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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SIMPLY THE BEST! - 2003 Honda S2000
By Eric L Riggs - August 2 - 2:00 amI have never been more satisfied with a vehicle than I have been with my s2000. Nothing compares.
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S2000 Love! - 2003 Honda S2000
By k1nav - August 2 - 2:00 amI thought this car would be like my Miata, but with more horsepower, but almost everything is better except maybe trunk space and the Miatas classic analog dash - But, the S2000 has better SO-2 tires, silky smooth 6 spd trans, ultra quick elect pwr steering, ABS brakes, seats with better support & nicer leather, power top, better fabric, quicker more precise handling, HID, smoother engine low end and WOW! incredible top end to 8900 RPM - Did I mention the engine!
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Amazing! - 2003 Honda S2000
By JerseyGirl - August 2 - 2:00 amIncredibly fun to drive. Theres nothing else like it out there today!
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perfection - 2002 Honda S2000
By curt - July 30 - 10:00 amthis is truly the most perfect car i have ever owned!!!!!!!!!1
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Happy NC Owner - 2002 Honda S2000
By anthro - July 30 - 2:00 amOriginally I wanted a 350Z Roadster. After test driving one I was impressed. I then looked at the Honda. I liked the build quality of the interior much better. After driving it I was sold. Wow! I feel like I put my car on in the morning. I still like the Z, but for less money I got a better interior and a better performing car.
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S2K is the best car ever (for the money) - 2001 Honda S2000
By biberachie - July 25 - 2:00 amYou can say the Vette is the best bang for your buck, you could say that a BMW Z3 or Porsche Boxster are more appealing, but you could never say once you have driven them all that the s2000 isnt the most fun. I have been the proud owner of a new s2000 each summer that they have been built and I have never had a single problem with any of them. 9300RPM are you kidding? Test drive one and fall in love, however I would recomend a 2001 or newer, the synch is bad from 1st to second in 2000 and also there is no clock in the car untill 2001. Hooray for Honda on finally building a car thats a blast to drive and not a blast to your wallet.
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Just for fun, fits the bill - 2001 Honda S2000
By Esteban - July 19 - 2:00 amBought for a third car, for fun. Have had no problems, just fun and many people asking, what is it? 2 liter engine and this thing stays up with a base 911 (with a six) @70K entry price, a deal!
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oh yeah! - 2003 Honda S2000
By zorg - July 6 - 2:00 ammost fun you can have. bets looking car out there. most annoying to people in higher priced cars that cant keep up.
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The Cars I Missed Buying Rolled Into One - 2002 Honda S2000
By Crabby Guy - June 21 - 2:00 amIts just not possible to go 100 feet in my S2000 without breaking into an ear-to-ear grin that lasts for hours after leaving the car. This is truly, by design, a racing car. The S2000 does not really handle like a car--its somewhere between a go- cart and a motorcyle. The engine is perfectly satisfactory up to 5000 RPM for driving in even stop-and-go traffic. From 5000 to red line at 9000, you go into warp drive. I missed buying a Porsche Speedster and a 356SC, I turned down a great deal on a 289 Cobra, and I passed on a Lotus Super 7. They are all in the S2000 with the reliability of a Honda. I will keep this car for the rest of my life.
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FTD buddy. - 2002 Honda S2000
By MikeWsBlueS2K - June 16 - 2:00 amThis is an agile DRIVING MACHINE. It cant simply be called a sports car. Its no drag racer, but in all other aspects it excells. It is a great autocross car (7 of the top 10 B-stock cars in 2002 were Ss). It should do well in all types of hard driving. I am a bit scared in the rain. The Bridgestone S0-2s are very soft and great on dry roads, but they have no center rain channel and tend to hydroplane. In Florida that is a big deal.
