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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  Just gets better - 2003 Honda S2000
  By smileinla - May 17 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle has exceeded my expectations. In so many ways it is a much better vehicle then I was expecting. It drives like a miata below 6,000 RPM and drives like a boxter above 6,000 RPM. Red line is at 9,000 RPM. I have owned over 25 vihicles and this is by far the most fun I have ever had driving a vehicle.

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  s2kblack - 2004 Honda S2000
  By will malone - May 15 - 12:59 pm

  This s200 handles like a race car . I love the acceleration in all the gears and how it handles in curves and take off on the straight aways

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  Wow! - 2005 Honda S2000
  By S22K - May 15 - 9:33 am

  I just bought my S2K used with 50,000 miles on it. I have owned a lot of cars in my time, I change out about every 2 years, but this one takes the cake. The interior shows little wear, the trans and clutch are great, no leaks etc. I had a 06 GTI and a 06 MX-5 Miata before I bought the S2K. This car is in a whole other league from those. You simply think turn and it does it. The communication between the road the car and you is incredible. I looked at Boxsters as well, but the interior wear and the expense of upkeep is ridiculous on those. How can you not love the 6,000 rpm wail of this engine. I thought i would be hard to get used to but, once you get the hang of it.

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  Stupid me ... I almost bought a Mustang! - 2000 Honda S2000
  By Happy S2000 Owner - May 9 - 8:08 pm

  This car is phenomenal . It is the most fun to drive car that I have ever driven. It does everything well, its fast, well balanced, corners like its on rails, blah, blah, blah and it is affordable and reliable. A combination which is unbeatable.

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  Top Down Performance - 2005 Honda S2000
  By Mike K. - May 4 - 6:15 pm

  Last year, I sold my motorcycle and wanted to fill the empty void in the garage with a rag top. I considered the Lotus Elise, Porsche Boxster and Honda S2000. The Elise certainly performed the best, but unfortunately suffers from kit car looks and limited dealer access. The Porsche, holds its own in terms of performance, but brings with it high maintenance costs. The S2000, combined stellar performance, excellent visuals and rock solid Honda reliability. The VTEC engine is a treat to listen to and continually begs you to drive it at the top of the rev band!

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  exelent - 2004 Honda S2000
  By lighteningsikes7 - May 4 - 2:00 am

  its the best car and i love it i drive it with the top off even in da rain,snow and fog

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  Endless Fun - 2006 Honda S2000
  By Old Goat - April 28 - 10:50 pm

  I have owned this vehicle for 2 years and there has not been a day when my daily driver hasnt caused a broad smile on my face. And then there is the grin caused by a winding mountain road. Priceless. The engine is a little miracle: sedate if you like, or an angry little monster if you punch it. Undoubtedly the best manual transmission around. The handling is fantastic. The pedals are perfectly placed (heel-toes all day long). The soft top is the fastest and simplest around. Totally reliable. Totally Honda. A perfect auto enthusiasts car. No good if you are looking for creature comforts.

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  Very nice! - 2005 Honda S2000
  By poorwhitefolk - April 28 - 9:42 pm

  I am a diehard Honda lover. I seen that we took in a 05 Honda s2000 with only 2k on it with the factory hard top and I had to have it. It is a well built and well rounded car. Very fun to drive and handles great. I bought a turbo kit for mine a it really awakened the beast. Wow is all I have to say. Almost 500 hp. I would recommend this car to anyone that doesnt need the room and that is not over 6 ft. Tall.

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  Best sports car under $60K - 2004 Honda S2000
  By Steve W - April 28 - 2:00 am

  Wonderful package that performs much better than reviews in real life. This is a fun, intuitive, personal car that does all the things one expects from a performance roadster while being well mannered. On commute of 100 miles this car is FUN!!! The transmission is smooth as silk with short throws. You can easily heel and toe. There is adequate torque even at low rpm. When you need the power it is there in spades. The brakes are incredible.

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  04 S2K - 2004 Honda S2000
  By aguido - April 28 - 2:00 am

  For 2004 Honda Couldnt have done a better job with the S2000 without redesigning the whole car. There isnt to many cars being sold that offer this kind of performance with good gas mileage. According to Car and Driver the 2004 Honda S2000 does a 0-60 in 5.4 sec. and a 1/4 mile in 14.1, with an average of 22 mpg (fueleconomy.gov) mixed driving.