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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  4 Wheel Superbike - 2002 Honda S2000
  By Kevin Ledbetter - March 30 - 2:00 am

  Closest thing to a superbike on 4 wheels. This little vehicle handles like few others. The low polar inertia helps the grippy tires to change directions effortlessly. Four wheel anti-lock disc brakes stop the car as fast as any other street vehicle. Below 6000 rpm the engine is just another 4 cylinder, but when the big cam lobes kick in at 6-grand, youll think a couple of solid rocket boosters went off. silky-smooth 6-speed transmission keeps you in the power range when properly used. Loads of fun to drive. Rock solid Honda quality, through and through.

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  Honda s2003 - 2002 Honda S2000
  By rrrrrr - March 28 - 2:00 am

  its the best sports car!

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  Engine Problems! - 2000 Honda S2000
  By bbsilver - March 20 - 2:00 am

  At least the 2000 and 2001 model have had a series of electrical and mechanical issues. Oil starvation, oil consumption, ECU failure, spark plugs backing out to name a few. Serious issues with bent valves as well. The problems are mostly quality control and design issues (some are driver error). Some of the problems lead to catastrophic engine failure. Honda is starting to deny valid warranty claims for technicalities. Engine repair is extremely costly due to lack of aftermarket parts and low quantites. s2ki.com for other testimonial.

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  Responsive at its finest - 2004 Honda S2000
  By GAW - March 19 - 2:00 am

  This car is very responsive to what you ask it to do. Great power for the 4 cylinder engine. I love the basic and non-accessory interior. The S2000 is everything I expected and more.

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  Superb - 2000 Honda S2000
  By chris avery - March 16 - 2:00 am

  This is quite simply the most outstanding road race car ever produced THe driving experience is exhilirating and quite frankly breathtaking

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  Great Car!!! - 2004 Honda S2000
  By cableguy2 - March 14 - 10:00 am

  Wanted a roadster, fun to drive, powerful, but not a "chick" roadster. Looked at Porsche, BMW, etc. s2000 was best and cheapest in its class. Great handling/acceleration. Nicer interior than Porsche. Quality Honda all the way. Plus, I dont pass an s2000 every 10 yards on the road.

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  Honda S2000 - 2002 Honda S2000
  By Ray07 - February 26 - 2:00 am

  Great car, rides a little rough because of the suspension. Fun to drive and quick

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  driving - 2001 Honda S2000
  By beno - February 17 - 2:00 am

  I agree with almost all of the descriptions of this car, except one: You can take this car on a long trip. I took it on a 1,500 mile trip this summer (the trunk fit luggage for two) and never got tired of the long drive. With the top down, wind blowing, enginge roaring, tach sweeping over 6,500, who cares that the stereo needs to be improved and the rear view is plastic.

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  Corner like you always wanted to - 2001 Honda S2000
  By WV S2K - February 11 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle has been amazingly fun, the gears are meant for thrilling accelleration. Gas mileage is impressive, I get around 30 mpg hw/25 city. Cornering is great with the factory tires, and gets even better when you load on some Z rated tires. The ride can get rough on long drives, but this was clearly not the intent of the vehicle. I bought this vehicle because I did NOT enjoy the "family car" feel of the Z3, TT, and other competing models, not to mention this car cost many thousands less! 2 sets of golf clubs fit in the trunk! These seats hold you so tight you dont even feel the turns and focus on your driving!

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  Excellent Buy of Performance & Value - 2002 Honda S2000
  By JohnnyJ - February 11 - 2:00 am

  For the price you pay for the S2k, its an excellent buy. The handling of the car just so well. Excellent performance for a small engine.