Considering selling my 04 S2000 for a MS3

[Sacrilicious]

for everyone that bought the ms3, you knew what you were getting into when you signed the papers, obviously. I don't know how some of you are so disappointed with the ms3. it gets unbelievable traction for the amount of torque it has and it's a great daily driver. yeah so what it's fwd, it still mops the floor with many other cars and it's fun doing it.

I don't understand why people buy these kinds of cars for drag racing. sure, it'll do decent with some good tires and some bolt-ons, but that's not what this car is for in my opinion. people need to realize what they want from a car before they buy them, that simple.

all I know is when I drop down to 4th on the highway it just rolls the hell out.

like i said, if i already have a DD, i'd have picked the s2k over the ms3. as far as a DD goes, the ms3 does NOT disappoint!

 

[happy and angry]

for everyone that bought the ms3, you knew what you were getting into when you signed the papers, obviously. I don't know how some of you are so disappointed with the ms3. it gets unbelievable traction for the amount of torque it has and it's a great daily driver. yeah so what it's fwd, it still mops the floor with many other cars and it's fun doing it.

I don't understand why people buy these kinds of cars for drag racing. sure, it'll do decent with some good tires and some bolt-ons, but that's not what this car is for in my opinion. people need to realize what they want from a car before they buy them, that simple.

all I know is when I drop down to 4th on the highway it just rolls the hell out.

At what point did I ever say I didn't know what I was getting into when I bought it? Are you having trouble understanding my posts or something?

Most of the toys I've played with have been AWD or RWD, and the handling dynamics, from corner entry to corner exit, are dramatically different, and to my tastes, more fun. It's not about drag racing, or how well it handles how much torque it makes, it's that it doesn't (and can't ever be made to) handle power as well as other drive train layouts, or have the same driving dynamics.

I knew what it was when I bought it, I think it's a fantastic car, but I am still not as happy with it as I'd like. If I could get out of the car without taking a big financial hit, I would make the move to get into something similar yet RWD/AWD.

 

[happy and angry]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that. I was just saying that it was a moronic decision for me.

Yea, I know. I was just putting my thoughts about my choice out there. Wasn't thinkin' you were misrepresenting/insulting me or anything.

 

[///M Compact]

At what point did I ever say I didn't know what I was getting into when I bought it? Are you having trouble understanding my posts or something?

Most of the toys I've played with have been AWD or RWD, and the handling dynamics, from corner entry to corner exit, are dramatically different, and to my tastes, more fun. It's not about drag racing, or how well it handles how much torque it makes, it's that it doesn't (and can't ever be made to) handle power as well as other drive train layouts, or have the same driving dynamics.

I knew what it was when I bought it, I think it's a fantastic car, but I am still not as happy with it as I'd like. If I could get out of the car without taking a big financial hit, I would make the move to get into something similar yet RWD/AWD.

+1

 

[zim]

I'm not having trouble understanding your posts, I was simply speaking for everyone on my behalf, sorry for that.

I'm just not into the nitpicking that goes on these days about platforms and drivetrain layouts when people are simply just using these cars on the street and not for the race track. even on a racetrack, the ms3 will purely shine for what it is. this car oversteers more than it understeers from my experience which is pretty rare for a front wheel drive layout with factory suspension. so whatever, I'm just babbling and speaking my mind. I for one can say that buying the ms3 was one of the best decisions I've made.

 

[FrequentFlyer]

I'm not having trouble understanding your posts, I was simply speaking for everyone on my behalf, sorry for that.

I'm just not into the nitpicking that goes on these days about platforms and drivetrain layouts when people are simply just using these cars on the street and not for the race track. even on a racetrack, the ms3 will purely shine for what it is. this car oversteers more than it understeers from my experience which is pretty rare for a front wheel drive layout with factory suspension. so whatever, I'm just babbling and speaking my mind. I for one can say that buying the ms3 was one of the best decisions I've made.

And that's fine. I'm not sure anyone said they were disappointed with buying an MS3. I bought it because it was fast, practical, cheap, good looking and could hold a baby seat in the back (of course it's not fast when the baby is in the car). I had been in denial about having to give in and buy a 4 door car for a long time and finally bit the bullet with the MS3. I never thought I'd get a 4 door car, but having a baby will do that to you. It's a great car, don't get me wrong, but it is no S2000. Being able to lay tracks from 3k RPM in 2nd gear with 280+ ft-lb of torque is great fun and is nothing I could come close to doing with the S2000, but I'm telling you the combination of the 8,000+ RPM redline, digital F1 style tachometer, nice leather seats that fit me like a glove, the best manual tranny I've ever driven period, that roadster feel and awesome handling, I just do not compare the S2000 to the MS3. I bought the MS3 because I needed a practical car that was still fun to drive. When the S2000 came out in '00, it competed with the Boxster, SLK, M Roadster, cars $10k+ more expensive than it and most of the time, it kicked their asses for thousands less. Two totally difference cars and if I had the cash to have both, I probably would. I wouldn't mind picking up the new CR version, minus ugly seats. Having owned an S2000 for almost 4 years, it was definitely the most fun car I've ever owned, other than the supercharged Miata with coilovers/sways i had before it. The S2000 is just an amazing car and people b**** about it not having a lot of torque. Whatever floats your boat. None the less, it was still a blast to drive.

 

[60181]

exactly what is said here. I sold an S2000 after having our kids because quite honestly, the fun factor wasnt' there without my wife by my side. can't haul the kids in it and while driving it to the office during the week was cool, I didn't use it as a full DD since I never, ever put the top up.

in the end, I wanted something fun in the curves, with power more in line with my V8 sedan and one that we could all pile into and yet provide me with a fun 6spd and power to go.

I had a 2004 S2000 with just a single exit cat-back exhaust, so basically stock and although the MS3 "feels" faster, I don't really think it is because the S2000 makes up for it up top. They're close though. If you want that out of the hole torque, then of course the S2000 is going to disappoint you. It definitely a different kind of "quick" than the MS3. I enjoy the MS3's torque, but something about it leaves me wanting more and it's the fact that after 5500 or so, the car falls on its face, which is wear the S2000 wakes up. I have a hard time shifting below 6k in this car after owning an S2000 and an RSX Type S. Don't forget that the S2k has a 4.10 final drive with a 1.208 secondary reduction vs. the MS3's 3.941 in 1st-4th and the S2000 weighs about 300lb less. Honestly, the only reason why I got rid of my S2000 was because I was using it as a DD and that's not what it's for. I really only wanted one car, so keeping it as a "toy" was not an option. If I could have kept it as the weekend "toy", there would be NO WAY IN HELL I would replace an S2000 with a FWD 5-door sport wagon that just happens to be pretty quick. Lets face it, the reason this car sells is because it's practical as well as sporty. The S2000 is just not a practical car and it only appeals to a certain group of people.

 

[RallyeRedSi]

If you have a fit for a dd i say keep the S2000 or sell the fit and buy the MS3 as your DD

 

[happy and angry]

I'm not having trouble understanding your posts, I was simply speaking for everyone on my behalf, sorry for that.

I'm just not into the nitpicking that goes on these days about platforms and drivetrain layouts when people are simply just using these cars on the street and not for the race track. even on a racetrack, the ms3 will purely shine for what it is. this car oversteers more than it understeers from my experience which is pretty rare for a front wheel drive layout with factory suspension.

Oh, it's a great car, don't get me wrong. Any nitpicking I am making is purely about personal enjoyment and feel.

I'm still pretty young without kids and disposable income. I bought it as much as a toy as I did as a DD. The handling is great considering it's a high powered FWD ride, but it will never power oversteer. It's all off-throttle and getting into the power late in the corner. This bugs me a lot more than I expected.

I've also gotten lazy as I've gotten older. I've been driving nothing but stick since I started driving, and sometimes I wish I had the best of both worlds. Slap it in drive and go, or put it in manual mode and paddle shift up and down the gears when I want to mess around. The new twin-clutch autos that are hitting the market in affordable performance cars like the MR sound pretty good to me these days, and if they hold gear well and allow me to still engine brake like I do in my ride they're pretty much perfect. I honestly never expected I'd start thinking this way, but over the last year of driving it has become a more and more attractive idea.

Part of it is me just unexpectedly wanting different things out of my car than I did a few years back, part of it is me just missing the AWD/RWD dynamic. Still a great car, don't really regret buying it too much, but I'd change it if I could right now.

 

[///M Compact]

In my case the MS3 was to be both my track toy as well as my DD- with a nod to practicality in that the entire family could ride in it and keep the miles off my wife's X3 truck. It is practical, the car just isn't a good fit for me.

 

[Donas64]

Yeah the MS3 is pretty much just an over powered FWD POS. Stay with the S2000.

wha huh? The MS3 devastates everything else in its price range and class and even several things above its price range (I'm looking at you VW R32)

The MS3 is a steal for what it aims to be wickedly fast versatile hatchback with quite good handling for FWD. great interior fit and finish and handsome styling. I'd hardly call it a POS.


To the original poster. The MS3 is awesome for what it is, but keep the Fit as the DD and the S2000 for high revving FWD thrills.

 

[mdavis]

I love my MS3, I couldn't be more satisfied.

However, it is a Mazda....not a Maserati

You guys can't ask too much of a $23k car. Here's a list from autospies of the 'Fastest cars from 20k - 25k'. I'd pick the MS3 everytime.

9.) 2007 Pontiac G6 GT 3.9, 2007 Saturn Aura XR
8.) 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged
7.) 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT
6.) 2007 Volkswagen GTI
5.) 2007 Saturn Ion Red Line
4.) 2007 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE
3.) 2007 Mazdaspeed 3
2.) 2007 Toyota Camry V6
1.) 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX

 

[15min5k]

wha huh? The MS3 devastates everything else in its price range and class and even several things above its price range (I'm looking at you VW R32)

The MS3 is a steal for what it aims to be wickedly fast versatile hatchback with quite good handling for FWD. great interior fit and finish and handsome styling. I'd hardly call it a POS.


To the original poster. The MS3 is awesome for what it is, but keep the Fit as the DD and the S2000 for high revving FWD thrills.

I know I was just joining in on the MS3 bashing because it was seemed like the popular thing to do at the time. I was sort of making a point.

 

[15min5k]

I love my MS3, I couldn't be more satisfied.

However, it is a Mazda....not a Maserati

You guys can't ask too much of a $23k car. Here's a list from autospies of the 'Fastest cars from 20k - 25k'. I'd pick the MS3 everytime.

9.) 2007 Pontiac G6 GT 3.9, 2007 Saturn Aura XR
8.) 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged
7.) 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT
6.) 2007 Volkswagen GTI
5.) 2007 Saturn Ion Red Line
4.) 2007 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE
3.) 2007 Mazdaspeed 3
2.) 2007 Toyota Camry V6
1.) 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX

Yeah thats the only article Ive seem that claims the WRX and Camry are faster than the MS3.

 

[Donas64]

I know I was just joining in on the MS3 bashing because it was seemed like the popular thing to do at the time. I was sort of making a point.

gotcha. Thanks for setting me straight. Sorry I didn't catch the sarcasm. I don't know what people expect from the MS3. Its a phenom in its class and does nothing but destroy the competition in speed and class......I still can't help but prefer the MS6 for some reason though.

 

[Donas64]

Yeah thats the only article Ive seem that claims the WRX and Camry are faster than the MS3.

perhaps the retuned WRX and not that 2.5RS thing they tried to pass off as a WRX. And apparently, the camry's new V6 is no joke. I doubt its faster than an MS3 though.

 

[mdavis]

perhaps the retuned WRX and not that 2.5RS thing they tried to pass off as a WRX. And apparently, the camry's new V6 is no joke. I doubt its faster than an MS3 though.

R&T has it at 0-60 6.1 sec and a 14.5 sec quarter at 99.9mph

if we slightly miss/foul up a shift that thing will get us...so be aware of soccer moms reving their engines in camrys at stop lights

 

[azturbo3d]

Definately stick with the S2k. MS3 is a great car if you want a sleeper daily driver that can beat most people on the road. However, I don't consider it a sports car.

S2k is more what I would consider a sports car based on its looks. Get a hard top, intake, exhaust, and new rims. I think that would be the best bet!

 

[robin2660]

Definately stick with the S2k. MS3 is a great car if you want a sleeper daily driver that can beat most people on the road. However, I don't consider it a sports car.

S2k is more what I would consider a sports car based on its looks. Get a hard top, intake, exhaust, and new rims. I think that would be the best bet!

With the money OP would lose on the trade he could add turob/supercharger to S2000 and get some of the low-end grunt.

I'd keep both cars and do the above. More financially sound. OP could always trade in the Fit years down the road when the need really arrives.

 

[FrequentFlyer]

S2000 will have higher resale value in the end also. Mazda's resale just sucks.