Should I buy a 4-cylinder?

[vipers]

I'm only 21 and I've owned 5 nice cars. I'm sick of buying them and selling them but in the past I just got bored. I love my G, but frankly it's terrible on gas, costs a ton to fill up, and the brake squeal is starting to get annoying. Plus it wasn't cheap to buy it, and insurance isn't cheap either.

However if I did decide to trade it in I would need to put some money into it...I need a new power window motor on my passenger side and my passenger side front fender is dented.

Before I had my G I had an S2000, and I would most likely be looking to buy another if I went with a 4-cylinder. It's rather small for everyday use but it's much better on gas even though it still takes premium. I'm looking in the $14,000-$16,000 range for one, being that I'm looking for something much cheaper than what I paid for my G, which is around $24,000.

Any thoughts? I know S2000's have no torque, but I owned one so keep in mind telling me how much you may or may not like them will not matter.

Thanks and I appreciate any advice.

Matt

[mIKE]

the s2k outperforms your g in every performance catagory.

the g rapes the s2k in daily driveability and comfort, not to mention room.

s2k costs MORE to insure than a G.

[RBull]

^not so sure about the acceleration part of your claim. I've had no problem handling one in a couple of runs.

[IVRY PRL]

Get a 4 banger for sure. If you can drive the S2K all year round wherever you are, then by all means.If not, get a nice 4 cyl beater, and an S2K for the nice summer days.

[illusion]

Originally Posted by RBull

^not so sure about the acceleration part of your claim. I've had no problem handling one in a couple of runs.

^^Yeah..an S2K isnt faster than a G35C. Heck, I can keep up with them in my stock AUTO sedan. Reason being with no torque and 6 gears, it takes a talented driver to get the most from that car. Most people arent talented.

Anyways, OP. The only way I like a 4 cyllinder is with a hair dryer. Other than that, if u have driven a 6 cylinder, especially a great one like the G's VQ...it'll be weak and suck. Gas prices be damned!!

[officerdbag]

buy a 3 cylinder.. Geo metro.

[illusion]

Originally Posted by ninous26

buy a 3 cylinder.. Geo metro.

Lol..wow..that reminds me my GF back in the day had a 4cylinder which got messed up somehow and was driving on ONLY 3 cylinders. Try going up a hill with 3 cylinders..lol..

[mIKE]

Originally Posted by illusion

^^Yeah..an S2K isnt faster than a G35C. Heck, I can keep up with them in my stock AUTO sedan. Reason being with no torque and 6 gears, it takes a talented driver to get the most from that car. Most people arent talented.

Anyways, OP. The only way I like a 4 cyllinder is with a hair dryer. Other than that, if u have driven a 6 cylinder, especially a great one like the G's VQ...it'll be weak and suck. Gas prices be damned!!

Originally Posted by RBull

^not so sure about the acceleration part of your claim. I've had no problem handling one in a couple of runs.

Torque =/= fast. HP = fast.

Just look up 1/4 mile trap times. That's a pretty good indication of how the car accelerates from a roll

On the other hand, S2k mpg < civic MPG

[Darkstar752]

If your looking for a good 4cyl, I would say go with an Acura TSX, probably my 2nd choice to the g.

[IVRY PRL]

Hmmm... I dunno, honestly, I was always under the impression that S2K's are slower in a straight because of the ones I've run into. I've never had problems putting some distance on one of them.

[illusion]

Originally Posted by IVRY PRL

Hmmm... I dunno, honestly, I was always under the impression that S2K's are slower in a straight because of the ones I've run into. I've never had problems putting some distance on one of them.

Agreed and it doesnt hurt they are MOSTLY driven (from my experience) from the old guys..like Car And Drivers Editors weekend car type of thing.

As far as HP..G's range from 275 ish to over 300..whats the S2K...240??

S2K interestly is over 2800 lbs, which isnt really light either...dunno

All the street races I've witnessed, took part in, OR MC'ed (ala F & the F)...the G has always won. The trap argument isnt useful either. Didnt the slowest G35 Sedan back in 03...trap 98/99 MPH?

S2k cant be more than 100-101?? And thats in a perfect lauching..killing the torqueless engine no less...

[S2020]

what about Elise. Fast, fun, gas friendly. Not cheap to keep though.

[mIKE]

Originally Posted by illusion

Agreed and it doesnt hurt they are MOSTLY driven (from my experience) from the old guys..like Car And Drivers Editors weekend car type of thing.

As far as HP..G's range from 275 ish to over 300..whats the S2K...240??

S2K interestly is over 2800 lbs, which isnt really light either...dunno

All the street races I've witnessed, took part in, OR MC'ed (ala F & the F)...the G has always won. The trap argument isnt useful either. Didnt the slowest G35 Sedan back in 03...trap 98/99 MPH?

S2k cant be more than 100-101?? And thats in a perfect lauching..killing the torqueless engine no less...

Why would a launch kill the engine? It's MADE to rev high.

Higher trap is a sign of superior acceleration from a roll. Why do you think STI/EVOs have quick quarter miles and 0-60, when their trap speed is so low, and lose to a G from a roll?

[S2020]

Mike, give it a rest. You won't convince them.
Let their ignorance be their bliss. Just enjoy the top down on the summer day and let the engine sing at 9000.

[bruddahmanmatt]

Originally Posted by illusion

Agreed and it doesnt hurt they are MOSTLY driven (from my experience) from the old guys..like Car And Drivers Editors weekend car type of thing.

Stereotype much? Come to the S2K meets down here in Hawaii. A friend of mine bought an AP2 from me. His SN is jdbinspired. Believe me when I say that just like G drivers, the S2K community is just as diverse.

Originally Posted by illusion

As far as HP..G's range from 275 ish to over 300..whats the S2K...240??

Congrats. You can read brochures.

Originally Posted by illusion

S2K interestly is over 2800 lbs, which isnt really light either...dunno

WAKE UP!! When was the last time you've seen a RWD 240hp regular production car with a sub 3000 lbs. curb weight in 2008? Cars these days are such pigs it's a miracle ANY regular production car manufacturer (i.e. not a specific specialty car manufacturer such as Lotus) still builds an affordable sports car with more than 200 horses that weighs less than 3000 lbs. 2800 lbs. not light? No. The G37 at 3700 lbs. isn't light.

Originally Posted by illusion

All the street races I've witnessed, took part in, OR MC'ed (ala F & the F)...the G has always won. The trap argument isnt useful either. Didnt the slowest G35 Sedan back in 03...trap 98/99 MPH?

He said that trap speeds tell a lot about a vehicle's performance from a roll. If a vehicle makes a good amount of power but can't put it down from a dig at the line, it'll have horrible e.t.s due to a lack of traction. However, if it has enough power, it'll still trap very high indicating that if it were given a rolling start (where off the line traction isn't an issue since you're already on the move), it would probably be capable of some very quick runs.

When a car has a low e.t. but a high trap speed, it means it either has (aside from a crappy driver behind the wheel who doesn't know how to launch) traction issues, lag issues or lacks low end grunt and isn't capable of getting off the line quick enough so that the high end hp can make up for the lack of bottom end pull by the end of the run.

Originally Posted by illusion

S2k cant be more than 100-101?? And thats in a perfect lauching..killing the torqueless engine no less...

I fail to see how an engine built for high rpm duty can be "killed" during a "perfect launch"? Repeated high rpm clutch drops can kill your clutch and certain driveline components, but leaving the line at 5k is no different than shifting at 5k. You're sitll winding the engine out to 5k.