You do have a point, the RX-8 is comfortable for my 6'4" challenge and I've had great luck with 2 years of S2 ownership. My friend has had numerous spending opportunities with his 911. It makes my OCD OCI habit and preventative maintenance seem like pennies in a free change bowl at a 7/11.

 

Dashboard Light rated the RX8 the lowest and it was near the Merc Cougar and FRS???

 

What acroy said was that the S2 was reliable, not the RX-8 in general.

I'm assuming this pic was the salient one:


I'm... skeptical to say the least. But that's what the page says, for whatever that's worth.

 

I either don't understand your logic, or don't understand the point you've made, in relation to my comments about the Renesis reliability (since you quoted me).

You can buy an RX8 ridiculously cheap because they have a reputation for being unreliable, and like in your case, are often sold with a dead motor to kick start your ownership. If they weren't considered unreliable or expensive to repair and maintain, their value would be much greater. Surely this is obvious?

That being said, replacing a Renesis motor with another Renesis motor in an RX8 doesn't make the RX8 more reliable, per say. Being cheap to buy and fun to drive doesn't make them any more reliable either.

 

Exactly; for whatever it's worth. haha

Another point comparing the 2 is a nice S2 is what $10k or less? while a nice S2K is double that. So even if you have to drop a $5k engine in there at some point you still come out ahead financially

asking prices seem to drop like a stone past 100k, Cargurus has an '09 GT with 101k in the best color (white) for $5.9k. Talk them down to 5k, have Kevin Landers do a nice engine and you have a very nice car at or under $10k

of course paying for premium gas @17mpg vs 25 for the S2k will negate the financial gap eventually

 

 

Yeah, drive a supercharged or turbo S2000 and the choice will be clear.

 

Yeah, but he already has one that he hardly ever drives.
That's part of the decision.
I drive the Hell outta mine, and made 3 long distance road trips in it last year with luggage, clothes in a garment bag and coolers with room to spare.

 

Oh well then he is dumb.

 

He did say he wasn't asking which car is better.

 

Thanks for all the replies. All in all, I think I'm going to stick with the S2000. Spent the weekend wrenching on her, and made me remember why I loved that car so much. It also helps that my wife took the kids to her parents in Washington for the week to visit family. Probably drove the car more in the last 48 hours that I have in the past 6 months. I can always change my mind later and look for a decent S2 Rx-8.

 

I've never had nor driven a S2, but I've owned a AP1 and a S1. Before I get into my opinion, let me first say that I'm a driving instructor for everything short of drifting, but I do also drift on my free time. I instruct for stage rally, international level road racing folks, jeep stuff, military stuff, and too much to list. I've driven many cars on track from 800+hp monsters to TRD tacomas on snow tires. This all has to do with how I perceive cars compared to most people.

The RX8 and S2000 are two fairly different cars with very similar capabilities. The RX8 is soft, easy to manage, and very civil. The S2000 is edgy, doesn't tolerate a fool nearly as well, and always seems eager to get on with whatever it is you're doing. I don't like the RX8 on track because it's too good. It's honestly so good that it's bad. You can get crazy with it and over step its bounds and it just calmly and politely ask you "Do you want to come back to reality?" It's by far the winner on the street when the weather doesn't permit a drop top. The S2000 makes you focus on your inputs a lot more. It's damn good without having the safety cushion the RX8 offers. It will send you backwards at triple digit speed in turn 17 at Sebring if you allow it to. That's why I like it more on track. It's an absolute pain to get in and out of those door openings and it rides like crap on ill maintained city streets. I love both cars. They're both winners.

 

I just find the RX8 far more comfortable to drive. My left elbow is pinned against the door in a S2000.