Overview & Reviews

The Honda S2000 was a two-seat, rear-wheel-drive roadster produced from 2000-'09. It featured a high-performance, high-winding inline four-cylinder engine along with a superbly balanced chassis. The S2000 was the first sports car to roll out of a Honda factory since the tiny S500, S600 and S800 roadsters of the 1960s, and it ended up having one of the longest production runs of any modern car.

With minimalist cockpit comforts and a racetrack-ready suspension, the Honda S2000 was a pure sports car. More powerful than the less expensive Miata, yet not as pricey or luxurious as a Z4 or SLK, the S2000 occupied a niche within a niche. Quick and communicative steering, an ideal 49/51 weight distribution and an engine that loved to rev coupled with a slick six-speed gearbox promised a lot of fun for the serious driving enthusiast. Today, the S2000's reputation for reliability and reasonable resale values makes it a superb pre-owned choice.

Most Recent Honda S2000

There were two versions of the Honda S2000 roadster for its farewell 2009 model year, the standard version and the racetrack-oriented CR (for Club Racer). Notable hardware on both included a feisty 2.2-liter inline-4 with an 8,200-rpm redline coupled to a short-throw six-speed manual gearbox. Without resorting to forced induction (turbo- or supercharging), this jewel of an engine utilized Honda's variable valve timing and lift system (VTEC) to squeeze 237 horsepower out of just 2.2 liters. No automatic transmission was available in any S2000.

Standard features on later iterations of the S2000 included a power-operated top with a glass rear window (with defroster), lightweight 17-inch wheels, leather seats, keyless entry, air-conditioning, an eight-speaker CD audio system, stability control and HID headlights. A lightweight (44 pounds) aluminum hardtop was optional on the standard car. The special CR version deleted the power top, A/C and stereo to reduce weight and added a removable hardtop, track-oriented suspension settings, a beefed-up structure for higher rigidity and more aerodynamic bodywork.

Debuting in 2000, the Honda S2000 started life with a 2.0-liter inline-4 that redlined at 9,000 rpm. With 240 hp, it put out more horsepower per liter than any other naturally aspirated engine on the planet. Although it provided a thrilling ride when driven aggressively, our editors did find some faults. Among the more notable ones were a lack of low-end torque that made the S2000 a bit flat-footed around town, a sometimes persnickety shifter, a weak audio system and a plastic rear window.

Honda gradually made upgrades to the S2000. For 2002 the company amped up the radio, added a glass rear window with a defogger and smoothed out the short-throw shifter. Some styling changes took place as well, including chrome taillight rings, a new shift knob and a few pieces of well-placed silver trim in the cockpit. A lightweight aluminum hardtop became optional, a blessing (albeit a pricey one) for those in colder climes.

Several key improvements came about in 2004 that made the Honda S2000 a more viable choice as a daily driver. This is when the 2.2-liter engine debuted. Honda also added shorter gearing for the six-speed transmission's lower four gears, thus giving the S2000 more snap at lower engine speeds. Larger 17-inch tires (versus the previous 16s) were fitted, as were minor suspension tweaks designed to make the ultra-reactive S2000 more forgiving of less-than-expert drivers. 2008 was another notable year, as it saw the introduction of the CR version as well as a revised gauge cluster and claimed improvements in high-speed stability.

Any version of the Honda S2000 should speak loudly to the driving enthusiast. With its finely balanced chassis, quick and communicative steering, eager-to-rev engine and snick-snick shifter, the S2000 makes short work of twisty roads. The initial 2.0-liter engine is more thrilling for those who don't mind taking their engines to redline on a regular basis, but the trade-off is an edgy, tail-happy nature that Honda softened with the 2004 refresh. Even with all this performance potential, the S2000 retains strong Honda attributes such as sound ergonomics and comfortable, supportive seats with enough adjustments to accommodate short and tall pilots alike.

User Reviews:

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  Honda S2000 - 2004 review - 2005 Honda S2000
  By CNAP - August 24 - 10:00 am

  This car is one of the most nimble and tightly wound sports cars I have ever driven. The 2004 model has plenty of low end torque (compared to the 2003)- which I drove but did not buy. The handling is supurb and the short throw shifter is the best in the business. The only driving complaint is that when the top is up you have a blind spot to your left rear if you look back.

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  more than satisfied - 2003 Honda S2000
  By doob - August 20 - 2:00 am

  While this car is essentially a one trick pony, I really like this car. Glad I kept my 90 CRX Si (I love this car) it a workhorse.

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  4 years of Ownership....Nice to own - 2004 Honda S2000
  By GeoPoko - August 19 - 10:41 pm

  Have lived with my S2000 for 4 years and almost 28k miles. Sporty car, perfect transmission, nice fit and finish and Honda reliability (zero problems). This is a car for people that want a sports car. Not a sporty car. Not luxury sports car. The car is exactly what Honda intended and it is perfect at that job. Only regrets are living "up north" and having to park it 3 months a year. The summers are great, top down almost every drive home for 5 months.

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  A future classic - 2007 Honda S2000
  By JimG - August 18 - 9:32 pm

  I am the proud owner of a 2007 Silverstone/Black S2000. What a gorgeous car. Aging exterior design? The lines are simple, fluid, aggressive and classic. Beautiful today. Beautiful 20 years from now. Dated interior? Your speed in big red numbers so you cant miss it. A bar tachometer shaped like the horsepower curve. AC and stereo controls at your fingertips. Comfy leather seats hold you tight in turns. The top goes up and down in a snap. Engine performance? How many cars put out more than 100 hp per liter, even in 2008? Drive it like a Miata, and youll get Miata-like performance/mpg. Punch it and you have a rocket. A 6-speed four-wheeled sport bike, pure and simple.

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  What took me so long? - 2007 Honda S2000
  By Joenat56 - August 6 - 2:33 pm

  I finally got my 2007 S2000 last Tuesday, July 29. I had been test driving different S2000s at dealers, reading road tests and reviews, and researching them on the internet for about 6 months. I have been an auto enthusiast most of my life and have owned many performance cars and two corvettes. I will have to say that the Honda S2000 is the most fun car to drive that I have ever owned. Its not the fastest or the most powerful or the most comfortable but it does so many things so well. I cant drive this car without smiling. By the way Im 66 years old. My son told me the S2000 wasnt practical. I replied that I was too old to be practical.

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  Best bang for the buck on the market - 2006 Honda S2000
  By eric_the_jew - July 26 - 3:31 pm

  I must say that I am a die hard sport bike guy, and was skeptical that a car would be able to give me the thrill of 15,000 rpm. However, Hondas S2000 fits this bill surprisingly well. It is undoubtedly the closest thing to a motorcycle with four wheels. I considered [briefly] Mazdas Miata (anemic power), Porsches Boxter S (ridiculous price) and the Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky (no 6 speed tranny), and decided the "S" was the car for me. With its short wheelbase, the car feels a little twitchy at the limit, almost as if it will break into uncontrolled oversteer. However, the Automatic Stability Control will bail you out should you get in over your head.

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  Quality drivers car, bang for the buck! - 2007 Honda S2000
  By DJ - July 25 - 3:27 pm

  Have only owned the roadster for a week but have researched for years being an enthusiast of this gem. Why pay $20- $30,000 more for a name like Porsche or Bimmer when you only get the cache and moreover, major league repair costs. Driving behavior was better than expected with the point and squirt steering which is as predictable as you will find. Power is as well better than expected. The torque at lower RPM in V 2.2 was desperately needed and now that has been addressed. 8 model years and still going strong. Not many cars are produced this long and still sell like hot cakes. CR version would likely be my next car.

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  Love this little car! - 2004 Honda S2000
  By MarcieLovesJohn - July 23 - 10:00 am

  This has to be the best roadster out there for the money. I have a blast everytime I take it out, although I would not recommend it as your only vehicle. It does not handle well in inclement weather.

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  Great Car but a word of warning - 2007 Honda S2000
  By Airmaster - July 20 - 12:07 pm

  Have had the car for nearly a year now, and the driving experience has been great. BUT now for the warning. The S2000s seats (and parts, for that matter) are hot parts with young kids souping up their little cars. My car was completely stripped seats, steering wheel, radio, airbags, and carpet, right in front of my own house. If you are to purchase this car, make sure you have a garage or a very good aftermarket alarm. If not, stay clear of the car. I now have an alarm, but I still have that fear of someone stripping it again.

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  My favorite car ever - 2001 Honda S2000
  By Evan - July 14 - 10:44 pm

  The S2k is amazing with its 240 bhp engine that screams from 6-9K rpm and nimble responsive chassis. Its also roomy and comfortable on the inside. Undoubtedly a car that needs a skilled driver to really shine! It is at most in its place on a twisty mountain side.