top speed of 161 at El Mirage dry lake bed. All this from a 2 liter motor.Braking from 60 to 0 in about 113 ft. on avg. The steering is very direct at 2.5 turns lock to lock. I will install a Japanese market mod that reduces lock to lock to 1 turn. I have a Comptech supercharger installed last month which puts the hp from 240 to 348. 0 to 60 in the mid 4's and top end to 168 or so. Like I've said before it's no Ferrari but given it's performance it's no slouch. And after 5000 miles driving the car mainly as a errand car but in a qualifying mode ( into the ABS at every stoplight , drifting the car around every freeway onramp- I stop and wait to get a clear run at the corner) no service issues unlike the 360 which goes to the dealer on a monthly basis. But to the 360's credit, slamming that F1 gearbox is so cool sounding especially hard on the gas thru a tunnel chasing your mates late at night.
WFO |
Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Junior Member
Username: 4re_gt4
Post Number: 136
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 12:10 am: | |
Michael: The one I drove didn't have steering wheel paddle shifters (or whatever). It was a 'normal' console shift. After I wrote my original post, I looked at the GVWR plate. Some 2500# (which is the fully loaded weight). I didn't realize that the car was near 2000# empty. Felt like 3500#
Dave: Yeah, these other cars are numb. The controls on my ancient 'Dino'saur are heavy, but the car itself feels light and nimble. And, yes, you are spot on. The F-car is definitely more work to drive. But infinitely more responsive. The 'Brand X' cars feel isolated, distant, as if you are running them by remote control. In a Ferrari, you feel in the middle of the action. Without a lot of seat time, it's real hard to explain. |
Dave328GTB (Hardtop)
Junior Member
Username: Hardtop
Post Number: 224
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 6:34 pm: | |
Like many of us, I keep looking for a cheaper, more practical sportscar that will put a smile on my face as much as Ferraris.
After reading all the articles on the S2000, I was excited about trying one. Curiously, most people's biggest complaint (little torque) was my least complaint. The car felt jiggly to me and the steering numb. Also, I was expecting more exhaust note. Despite the fact the S2000 could wipe up the pavement with the 308 I had at the time, I passed on it. I also had a 348 at the time and was hoping to replace one, perhaps.
I have tried others, but the most fun was the WRX. I scared the pants of the salesman without even trying. Trouble is, it's just a souped up Imprezza and I couldn't live with it everday. I sure would like to try one on a track though with some aftermarket goodies.
I have concluded that Ferraris are fun because of what they do to your senses and they are more work to drive correctly.
Here I am preaching to the converted. I'll stop.
Dave |
Michael Yurinko (Gage)
New member
Username: Gage
Post Number: 28
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 6:17 pm: | |
Hans, just for your comparison notes, here's some stats on the MR2 Spyder:
Displacement: 1.8 Liter with VVT-i
Horsepower: 138 hp @ 6,400 rpm
Torque: 125 lb.-ft @4,400 rpm
Curb Weight: 2,195 lbs
Sequencial 5 Speed Trans on steering wheel
Not a bad car for the money. By no means a Ferrari but if you want a new sports car with a great warranty you can't beat it.
I have a 91 MR2 with a seriously upgraded suspension and the car HUGS the road. The Turbo MR2's can be beasts with engine upgrades. 300 to 350 horsepower is not unheard of.
But again, nothing really touches the soul of a Ferrari. |
Robert McNair (Rrm)
Junior Member
Username: Rrm
Post Number: 141
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, September 01, 2002 - 8:22 pm: | |
Sometimes it all comes down to economics. I have always had my heart set on a 308 but due to my $ situation I need to buy a car that I won't have to shell out a lot of $ on for maintenance. After test driving many cars I have settled on the s2000. It will be warrantied and will also be my first new car. I still have a goal of owning a 308 one day and I guarantee I will, but for now I still consider myself fortunate to be able to buy such a fine car as an s2000. |
Robert Jude Klein (Rjklein4470)
Junior Member
Username: Rjklein4470
Post Number: 153
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, August 31, 2002 - 9:27 am: | |
My friend was interested in a Honda 2000, so we drove the F-car to look at cars. The sales person was almost begging me to drive the Honda even though I was not interested just to get some feed back. I asked him if there was noe on the lot with some miles on it that we could drive. He had a demo, and told me to just let it go. Now I am use to high revs on the 360, so I had no problem driving the pee out of the car at red line. At red line that car is lot's of bang for the buck. If you can shift that car fast and keep it close to the red line you can get ther performace out ot the car, but it does lack any torque at lower RPM's. We had a blast driving the car on some back roads. After words the sales man said thank you for that, that is the most fun I have had in a Honda. My friend ended up buying a car, and it is great fun. |
Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Junior Member
Username: 4re_gt4
Post Number: 119
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, August 31, 2002 - 1:28 am: | |
(OK, so I'm a little bored this evening)
Today I drove a 2001 MR2 Spider. Was curious how a modern 'popularly priced' sports car stacked up against a 'Dino'saur.
I don't recall performance specs on the MR2. Lateral g's were probably decent, as it seemed to stick like glue. However.....
The car had no feel. The steering was overboosted, yet the car seemed to feel heavy. It's probably 500lbs or more lighter than the 'GT4, but seemed ponderous. The clutch had little effort, feel. My starts were real sloppy, as I couldn't quite get the hang of where it would start to grab. 'GT4: I can start smoothly and quickly w/o even touching the gas!
In short, the MR2 was probably competent, but lacked feel, soul, personality. Boring.
The 'GT4 gives total feedback, communicates with the driver.
I guess that's why F-cars get the big bucks!
Hans. |
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