New Car...

[devilsadvocate]

Ok so the BMW was costing a fortune in repairs so I outed it whilst it was still running ok, plus I had one of the dodgy engines which has the potential timing chain fault shown on Watchdog the other day.

Anyway, it got me to thinking what sort of car I want next and with a budget of £7k cash money, I stumbled across this at a local garage...

A spirited test drive later and I paid the deposit!!!!
The only car I have test driven which left me with a massive smile on my face so my decision was pretty easy.
Before you say anything, my insurance is cheap and I don't care about MPG as my new job doesn't include driving for work!

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg3/laurieballard/S2000/IMG_0519.jpg (http://s244.photobucket.com/user/laurieballard/media/S2000/IMG_0519.jpg.html)

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg3/laurieballard/S2000/IMG_0516.jpg (http://s244.photobucket.com/user/laurieballard/media/S2000/IMG_0516.jpg.html)

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg3/laurieballard/S2000/IMG_0514.jpg (http://s244.photobucket.com/user/laurieballard/media/S2000/IMG_0514.jpg.html)

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg3/laurieballard/S2000/IMG_0512.jpg (http://s244.photobucket.com/user/laurieballard/media/S2000/IMG_0512.jpg.html)

[Ross]

fucking nice man. Always liked these :)

Needs this though (stolen from Fast Car facebook page)

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/7141_516742668380039_232477556_n.jpg

[Manu]

Yummmm, obviously drive safe. It's a bit of a summery type car isn't it, looks lovely :y:


You put me off of buying a BMW again. Was after a 330d a few months ago, but not a decent one in sight, then the potential doom of swirl flaps, turbo, clutch etc. You seem to confirm that, what went wrong on yours then?

Sounds like each generation has serious design flaws, my neighbour asked me for help on his again yesterday. Airbag light showed up 2 days before his MOT :homme:

[Ross]

Manu - you not seen watchdog the other week? Timing chains letting go left right and centre, BMW refusing to acknowledge there's an engine wide design flaw. Timing chain at the very back of the engine, so engine out job to even replace as a "service item" = forget it. Watchdog full of video clips/photos of shattered ruined engines, and very unhappy owners!

[Giraffe]

Dunno if I'd pay £7k "cash money" for one of those, I don't really rate them that highly, especially as a daily (do you have to drive it daily?)

Sure, they're quick enough but they're noisy and uncomfortable. Only really decent with the roof down on a sunny day I think. Not too keen on that colour either, but hey it's your car, glad you're happy with it!

EDIT: Ross, have you ever driven one of these? Surprised you liked them and didn't find it uncomfortable, the seats are so fucking tight and unforgiving for us larger people!

[Manu]

Manu - you not seen watchdog the other week? Timing chains letting go left right and centre, BMW refusing to acknowledge there's an engine wide design flaw. Timing chain at the very back of the engine, so engine out job to even replace as a "service item" = forget it. Watchdog full of video clips/photos of shattered ruined engines, and very unhappy owners!


No I haven't seen that yet, but definitely going to have a look. Sounds like a nightmare. And yeah timing chain at the back of the engine, I can't even begin to imagine the servicing bill :n:


That goes on top of the watchdog about cracked alloys, like one of the members experienced here. Sounds increasingly like BMW now stands for Beat My Wallet.

[Brettles1986]

It's no Kalos ... thank fuck

[Prickle]

Awaits Jazz and his mate with a 550bhp S2K to post. :P

[0rang3peel]

Bloody lovely, love them!

much better than your old bmw in my opinion, perfect for summer too

[devilsadvocate]

Dunno if I'd pay £7k "cash money" for one of those, I don't really rate them that highly, especially as a daily (do you have to drive it daily?)

Sure, they're quick enough but they're noisy and uncomfortable. Only really decent with the roof down on a sunny day I think. Not too keen on that colour either, but hey it's your car, glad you're happy with it!

EDIT: Ross, have you ever driven one of these? Surprised you liked them and didn't find it uncomfortable, the seats are so fucking tight and unforgiving for us larger people!

Its on 53k with Full dealer SH so price is about right. Luckily I am small so perfect size for me in terms of seats etc. It will be a daily but I don't do many miles and my new job means traveling abroad a fair bit so it will almost be a weekend car.

[jasonmayall]

I've loved these since they came out!
Being a youngster though, I cant justify the insurance on one yet.

Nice colour too, Not too 'In y0 face'.

[Manu]

Manu - you not seen watchdog the other week? Timing chains letting go left right and centre, BMW refusing to acknowledge there's an engine wide design flaw!

Just had a look, makes me double glad I didn't get one tbh.

[Giraffe]

Its on 53k with Full dealer SH so price is about right. Luckily I am small so perfect size for me in terms of seats etc. It will be a daily but I don't do many miles and my new job means traveling abroad a fair bit so it will almost be a weekend car.

Fair enough, the reason I'd probably just get a cheapish one is because they seem bulletproof anyway.

I always found that some days I'd love this car, other days I'd hate it. Never an indifferent opinion. Mainly hate though I must say, but different strokes for different folks, I'm just slightly too big for the seats so the bolsters dig in for the first few miles until I'm sort of comfortable. I know the ex used to hate it because the ride was so harsh, but if it's a weekend car then at least you can just enjoy it for what it is I suppose, so it's a decent choice in that respect.

I know it's a bit of a girly choice, but did you drive a Boxster S at all?

[Ross]

EDIT: Ross, have you ever driven one of these? Surprised you liked them and didn't find it uncomfortable, the seats are so fucking tight and unforgiving for us larger people!

I should have said I like the look of them lol - never actually been on one. You're right though - looks snug in there for the well built gentleman in your life ;)

[Giraffe]

I should have said I like the look of them lol - never actually been on one. You're right though - looks snug in there for the well built gentleman in your life ;)

It's just no good for my future girlfriends. They simply don't fit.

[Brettles1986]

It's just no good for my future girlfriends. They simply don't fit.

Articulated lorry is your only option then hey ;)

Can take more than one with you then .... just.

[Carlvtr88]

Manu - you not seen watchdog the other week? Timing chains letting go left right and centre, BMW refusing to acknowledge there's an engine wide design flaw. Timing chain at the very back of the engine, so engine out job to even replace as a "service item" = forget it. Watchdog full of video clips/photos of shattered ruined engines, and very unhappy owners!

Go German they say ..... Posts like this make you think fuck it, I'll stay French or Jap.

[o_O]

Looks very nice, are you doing anything with the wheels at all?

[Gabbastard]

The bills my mate encountered on his beemer recently has put him off owning another.

S2000s are quite nice, not sure if Im digging that colour though. Nice driving machine, just dont try to find its limit as itll kick your arse! Lol

[Matt_West_Mids]

Very jealous I want one. :( first thing I'd get is a private plate.

what engine size is it?

[AzzAW93]

fucking nice man. Always liked these :)

Needs this though (stolen from Fast Car facebook page)

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/7141_516742668380039_232477556_n.jpg

this is my mates s2k
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/969187_521616944552236_303043327_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1016627_191906447636451_1696711341_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/922723_381107435334973_1147561384_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/6303_609808192386196_1241699606_n.jpg

[jasonmayall]

Loving the side exit on that!

[Jazz]

Awaits Jazz and his mate with a 550bhp S2K to post. :P

Don't insult me, he is currently running well over over 600 :P


Love these cars, consistantly good reviews and even topped the reliability surveys a few times.

Highest powered naturally aspirated 2.0 production engine ever iirc.

[stiffler69]

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.481860055226125.1073741906.304894452922687&type=3

link to my buddys supercharged s2k

[devilsadvocate]

Don't insult me, he is currently running well over over 600 :P


Love these cars, consistantly good reviews and even topped the reliability surveys a few times.

Highest powered naturally aspirated 2.0 production engine ever iirc.

Have only been driving it a day and have fallen in love with it already!!

Need to replace the alloys I think and may get all 4 tyres and all brakes changed to.

[Manu]

Are they damaged/worn out or actually need doing? I'd say don't start fixing what isn't broken when you get a new car (at least for a few weeks), just in case you have some costly surprises... Especially since you seemed to be moaning about the beemer bills :P

[Prickle]

Hur Manu, hur hur

[JoeHindle]

I've always loved S2k's, my dads mate is a Honda sales manager and when these first came out, he had one as his demo, loved it since!

[smiith]

One of the best cars you can get IMO.. Looks great, drives great, won't break too easily, and easily tunable. Sound epic with a decent system on them as well

[Jazz]

Have only been driving it a day and have fallen in love with it already!!

Need to replace the alloys I think and may get all 4 tyres and all brakes changed to.

The best Honda to be sold in the UK for a very, very long time. These things have a religious tuning scene in the USA, absolutely massive over there.

Always wanted one myself but always needed more than 2 seats :n:

Welcome back to the fun side of motoring dude, enjoy and don't bin it :P

Edit, these S2k boys are maybe having too much fun..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eehW1xhUeKg

[M1TTJ]

Nice choice ;)

[Jay_]

It's no MX5..
lol, nice car lad.

[devilsadvocate]

Are they damaged/worn out or actually need doing? I'd say don't start fixing what isn't broken when you get a new car (at least for a few weeks), just in case you have some costly surprises... Especially since you seemed to be moaning about the beemer bills :P

The rears are about 3mm and reading up seems to suggest that won't last long and one has a little bit of cracking on the edge so going to replace them, just deciding what to get!

Parts seem a fair amount cheaper for this as well, tyres are half the price of the BMW, as are pads and disks. It even takes less oil and can use standard 10w40!

[Brettles1986]

It's no MX5..
lol, nice car lad.

Was gonna say the same but replace MX5 with Kalos.

[stupotvtr]

After seeing this I did a bit of googling and people run boosted ones on standard internals to 500bhp no problem!

[smiith]

After seeing this I did a bit of googling and people run boosted ones on standard internals to 500bhp no problem!

The joys of jap motoring!

[Manu]

The rears are about 3mm and reading up seems to suggest that won't last long and one has a little bit of cracking on the edge so going to replace them, just deciding what to get!

Parts seem a fair amount cheaper for this as well, tyres are half the price of the BMW, as are pads and disks. It even takes less oil and can use standard 10w40!

Fair enough, if it's cracked then better sooner than later. Honestly you and a couple of other members here completely turned me off considering a beemer again heheh. My neighbour asked for help on his again, airbag light showed up 2 days before his MOT :homme: He's got problems all the time and some are costly.

[smiith]

Take the bulb out.. No more air bag light.

[Manu]

Take the bulb out.. No more air bag light.

Won't do on BMWs mate, they have a backup bulb behind the dash which will light up, easier to fix the fault than dodge around considering the effort, plus no airbag light at all = mot fail. I haven't looked at his car yet but I'd bet it's a pre-tensioner cable. I told the guy to buy a diagnostic tool anyway, easier than just goofing around. Worst case scenario, you just unplug the airbag and wire a resistor in.

[devilsadvocate]

Take the bulb out.. No more air bag light.

Usually not as simple as that with German cars, especially modern ones.