I'm a month and about a 800 miles into my '05 S2 ownership [
original thread ].
I know I'm preaching to the converted on the good bits, and will probably get flak for criticizing "character" (I've seen what you've done to the journalists) , but here's the report from the States---
The experience of ownership:
The insane amount of attention continues on unabated. I don't seek attention by any stretch, but it finds me at every stoplight (and on the highway).
I've taken innumerable pictures of strangers in front of my car, obliged an elderly lady with a ride "to the next stoplight" (she leapt from her husband's SUV), given countless joy rides, and spent so many hours answering questions I've contemplated keeping copies of a FAQ in the car. All this in Washington DC, a city not known for car culture or automotive enthusiasts.
The driving experience:
Unlike
a n y t h i n g I've been in.
Acceleration simply bonkers, never for want of more power. I haven't been to the track or suitable backroad so it's unclear what it's like on the edge, but certainly no detectable understeer! Completely at home cruising on the highway top down (more on that later), loves smooth backroads, but less happy puttering around in dense traffic on DC's cratered surface streets (more on that later too).
Mechanically flawless, save a CEL from our fatally flawed US emissions equipment. I'm believe I could wire a resistor into the offending sensor's cables and provide a steady reading to the ECU (a well known trick on decatted cars).
Finally,
that sound! It's universally admired, and emphatically endorsed by children, the young at heart, petrol head, and most surprisingly the Harley crowd. I swoon with ever throttle blip, thumbs up abound.
As it could be:
I'll start a separate thread and link it
here .
In sum:
Inexplicable, intoxicating, and paradoxical pleasure to own in a way I think only the TalkMorgan crowd could understand.
All the best,
MR
