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10 Best Used Cars Under $8,000

2009 Honda S2000

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Overview

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2009 Honda S2000 Review

By KBB.com Editorial Staff

Convertibles and roadsters are plentiful these days, but only a handful can truly be called performance oriented. The 2009 Honda S2000 is one of the lucky few, endowed with an incredibly high-strung four-cylinder engine born from years of Honda racing experience. From a normally-aspirated 2.2 liters of displacement, the S2000 engine manages an amazing 237 horsepower and doesn't reach redline until 8000 rpm. Toss in its extremely rigid body and sub-2,900-pound vehicle weight, and the S2000 begins to feel less like a car and more like a four-wheeled motorcycle. Offering more punch than a Mazda MX-5 Miata and costing less than a Porsche Boxster, the S2000 lets the average Joe have his cake and eat it too.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you love the feeling of riding a motorcycle without a helmet, but your balance just isn't what it used to be, check out the 2009 Honda S2000. Those looking for startlingly-quick performance and remarkable nimbleness, but with a Honda price tag and build quality, won't be disappointed.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you're accustomed to beefy V6- and V8-powered coupes that deliver their peak torque low in the rpm band, the S2000 is not your type of sports car.

What's New for 2009

No major changes for 2009.

Driving the S2000

Driving Impressions The 2009 Honda S2000's engine doesn't have much output until you wind the tachometer past the 5000-rpm mark, a range where most cars begin to run out of steam. With...

the high-pitched whine of the engine spinning at high speeds, the S2000 rockets forward and keeps on going to a redline that was once considered the sole domain of high-performance motorcycles. The car's 50/50 front-to-rear weight distribution, well-calibrated suspension tuning and extremely rigid structure – there is actually a large visible brace that runs across the floor just in front of the seat brackets – give the S2000 a nearly flat cornering behavior and extremely crisp response that allows it to negotiate the corners with sure tenacity, with reaction that feels as if it's coming directly from your nerve endings.

Favorite Features

Powerful Engine
With 237 horsepower under the hood, the 2.2-liter engine pumps out more than 100 horsepower per liter.

Headrest Speakers
Made standard last year, the headrest-mounted speakers are the only way to really hear your music when both the top and the accelerator pedal are down.

2009 Honda S2000 Details

Interior

The S2000's interior is full of wonderful surprises. After slipping into the deeply contoured bucket seats, you'll notice the big red START button on the dash; look a bit further, and you'll see that the tachometer redlines at an astounding 8,000 rpm. The long center console sits up high, affording you the perfect perch on which to rest your arm while you operate the sweet six-speed manual transmission. The audio head unit is hidden behind a flip-up aluminum panel, safe from the prying eyes of would-be thieves.

Exterior

The 2009 Honda S2000 strikes a very un-Honda like, somewhat wicked pose. When viewed from above, the S2000's flared front-wheel arches and tapered hood closely resemble an angry cobra about to strike: A fitting look, considering this car's performance potential. The power soft-top features a glass rear window that retracts in seconds. Expectedly, the trunk is small, but it's still usable. CR models include an aerodynamic body kit, a factory-tuned track-oriented suspension, lift-reducing front and rear spoilers and a removable aluminum hard top in place of the conventional cloth top.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

Every S2000 rolls out of the factory with a 237-horsepower 2.2-liter engine, six-speed manual transmission, air conditioning, limited-slip differential, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (ABS), rear defroster, engine immobilizer, HID headlamps, dual power mirrors, AM/FM stereo with CD, XM Satellite Radio, headrest-mounted speakers, leather bucket seats, cruise control, power windows, remote keyless entry and alloy wheels. The CR trim adds a removable aluminum hardtop, body kit, additional structural bracing, wider rear tires and a "peak power indicator" meter. To help reduce weight, air conditioning and the factory stereo are optional on the CR trim.

Optional Equipment

What you see is what you get. There are no factory options for the S2000.

Under the Hood

The S2000's 2.2-liter motor is strong, but only after you get the tachometer above 5000 rpm. This engine is buzzy and some people will think it annoyingly loud at times, but there is no denying the joy it brings when pushed to its limits. We never managed to match the highway fuel economy figure quoted by the EPA, but then again, we spent a lot of time with the tachometer needle above 7000 rpm.

2.2-liter in-line 4
237 horsepower @ 7800 rpm
162 lb.-ft. of torque @ 6800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/25

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2009 Honda S2000 Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

4.9

Out of 5

Based on 301 Ratings for the 2000 - 2012 Honda S2000 models.

Review this car

Value

4.8/5

Quality

4.9/5
Reliability

4.9/5

Performance

4.9/5
Comfort

4.2/5

Styling

4.9/5

Iconic Car For Honda

By Brian (FL) on Thursday, February 09, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 115,000

5 5.0

overall rating 5 of 5rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Reliability: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Performance: 5/5
Styling: 5/5
Comfort: 5/5

Pros: "Best sports car for the price."

Cons: "Friends will envy you."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"This is by far one of the best cars Honda has ever made. Its rear wheel drive, 6 spd manual transmission great power. The styling is amazing. 10 years later this car still gets looks driving down the road. Super reliable, gas mileage is great. Buy one today."

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Great car if you know you want it.

By AMD (NY) on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 24,000

5 4.0

overall rating 4 of 5rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 4/5
Value: 4/5
Reliability: 5/5
Quality: 4/5
Performance: 5/5
Styling: 4/5
Comfort: 2/5

Pros: "One of the best driving cars on the road period"

Cons: "Cloth top tears, noise, ergonomics"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"The S2000 is not designed for everyone. This car is meant to be a performance driver. It does not like bumpy roads, it doesn't like cold weather, it's loud, lacks storage and even simple creature comforts built into most cheap rental cars, and certain bits (cloth top especially) wear out quickly. That being said, this is one of the most enjoyable cars to drive hard on a nicely paved curvy road or race track and if you are an aggressive driver on the road this car will certainly keep you entertained and most likely assist in getting you a few moving violations from the local authorities. I personally loved this car when I drove it in L.A. and not so fond of driving it in NY. A few things drive me crazy about it however: The car has remote door locks but no automatic switch in the car, so if your key is in the ignition and you want to unlock the passenger door, you have to reach over and manually unlock it. The cloth top is notorious for tearing in certain spots. It has nearly no sound deadening in the entire car, so it's VERY loud at highway speeds. That's about all I have to complain about..."

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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