What happened to cool Japanese cars?

[x622]

Originally Posted by Tyga11

Appreciate that! Maybe I will take you up on it one of these days.

It sounded really good...I was actually wondering if the exhaust was stock?

Entire car is bone stock. Just did all fluids, SS brake lines, SS clutch line, clutch delay valve delete and fresh tires, that's all I plan to do on this one.

[DB_Cooper]

Originally Posted by Patton250

PS-the supra is almost as ugly as Teslas. Just saying.

Supra looks great IMO.

[Donatello.]

Originally Posted by x622

I just bought a 2007 s2000 that I'm going to keep bone stock, and am working on buying another 2005 that's gonna be modded to piss, but not 1100rwhp like the last one.

Buy them before you can't because they're dead.

I'll buy one when they aren't $30k. Nutso pricing on these things

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by Patton250

I never liked the look of the supra. Ever. It’s like the car is screaming out that it wants to be something, but it’s not. Anyway, I stand by what I said. Japanese cars are all kinds of good things but cool ain’t one of them. But then again, maybe you and I have a totally different definition of what cool is.

I've had a few Japanese cars I'd call cool.

[Clark_Kent]

Originally Posted by Donatello.

I'll buy one when they aren't $30k. Nutso pricing on these things

You'll be waiting a while. It's clear the S2000 is one of the crown jewels in the eyes of automotive enthusiasts the world over. What's most interesting to me is how it came to be viewed as this coveted and highly sought commodity. It's like the lore of the S2000 grows and gains as time goes on and the values track to that. Back in my Honda days (early 2000s) I vividly remember the S2000 as respected, fun, and capable, but there was no feverish obsession. I knew a few people who had them who liked them well enough but even they never thought of the car as "special". I drove the S2000 for an extended drive back in 2005 and I wasn't blown away. It was fine and I generally enjoyed it but I never would've thought some 15-20 years later they would be selling for a premium to the original MSRP. Even high mileage, ragged out S2000s are still commanding a decent sum. Anyhow, it's been fascinating to watch how this one played out.

[x622]

Originally Posted by Donatello.

I'll buy one when they aren't $30k. Nutso pricing on these things

You won't.

I've been watching the market for years, they just keep going up... I think so many kids keep destroying them because of the rear bumpsteer or ricing them out so they're going the same way as S13/14s, clean civics etc. I said the same thing about Supras too and look where they're at.


As I age, I've driven pretty much anything you can think of, Sennas, 488s, Aventadors, DBS's, turbo Vipers, 1900awhp GTRs you name it. There are a lot of different experiences you can buy, and they all feel different to suit a different type of feel. I think the S2000 was something that was attainable to a lot of people and combined with the swiss watch transmission in a fun/tossable form factor is what made it a legend. When I first owned the S2000, I never believed that I would drive or own the stuff I do today - sure I wished I would but it wasn't a reality and now after having the experience with the vehicles that I do I understand that I need to have a S2000 in my collection.

[Donatello.]

Originally Posted by Clark_Kent

You'll be waiting a while. It's clear the S2000 is one of the crown jewels in the eyes of automotive enthusiasts the world over. What's most interesting to me is how it came to be viewed as this coveted and highly sought commodity. It's like the lore of the S2000 grows and gains as time goes on and the values track to that. Back in my Honda days (early 2000s) I vividly remember the S2000 as respected, fun, and capable, but there was no feverish obsession. I knew a few people who had them who liked them well enough but even they never thought of the car as "special". I drove the S2000 for an extended drive back in 2005 and I wasn't blown away. It was fine and I generally enjoyed it but I never would've thought some 15-20 years later they would be selling for a premium to the original MSRP. Even high mileage, ragged out S2000s are still commanding a decent sum. Anyhow, it's been fascinating to watch how this one played out.

I get it. Driven a few. Fun to drive, but I'll buy another Miata before I overpay for the S2K. Even though the market is still nuts on them, an Elise is a better buy vs the S2K as well.
I am not a fanboy so I really don't care what the S2K market does.

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by x622

I think the S2000 was something that was attainable to a lot of people and combined with the swiss watch transmission...

But Honda, in a stroke of unbrilliance, didn't include a 1st gear lock-out. They also gave it a glass diff, even though they sold it as "attaining 0-60 in 5.5 seconds", knowing the only way to do that was to side-step/dump the clutch and eventually kill the diff.

Mine was replaced under warranty. I still have a piece of it.

[OkieSnuffBox]

The simple answer is, most people would rather buy a "cute ute" and a lot of the younger guys that want a fun car typically can't afford them. At least not responsibly afford them.

And the older enthusiasts with good jobs and more money typically look at BMWs and Porsche's.

[x622]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

But Honda, in a stroke of unbrilliance, didn't include a 1st gear lock-out. They also gave it a glass diff, even though they sold it as "attaining 0-60 in 5.5 seconds", knowing the only way to do that was to side-step/dump the clutch and eventually kill the diff.

Mine was replaced under warranty. I still have a piece of it.

I've had 5 S2000's now including two that made over 700 to the wheels on the stock diff. How did you achieve blowing up that rear differential? I've heard other guys do it too. On the factory clutch I can't get the thing to launch worth a damn with it being either full on clutch slip, or bogging down. Only time I even once felt like I might blow it up was on the stock block silver one I had with a 6870g2 that had some wheel hop.


Also, about to make it 6... Have a surprise coming this Friday that I'll post about.

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by x622

I've had 5 S2000's now including two that made over 700 to the wheels on the stock diff. How did you achieve blowing up that rear differential? I've heard other guys do it too. On the factory clutch I can't get the thing to launch worth a damn with it being either full on clutch slip, or bogging down. Only time I even once felt like I might blow it up was on the stock block silver one I had with a 6870g2 that had some wheel hop.


Also, about to make it 6... Have a surprise coming this Friday that I'll post about.

Easy to destroy the diff. Concrete + new S02 OEM rubber + 6500 clutch dump. Rinse and repeat.

It's not easy on tires either lol.

[Kolyan2k]

S2000 rear diff was beefed up around 2005-2006. Revised part didn't have issues. One of the best cars i have owned

[eluded]

Originally Posted by DB_Cooper

Supra looks great IMO.

Great car but the interior space is a joke. Cannot believe how a little room there is in there. If you’re 6 foot with a helmet on, that’s just not gonna happen.

[Autobacs]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

The simple answer is, most people would rather buy a "cute ute" and a lot of the younger guys that want a fun car typically can't afford them. At least not responsibly afford them.

And the older enthusiasts with good jobs and more money typically look at BMWs and Porsche's.

You mean new BMW's, 70% of which are leased. Most BMW's take a plunge in value (other than the M's) after the warranty runs out. That's what a lot of young guys buy a good number of which can't afford the maintenance and repair bills.

[DocOfTheDead]

I have an LC500 and adore it. Is it a sports car? No. Is it a rolling work of art with a 7300 RPM naturally aspirated redline? Yes. It’s fun. There are times I’ll walk into my garage and I have to just stop and stare at it. Pictures don’t do the shapes justice. The design has so many cohesive flowing lines that look good from just about any angle.

I have a good circle of friends with fun Japanese cars. One has a 2006 S2000, one has a 2021 Miata RF 6MT, and another one just brought home a white IS500 with the red interior. I’ve driven all of them and they each have a unique charm.

It’s not Japanese but it’s been mentioned a couple times- I also have a Kona N. That thing is stoooopid amounts of fun. Raucous. Rough. Loud. And one of the snappiest DCTs this side of a PDK. For $30k it was a steal.

[x622]

I love the way the LC500 looks and lament that they didn't release a LC-F for me to buy.

[Tyga11]

That is some garage DocOfTheDead

I agree with you on the LC500 - car has massive 'stop and stare' appeal.

[DocOfTheDead]

Originally Posted by x622

I love the way the LC500 looks and lament that they didn't release a LC-F for me to buy.

And I die a little inside when I think they’re going to make the next LFA… *gulp* electric. The entire persona of that car was built on its bizarrely good V10. That ranks right up there with Mitsubishi making the eclipse a crossover and the rumors of Nissan doing the same with the overseas Skyline.

[Autobacs]

Originally Posted by DocOfTheDead

And I die a little inside when I think they’re going to make the next LFA… *gulp* electric. The entire persona of that car was built on its bizarrely good V10. That ranks right up there with Mitsubishi making the eclipse a crossover and the rumors of Nissan doing the same with the overseas Skyline.

I've read about how good of a car the LC500 is. Never driven one and curious. I had a GSF which was a great handling car so would be interested to know how they compare.