I'm comparing it to used cars because it's a used car nowadays and because people don't drive exclusively new cars (which sets their expectation for acceleration) and because old cars are often so cheap you can't even get a Sandero for the price. I don't know how much an S2K costs now used but last I checked non molested ones were essentially collector items. They were in the nice Porsche Boxster territory. That was corona midlife crysis market though.
I looked up the price of the S2k new, apparently MSRP was ~32k$ for the AP1, inflation adjusted ~55k$. It's quite a bit. You can get a B58 Supra, M240 (again B58) or like an S3/TypeR. The S3 doesn't have a manual but the others do.
The Supra is probably the closest because RWD and it's an available in manual, 4s car with a B58 if eventually potentially you want to make stupid power in the future. Much heavier than the S2K but only the Miata and exotics exist in the lightweight convertible/coupe space nowadays. You do get an IMO lexusesque interior though.
Last minute thoughts:
Maybe a Caterham but then you're getting into stupid impractical territory.
Oh, actually the BRZ/GR86/etc is pretty interesting. It's not as quick and the engine is more boring (revs) but it's ~30k$ new and the same weight and power in coupe format. So a slightly more daily version for <60% of the price.
I looked up the price of the S2k new, apparently MSRP was ~32k$ for the AP1, inflation adjusted ~55k$. It's quite a bit. You can get a B58 Supra, M240 (again B58) or like an S3/TypeR. The S3 doesn't have a manual but the others do.
The Supra is probably the closest because RWD and it's an available in manual, 4s car with a B58 if eventually potentially you want to make stupid power in the future. Much heavier than the S2K but only the Miata and exotics exist in the lightweight convertible/coupe space nowadays. You do get an IMO lexusesque interior though.
Last minute thoughts:
Maybe a Caterham but then you're getting into stupid impractical territory.
Oh, actually the BRZ/GR86/etc is pretty interesting. It's not as quick and the engine is more boring (revs) but it's ~30k$ new and the same weight and power in coupe format. So a slightly more daily version for <60% of the price.