.:R32 vs. S2000

[C4 A6]

Sometimes I wish polls were defaulted to show who voted for what

[deagle]

summer only ?

convertible

but then i can only goto grocery store and not buy any, as my trunk won't fit anything lol

[Shmi]

Sometimes I wish polls were defaulted to show who voted for what

Same. But honestly threads like this it's not hard to guess..

Really wish I was 2 inches shorter so I could fit in an S2k though... I test drove one 5-6 years ago and my knees were jammed under the steering wheel. Made it difficult to shift gears and steer, and the sales guy looked at me like but oh man it was fun to drive.. le sigh.

[C4 A6]

Same. But honestly threads like this it's not hard to guess.

Dubbers for the Golf.
TCLers for the S2000.

[gizmopop]

Oh ///Man, I'///M red-green colorblind so I doubt I could even pick out the right shade of colors.

///M3

[SebTheDJ]

S2k hands down

Also apples bananas

[rj_shiver]

S2000 all day everyday

[macosxuser]

The S2000 is a little too small for me. It is a fun car, but the Golf is a better size for daily, even in the summer. I'd rock it year round, but then again... Honestly, the TT 225TQ is a better compare to the S2000...

[zeewhiz]

summer only ?

convertible

but then i can only goto grocery store and not buy any, as my trunk won't fit anything lol

FALSE.

[Corrado1900T]

As soon as daily driver comes in to the eqaution it can only be the R32. I test drove an S2000 and in heavy traffic it was by far the least fun to drive car that I have ever driven. Constantly rowwing the gears and getting smoked by milk trucks off the line. On the back roads or at a track day event the car would be a blast but due to the DD in the OP's statement I have to side with the R. Plus I've always wanted the R.

[tragik]

Scumbag OP:

Offers R32
Can only be driven in the summer.

oh and thanks for the miata pic. plenty of room for your groceries AND your purse.

[jayownz]

I've had both a 2002 S2000 and a OEM+ 2004 GTI 1.8t... and although not an R32, the usage and reliability still applies...

Given the budget I voted for the S2000, simply because I think you'd get a more reliable, more fun to drive car based on the prices of those two cars here (Northern California). Most R32's in that price range, in this area, are high mileage... something that I would not want in any VW.

That said, if we are talking hypotheticals here, and mileage and year are the same, I would pick the R32. I'm 6'2", 175lbs, and even with modified seat rails and a hard top, I never fit well in the S2000. It drives like a go-kart, like it was designed to be... but it also rides like a go-kart, and that got old, especially during the morning commute. Some people will tell you that they can get a trunk full of small crap in a small car and that's supposed to be impressive... well try getting anything larger than a 12 pack of beer in it and then come talk to me. Yes, you can go to the store with it, but you have to be crafty with everything you buy... every... time... Also, like someone else already said, the powerplant leaves much to be desired when not driving the wheels off of it. One time, I distinctly remember thinking about how many shifts it took for me to accelerate to 45 mph while next to an Accord that seemed to effortlessly float to the same speed. If you're not pushing it to the v-tech line, it's essentially a dx civic. The S2000 makes an amazing car as a second vehicle, and if that was an option for me, mine would still be in the garage.

The R32 is pretty much the best of all worlds. It's relatively quick, handles decently, can move a small apartment with one, and it has a rare quality that is always redeeming. It doesn't do any one thing really well, but it's a good all around GT car for those of us with lives outside of "track days". Not that it would be my first choice of car in this contest, but given your choices, this is how I see it.

[zeewhiz]

oh and thanks for the miata pic. plenty of room for your groceries AND your purse.

I know right? It's FABULOUSSSsss!

[mellbergVWfan]

FALSE.

S2000 =/= Miata

[Rain0ne]

At 6'6" I don't fit in a s2000. R all the way

[jayownz]

FALSE.

Congratulations, you have a trunk worth of groceries not in bags. So OP, if you like having none of your groceries in a bag, this is what you can expect.

[Chris Stack]

Do I have to show you guys again? If I didn't have a 6 week old daughter I'd still be dailying it.

[DannyLo]

I'm not Ayrton Senna, so i'm not going for any lap records. Yeah the R32 is no where near as nimble but it doesn't mean it's any less fun. For smiles per gallon I'd take the R32 every day. The noise and torque curve is enough to win me over. For a daily, that occasionally sees a track it wins in my book.

Now put a 3.2 VR, or hell a 3.6VR since externally the block is the same, in an S2000 and then it's interesting

3.2/3.6 liter engine, that's only the length of an i4 and sits completely behind the front suspension in a RWD chassis? Yea, count me in!

[freedomgli]

S2k drives awesome but if you're tracking it then you need to factor in the hassle of a real roll bar and meeting the broomstick test. If you're long in the torso you might not be able to pass the broomstick test in a S2000 without making some mods, perhaps even more so than just racing bucket seats bolted straight to the floor.

[mert mert]

Congratulations, you have a trunk worth of groceries not in bags. So OP, if you like having none of your groceries in a bag, this is what you can expect.

Guess what idiot that is a pic of a Miata trunk look above and you can see the S2000 truck can fit a set of golf clubs so i'm sure it could take grocerys with a bag as well

So of you on here are full out retards wow

[Fritz27]

I'm not Ayrton Senna, so i'm not going for any lap records. Yeah the R32 is no where near as nimble but it doesn't mean it's any less fun. For smiles per gallon I'd take the R32 every day. The noise and torque curve is enough to win me over. For a daily, that occasionally sees a track it wins in my book.

Now put a 3.2 VR, or hell a 3.6VR since externally the block is the same, in an S2000 and then it's interesting

3.2/3.6 liter engine, that's only the length of an i4 and sits completely behind the front suspension in a RWD chassis? Yea, count me in!

The thought of putting a heavy-ass VR6 in an S2000 makes me feel slightly nauseous.

[89VWdieselGolf]

So of you on here are full out retards wow

"So of you", check your spelling retard

I didn't think it was apple vs oranges but some good responses here. Thanks.

[jayownz]

Guess what idiot that is a pic of a Miata trunk look above and you can see the S2000 truck can fit a set of golf clubs so i'm sure it could take grocerys with a bag as well

So of you on here are full out retards wow

I... don't... even... Look friend, I know that was a picture of a Miata's trunk... that poster was implying that his small convertible (similar to an S2000) was a capable grocery hauler... I am contending that it is not. Having owned an S2000 and not partial to taking out my front seat to carry wood or my track day wheels, I don't consider this to be practical in the slightest bit. If this car was not intended to be a daily driver, then I wouldn't even mention cargo capacity or the other creature comforts that the S2000 lacks. The S2000 does have a larger trunk than the Miata, but it's still VERY limiting. If you go to Costco or the like on a regular basis, AND have a passenger... there are a lot of things you're not going to be able to get home. Sorry, but carrying my groceries in a handful at a time makes no sense to me.

Oh and maybe be a gentlemen and tone it down a bit... I know it's the internet, but come on...

[DannyLo]

The thought of putting a heavy-ass VR6 in an S2000 makes me feel slightly nauseous.

Heavy-ass VR6?

S2000 Engine weighs in at ~325lbs. It's documented that it's not a very light 4 pot by any means.

The VR in 3.2 form weighs in at ~375lbs. 50lbs is hardly something to write home about when 1 is an iron block and the other 1 aluminum. I'm sure the 3.6 isn't much different, considering like i said the blocks have identical footprints.

Mind you, with assorted accessories removed or added when modding a factory s2000, or swapping in a VR6 and running standalone; I'm willing to bet the weight balance will remain unscathed. Or even if it changes, it wouldn't be anything that couldn't be remedied with simple tuning of the suspension.

Not only that, but the VR is probably shorter than the 4pot as well, so the weight balance would be further off the front wheels.

It's the guys who are swapping in 2JZs that you should be getting sick about. The motor is very long for the chassis.

The idea of a 3.6 that sounds awesome making 300hp/300tq in a small RWD platform is definitely awesome in my head. I'm sorry you think otherwise

[Chris Stack]

I... don't... even... Look friend, I know that was a picture of a Miata's trunk... that poster was implying that his small convertible (similar to an S2000) was a capable grocery hauler... I am contending that it is not. Having owned an S2000 and not partial to taking out my front seat to carry wood or my track day wheels, I don't consider this to be practical in the slightest bit. If this car was not intended to be a daily driver, then I wouldn't even mention cargo capacity or the other creature comforts that the S2000 lacks. The S2000 does have a larger trunk than the Miata, but it's still VERY limiting. If you go to Costco or the like on a regular basis, AND have a passenger... there are a lot of things you're not going to be able to get home. Sorry, but carrying my groceries in a handful at a time makes no sense to me.

Oh and maybe be a gentlemen and tone it down a bit... I know it's the internet, but come on...

Ahh TCL, where "I can't buy a 900 pack of TP" is a good reason to not bug a sportscar.

[MFactor]

Dubbers for the Golf.
TCLers for the S2000.

Right...because I'm a dubber...

People who voted Golf are pointing out the fact that the OP wanted something for daily use. Below is more like how it's really happening

People considering his practical requirements for the Golf
TCLers and their anti VW sentiment for the S2000




Taking your seat out to just fit one tire does not make it practical. Again, I've owned an S2000 and an R32 and would take an S2000 any day for performance. But not for daily duty.

[speeddownzone]

s2k

[titleist1976]

When I read DD - that's usually a year round affair. This has got to be one of the dumber polls in tcl. "I want to dd a xyz auto only during the spring and summer, only on days where the temperature ranges between 70 - 74.5 degrees, etc. etc. etc."

[TheDarkEnergist]

What car would you pick as an all around daily driver/weekend toy/possible odd lapping day?

Summer driven only.

Um. What?

[pete@blackforest]

You live in Ontario; summers are short, winters are long (I'm from Detroit).
I say get the R32 and you could drive it year-round without issue if you wanted to.

[89VWdieselGolf]

When I read DD - that's usually a year round affair. This has got to be one of the dumber polls in tcl. "I want to dd a xyz auto only during the spring and summer, only on days where the temperature ranges between 70 - 74.5 degrees, etc. etc. etc."

Not at all... I said all around car... Something i can drive to work, but still have fun with. And it doesn't have to be an EVERYDAY daily driver (see sig) I have other cars to choose from too. I just don't want to drive it in Ontario winters and have it get rusted out from all the salt.

(Although the .:R would be extremly fun in the snow) Yes i wrote .:R again

[betes]

I had a similar choice last fall and I chose the R32. Mine is daily driven and it is also my winter car, so that influenced my decision. If I had a separate winter car, the S2000 would be more tempting.

[TheDarkEnergist]

Not at all... I said all around car... Something i can drive to work, but still have fun with. And it doesn't have to be an EVERYDAY daily driver (see sig) I have other cars to choose from too. I just don't want to drive it in Ontario winters and have it get rusted out from all the salt.

(Although the .:R would be extremly fun in the snow) Yes i wrote .:R again

I think you need to re-read your own post again.

[pete@blackforest]

... I just don't want to drive it in Ontario winters and have it get rusted out from all the salt. ...

Do you plan on picking up a southern car?
If not, the car you're buying has likely seen winters since birth.
To stop driving it for half+ of the year does no good.
Enjoy the car year round! Just my opinion anyway..

[vdubdave]

You've got $15,000 to spend.
What car would you pick as an all around daily driver/weekend toy/possible odd lapping day?

Daily? R32
Weekend? S2000
Track? S2000