February, 2004
OK SEEMS TO BE WORKING HERE IT IS!
Hey guys,
Glad to see the site is thriving!
Ive been having a little fun of my own in the states this past week. My uncle who lives in California and is car crazy like myself just bought a new toy, and invited me over to come check it out!
A new silver 2003 Honda S2000 sits besides an immaculately kept E39 BMW 540i 6M. Two opposite ends of the performance car spectrum, spanning every boy's dreams in between.
The 540i, with the 6-speed manual transmission comes with the sport package which includes //M power 18" forged alloys, //M tuned suspension, and three spoke steering wheel amongst a host of other tweaks.
A sedan designed to satisfy every need for performance without sacrificing an inch of luxury. The M5 ofcourse being on the other side of that fine line, sacrificing small luxuries for that extra inch in performance!
The Honda on the other hand is built for thrills. They pretend the word `luxury' does not exist in the Japanese language, but to make up for that missing word they seem to have a hundred synonyms for the word INSANE, one of which is S2000!
9000 RPM, imagine that. The cams switch at 6000rpm, giving the engine a new sound, and a definite note of urgency. The powerband hits you like you just double-downshifted, and the digital tach lights up like its diwali. The 2L VTEC screams and heads turn, but not for long, because everything and everyone around you just got left far far behind.
The 540 as i said earlier is spectacular, but from a whole different world. Hit the throttle in any gear and the massive torque of the motor catapults you as you sit peacefully in the leather seats listening to music on the 8.1 speaker audio system. The torque makes acceleration in 6th gear as easy as flexing the gastrocnemius in your right foot. No use of the triceps or tensor fascia latae is required.
The S2000 in comparison is a full body workout. Although the power seems to kick you in the ### past 6000rpm, at lower revs it seems to be a landmine victim. However, waving the short throw shifter around like it was a magic wand can indeed produce some magical performance. The gearing is designed so that when you upshift at redline ur engine revs drop but still keep you within the high-rev cam range. Some skillful wrist movements on the short throw shifter can indeed keep the power right where it belongs, with its foot up your ###.
The S2000 gearbox.....aah..the s2000 gearbox...i believe several books have been written in praise of this cogged wonder. I think it has its own fan club as well. Your arm sits horizontal on the armrest behind the lever. The throws are so short that your arm doesnt move, only your wrist does. The lever stands all of four inches tall grasped in the palm of your hand. Each slot seems to await your descision, and at the slightest hint of approach it ingurgitates the lever without hesitation. I have heard rumours about Honda outsorcing the s2000 gearbox, and upon doing a little investigation i found it is true. At the bottom of the gearbox is a label that says "made in heaven". (hahaha...how corny of me)
The mighty 4.4L 540i is silk smooth as well. The V8 churns smoothly all the way till its easily achived ~5,750rpm redline. Not a hint of stress or overwork. Just a growl from the domesticated V8 beast that has been captured under the hood, hinting how it is at heart the same wild animal that runs free in the M5. The sound however doesnt peirce the cabin, but instead surrounds it like a sign of what lurks beneath the hood. Deliscious.
This car is aldready quite similar to the M5, and the BMW dealer told us that they probably didn't make the redline higher, although the engine is easily capable, because then it would "steal the M5's thunder".
The handling of both the cars is spectacular. The 540 having the ultimate roadholding and comfort. No its not a compromise between road holding and comfort. It is the best road holding and the best comfort, BMW must know something nobody else does.
Hammering down a curved freeway onramp at 140km/h, and not a hint of digression. As my uncle said, not only is the handling of the BMW amazing, but the poise and elegance it maintains while doing it is what is truly amazing.
The S2000, though in comparison a wildchild, has spectacular handling as well. High ratio electronic power steering and a small sporty steering wheel tease you at every corner. With one hand outstretched it holds the gift of excitation, and in the other a gun behind its back. Imagine cornering on the limit, tires squealing with excitement, and then suddenly 6000rpm comes up on the tach. BAM. Cams switch and power feels like it increases ten-fold. In short, you surpass the cornering limit ten-fold. Dangerous. This is what the S2000 is about. Thrills. And boy did we get a lot of them.
Needless to say both cars can stop on a dime. Im suprised neither of them have wipers on the inside of the windshield.....for your lunch.
Well this is just the tip of the iceberg of my ~600kms of driving these cars over a period of 4 days. As you know words cannot really define an automobile, but i have given it my best shot (..and this is me keeping it SHORT!).
And to help the words out here are a few videos; Sorry the sound is not too good as these were taken on my digicam. Ive tried to make them as small as possible, some have 2 resolutions to choose from dependsing on your connection. You WILL need Divx.
I also spent some quality time with an Audi RS6, Carrera GT2, Carrera GT3, M5 and a BMW Z8 alpina with 20" rims! Amazing.
And... another highlight of my trip; I got to drive an E46 M3 convertible for 20mins!!! pics, text n video on that sometime later.
I'd be more than happy to discuss these cars further if anyone wishes to!
cheers,
Rehaan.