S2000 REVIEW
The Honda S2000 is a sporty little roadster without all the hassles that inevitably come with owning a sports car. Firstly it’s reliable. No, it’s bullet-proof! It’s easy to drive, no harder than a family hatch, and certainly not comparable to a Boxter or a 350.
The first S2000 hit the road in 1999 and thanks to the above factors, plus some stonking performance figures, the model has been an enormous success ever since. 0-60 in 5.5 second, 150 MPH top speed, superb handling thanks to a small engine and nimble suspension and – most remarkably – 240 BHP from a non-turbo’d 2.0 engine. When it comes to mass-producing engines Honda really is a cut above the rest.
The variable valve timing allows the car to drive efficiently at low speeds (you can easily extract 30 miles to the gallon if driven sensibly), however hit the accelerator and she revs up to an ear-splitting 9000 RPM. The noise is phenomenal and hugely gratifying. Unfortunately there is a distinct lack of torque, and the engine needs to be thrashed to get the best out of it.
The interior is beautiful. Leather sport seats hold you comfortably in place, the digital dash looks like something out of night rider and everything feels in the right place. Definitely a real touch of class throughout the cabin, and a generous amount of space too for a 2 seater sports car.
The S2000 is also a soft top (hard tops are also available) and the roof is easily let down and clipped back up, certainly not the 5 minutes it takes to unbolt the roof on an Elise! The engine is in the front and the drive at the rear, however the slung back seating position means the weight balance is almost perfect. The brakes feel very responsive and the suspension is nice and stiff. A little twitchy when pushed, but generally very nice to throw around.
Finally the price is extremely reasonable and with Honda reliability maintenance is likely to be no more than a routine oil and plug change every once in a while. All in all it’s easy to see why the S2000 has been such a big hit for the last 10 years.
Tags: Honda