Monday 14th March
Honda S2000: PH Carpool
"The temptation to have two cars that can hit 9,000rpm proved too much to resist" says this PHer - good man!
Car : Honda S2000
Owned since : Feb 2015
Previously owned : Ferrari 360 Spider (still own), Mazda MX5 1.8 J-Ltd2, Ford Mondeo ST24, Rover 200Vi, Mazda MX-5 1.6i
What else to replace an MX-5 with?
Why I bought it :"A few years back I drove an S2000 on a drift day; it struck me as a grown up MX-5 and seemed the natural next step. Since then I've purchased a Ferrari 360 Modena as a weekend toy, but I still needed to replace the MX-5 as my daily driver and the temptation to have two cars that can hit 9,000rpm proved too much to resist.
"My search took me all around the UK to look at 8 different S2000s before I finally found a clean example. It had the highest mileage (currently at 113,000) but drove far better than cars with half that on the clock.
"A large portion of S2000s have had an accident at some point, and this is usually obvious from rusty sills or wayward handling."
What I wish I'd known :
"Theandare fairly comprehensive in what to look out for, but I didn't realise just how uncomfortable the car would be on long journeys. It gives me horrid back pain after just two hours behind the wheel."
Top down and 9,000rpm? Sounds good!
Things I love :"The 9,000rpm redline is the main reason I put up with the driving position; it sure is a screamer! It's doubtful we will ever see an engine like it again in a world dominated by CO2 figures and turbochargers!
"The gear change is probably the best I have ever experienced, it is so direct and fourth to third is particularly pleasurable.
"Despite what everyone says, the handling is actually predicable and manageable on the limit as long as you don't try and generate large drift angles."
Things I hate :
"The high seating position. Creaks and squeaks of the leather when going over bumps."
Costs :
"Insurance costs me just £380 at age 27 due to it being a modern classic. Servicing is cheap at specialist TGM Sport, around £150 for an annual and £330 for a full on bells and whistles service."
Hardeep's S2000 is certainly well travelled
Where I've been :"I did the 30 minute taster session at PH Silverstone Sunday Service in 2015 where the car performed faultlessly. I also had a memorable road trip on a sunny weekend to the Brecon Beacons with a couple of friends and a drive across the Yorkshire Dales too."
What next?
"I'm thinking of selling soon as the high driving position is a real bugbear. I now fancy something that complements the Ferrari better, something with more torque and a bit more comfort for motorway driving. A Monaro VXR is high on the agenda..."
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