Comments on: Honda S2000 future unclear

By: damnskippy

damnskippy — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:19:20 +0000

WOW… I just had to comment on this thing after reading everyone else comments saying how crappy the s2000 was. Believe me, if there was anyone else in the world that had thought it was a crappy ass car, I was one of them. Until I had a chance to mess with one for a couple of weeks… it changed my opinions about this car forever. Other than the driven to the ground topic of the low torque and oomph in the lower rev range, this car handles like nobody’s business. I hate to admit for being discovered by my friend for having taken his car to the canyons when he specifically told me not too, (which of course I did… I’m sorry buddy… but its like giving crack candy to a baby… don’t think it’ll say no) I was super impressed. Loud road noise? Check. High rpm revs? Check. Almost hit a tree due to its crazy ability to oversteer if not careful? Double check. Rattling interior that reminds me of the interior build qualities of a ford mustang? No check here. *smile* The interior build is phenomenal… absolutely simple, but phenomenal. It has what is needed to blast a new hole in to mother nature’s ass#@$%. But all jokes aside, I’m with everyone that said that whoever had crap to say about the car doesnt know the car. THAT IS THE MOST HONEST STATEMENT anyone can ever say about this car. I cant find nothing wrong with it than no power in the low rev range… but for some reason i think its a honda thing… they tend to do it with their sportbike cbr’s too… its a bit tame in the lower ranges (I rode on some before). But I’ve never been a honda guy until I simply just took the chance to experience what the hell people like about hondas so much in the first place. Its really great dependable car company… I was always a toyota/jap car boy, but dont know about these days. Only sad thing that was mentioned before too in someones comment was that the civics are catching up the the powertrain of the s2000. Sad but hopefully, honda doesnt mess it up for car fanatics like me and not improve the s2000 in the future. A folding hardtop convertible option will be worth a the gold in the world… you hear me Honda? Make it available dammit… dont care if it makes the car porsche territory or benz and bmw… it’ll make the car more of a liveable daily driver… but thanks anyway for listening to me rant… let us car fanatics tell the world of our automotive passion and dedications… haha

By: Larry Russell

Larry Russell — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 15:41:15 +0000

My wife and I recently purchased a 2003 S2K and we love the car. I am 6’3″ and although it is a little tight in the shoulder room, I have plenty of leg room.
This is not a mid life car for us because we are both in our 60′s and getting ready to retire. My wife drives it daily and never fails to get positive comments. One of the comments was; Great car, what is it, a BMW? When she said said Honda S2000, the response was, BETTER YET. I can’t believe someone would compare the S2K to the Soltice. We enjoy it so much we are taking it to the “Tail of the Dragon” in September this year. We have had Honda’s since 1982 and have enjoyed every one of them and have never had a problem.

By: Sajed Kazi.

Sajed Kazi. — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 21:12:20 +0000

You have to accept for what it is.Its hard to live with ,its harder to live without.If you tune it right,S2000 is one of the best sports car in the world.

By: Saef

Saef — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 22:12:40 +0000

Well done , Gary, for that last statement.I have a ’05 S2000 and love it. I’ve had plenty of sports cars, let me tell you, the S2000 acts more like a sport bike than a car.I will get the last year of 07 .For the price, there is no better choice out there. Solstice and Mx5? C’mon if you compare them with S2000, you need to learn first about cars. S2000 is not a toy. I know people who traded their 911 for S2000.Thats right. If you want wood trim and a good stereo find a cute convertible, because S2000 DNA is from F1 and they don’t listen to music on the racetrack.

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 01:56:32 +0000

I’ve had my s2000 3 years now. I wasn’t even interested in the car until a friend offered to sell it to me because he didn’t fit into it. I picked it up, and never returned it. I bought it the next day. Yes it has a small interior, it fits like a glove. Yes is is loud, but I’ll take the sound of the engine to the stereo any day of the week. The car is perfect for a twisty road. At the limit it is predictable and tossable. Steering is razor sharp. More torque/hp would be nice, but the balance of the car is near perfect. If you complain about the lack of amenities and noise, this isn’t the car for you. If you are asking for a manual transmission, you don’t understand this car. It has the best shifter in the world period. If you are comparing it to a mx-5 (miata)or solstice, you are making the wrong comparison and would probably be happier with one of those cars. If you are looking for a drivers car like a Elise or Boxter, the S2000 won’t dissapoint, expecially for the price.
Long live the S2000!
Gary

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 18:43:13 +0000

one = won lol.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 18:42:04 +0000

I came across this site by accident at work today and decided to throw my 2 cents in. First I’ll just say right off the back I am not a Honda fan. I acut was on the market for a nicer car for work and it was between the the 350z and the s2000. Well after test driving them both the s2000 one hands down. I picked it up this past Halloween and put it away for the winter. Just took it out and I am loving every min of this car. The handle is superb and the looks are very sporty. The interior is anything but cheap. I will agree the lack of torque sucks especially since I’m used to my 350 hp, 360 lbs of torque 12 sec 95 turbo neon. The minute my warranty is up I’ll pick up a supercharger for it but its no real biggy. The car still has plenty of pick up and go just need to downshift a lot in order to get to it. On one last the note this car is not just a mid life crisis car (I should know I just turned 24). It’s a car for someone that loves cars and loves being in touch with the car. That’s where the z feel sort with me. It might have all those bells and whistle but it didn’t feel like your were in control of the car. Oh last but not least please don’t’ compare the s to the sky or solstice. They are nice cars but they don’t even compete with this car maybe the redline and gxp model but not the stock models. Later.

Mike

By: John

John — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 00:13:44 +0000

The S2000 is still the only true performance roadster on the market. It is hard to compare this car to any other an exceptional car for what it is, the performance price ratio is impressive. A fun car for that Sunday whip in the canyons.

By: canut4ever

canut4ever — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 07:25:25 +0000

The problem of the Honda sportscars is that Honda only tweaks them a bit and leaves everything unchanged over the years. Good for the purists but bad on the marketing side. How about shoehorning Acura’s 300hp v-6 under the hood and use the shark-like front of the Honda concept shown a few years back from which the S2000 is based.

By: Axel

Axel — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 23:11:16 +0000

“My suggestions for the S2000 would be a sequential trans option, even higher red line – maybe 11K, more underbody aerodynamics, and better looking brake calipers.” -Moses

I disagree Moses. Why take the best shifting manual transmission in the world and swap it for an auto? I’d take 260 torque any day of the week over 11K rpm. And cosmetic brake calipers near the top of your wish list? Give me a break! Paint ‘em yourself!

If you’re talking cosmetics, how about something to replace the ugliest top in the business? Nobody bothers with the snap-on tonneau cover when it’s down, and the result is a big case of the uglies… can’t compare to the Solstice, Sky, MX-5, Crossfire, SLK… you name it. Honda, get with the program!!

That ugly top when down, the lack of torque, and the the cramped interior were the primary reasons I passed up buying one… but I love the sounds that engine puts out, the reasonable price, the amazing shifter… etc.

I totally agree it’s the closest thing out there to a four-wheel motorcycle… now if it only had some more “throw you back in your seat torque” feeling! Honda, add a combination supercharger/turbocharger to it like VW has. You know engines… why let VW upstage you in the technology area?

The interior is too cheap & minimalist looking for my tastes also… could take a lesson from it’s TSX brother on a good looking interior. Wouldn’t add many pounds, but would make it far more appealing.

But Honda seems to not want to bother updaing this car, just dropping it and bringing out another… WHY? What do they think are such shortcomings in the chassis, engine & body areas that they want to toss them all & start over?

The problem with that, is that it will be many years before we probably will see its replacement, and like EVO owners, hard-core S2K owners will be more skeptical about its replacement than enthusiastic.

By: Ahk-Med

Ahk-Med — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 19:54:21 +0000

2004 Honda S2000 5.8 14.2 (MT Mar ’04)
2006 Honda S2000 5.5 14.0 (C&D May ’06)

http://www.albeedigital.com/supercoupe/articles/0-60times.html

By: Northeasterner

Northeasterner — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 18:20:36 +0000

Does anyone have S2K’s (stock) 0-60 #s handy?

By: Northeasterner

Northeasterner — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 18:18:23 +0000

S2K maybe wasn’t a sales success but it surely was an engineering success.

By: Moses

Moses — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 13:23:56 +0000

I’ve owned an S2000 for almost 4 years, and I am still amazed at how well it is put together, the precision feel of every component and timeless style. I recently drove some other sports cars and they feel sloppy in comparison. The S2000 has a profile that is hardly dated, no more than a 911 and Honda should continually just tweak and evolve the car in small numbers. A two seat roadster is not for everyone and the people, who are not into small performance cars, should not comment on it, as they are not intended buyers either. This is going to be a hard car to replace when my lease is completed.

My suggestions for the S2000 would be a sequential trans option, even higher red line – maybe 11K, more underbody aerodynamics, and better looking brake calipers.

By: John

John — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 05:25:51 +0000

I had always overlooked the S2000 as a serious sports car until a friend of mine who has owned one for a year or so asked me to take his for a spin. Upon driving the car I was very impressed this is a serious drivers car one that requires skill and driver involvment, this is not a car for whimps. The very next day I purchased one. By the way a week earlier I had taken delivery of new Carrera 4S. The S2000 is a blast to drive and anyone with good driving skills will know, This is not a car for the faint of heart they need not apply.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 00:23:40 +0000

I’m sorry to hear all the negative reviews from those who drove the car once or twice. The s2k was and is not for you….plz go find your suv so you can slow me up in traffic when we are going around curves!

If you want a dragster, buy a corvette or lambo. If you want a luxary family vehicle…buy an suv…ugggg.

If you want a ROADSTER, buy a Boxter or an S2k! The s2000 is a Sports car that will outperform most in a technical track. The s2000 corners…plain and simple. If you want a V8 or a V10…it will be a dragster and corner like a dragster.

Put a supercharger on the s2k, add a good driver, and it will compete with almost any car on a technical track….plain and simple.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 00:10:47 +0000

sorry summin else, maybe they should make a v8 version fo the car (liek they did with hayabusa engines) or maybe a low displacement (to keep witht he jap thing) sthigh-revving straight 6 and people go look on g**gle for silver ones theyre sex on wheels who cares if its ahair dressers car ima a mechanic and id slap some serious dosh on 1 thyere worth every penny (just needs a bit more oomph from the engine so the civics etc cant keep up) i think its time for a 2.6 striaght six twin turbo (like in the skylines) then see if a civic will keep up

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 00:05:48 +0000

ive only just realised how amazing the s2000 is but it is a bit long on now but thats no problem look at mustangs and civics and golfs etc….all the need to do is boost it up to 2.4liters add atrubo and modify the vtec slightly and boast it up to “276″ hp but please keep it able to rev up to 9000rpm its the only roadster for that price that can it revs nearly as high as my bike!!!! few every day cars can do that nice 1 honda

By: Axel

Axel — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 22:44:19 +0000

Honda should have been steadily making upgrades to the S2000 engine, folding top, etc. over the years. It’s still considered by most to have the best shifter in the world. But the lack of torque, dated sheetmetal, and (like the RSX) power that is being caught up to by their own Civic, signals it’s time to go.

Compared to the looks of the Sky, the S2K is plain and boring. Compared to the power of the Sky Redline, the S2K might as well hope that all it has to do is turn corners continuously.

Having the smallest interior of virtually all sports cars available doesn’t help them capture market share either.

Honda knows how to build amazing engines, the best shifters in the world, and a thing or two about handling… it’s time they put all that know-how to the test again and bring out a car that will upstage the competition as much as the S2K did when it first came out.

Without the NSX… WHERE is our new Honda sports car???

By: bludprix

bludprix — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 22:18:35 +0000

#4- Its ok that the price of the S2000 tops the Miata, it is not a competitor to the Miata. The closest competitor the S2000 has in the Nissan 350Z Roadster/coupe. The Solstice and Miata are lined up, but not the S2000.
As far as the 1st comment made- the fit and finish of the car is superb. The car doesn’t have a universal appeal, but I would not say it is just for mid life crisis people. I have heard the same thing said of all sports cars.
The S2000 owner is someone who appreciates the car for what it is. Honda never claimed the car would boast luxury features, amazing trunk space and interior room, a bargain price, and a comfortable ride. Honda promised a straight to the point roadster that was simplistically performance oriented.
ps- They delivered.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 21:38:56 +0000

the S2000 is a great car, fun as hell to drive, and i dont know what the hell you guys are talking about when you are refering to the cheap interior materials, i’ve been in a few and the interior fit and finish was first rate, yes there’s lots of plastic, but panel gaps are non existant and the quality of the plastics if high.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 21:05:27 +0000

S2K is great, wonderful, best, blah, blah, blah. Honda disagrees and that’s why they are killing it. It’s not worth saving because Solstice GXP will eat it for breakfast.

By: Paul D.

Paul D. — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 19:31:08 +0000

^Awesome assessment Renton.

By: DubTwo

DubTwo — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 19:14:31 +0000

Renton, well said.

By: Renton

Renton — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 19:11:35 +0000

The Honda S2000 is very unique car. It shares no major parts with any other Honda. It has a chassis and engine that are in another league compared to the Solstice and MX-5. There are really no cars that compete with it. It looks like a $26K MX-5 and runs like a $50K Boxster. As far at fit an finish goes, I disagree, it has a very high level of construction and the materials are good. The plastic is nice and the panel gaps are very tight. The lack of rattles is amazing. The build quality is high and the profit margin is very low on this vehicle. If you do not believe me, just read Car and Driver or Road and Track mags about it. It is considered a steal at its list price. Honda poured everything it knew about high performance cars into this car. Honda campaigns at the highest levels of auto racing (F1) and motorcyle racing (MotoGP). They know a thing or two about performance.

The S2000 is a true car guy’s car. It only comes one way; a manual transmission and no options. Very simple HVAC and stereo. It has a perfomances touches all over it. If you still bash this car, you just don’t get it. It does the sports car thing very well, just don’t expect it to be a minivan and an SUV at the same time.

Get one now, b/c someday these will be a true collectables.

By: RememberAriesReliant

RememberAriesReliant — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 18:35:37 +0000

I wish it had a flat torque curve. Maybe a supercharger would help in the lower rev range giving over to a turbo at higher revs.

By: Paul D.

Paul D. — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 18:33:14 +0000

#10 I agree with you 100%

By: Paul D.

Paul D. — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 18:32:26 +0000

The Solstice is a fresh design, it will probably sway a few buyers who want the latest vert on the market. But it is no match for the S2000.

The GXP isn’t on the market yet so who knows what will happen there. I am doubtful that it’ll match the razor sharp reflexes of the S2k either. if I were in the market for one of these, I’d choose the S2000.

By: VDub

VDub — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 18:14:35 +0000

i agree the s2000 is a really fun car to drive. honda should just lower the price a bit to compete with the miata and solstice. produce the xga concept under the acura name to compete against the g35 and the IS.

By: WASTE OF $$$

WASTE OF $$$ — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 17:33:13 +0000

if your going to get rid of a good car like the s2000 there had better be some major performance upgrades and very little price increase though thats unlikely ruining the s2000 is a big mistake for those who want a sporty 2 seater convertible for under 40,000 thats fast

By: RangeRoverBoy

RangeRoverBoy — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 16:54:01 +0000

The S2000 does rock. It is best as a weekend car if you can find some clear roads and rev the snot out of it. I had 4 friends jump on the band wagon right away and bought one each. Two still have them. One guy is an amateur motorcycle track racer (loves RPM’s), and the other supercharged his to boost torque mostly. They are also both sub 6 footers. I however feel like an oragami ornament when behind the wheel.
So…. keep it Honda… punch the 4 banger to 3.0L make just a tiny bit more room fore/aft and some leg room between the wheel and door and center console so my leg hair will not be ripped out when I turn.
XOXO

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 16:38:35 +0000

#4 if you think the Solstice can hold a candle to the S2000 then you better start taking your meds again. The Solstice is a damn good competitor to the Miata, the S2000 is in another league altogether. Now, the Solstice GPX (or whatever the supercharged one will be called) will definitely be closer in performance but how much will that car be? Will it have the chassis dynamics of the S2000? The current Solstice sure doesn’t.

By: DubTwo

DubTwo — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 16:33:40 +0000

They don’t over-produce the cars by any means.

If it was $25,000 new I think they’d sell a whole lot more, but it wouldn’t be possible.

By: Ahk-Med

Ahk-Med — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 16:14:27 +0000

Even though the S2000′s performance is closer to the Boxster, the price premium over the MX-5 really hurts it.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 16:08:07 +0000

Solstice strikes again, sayonara S2K.

By: DubTwo

DubTwo — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 15:47:13 +0000

We sold one yesterday. It only took 194 days in inventory… and a 34 yr old mom bought it for a weekend cruiser.

By: Ed

Ed — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 15:17:29 +0000

I drove my friend’s ’02 S2000 (before Honda toned them down) for a bit and it was a fun ride. Sadly, when I gave it back I asked myself if I would buy one as my only vehicle and the answer is a definite no. Too cramped, loud, cheap materials and impractical for a daily driver. As a track toy, I think it shines though, the handling is incredibly precise and the steering response is amazing.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 15:02:54 +0000

Not surprised that it hasn’t done well. I bought a S2000 and had great expectations of the car. Sadly, I was very disappointed. The car was very cramped, had a cheap feel (lots of plastic and vinyl) and the performance was not quite what I had hoped for. I think that it sells best for the Mid-Life Crisis crowd, a convertible so that the young girls can see their bald spot.