Topic: Modern Classics: Honda S2000, 2000-2009

[Filip]

With the recent dollar almost at parity, I am going down south to pick this thing up south of the border. 07-08's can be had with less than 20-30 k for around 20k. This car has never gotten its due as one of the purest sports cars ever produced that does not break your bank off the lot or in terms of maintenece. I also fear we will never see its like ever again. I have an old Integra which I use as a beater, nothing ever went wrong with that car. From everything I know from the people who own them and from what I have read, this car is from a generation of japanese `tank' cars that we will most likely never see again.

I can't wait to get mine!

[rrocket]

I will own a turbo S2000 someday.

Buy wing's supercharged one.

Too slow....

[Car Enthu.]

The S2000 is a fantastic, fun car. Once you accept its dual personality, you get what it's all about. When just putting around town under 5K rpm it has decent response but it's nothing special. That makes it quite relaxing and easy to 'go with the flow'.

Then going over 6K rpm into the VTEC zone you enter another world - the realm of the race car. The S2000 snarls, then screams to 9000 if you have the balls to go to redline. It's a beautiful thing. 85% of the time I short shift it because there no reason to go mental. The other 15% is pure gorgeous roadgoing fury.

Greatest car I have ever owned, and my first car was a '73 Datsun 240Z. An M3 or Boxster might be as much fun but to get a car that is MORE fun than an S2000 I'm sure you'd have to spend over $100K.

I concur, I had no intention of buying a S2000 but I needed to check out this review because it's such a great car. I've traded cars with a good friend of mine that owned a modified S2000 on numerous occasion and I've had the opportunity to drive a ton of other awesome cars like the M3s (previous gen and current), Boxsters, Miatas, RX7/8, Supras, etc.. Oh and a couple of supercars too but this one is unique.

It's surprising not only because Honda decided to make this car for 10 years and with the cancellation of the NSX, but rather, this car is targeted towards a really small niche, people that loves to drive and ideally, with only one person. They could have easily done away with the passenger seat cause that only adds more weight. Someone at high up at Honda must love cars too.

The Z4/M? seriously? That thing wasn't very good, till the most recent generation.

[TopGun]

.....From everything I know from the people who own them and from what I have read, this car is from a generation of japanese `tank' cars that we will most likely never see again.
.....

 

Honda rocked back then...kinda lost their way now...

[kirm]

Sorry folks, I just don't see what all the hubbub is about.

I remember being in the showroom and seeing one on their first production year. It was a good looking car but I remember checking out the price and going OUCH! But then I thought; well I'm sure it's got a 350 HP V6 or turbo/blown 4. No way Jose. Honda was deathly afraid of turbo-charging back then...as they are now. They also were a bit confused about torque and it's importance in a daily driver. I noticed that this started to change 3 years later, or so, when they finally added some torque to the motor (longer connecting rods yielding .2 liters more) with a corresponding drop in Max RPM. I guess they do know how to listen...sometimes. Anyway, there were a lot of higher horsepower cars available back then for 50 grand. Handling; I'll give you that...they were supposed to handle very well. I'm sure that some of its competition handled as well though and had more umph for the money.

Fast forward to 2006 and I buy a car that's very much philosophically like the S2000, the RSX Type S. I quickly found out how dumb a move that was on my part as nobody drives around the streets at 7-8000 RPM and that seems to be the only place it made any power. Of course to compensate for torque the engineers fitted the car with a 4.75:1 final drive. INSANE! But you know with that kind of pull they had to put on an LSD right. NOPE! All I can say is that I hope they fitted an LSD to the S2000.

In any case and IMO, there were better cars for the money back then and there are today. The S2000 is a resounding meh from my viewpoint.

[wing]

You do know the S2000 is RWD right?  A resounding Meh from someone that has never driven one?  Haha

Come on out to the track I'll give you a ride, you're meh will turn into a WHOA! 

[CanuckS2K]

Sorry folks, I just don't see what all the hubbub is about.

I remember being in the showroom and seeing one on their first production year. It was a good looking car but I remember checking out the price and going OUCH! But then I thought; well I'm sure it's got a 350 HP V6 or turbo/blown 4. No way Jose. Honda was deathly afraid of turbo-charging back then...as they are now. They also were a bit confused about torque and it's importance in a daily driver. I noticed that this started to change 3 years later, or so, when they finally added some torque to the motor (longer connecting rods yielding .2 liters more) with a corresponding drop in Max RPM. I guess they do know how to listen...sometimes. Anyway, there were a lot of higher horsepower cars available back then for 50 grand. Handling; I'll give you that...they were supposed to handle very well. I'm sure that some of its competition handled as well though and had more umph for the money.

Fast forward to 2006 and I buy a car that's very much philosophically like the S2000, the RSX Type S. I quickly found out how dumb a move that was on my part as nobody drives around the streets at 7-8000 RPM and that seems to be the only place it made any power. Of course to compensate for torque the engineers fitted the car with a 4.75:1 final drive. INSANE! But you know with that kind of pull they had to put on an LSD right. NOPE! All I can say is that I hope they fitted an LSD to the S2000.

In any case and IMO, there were better cars for the money back then and there are today. The S2000 is a resounding meh from my viewpoint.

Sounds to me that you have NEVER once even driven an S2000. 

[Filip]

.....From everything I know from the people who own them and from what I have read, this car is from a generation of japanese `tank' cars that we will most likely never see again.
.....

 

Honda rocked back then...kinda lost their way now...

Agree, Honda used to be about as bulletproof as you can get in terms of decent performance and simplicity of design.  Just look at the latest civic incarnation - a lot of problems not found in the previous cars. The reason I am responding is not to agree for the sake of agreeing, but to make a fundemental distinction of what kind of a car we are talking about.
'Sports car/performance' seldom gets put in the same sentence as `tank/bulletproof' - especially in a tightly sprung package capturing so much of the purist allure as the S2K does. It is not a car for everyone to be sure.... but it is car that can put a smile on your face unlike few at least once a day - give or take your actual route to from work For some people that's more than enough ...

[Erik]

Again, people confusing a great driving experience with numbers and statistics.

This was not meant just to be a daily driver. This was a car designed to make you work a little for your fun. But it sure as heck rewarded that effort!

Probably not the car I would choose, but I respect anyone who wants loves them. A true drivers car!

[c2100]

Pick it over a Miata/Z3/Z4.

My stock 20 year old Miata was quicker than a 2008 S2000 last year go to Youtube  and search for;

Pacific Jaguar Enthusiasts Group Jaguars on Song and All Out, Miata surprise

[Triple Bob]

Pick it over a Miata/Z3/Z4.

My stock 20 year old Miata was quicker than a 2008 S2000 last year go to Youtube  and search for;

Pacific Jaguar Enthusiasts Group Jaguars I don't give a flying

OK 

[wing]

wow that is the most boring auto-x course I have ever seen.

[rrocket]

Hey Wing....you see they are doing a S2000 big motor build up in Dsport?  IIRC they are using a Cosworth block, and are shooting for  BIG HP without boost....

[wing]

Not my style if I wanted a big engined car I'd just get a vette.... some day.

[blur911]

Out of 26 cars signed up for our Spring Autoslalom Test'n'tune, 3 of them were S2000's.

I believe that qualifies them as enthusiast cars.

[rrocket]

Not my style if I wanted a big engined car I'd just get a vette.... some day.

I'd hardly call a 2.3-2.6L (I forget final engine size) 4 cylinder engine "big" LOL....

[Julie]

Man, I want one.....   

[blur911]

http://limestonestreetscene.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=7411

[Triple Bob]

   A great example of why you shouldn't shoot people with a wide angle lens!

[rrocket]

Is that top one Suzuka Blue?  Don't see too many of those...