Which car???

Hey, I have been a lurker here for a while, figures you guys have a decent amount of knowledge so I figured I would throw it out there. I am stuck on which car to purchase. I have been driving a grand marquis the last several months after my 95 NA got stolen, but it is time to move on to something else. I am trying to decide between a 2001 Mr2 spyder, a 2002 NB and as a stretch a 2001 S2000. I know the s2000 is a lot more car, and it is more money but I could stretch myself if need be. I like the looks of the toyota and the fact that you do not see many but am not really familiar with them What do you think? Thanks for any replies!!

what do you plan on using it for?

S2000, if you don't have to stretch far.

If you can swing the S2000 without it affecting the rest of your finances in a negative way, it's worth the loss of some discretionary funds.

Try to find a good one though. All of the AP1s I've looked at have been ravaged by dumb kids.

you don't really see many s2k's either, at least around here.
that said, if my car was in my name I would seriously consider trading in and financing an s2k, and I really don't plan on ever financing a car again. thats how much in lust I am with them.

Daily driver, probably a few track schools in the future. I would obviously rather have the s2000, but as has been mentioned almost all of the affordable ones have been raped by 20 year olds with neon lights under the car. Also I am a little worried about the cost of upkeep vs the other two.

lovelett wrote: Also I am a little worried about the cost of upkeep vs the other two.

Well that seems like about the silliest thing to worry about regarding an S2000. Mine has been the cheapest to run of any car I've owned. Especially when you consider that the private party value now is more than when I bought it almost 2 years ago.

MR-S because it is a great car and you won't have to stretch your money.

MR-S unless you need any sort of storage space. They're pretty incredible bang for the buck right now. Way cheaper than S2000s, and even usually cheaper than same year Miatas.

In terms of performance, they slot neatly in the middle.

I am partial to the NB. But if you want to track the car, that means a roll bar and I wouldn't want one on my DD. I think that the S2K is allowed to track without any extra roll over protection.

Miata, then S2000 if you don't need torque and like the car, MR-S if you really have to.

DrBoost wrote: Miata, then S2000 if you don't need torque and like the car, MR-S if you really have to.

That statement always confuses me... are you saying that the S2000 is less torquey than a Miata?

I was just stirring the pot. I've never even driven an S2000
But, you never really head of the media complaining of the lack of torque in a miata, but that's all I ever heard in relation to the S2000. That said, for a DD I'm not sure I'd want a car that doesn't come alive until 6,000 RPM. Even on the track, I'd like some power below that.

LOL!

Yeah, i never understood that. S2000 makes more power than Miata everywhere... let it's torqueless and the Miata isn't.

on paper it is not with out torques, but when I drove one back to back on suburban streets with my 99 miata it did feel gutless. Sure it was faster but it felt slower and less fun for the type of driving most do 90% of the time.

DrBoost wrote: I was just stirring the pot. I've never even driven an S2000 But, you never really head of the media complaining of the lack of torque in a miata, but that's all I ever heard in relation to the S2000. That said, for a DD I'm not sure I'd want a car that doesn't come alive until 6,000 RPM. Even on the track, I'd like some power below that.

I've driven both AP1 and AP2 S200s and I wouldn't say the AP1 doesn't "come alive" until 6k. It's more that its nice and a bit Miata-ish until it goes completely bonkers at 6k. Neither of them have V8 torque, but that's not what they are about.

If it hadn't been for an a-hole dealer I'd be rocking an S2k CR these days instead of a partially dismantled NA Miata, so consider me slightly biased.

MR2 plus tiny little turbo = faster than an Elise. Just saying.

Any reason you wouldn't go for another NA? I saw a nice red one the other day and I must say i've never lusted so much after a little old car that would make some people think I'm gay...

I'm going to craigslist now...

I've owned an NB and an S2000. They are both awesome cars. My choice would depend on what I'd be using it for, and mod/usage budget post-purchase. The S2000 will be more expensive to modify and maintain. Both are very reliable.

The MR-S is a go-cart for the street. It's not an Elise, but it's a third of the price in stock form and infinitely cheaper to repair if you wreck it. A 2ZZ-swapped MR-S shouldn't be much, if any, slower than an S2K, and it should still be considerably cheaper. 2ZZ swaps tend to cost $4-8k to complete but only add $3-$5k to sale price, if that.

Weaknesses of the MR-S include:

Very limited cargo space (flipping or removing the spare tire helps)

Strut suspension shows its crude side on rough roads

Chassis is a little flexy and responds well to stiffening

Cramped pedal-box makes heel-and-toe difficult

Limited room for additional roll-over protection

Stock shifter is mediocre (TRD and others make short shifters)

Stock power is adequate but not thrilling

Hard tops are very expensive in North America

Inexplicably mediocre fuel economy

Low resale

Scarcity

Strengths are:

Insane agility and responsiveness

Light weight means that small power additions or weight reductions pay big dividends

Cheap repairs

Cheap insurance

Great soft-top that's Fiat Spider-like in ease but has glass rear

Low resale

Scarcity

If you can find a decently built 2zz swapped MR2 then you will have something that is very close to an S2000. I have a 2001 MR2 and it is the cheapest fun per dollar car I have ever owned.

The 2zz swap isn't a must. Just run a light turbo and you have the same power with better torque and less expense. IMO.