spyderphile

Elise is a great concept; but, lousy execution! It has got design, engineering and build issues. I came close to getting one three times! Backed off every single time. I made up a document with a long list of things to fix to meet my expectations. Spend some time digging through LotusTalk. Drive one and let us know what you think. I am eagerly waiting on next gen model which is expected by '17 or '18.

If you are craving raw, there is one: Caterham Seven! Would love to have one!

Optical TDI

Last night, I was able to have a ride in an Elise. Very cool car with a lot of feel and urgency. But can I live with it 3k miles per year?

So, today, I drove a '12 Boxster S Black Edition. MUCH better than the '12 base and '15 BS I recently drove. After driving this, Porsche is not out of the equation! It could use the Spyder suspension and an exhaust and could be just right.

Also, it had an LSD. I was able to induce throttle oversteer at low speeds. But when I had my '11 base Cayman, the rear would not break loose. Is this due to the S motor or LSD?

Karl02832

Sounds like the answer to your question is a 987 Spyder.

(and keep the S2000)

Optical TDI

You are probably right about the Spyder. Not sure I would drive the S2000 if I had a Spyder!!

The New 911

Now that is a good joke. You don't replace an S2000 with a Boxster. The two car's don't exist on the same Plain and would not be Cross Shopped.

Beyond the high revving engine and price the only cars you would replace that with Would be an WRX, BRZ FRS et al boy racer's.

I saw go with the Audi unless you're worried like a Ferrari owner about resale values!

I'm just giving you hard time.

s2ktaxi

Take a 987 or 981 to redline. The S2000 builds power linearly with that slight VTEC bump. The 987 engines feel out of breath about 1500 rpm short of redline. Even the 981 3.8 engines feel flat from about 6700-7400 rpm and then fades.

Handling wise, the 987 steering is sublime - very direct, linear and with good feel. The S2000's EPS is good for a 15 year old design but doesn't compare with the 987. Compared to the 981, the S2000 steering is closer in the base/S versions but is improved by the GT4 (and likely the Spyder). Overall, the S2000 is more tossable and placeable with good visibility.

The Boxsters have better feeling brakes though the S2000 brakes have held up well at the track for me.

The 3+ liter engines in the 987/981 certainly quicker than the S2000 and make the car more driveable on the street - though I still found the S2000 to be more fun being able experience the sublime journies to redline and the shifts that are still better than ANYTHING out there (GT4 included).

Marine Blue

I can't offer any input on the S2000 but I don't agree with the Spyder/987.2 3.4 running out of steam 1500 RPM before redline. I can't count how many times I was in the moment focused on the road accelerating hard when the power just dropped off. I looked down only to realize I'm bouncing off the rev limiter. I never felt a drop in power. IMO the 987.2 engine's weakness is the lower RPM's.

s2ktaxi

Afshin - I think it's relative and dependent on what you're used to if you compare the dyno curves you'll see what I mean.

taibo

I have owned three s2000 ap1's. Currently have the original MY2000 s2000. I think you need to drive and own an s2k to really appreciate it. Spyder customers don't cross shop s2000's, but I can tell you when I had a 991 c2s w pdk and s2k in the garage, I'd jump into the s2k 8 times out of 10.

More fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.

I'm hoping the engagement level of the ragtop spyder and manual tranny increases the number of times I pull it's keys vs my s2k's - which I plan to keep.

The New 911

If I had both cars and tried to jump into the S2000 I would more than likely break a bone of some sort. Never got to test drive an S2000 because Honda didn't make it for any other market than the Asian Market. I thought I was trying to get into a Clown Car the first time I was going to test drive onee because I couldn't fit. But for the shorter people you win in this one.

Honda could have made the S2000 fit the rest of the world. Hell I comfortably fit in every single Honda made sine 1984. What happened Honda?

Really like Lotus but their designer's suffer from small interior syndrome. Sometime I hate Being so tall when it comes to cars. It can really limit which cars a person can drive Comfortably! Though I would still like to have the opportunity to drive the S2000 if we could take the seat out and put it farther back.

Optical TDI

Agreed on your points. The S2000, to most during an initial drive is not too exciting. And I remember telling people that it's more fun in many ways than my 996 was. And driving a slow car fast vs. fast car slow is so true. So many high performance cars today have too much grip and cannot be tossed around at low speeds.

Optical TDI

How tall are you? I'm at 5'10" and 200 lbs. S2000 is easy to get in/out. Even the Elise was easier to get in/out than I thought it would be. But I like small cars

The New 911

6 foot 6 inches tall. I wanted to buy a Lotuse Elise in the 80's but I was too poor and too young and had yet to graduate High School! Yup they make them tall on my dad's side in Texas. My dad's mom went to school with Bonnie from Bonnie & Clyde. But "Big Granny" Was only 6'1" tall.

Being tall was one of the reason's that the first two Boxster's were a bummer. Wonfer how I fitted into the latest Cayman. Like I asked before Do the seat selection play a role in fitting into these car's?

gtr

I felt my s2kcr is a stupid car (except for shifter) after getting the boxster spyder. However I do miss my S2kCR since it'll probably be a collector car.

For a great drivers car that is ultra quick u should consider.
Fiesta ST, Lancer Evo, FRS/BRZ, Spyder/GT4, Cayman R/987 Spyder

Maybe fun 2016/2017 cars, M2 RS3, TTRS, and civic type R. We will see.

I would sell the TT vs the S2k since may not depreciate and may go up in value.

Karl02832

Keep them both. I drive both just as much.