http://www.topgear.com/content/carsu...006/mazda/rx8/ 30th overall. S2000 got 1st place http://www.topgear.com/content/carsu...6/honda/s2000/

The RX-8 lost points on reliability(3/5) and ownership costs (3/5)
All the Mazdas were in the top 40 (323 39th, RX-8 30th, 6 22nd, 3 21st, MX5 9th)

couple other cars of interest
350Z 36th place
EVO 87th place (OUCH!! got 1star on ownership costs? wonder why, the 4G63 is almost bullet proof....well accept for the bad batch of blocks that crankwalked in DSMs)
Z4 62nd place
Boxter 43 place
Imprezza 38th
Audi TT 49th

 

( s2000 ) God I hate convertibles. Ride a bike if that is what you want.

 

^how about no?

 

In the best to drive category, which we all know is really the most importand , the EVO placed 4th and the RX-8 7th.

 

The 8 made top 3 in best in class

"Sports
The Honda S2000 canters to victory in the sports car category, closely pushed by a pair of Mazdas (the MX5 and RX8) and brace of Toyotas (the MR2 and Celica)"

 

A very clunky Website. The 8 did pretty well for a four year car with no great changes.

 

The ownership costs on the Evo are high since it requires premium fuel, more expensive lubes, brake pads, and most likely more scheduled maintenance than a lot of cars on the list. Though it's a little deceiving, sure I could buy the OEM pads from the dealer for almost $500 or I could get better pads for $200. Then there's the fact that it's one of the most expensive non exotic cars to insure. When I insured mine they told me the only car more expensive to insure would have been a Boxster S. Thank god I'm old and have a clean record :p

 

one of the problems is the UK has some of the highest running costs (espeacially as we're taxed twice on fuel) so its not really suprising the EVO was that low and the s2000 that high. and i suppose there are more s2000 owners (probably due to chavs in their saxos and corsas harassing the EVO owners ) so any bad deults wont be as noticeable

 

The insurance is why I can't really take a bite on an Evo at the moment.

 

I've heard that when you get older those differences become much smaller. Sure it will always be more expensive to insure an Evo than an RX-8, but if it's not that much who cares right? I guess I'm just really hoping that now that I'm 25 the cost for me to insure the Evo X won't be outlandish.

 

craftmanship better on the s2000? i saw the inside of that thing and it is UGLY.

 

Craftsmanship and design are two different things. Ugly or not, the s2k interior does not rattle despite a stiffer suspension and presumably less rigid body structure than our beloved 8.

 

I like the design of the s2000 interior. It's simple and effective. It doesn't try to be pretty, it try's to be functional. Fitting of sports car, IMO.

I think many of the new interiors on cars are neat. I'm always entertained by all the new gadgets, however, for a sports car I'm only interested in driving. I look at the layout of my Type-R's interior and it just works. It's not pretty, there's no gadgets or toys, but there's a tach, speedo, some climate controls, and a radio. It does everything it needs to do and I think anything else would take away from the simplicity and rawness of the design.

 

30th / 152....not too shabby considerin some of the bad press this car gets from time to time.

 

I drove a 3-year old s2k with only 8k miles on it when I was shopping for my 8. The interior had many rattles coming from all over. My 8 which is about the same age now and more miles, rattles some, but not as bad as that.

 

Hmm, on every s2k I have driven it has more rattles and creaks in the Del Sol inspired dash and interior than most 10 year old american cars I have driven.

I do not get the wow factor of that car. It doesn't fit anyone but a midget or 120lb guy that would put a rainbow sticker in the rear window, rattles and creaks like a Camero, and fit and finish are average at best. Heck it doesn't even have a lined convertible top. I thought unlined convertible tops went out back in the 80's.

 

Hey man, I'm 125lbs but wouldn't put a rainbow sticker up!

Jokes asside the s2000 has proven itself as a performance car mostly through handling, without the handling you have no s2000.

 

i agree, same with the rx8, no handling = no rx8.
and to the poster above, my buddy's 5 11 and 190 pounds, he fits in there just fine with the hardtop.

 

I agree...Honda cars after a few years creak and sqeak like a mouse that is about to die. This is coming from a guy owned a 94 prelude Si, and two civics. And Honda brakes suck, way to soft....

 

My current 2005 Integra Type-S is rattle free. But rattles in the Rx8 was one of the main reasons I sold it. Clearly generalizing rattles with car brand is pretty lame.

Also why is 1/2 of this thread an S2K bash??? How defensive are you guys if you need to bag a voted #1 car ?? sheesh, it did win for a reason.

 

If you think the S2000 has bad brakes or doesn't stop short enough you are 100% wrong. The S2000 has a great braking system.

 

My 8 rattles so bad I've contemplated selling it. EVERYTHING in the car rattles. I fix one and 2 more pop up. It's the only thing about the car I dislike. I'd love to know if you were ever able to pin point the rattles. If you're interested in discussing, PM me.

Cool link though.

 

this is sad to say ... i sat in an s2000 ... i couldnt close the door cause my shoulders were too wide sniff

 

My 8 only rattles when it's below freezing outside, and only from the driver's door.

Ken

 

Most-likely the wires hitting the door panel/metal.

Time for some dynomat?