[kristian85]

Drove an '01 S2000. I found it a very fine car, absolutely a pure sportscar by even the most stringent definition.

It was fantastically stiff, as is expected of a blank sheet roadster, and had a very appealing seating position even for my 6'1". Fit and finish to match or beat recent Porsches seen (NB: Not older ones...), and a good feeling that it is something special.

Driving it one is struck by the fine precision of the controls, extremely accurate but somewhat lifeless steering, good control weighting. GREAT gearshift!! Snick-click--perfect.

No torque. None. Good pull in lower two gears with rapidly building acceleration, but no party 'til >6KRPM. Then, like 3.5KRPM on an older 911 Turbo, you're gone, screaming madly to 9KRPM. Very balanced handling feel and good brakes, but the engine's lacking torque is irritating, particularly on the freeway when cruising with tach < 4KRPM. To get moving, knock it down 2-3 gears. Noisome. Overall, much better handling than < '89 911's by all objective measures--truly modern, near state-of-the-art. Or, easier, more accessible handling envelope than the 911.

Very quiet on freeway even top-down, very slight buffeting, very refined. Very fine car in all ways, would be fun to own.

Getting back into my perfect '78, with the big gauges staring at me, the completely purposeful blackness of the interior, the big, gnarly rasp of the flat six, the directness of the controls, the steering feel, the massive torque, all factors relating the hundreds of racing victories during its history--I again realized that this is a SPECIAL car, one that demands respect and skill, and when given it is as fast as anything out there on public streets.

By comparison the Honda simply felt like a regular but fun car--not very special. The Honda doesn't goad you to go out for a pleasure drive in the same way. Unlike the 911, it doesn't wisper Nordschleife, Targa Florio, Donington Park, Daytona, Sebring, Le Mans, Paul Ricard, Spa, etc., every time you get into it.

Wouldn't even trade straight across.