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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  S2000 Review - 2005 Honda S2000
  By Eric Klar - September 1 - 6:28 pm

  I live in Albuquerque, where we have little rainfall.This is the car to have here. Excellent handling on mountain roads, good gas mileage, plenty of top down time.

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  1 month old - 2005 Honda S2000
  By Dennis - September 1 - 4:03 am

  Bought my 2005 S-2000 a month ago and have no regrets. Not only is it beautiful, but its solid and responsive. It requires premium gas and the tires arent cheap but its a great automobile and Im glad that I bought it. I believe that it will hold its resale value for many years to come.

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  s2000 review - 2003 Honda S2000
  By sdavid - August 31 - 2:00 am

  the best performance car value on the road today, bar none

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  Great Fun Sport Car! - 2002 Honda S2000
  By NGEPOT - August 30 - 5:58 pm

  This car is fast, sporty, gets lots of looks and positive comments and blasting around on backroads and even around town is a great deal of fun. Ride is good, handling is solid and the engine and transmission 6 speeds are an absolute joy. It runs great and handles very well indeed. S2000 is really fun to drive!

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  Mid Life Crisis Medicine - 2005 Honda S2000
  By Will - August 11 - 7:17 pm

  This car replaces a 2004 Honda Element I owned. Golly gee wilickers !! This is just the most fun car I have driven and I can say that truthfully. This makes about the 40th something vehicle I have bought and driven. Of course, being 5 7" makes it easy for me to get in and out of the car. Get one - have fun - enjoy life - you will not regret it.

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  Near Boxster performance for $32k - 2005 Honda S2000
  By Aaron - August 10 - 3:59 pm

  Faster than other roadsters costing tens of thousands more (Z4, first generation 986 Boxster S, Audi TT, last generation SLK), and still able to hold its own with the latest Teutonic offerings, the S2000 is the best deal going. Add to that impeccable reliability, great styling, and good gas mileage and you have a recipe for the perfect roadster.

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  Finally got my S2K - 2004 Honda S2000
  By chrisnofar - August 8 - 2:00 am

  This is truly an "enthusiasts" sports car. To sum it all up, this car has everything you need, and nothing that you dont. Definetely a significant amount of interior noise from the wind and tires. However the best noises are heard from the twin oval tipped exhausts. She revs like a F1 and sounds like a banshee. Fuel consumption is conservative at 20/25 city/hwy. Hondas S2K definatley provides the most bang for the buck, no doubt. Where else can you get drop top pleasure, with an engine like a bat out of hell, with one of the best transmission in the world, and killer looks for about $30 grand?

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  Great Little Rocket - 2004 Honda S2000
  By jbkraemer60 - August 8 - 2:00 am

  I was originally in the market for a 1- 2 year old 911. A friend who owns a 2002 S2000 recommended I look at the 2004 model. He was right on. Even though Im 62 I still fit comfortably even with the top up. The reviews written about the 2004 are pretty much right on. If you want a car that feels like a car set-up for the track and you crave F1 engine whine this is the ticket

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  happy ower - 2002 Honda S2000
  By maeco - August 7 - 10:00 am

  most bang for buck

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  "Rhonda" (Red Honda) - 2005 Honda S2000
  By TNT - August 5 - 9:52 pm

  Bought Rhonda 1 month ago after a test drive. Was looking at several other vehicles but this is the best bang for the buck i could find. Shes red with the factory wheels chromed and shes a beauty. I live in SoCal like Denn (see "Whoa Nelly")and the top never goes up. What an awesome car :) My wife didnt care much for the 5 spd manual in my last 2 Mustang GTs but she absolutely loves to shift this one, in fact, its getting more difficult to get the car away from her. Looks like i found a "keeper". BTW, im 63" and 225 lbs and do not have a problem with my seating assignment.