Cars Service

Honda S2000 Review

The Honda S2000 is a two-seat roadster with the size of the small Mazda Miata and speed of the Porsche Boxster. Its a technological statement from Honda, which has no equal when it comes to pumping big horsepower out of small engines. Witness Hondas domination in the Indy Racing League, including its victory in the Indy 500 with a 3.0-liter engine producing 650 horsepower at 10,300 rpm.

The S2000 has all the elements of a classic roadster, including the right proportions. The long hood and short rear deck are elemental, the rest of the sheet metal more functional than fabulous. The S2000 produces more power per litre than any other non-turbo production engine. This remarkable two-litre car is to celebrate Honda first 50 years and it zooms to 62mph in just 6.2 seconds.





Packed with racing technology, it is Honda first classic front-engined, rear-driven model since the much-loved S800 appeared in 1965.

With a 240 hp engine that screams rapidly up to a 9000-rpm redline and 50/50 weight distribution, the S2000 is an invitation to get friendly with traffic court judges. The choice of fat 16" Bridgestone S-02 tires is an excellent one since they stick like rubber cement to all types of pavement yet offer good wear and excellent foul weather handling.

Even on the most challenging and rippling roads, there was almost no twist or shake in the structure. Although open, the body is highly rigid and complies with Hondas strict front and semi-side impact crash test specifications, which exceed all current legal regulations. This is due to an X-configuration frame that departs from the norm in being situated at midriff height at the top of the center console rather than at the lowest level of the structure. Thus the strongest part is in the center of the body/chassis and ties to the top of the suspension mounts without bends and curves. Not only is it stiff but weight conscious.


Interior

Air conditioning, power windows, power mirrors, cruise control, keyless remote entry, and tilt steering are all standard. Theres a big red button for an ignition switch, and thats pretty cool. The digital tach is an attempt to be cool, with orange lines arcing across the top of the instrument panel, but its hard to see and comes across as excessively gimmicky anyhow. The S2000 is all about revving, even if to a diminished 8200 rpm now, and everything should point there. Such as a needle on an analog gauge. Maybe the S2000 should have a big tach on the steering column, like the Mini Cooper.



Theres also a digital speedometer reading mph in fairly big numbers, flanked by small fuel and coolant temperature gauges. The AM/FM/CD stereo is located behind a flap-like rectangular door on the dash; we found ourselves leaving it open for convenience, which defeated its purpose of hiding the system, of course. The buttons are small, but there are redundant controls just to the left of the steering wheel.

The power top moves up and down easily and latches over the windshield. Theres a glass rear window with defroster, and also an aero windscreen behind the seats to reduce buffeting when the top is down.

The leather bucket seats are beautifully comfortable, with one inch more shoulder room than before. The three-spoke leather steering wheel is perfect. There are mesh storage pockets in the doors but no glove box. Theres a new small storage compartment between the seats, giving the cabin minimal storage, a slight improvement from virtually nonexistent.

Driving Impressions

The last time we wrote about the S2000 we couldnt get over its 9000 rpm redline. There isnt a road car on the planet that revs like that. And what a thrill it was. But in the 05, a rev limiter cuts the fuel off at 8200 rpm. That 800 rpm difference is all about the sound, and what it does to your insides. Now its like listening to Jimi Hendrix riffing his electric guitar toward a climax and then cutting it short.

True, the engine is improved now. Its been stroked to 2.2 liters from 2.0, and makes the same 240 horsepower but delivers more torque, 162 foot-pounds versus 153, at a lower rpm: 6500 rpm instead of an impossibly peaky 7500. So its got a broader power band and is more friendly to drive, thus easier to drive fast. Its a better car. But, like the Viper SRT/10, it may be better but its a lot less visceral.



There have been a number of other careful refinements to the S2000, in particular to the handling, starting with the easy things: the 17-inch wheels. Less visible, the frame is stiffer and the suspension is firmer in the front and softer in the rear. On our favorite driving loop that offers a broad variety of corners and road surfaces, the S2000 handled the patchy bits with grace. Its smoother in the rough stuff than the Nissan 350Z, which isnt bad itself. No rattles or thumps, and it followed the contour of the road without softening or neutralizing it. It still has its kart-like quickness; in fact its better now, with its wider tires.

Like all current Honda automobiles, the S2000s suspension is independent, with control arms (as distinct from struts) at all four corners. It is distinguished from any other current Honda cars, however, by its rear-wheel-drive layout, a platform developed specifically for this limited-edition roadster. (All other Hondas are based on a front-wheel-drive layout.)

The six-speed gearbox has also been improved, with better synchronizers making smoother shifts; its short-throw linkage and aluminum-tipped lever feel like a racecars. The gear ratios have been lowered by 4 percent, in pursuit of easier takeoffs. Theres an electric motor quality to its power, like a Japanese super-bike: no punch in the back, just a sense that with enough forward gears, one might keep accelerating indefinitely.

The brakes are big (11.8 inches front, 11.1 inches rear) and fantastic, vented in front, with standard ABS and improved brake pad material for 05. These are the best brakes weve ever encountered on any Honda vehicle, and they round out a set of sports car credentials thats tough to top.

The key to enjoying the S2000 is to drive it hard: Take off, wind the engine to 8200 rpm in first gear, shift into second, stand on it, and dont shift until you hit 8200 again. This is what the Honda S2000 has to offer over the less-expensive Miata.

Good Points

Fast - Fast and Very Fast, love the handling, and if you take the Induction Box Cover off, sounds like a V8 especially in a tunnel and does no harm to the engine!!

Bad Points

A little Cramp in the Drivers seat if you are tall, i am 6ft 6
General Comments

I have been driving the Honda 2.0i Roadster 2004 model year S2000 for 2 years now and I love it, I have had 3 already as I just keep buying a new one every 6 months, I am holding on for the new 06 model out shortly.

You can even get a weeks shopping in the car!!
I would reccommend this car to everyone!!! I had a Civic Type R too, they are awesome too.