Is there anybody here who has owned/driven both and can talk about what the main advantages of 2.0/2.5 version would be? Anything you wouldn't miss in the newer version/anything that is really annoying about the 2008 version?
Is there anybody here who has owned/driven both and can talk about what the main advantages of
2.0/2.5 version would be? Anything you wouldn't miss in the newer version/anything that is really annoying about the 2008 version?
I've owned a 1.5 (34K miles), spent a good amount of time when I was developing the tattler in a 2.0 sport and now I have a 2.5 sport(10k miles)
1.5
More fun to drive than the 2.x non-sport. The 1.5 seems to give full torque in both standard and performance modes. IMHO, the 1.5 seems like it gives max torque right at the start, the 2.x seems to soft start and then give full torque after the car is moving. I switched from the cast gray wheels to the forged silver after I bent a rim. Noticeable difference in the feel of the car. Traction control recovers quickly. TPMS always works.
2.x
VDS moved to the center. It's cool for the passenger, but it's a pain when you need to change the charge mode from outside the car. Key remote changed from a long press to two short presses to open trunk. AC seems to be a bit better than 1.5. One nice thing is that the car remembers the heater setting. (the 1.5 turns it off every time the car is off). More padding added to quiet the cabin. TMPS is buggy.
2.5
even quieter. Seats have more padding and cause the driver to sit about 1-2" higher. It was a problem for me so I
switched out the seats from my 1.5
Overall, I switched from the 1.5 because the 2.0 was so much quieter. Every time I would borrow Richard's 2.0 sport, I would think "It's so much quieter than my 1.5" The coolant pump in a 1.5 is much louder. Once I got the 2.5 sport, I was a little disappointed in the performance because (IMHO) the 1.5 seemed to have more torque in standard mode than the 2.5 sport in standard. I solved this by leaving the car in performance mode whenever I can. (from the vds screen, a 1.5 will peak at 281 in standard, whereas the 2.x will only hit 265 ftlbs). The fit and finish on the 2.x is better.
Based on what I know now. If I was buying a used roadster, I would buy a 1.5 and use the cash I saved to send the car to Ed & Al for 1) more sound proofing, 2) double din radio. and possibly 3) suspension upgrade. 4) replace cast gray wheels if needed.
If you don't want a 1.5. The I would get a 2.x sport. The 2.x non-sport is not that much cheaper, and the sport ride is significantly better
YMMV