"yitznewton" (yitznewton)
11/13/2015 at 10:13 • Filed to: auto love
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"yitznewton" (yitznewton)
11/13/2015 at 10:13 • Filed to: auto love | 2
| 15 |
Sometimes a love affair develops gradually. With others, you can point your finger at the moment when it hit. With me and the S2000, that moment was here, on August 13:
That ramp. That is the ramp from DCH Paramus Honda leading onto NJ 4 West, where I test-drove an S2000 for the first time. The relationship started right there: the first time I felt the wheel bucking and twitching in my hands, tentatively passing the apexes, starting to put the 2.2 through her paces as she warmed up.
I’ve spent the intervening months looking around, getting a feel for the market, learning as much as I can about the car. I’ve driven every RWD car I can find that might sort of compete with the Honda, to confirm my choice: BRZ, 370Z; Miatas NA, Mazdaspeed, NC, ND; the new Mustang, the MR2. All sights are still set on the Honda.
This week my attention was drawn to a one- two-owner, no accidents, 70k-mile AP1 in North Carolina. It seems to hit all the right points: bone stock, my favorite color, interior is very clean, exterior is nice but not perfect - great for a daily driver without inflating the price. Good maintenance paper trail on CarFax. But it’s pretty far!
Then this morning, as I was pondering the car, it hit me.
North Carolina. Tail of the Dragon.
TAIL. OF. THE. DRAGON.
Just think of it: flying out (flights there are pretty cheap), confirming the car is legit, sealing the deal... then driving out to Deals Gap, spending the night, and getting up at first light to grapple with the Dragon. What a way to consummate the relationship: feeling the car pulsate around those curves, wailing up hill and down, and finally, sweaty, exhausted, and grinning out of my mind, heading out for the long haul back to New Jersey. It’s outrageous, impractical, insane... and maybe just the perfect way to start out life with an S2000.
Gotta go, I’m expecting a call from the dealership.
Leadbull
> yitznewton
11/13/2015 at 10:29 |
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“Sometimes a love affair develops gradually. With others, you can point your finger at the moment when it hit. With me and the S2000, that moment was here, on August 13”
Future next gen S2000 owner
> yitznewton
11/13/2015 at 10:35 |
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Be wary of the dragon. From what I’ve read, it has become a bit of a draw and traffic has increased significantly. Now with winter closing in, be careful as it probably won’t have winter tires.
Find a curvy road and get lost. Enjoy your new ride. I am a big fan of the S2000. Such a fantastic car.
Just curious, did you test out a Boxster/Cayman?
Master Cylinder
> yitznewton
11/13/2015 at 10:41 |
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Dooooo iiiiit. The roads in that part of the country are amazing. Deal’s Gap is a circus but now it’s the off season so it’s probably not bad. TN 32 is great too, and there is no traffic. You have to do a little bit of dirt road at the NC side but it’s not something a street car can’t handle unless it’s absolutely slammed.
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yitznewton
> Future next gen S2000 owner
11/13/2015 at 11:39 |
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The car has new Firehawk A/S tires :eyeroll:
I did actually try a base Cayman, 2006 I believe. I felt like I was boring it with my little driving around town in NJ. Like, if I had a track or a nice canyon road, it would have been in its element. Instead, the engine was muted, the shifter was loosey-goosey (not sure if that’s the Cayman or just this car), and it was an overall tepid experience. By contrast, the S2000 screams at you constantly, even on the street, which is more what I’m looking for.
For my first day driving an AP1 and first trip to the Dragon, I certainly will be cautious. I don’t want to be this guy :O
Warning: brutal rollover with audio of the guy groaning with a broken back. He survived to post this video.
XJDano
> yitznewton
11/13/2015 at 11:39 |
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You can do as my older neighbor told me he & a buddy did in a MG in the 70’s. Draw a straight line on a map then stay as close to that as possible. He said it was the best road trip of his life.
davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
> yitznewton
11/13/2015 at 11:40 |
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Go on a weekday, if possible, and right at daybreak.
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davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
> XJDano
11/13/2015 at 11:40 |
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I like this idea.
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yitznewton
> yitznewton
11/13/2015 at 15:52 |
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I made an offer; we’re still about $1k away from an agreement, and they have someone coming in over the weekend. But sweet Jeebus, I charted some alternate routes other than the Dragon which are less out of the way, and it’s almost worth spending the extra grand just for the opportunity of doing these mountain passes! Hungry Mother indeed!
Tohru
> yitznewton
11/13/2015 at 16:33 |
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Doing the Dragon in an AP1 at speed as your first drive in it?
Jesus Christ, you got a death wish. Leave me your computer in your will before you fly out.
Nauraushaun
> yitznewton
11/15/2015 at 21:29 |
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How does the S2K compare to an MR2? I’ve got an MR2, and an S2000 is what I consider to be my next move.
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yitznewton
> Nauraushaun
11/15/2015 at 21:30 |
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Which generation MR2 is it?
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yitznewton
> Nauraushaun
11/15/2015 at 21:55 |
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Ah, just saw your post about your N/A Mk2 MR2. I’ve never driven one of those; I drove a clean Spyder, and a busted-ass AW11.
Going by what I know, the S2000 is only 200 lbs. heavier than the AW20. That MR2 gets 130hp, the S2000 is 240. I would characterize the power band as strong without being overwhelming.
For me the S2000 is exemplified by its sensations. Everything has a heightened feel to it: the seats and really the whole cabin embrace you, the top comes off, the engine howls in your face, you can feel the car shifting around in taut poise. The shifter is amazingly short of throw from stock, as well as very clean and precise. The car squirms around on the highway a bit, though that may have been the alignment of the car I was driving.
I haven’t driven one hard yet, but they certainly beg you to do that.
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Nauraushaun
> yitznewton
11/15/2015 at 22:04 |
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I see. I’d like to see how it compares to an SW20. Probably a turbo to help make up for the power deficit. I’d imagine they’re fairly similar, but doing the job in different ways. Also finding a nice S2000 is probably easier as it’s a decade newer.
It sounds awesome. :D
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yitznewton
> Nauraushaun
11/15/2015 at 22:06 |
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See if you can find yourself one to test-drive. I’d always heard about them, but it was only when I happened to see one nearby that I decided to see what the fuss was about. Definitely lived up to it in my book.
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Nauraushaun
> yitznewton
11/15/2015 at 23:13 |
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I’ll have to wait a bit, I’ve only just moved to the MR2! But I’ll do it as soon as it makes sense. I’m looking forward to it now.
I got to sat in a friend’s S2000. But I never asked to drive it, I don’t really know the guy. I was thrilled to sit in it really.