MS3 or S2000

[chicano565]

i am having a hard time figuring out what i should do so i bring my question to you guys. i have the oppurtunity to get either a MS3 in febuary or the 04 S2000 with 3100 miles in a few weeks, but i cant decide what i want to do. i have driven a S2000 and fell in love with it but i havent drove the MS3 yet so i cant compare the 2 of them. so to any of you MS3 guys out there please give me a hand on how the car feels and details about it. i would greatly appreciate it.

[StreetUnitMike]

Ms3!!

[Raider]

i think the #1 thing would be do you ever need to have more than 1 passenger or carry anything in it. If not, S2000. But I know I may need to carry pets, possibly kids in it with groceries, so I know a 2 seater is out.

I have been waiting since September for my speed 3, due here in weeks, cannot wait.

[chicano565]

no, room is not in the question at all. im a commuter to school and only need room for my bag and i really hate carting people around so its kind of benifitting me

[chicano565]

yeaq i pre ordered an MS3 due in Feb GT black but then the S2000 came into the picture and with only 3100 miles on it damn

[Raider]

Well, I would personally wait, because that is what you really wanted. But such low miles is a great deal. Carfax it, never know if it is pieced together or something.

[chicano565]

yea thats true. i bet it was some old guy who wanted a new one or something im going to look at it tomorro and see what the deal is. i do want the MS3 but ive always wanted a S2000 and turbo it

[Raider]

then you are indeed in a tough spot. I am glad I am not in your shoes right now!

[chicano565]

what i need to do is find a mazda dealer that has the MS3 and go test drive one but none of them around here have any at there lots. people order them and there gone. plus the S2000 is rear wheel drive and not to down play the speed but maybe a little bit more fun to drive

[chicano565]

but the speed 3 turbo 2.3 L sounds awsome too its a real beast

[Raider]

My p5 is FWD, and still a blast to drive. Yeah RWD has its plusses too.

[Scott]

Depends really on what you want out of the car.

If handling is your thing, then go for the S2000.
If practicality is what you're after, then the MS3 really might be your better option.

With that said. I love My S2000. I haven't had any problems with it (apart from hitting that alligator). It's quick, lots of fun to drive, and it's a Honda, so it will run forever. After the laundry list of issues I had with my Mazdaspeed Protege, I decided to stay away from turbo Mazdas for awhile.

[chicano565]

yea. well i havent had any problems with the engine in my mazda just my clutch is gone and i havent heard one bad thing about the s2000.

[Velocifero]

these two are on such different spectums, kinda weird to see you in the bind hinestly. RWD roadster vs FWD turbo sport wagon. They both have their advantages, and I wouldn't say the S2000 always wins the race in handling. There are several NA P5s here in the ARSCCA that hang with the S2000s that are there and they aren't classed anywhere near each other. Not to mention when we do mountain runs in N. Ga we pull away from plenty of them. Could be driver differences but Mazda def makes great handling cars. Do you want a brand new car that no one else has beat on, or are you willing to go after the slightly used car that you don't know what it has been through? Used cars don't bother me, but I do take a longer look at it. There is a couple that races here and the wife never shifts out of first gear for the entire course! I know the S2000 has a high rev and it can take it there, but surely after 15 races, four runs a race only in first gear, plus the normal to rough driving the husband puts it through it can't be that great on the engine. There are some badass truboed and supercharged S2000 this way too, but never seen them race, they tend to be more into the showing, but they are fast on the public road. I would still be more interested in the 3 personally, I would rather the space be there. Have you checked with your insurance to see what the differences would be between the two? If I got a S2000 I would put a hard top on it, they look real nice after that.

[PlatinumMSP]

s2000 man

[chicano565]

i love the handling on my MSP and i know mazda makes a great handling car cause i thought i would lose it so many times and the car would just catch itself. but you are right they are on different levels in every aspect. i love the turbo seen but a fast N/A car is just as nasty and yes the hard top does look good. im just having a hard time cause i havent drove the MS3 yet and havent seen one around here in MA kind of depressing. im still deciding but more and likley i might just stick with the mazda relm

[Scott]

I know the S2000 has a high rev and it can take it there, but surely after 15 races, four runs a race only in first gear, plus the normal to rough driving the husband puts it through it can't be that great on the engine.

If the engine was designed to run like that, then there's no reason why it wouldn't hold up. Why do you think sport bikes run for so long revving up to 13-14k RPM?

I've done a few track days in the S2000 and have never had any cooling issues, including one day of running at 92 degrees.

[moditfromday1]

i seen a hondas2k one time the guy stalled it 3 times maybe its because is tire was in a pothole and the tq. just could not manage to get it out. weird huh?lol just kidding though but if you like the s2k there nice looking and being a honda mods are endless. the ms3 is nice i just dont like hb's but really its each to his/her own go with what you feel you fit in and will like driving

[Velocifero]

If the engine was designed to run like that, then there's no reason why it wouldn't hold up. Why do you think sport bikes run for so long revving up to 13-14k RPM?

I've done a few track days in the S2000 and have never had any cooling issues, including one day of running at 92 degrees.
wasn't saying it wouldn't hold up, even said I know it can take it there, but bouncing the limiter for nearly 40 seconds repeatedly can't be good for any engine. I could just imagine that the oil needs to be changed pretty often if somebody is gonna drive it that hard. I know they are strong cars, and I wasn't trying to hold the 3 over it, just using that example more to reiterate the point about buying a used car and not knowing how hard the car was driven before you. I would consider a S2000 if I didn't need the practicality of a four door or could afford to have both, unfortunately they are still outa range for me to use as a dedicated race car.

[got_titan]

ms3.....oh the possibilities......