Thank you for this video. The practical side of me leans toward the ND due it's pricing and the fear of parts scarcity with the s2k. The ND being common is actually a strength for long-term ownership, but I have nostalgia for my turboed '95 R package, not the ND. I've owned a S/C s2000 CR in my youth also and numerous jdm/Honda cars inbetween. The cinematography and the driving vibes from this video really captures the spirit of the s2k for me. I've been debating this choice for well over a year as to which forever car I'll own. I've exhausted all my sources for opinions, but this video tipped me to the s2k, especially when you pointed out how "excited you get" when you look at it. I don't think I've ever used that perspective before for my decision making and I think it's enough to make me stick with team Honda. Hope to see more stuff from you dude!
thank you for this feedback I’m so glad it resonated well with you! honestly just wanted to share a more philosophical side of owning these things rather than how I think it handles on track.. which I don’t do but neither does a vast majority haha. I’m really happy to help. good look on your search, the right example will definitely present itself and you’ll love it. thanks for watching 🙏🏼
For an almost 20 year old car, the S2000 holds up pretty well for its age compared to other cars. The S2000 is timeless, I'm on my 3rd AP2, this time I'm keeping her forever. I've owned cars with way more power and performance than the S2000, but the visceral feeling of driving the S2000 is unmatched. The S2000 is a great easy car to maintain, almost all maintenance items you can do yourself. I see you're also in the Vegas area. Come out some time to the meets.
dang 3rd s2000. many owners go through the same thing where they buy the car multiple times, really says something haha. thanks for sharing all your input, definitely reassuring so I can keep this for as long as possible 🙏🏼 and forsure, hmu on IG I rarely go out haha
Nice video. You made a lot of good points. I personally think that if your primary goal is to have fun, you can't go wrong with either option. However, the S2K can be also considered an investment, but like you said, the ND Miata has more "livable power" which is something to really consider as well. The sketch factor of older cars is also a good point. It seems so much easier to go with the ND Miata for peace of mind, modern amenities/safety features, ect. Although, just as you pointed out, the S2000 has that rarity factor that turns heads, but paying the price of a new sports car for something that old is conflicting (although the nicer S2000s are going to continue increasing in value).
man, my entire video summed up right here 🙏🏼 definitely big things to consider. Can’t go wrong with either, just depends what your risk tolerance is and what the car is intended for. Glad you caught all of the points! Thanks for watching sir
Congratulation for this analysis and return of experience. It is exactly the same questions and answers I make... and end up 4 years ago with a Honda S2000 2004 AP1 F20C Phase 2 (in Europe we have the AP1 2.0l , red ligne 9000 rpm with the AP2 body) in mint condition and 75 K km (now 98 K km) and I am still on the honeymoon with it.
In late 2018 I was deciding between an AP2 S2000 and a brand new ND2 Miata. I went with the ND2, $26,000 plus taxes. It's been an amazing time with the car. Sure, having an S2000 that wouldn't have depreciated at all would've been neat, but I've really valued the daily drivability of the ND2. This motor hits max torque at 4000RPM and does 40mpg at 70mph. Combined with the light weight of the ND and some nice creature comforts like a backup cam and bluetooth, it's been a great "11 month per year" car for me. The S2000 is awesome north of 6000RPM. The ND2 is awesome, well, everywhere.
@@onsite_nate both of the cars in question are machines to be enjoyed and consumed, not preserved in some garage and never driven! The chief S2000 engineer begged owners to enjoy their cars for decades to come, and that means wheels in motion A Miata might be "better", but an S2000 is far more special.
Even in stock form the AP2 is a very competitive and able car on the track. My AP2 has 230k and I have tracked it at Streets of Willow and Big Willow. My Mazdaspeed Miata MX5 and the AP2 are the most fun stock cars I have tracked.
@@onsite_nate I bought the car with about 230k more or less two years ago as a 50th birthday gift for myself. Although I don't daily drive the car I do track it twice a year and occasional canyon driving. Like I said before it's the best handling stock car I have owned so far. A set of 200 treadwear tires would really improve the car's handling even more.
Perfectly aligned with my thoughts and how I got my 2000 133k ap1 2 weeks ago. Has some cosmetic things to take care of and I’m looking to go for an OEM+ restoration
I have owned my s2000 for 15 years it’s always been a second or third car and still to this day every time I drive it I love it you definitely made the right choice nice looking as s2000
I have owned and driven a few roadsters - TR6, NB Miata, Boxster and S2000. The TR6 was my gateway drug into roadsters. Really enjoyed the Miata and think I would like the ND even better. I bought my S2k new in 03 and have driven it daily ever since. I just love the visceral feeling behind the wheel of the S2k and enjoy decompressing after work with a nice mountain run. I really focus on maintaining the car, but as time goes by you need to be aware that some parts are a bit tougher to find. Plan on keeping my S2k until my left leg can’t press in the Clutch pedal 😊
well said 💪🏼 you’re very fortunate to enjoy these on nice mountain roads, car really comes alive out there. hoping yours stays problem free for as long as possible
Im holding onto my AP2 as long as possible. 10 years so far. They are making a lot of ND Miatas - I have time to own one of those, but a clean stock S2000 like I have will never come again this side of Bring a Trailer.
If money is what you guys value most, then you are missing out, unfortunately. Do yourself a favorite and experience the drives yourself. Or better yet, have BOTH of them in your garage.
I went with an S2000 after debating between it, a Miata, and a GR86. Like you, couldn’t get past the fact that I would still be jealous of other S2000 owners if I didn’t own one.
nice man, I feel like this is key when picking cars 👌🏼 whenever I see these things on the road I still get super excited then happy remembering I have one too haha
@@onsite_nate just something about the S2000. My buddies still think I should have gone with a new vehicle with new tech and full warranty like a Miata or GR86 but I know I won’t be as happy driving them as the S.
Hey man, I've been following since your first canyon videos in the old 370Z Sport. It's been neat to see your collection grow over time. The points that you raise here are really good questions for any car enthusiast to weigh when considering a classic car purchase. My daily is in fact an ND2 RF, and my weekend car is a 1.6L NA Miata. Owning an old car can be rewarding and fun (much more so than a modern car), but can also become exhausting when you have to rely on a 20-30 year old car for all your mundane tasks. Using old Japanese convertibles for 5 hour highway drives really saps the fun out of them. Determining your use case should really be #1 in selecting your car, which can be hard to be realistic about. I agree on only recommending something like an S2K or NA/NB as a second or third car, as that's when they'll really get to shine. The mystery of previous owner maintenance and the luck of the draw in buying a well-used car makes every classic car purchase substantially different to the next. I've seen a fair share of beaten but solid cars, and tragically beautiful classics that required just about every meaningful part replaced. Judging a used car is also much harder to navigate especially when someone is newer to the hobby, not to mention that substantial maintenance can be an overwhelming concept at that stage. All that being said your last point is a big one. Everyone has their own dream cars and no spec sheets or reviews will change the stuff that you're interested in. Finding cars that make you happy is the ultimate goal, and when people have the means to become the caretaker of a classic, that's a wonderful thing. The car world needs more of that, especially as less and less enthusiast vehicles are produced. Your AP2 is beautiful - I hope you put another 100k on the clock!
what’s up man 🙏🏼 really appreciate you sticking around that’s so freaking cool haha. thanks for all your support! and regarding all of the feedback you definitely hit the nail on all points. esp previous owner luck and used cars you never really know once your in it. I hope to keep this car for another 100k miles and share as much as I can. thanks again for all the feedback and years of support 🙏🏼 you take care man
I bought a 1994 r package miata over other roadster, including the s2000. Mine just became an antique. Being a honda master tech, the na miata just reminds me of a period in time when cars were all mechanical. If I didn't have my crx I would've bought a s2000.
If it’s not a daily, and you plan on keeping the car stock, the s2000 is by far the better choice over the entire ND family. This is assuming you’re finding a decent condition s2000 where the paint and interior still look somewhat fresh. If it’s a daily, and you’re sub 6 foot, I gotta go ND2/3. It’s so good at handling it’s not even funny; then you got some solid modern tech in there. If you plan on modding, then I’m not your guy lol
summed up my entire video here heck yeah 🙏🏼 modding isn’t my thing anymore either. money pit and always leaves you wanting more. that’s just my experience 💀
I sold my nd2 to hopefully get an ap2. I have test drove both and the ND is a better daily but the S2K is a more fun at the limit and looks timeless. If you have a minty ap2 i wouldnt bother with a ND unless the ap2 gave out
I recently got an ND3, and while I still have my old car, I'm trying to treat the ND as my only car, to see if I should sell my old xB. There's no way I could do an S2000 like that, so I totally agree with you on that point. S2000 is definitely more sporty out of the box, but I think an ND has more potential (more costly though I'm sure) just being newer and so popular; there's SO many parts for them. I'd love to see an ND with a fat rotary in it though, now THAT would be fun
Yeah s2000 is pretty miserable. The first 10min you’re like this isn’t so bad.. then 2min afterwards I’m wanting something comfortable. really curious what it’s like living like an ND
Hey, you know supercharged kit sounds good, too, if you want to be more on the serious side of tracking it. It's a journey, so no rush, take it slow, and enjoy every moment of your ND
If i got the money right now. S2k for me in the tracks all day. ND3 for me does everything else gets around 40ish mpg hwy, very comfortable for long drive, and easier to daily it knowing it has warranties too.
I would NEVER choose a Miata over this. Drove one, and hated it. I wish I understood the hype of the Miata’s. I’m glad that car is popular for the community though. But the S2K, I’ve literally seen it on roads in Japan going through mountains is nice to see. Plenty of power and the look is timeless too.
Besides the fact i hate the stock suspension geometry on S2000s (old MR2 owner thing i learned about evils of high rear roll centers, but lots of ways to work with or around it), i consider them more ideal then Miatas as a drivers car for most part, as a owner experience. My issue with having done a similar thing but on cheap end of the market with a AW11 many many years ago is having something special is nice, but then you also feel kinda different about it, its a hindrance in a way, although so would be a brand new car. That was easily my least favorite thing about owning and tracking a AW11, was it was too damn rare, i liked what it was but where do i find another? The S2000 is like that but more due to $ value, but in a good way that changes vs a ND Miata.
thanks for the feedback 🙏🏼 this is probably one of the biggest things keeping me from enjoying the car, other than things breaking, is it’s rarity. Obviously I don’t track, but even just driving in day-day traffic if it gets wrecked it’ll be a bit more difficult to replace. ND seems perfect for care free enjoyment
I remember playing Forza 05' telling myself when I was 7 "I want this car". Gotta make that dream come true. I'm single with no kids, at 24 the time is now.
Definitely didn’t make a mistake because I can tell how much passion the s2000 brings out of you…yea it might be a bit more of a headache to own but at the end of the day, it’s what means the most to you Much love from ND owner 🫂 (I wish I had an AP1 🥲)
Thank you for this video. The practical side of me leans toward the ND due it's pricing and the fear of parts scarcity with the s2k. The ND being common is actually a strength for long-term ownership, but I have nostalgia for my turboed '95 R package, not the ND. I've owned a S/C s2000 CR in my youth also and numerous jdm/Honda cars inbetween.
The cinematography and the driving vibes from this video really captures the spirit of the s2k for me. I've been debating this choice for well over a year as to which forever car I'll own. I've exhausted all my sources for opinions, but this video tipped me to the s2k, especially when you pointed out how "excited you get" when you look at it. I don't think I've ever used that perspective before for my decision making and I think it's enough to make me stick with team Honda. Hope to see more stuff from you dude!
thank you for this feedback I’m so glad it resonated well with you! honestly just wanted to share a more philosophical side of owning these things rather than how I think it handles on track.. which I don’t do but neither does a vast majority haha. I’m really happy to help. good look on your search, the right example will definitely present itself and you’ll love it. thanks for watching 🙏🏼
For an almost 20 year old car, the S2000 holds up pretty well for its age compared to other cars. The S2000 is timeless, I'm on my 3rd AP2, this time I'm keeping her forever. I've owned cars with way more power and performance than the S2000, but the visceral feeling of driving the S2000 is unmatched. The S2000 is a great easy car to maintain, almost all maintenance items you can do yourself. I see you're also in the Vegas area. Come out some time to the meets.
dang 3rd s2000. many owners go through the same thing where they buy the car multiple times, really says something haha. thanks for sharing all your input, definitely reassuring so I can keep this for as long as possible 🙏🏼 and forsure, hmu on IG I rarely go out haha
Nice video. You made a lot of good points. I personally think that if your primary goal is to have fun, you can't go wrong with either option. However, the S2K can be also considered an investment, but like you said, the ND Miata has more "livable power" which is something to really consider as well. The sketch factor of older cars is also a good point. It seems so much easier to go with the ND Miata for peace of mind, modern amenities/safety features, ect. Although, just as you pointed out, the S2000 has that rarity factor that turns heads, but paying the price of a new sports car for something that old is conflicting (although the nicer S2000s are going to continue increasing in value).
man, my entire video summed up right here 🙏🏼 definitely big things to consider. Can’t go wrong with either, just depends what your risk tolerance is and what the car is intended for. Glad you caught all of the points! Thanks for watching sir
Congratulation for this analysis and return of experience. It is exactly the same questions and answers I make... and end up 4 years ago with a Honda S2000 2004 AP1 F20C Phase 2 (in Europe we have the AP1 2.0l , red ligne 9000 rpm with the AP2 body) in mint condition and 75 K km (now 98 K km) and I am still on the honeymoon with it.
Heck yeah man 4 years later and still honeymoon? One of the greatest feelings that most cars can’t offer
This car is amazing and so are your videos, it’s honestly amazing how you can make such peaceful videos on your cars.
appreciate this, got tired of other UA-camrs screaming at us so I wanted to be different 😂👌🏼 glad you enjoyed
@ Yes!! I’m in the same boat as you about UA-camrs constantly screaming about the car’s horsepower or torque or stuff like that.
I've had 4 Miata's and 2 S2000 and trust me the S2000 is so much more than what a Miata offers.
love to hear this 🙏🏼 thanks man. So far I’m still so stoked with my choice
In late 2018 I was deciding between an AP2 S2000 and a brand new ND2 Miata. I went with the ND2, $26,000 plus taxes. It's been an amazing time with the car. Sure, having an S2000 that wouldn't have depreciated at all would've been neat, but I've really valued the daily drivability of the ND2. This motor hits max torque at 4000RPM and does 40mpg at 70mph. Combined with the light weight of the ND and some nice creature comforts like a backup cam and bluetooth, it's been a great "11 month per year" car for me.
The S2000 is awesome north of 6000RPM. The ND2 is awesome, well, everywhere.
all great points you brought up and I’m glad you ultimately went with the right choice 💪🏼 cool to see you still enjoying yours
@@onsite_nate both of the cars in question are machines to be enjoyed and consumed, not preserved in some garage and never driven! The chief S2000 engineer begged owners to enjoy their cars for decades to come, and that means wheels in motion
A Miata might be "better", but an S2000 is far more special.
I was in the same situation and chose my 2008 S2K w/ 10k miles same color. It wasn’t a hard decision. You made the right choice.
my god that is mint!! so far I’ve been getting the same response. I love this thing 🙏🏼
Even in stock form the AP2 is a very competitive and able car on the track. My AP2 has 230k and I have tracked it at Streets of Willow and Big Willow.
My Mazdaspeed Miata MX5 and the AP2 are the most fun stock cars I have tracked.
230k miles including the track?? god I love these things. nice collection as well sir 👌🏼
@@onsite_nate I bought the car with about 230k more or less two years ago as a 50th birthday gift for myself.
Although I don't daily drive the car I do track it twice a year and occasional canyon driving. Like I said before it's the best handling stock car I have owned so far. A set of 200 treadwear tires would really improve the car's handling even more.
Perfectly aligned with my thoughts and how I got my 2000 133k ap1 2 weeks ago. Has some cosmetic things to take care of and I’m looking to go for an OEM+ restoration
💪🏼 glad you’re going to be taking care of these things properly. congrats on the new car!
I have owned my s2000 for 15 years it’s always been a second or third car and still to this day every time I drive it I love it you definitely made the right choice nice looking as s2000
every time I hear this from other long term owners it makes me so stoked haha. congrats on 15yrs of smiles 💪🏼
I have owned and driven a few roadsters - TR6, NB Miata, Boxster and S2000. The TR6 was my gateway drug into roadsters. Really enjoyed the Miata and think I would like the ND even better. I bought my S2k new in 03 and have driven it daily ever since. I just love the visceral feeling behind the wheel of the S2k and enjoy decompressing after work with a nice mountain run. I really focus on maintaining the car, but as time goes by you need to be aware that some parts are a bit tougher to find. Plan on keeping my S2k until my left leg can’t press in the Clutch pedal 😊
well said 💪🏼 you’re very fortunate to enjoy these on nice mountain roads, car really comes alive out there. hoping yours stays problem free for as long as possible
Im holding onto my AP2 as long as possible. 10 years so far. They are making a lot of ND Miatas - I have time to own one of those, but a clean stock S2000 like I have will never come again this side of Bring a Trailer.
man this is exactly how I feel, can easily get into an ND but these in 10yrs in a livable condition is like what, 40-50k 💀
If money is what you guys value most, then you are missing out, unfortunately. Do yourself a favorite and experience the drives yourself. Or better yet, have BOTH of them in your garage.
I went with an S2000 after debating between it, a Miata, and a GR86. Like you, couldn’t get past the fact that I would still be jealous of other S2000 owners if I didn’t own one.
nice man, I feel like this is key when picking cars 👌🏼 whenever I see these things on the road I still get super excited then happy remembering I have one too haha
@@onsite_nate just something about the S2000. My buddies still think I should have gone with a new vehicle with new tech and full warranty like a Miata or GR86 but I know I won’t be as happy driving them as the S.
Great quality intro! Good content - subscribed! Hope to see the channel grow. Good luck.
Thank you good sir 👍🏼 appreciate the support wish me luck!
Hey man, I've been following since your first canyon videos in the old 370Z Sport. It's been neat to see your collection grow over time. The points that you raise here are really good questions for any car enthusiast to weigh when considering a classic car purchase. My daily is in fact an ND2 RF, and my weekend car is a 1.6L NA Miata.
Owning an old car can be rewarding and fun (much more so than a modern car), but can also become exhausting when you have to rely on a 20-30 year old car for all your mundane tasks. Using old Japanese convertibles for 5 hour highway drives really saps the fun out of them. Determining your use case should really be #1 in selecting your car, which can be hard to be realistic about. I agree on only recommending something like an S2K or NA/NB as a second or third car, as that's when they'll really get to shine.
The mystery of previous owner maintenance and the luck of the draw in buying a well-used car makes every classic car purchase substantially different to the next. I've seen a fair share of beaten but solid cars, and tragically beautiful classics that required just about every meaningful part replaced. Judging a used car is also much harder to navigate especially when someone is newer to the hobby, not to mention that substantial maintenance can be an overwhelming concept at that stage.
All that being said your last point is a big one. Everyone has their own dream cars and no spec sheets or reviews will change the stuff that you're interested in. Finding cars that make you happy is the ultimate goal, and when people have the means to become the caretaker of a classic, that's a wonderful thing. The car world needs more of that, especially as less and less enthusiast vehicles are produced. Your AP2 is beautiful - I hope you put another 100k on the clock!
what’s up man 🙏🏼 really appreciate you sticking around that’s so freaking cool haha. thanks for all your support!
and regarding all of the feedback you definitely hit the nail on all points. esp previous owner luck and used cars you never really know once your in it. I hope to keep this car for another 100k miles and share as much as I can. thanks again for all the feedback and years of support 🙏🏼 you take care man
I bought a 1994 r package miata over other roadster, including the s2000. Mine just became an antique. Being a honda master tech, the na miata just reminds me of a period in time when cars were all mechanical. If I didn't have my crx I would've bought a s2000.
nice choice man, an original miata. CRX with the Miata seems like the better pair imo 👌🏼
If it’s not a daily, and you plan on keeping the car stock, the s2000 is by far the better choice over the entire ND family. This is assuming you’re finding a decent condition s2000 where the paint and interior still look somewhat fresh. If it’s a daily, and you’re sub 6 foot, I gotta go ND2/3. It’s so good at handling it’s not even funny; then you got some solid modern tech in there. If you plan on modding, then I’m not your guy lol
summed up my entire video here heck yeah 🙏🏼 modding isn’t my thing anymore either. money pit and always leaves you wanting more. that’s just my experience 💀
Great points. I daily my RF.
S2000 will be too valuable daily soon, ND does not have that problem ha ha.
RF definitely seems like best of all worlds haha. value, drop top, comfort 👌🏼
I think the most sense is having s2k for track days and ND for daily.
I sold my nd2 to hopefully get an ap2. I have test drove both and the ND is a better daily but the S2K is a more fun at the limit and looks timeless. If you have a minty ap2 i wouldnt bother with a ND unless the ap2 gave out
yeah if you have the daily already and want some visceral future classic, can’t go wrong with these 💪🏼
S2k eat so much more gas compared to the ND, but you have to choose what fits your daily routines so it'll vary depending on your needs
this over a Miata any day
heck yeah. a new miata though without any reliability concerns also sounds nice but these things will always be classic
I recently got an ND3, and while I still have my old car, I'm trying to treat the ND as my only car, to see if I should sell my old xB. There's no way I could do an S2000 like that, so I totally agree with you on that point. S2000 is definitely more sporty out of the box, but I think an ND has more potential (more costly though I'm sure) just being newer and so popular; there's SO many parts for them.
I'd love to see an ND with a fat rotary in it though, now THAT would be fun
Yeah s2000 is pretty miserable. The first 10min you’re like this isn’t so bad.. then 2min afterwards I’m wanting something comfortable. really curious what it’s like living like an ND
Hey, you know supercharged kit sounds good, too, if you want to be more on the serious side of tracking it. It's a journey, so no rush, take it slow, and enjoy every moment of your ND
Maybe I missed this but 3rd car? What’s the purpose of your 2nd car then? 1st car is the daily, 2nd should be weekend car.
2nd car does the date nights/cruiser 🤷🏻♂️
If i got the money right now. S2k for me in the tracks all day. ND3 for me does everything else gets around 40ish mpg hwy, very comfortable for long drive, and easier to daily it knowing it has warranties too.
honestly would be one of the most ideal setups 💪🏼
@@onsite_nate 💯
I have a 94 180sx w the turbo 4. 30 year old car. The s2k seems like such an upgrade at times.
nothing beats an old school charm 👌🏼 s2k interior might actually feel like home but claustrophobic haha
I would NEVER choose a Miata over this. Drove one, and hated it. I wish I understood the hype of the Miata’s. I’m glad that car is popular for the community though.
But the S2K, I’ve literally seen it on roads in Japan going through mountains is nice to see. Plenty of power and the look is timeless too.
s2000s are definitely timeless and if I saw one in the mountains of Japan I would fall in love even more wth
You probably drove the slow old miata ones, lol. These modern ones are a different breed. Try it. You don't want to miss out later, haha
Besides the fact i hate the stock suspension geometry on S2000s (old MR2 owner thing i learned about evils of high rear roll centers, but lots of ways to work with or around it), i consider them more ideal then Miatas as a drivers car for most part, as a owner experience. My issue with having done a similar thing but on cheap end of the market with a AW11 many many years ago is having something special is nice, but then you also feel kinda different about it, its a hindrance in a way, although so would be a brand new car. That was easily my least favorite thing about owning and tracking a AW11, was it was too damn rare, i liked what it was but where do i find another? The S2000 is like that but more due to $ value, but in a good way that changes vs a ND Miata.
thanks for the feedback 🙏🏼 this is probably one of the biggest things keeping me from enjoying the car, other than things breaking, is it’s rarity. Obviously I don’t track, but even just driving in day-day traffic if it gets wrecked it’ll be a bit more difficult to replace. ND seems perfect for care free enjoyment
I remember playing Forza 05' telling myself when I was 7 "I want this car". Gotta make that dream come true. I'm single with no kids, at 24 the time is now.
nice man, patience and consistency is all it takes. can’t wait for you to have yours 💪🏼
@@onsite_nate thanks bro, finding a good one at a reasonable price is hard. Then I have to save up as well so patience is definitely key.
Exactly what I said to myself 3 years ago when I was 23, the time is now. Just now paid it off after 3 years of ownership. Good luck!
@@fabledrebel3961 that's really good fam, I'm proud of you!
Get both, you won’t regret either one
my wallet will be in regret 💔
Vtec is the way
hell yeah 💪🏼
Miata is for amateurs
I don’t 🙂
none here 💪🏼
Definitely didn’t make a mistake because I can tell how much passion the s2000 brings out of you…yea it might be a bit more of a headache to own but at the end of the day, it’s what means the most to you
Much love from ND owner 🫂 (I wish I had an AP1 🥲)
thank you sir 🙏🏼 I can totally see why people sell it only to end up wishing they still had one
@@onsite_nate use that as a sign to never sell this car brotha !