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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  2003 Honda S2000 - 2003 Honda S2000
  By kenpearl - March 2 - 2:00 am

  Fabulous car, fun to drive, excellent performance and quality. Great gas mileage, low maintenance costs. Short trips, long drives or anything in between. Relatively large trunk, bigger than 350Z, easily holds weekend luggage for two and a case of wine from Napa, just take the wine out of the case. A real blast on twisty canyon roads.

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  SAS 2000 S2K - 2000 Honda S2000
  By mrgts - February 29 - 2:00 am

  Great ride and just fun to drive. This car demands to be driven, no taking you eye off the road or gearshifter. I also own an old 911 and this is the closest thing Ive found to driving it. Wish it had a little more power at the line, which I belive the 2004 2.2 liter is suppose to address. Im also in the process of upgrading the stereo speakers to produce more fullness of sound (2000 year only had door speakers which are partially blocked ny your legs).

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  A Humming Bird with Wheels - 2000 Honda S2000
  By Robbie C - February 20 - 2:00 am

  The car is great. Its fast. Its simple. Its reliable. The more I drive it, the more I appreciate it, and the more I admire Honda for building such well thought-out products. A well cared for used S2000 is a great car.

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  No Slow 2000 - 2003 Honda S2000
  By noslo2k - January 31 - 2:00 am

  I have had a great experience with this car. It is fast and very responsive. The S2000s agility has gotten me out of a few potential hazards. Its comfortable and an all around fun car to drive. The stereo system is lacking but at slow speeds is tolerable.

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  Honest - 2002 Honda S2000
  By forgedblades - January 31 - 2:00 am

  Mild mannered and fun to run errands in around town yet a serious machine come play time. I still havent come close to the performance limits of this car which is kinda of scary to ponder. No body flex, amazing handling, Honda build quality, and reasonable insurance. If you want 0- 60 times look at the Evo. For all around performance and fun its right here.

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  Sweeet - 2002 Honda S2000
  By Happy S2000 - January 26 - 2:00 am

  Just traded in a 2002 Miata for a used (only 4000 miles) 2002 S2000. Seems to be in fabulous shape. I am only in my 2nd week of ownership, so cant say I know everything about it. Dont get me wrong, I am not trying to trash talk the Miata cause it was a fun car. The S2000 is clearly in a different league. Funny how everybody wanted to race against my Miata, but I dont have many challengers in the S2000. I wonder why? I feel lucky to have landed this car.

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  BEST VALUE FOR COUPE - 2001 Honda S2000
  By NROOF - January 16 - 2:00 am

  HANDLES WELL, ACCELERATES EXPLOSIVELY, RESPONDS LIKE IT IS ON A RAIL, AND THE FACT THAT ITS A HONDA NOT A Z3 THE PRICE IS RIGHT!

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  Future Classic - 2002 Honda S2000
  By Mavic - January 15 - 2:40 pm

  Above all else S2000 is meant for fun, driving fun. Its not the fastest. It is one of the best handling with excellent brakes. To accomplish its main objective, it has an engine that begs you to push it harder. Its chassis dares you to dive into the turn a little faster. Like a mistress its not good for more mundane things like picking up your mother in-law from the airport. It excels as a second car that you take out on the weekends and nights when the journey is meant for the soul. This is a sports car. Be sure what you ask for.

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  The Purest Sports Car of All! - 2003 Honda S2000
  By FluByU - January 12 - 2:00 am

  After wanting this car for two years, I finally got behind the wheel of one. The throttle is more responsive than any other car on the road and the steering is point-and-shoot! An absolute blast to drive with an amazing 6-speed. Forget the fluff, this car has the bare minimum and manages to have a greater "wow" factor behind the wheel than any other. The 9000 RPM redline is unbelievable! You must experience it to understand it. Stick to the 2003 and older--the redline is higher and the suspension tighter--it stays true to the purpose of such a pure sports car.

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  great car - 2000 Honda S2000
  By bob123432343 - January 9 - 2:00 am

  get car very fun to drive