Used Honda S2000

Pure Sports Car for People who like to Dirve

By SJP3003 (Bethesds, MD) on Wednesday, July 15, 2009

"My take on the '08 S2000 after 18 months of ownership: Driving/Performance: A. City: I use the S2k as a daily city commuter to get to work in downtown DC. It is an agile city car for zipping around traffic. I used to drive an XJR to the office, and despite the XJR's superior comfort and 420 HP, the S2K runs circles around it in city traffic by virtue of its diminutive size. At the other end of the spectrum, compared to most other small cars, the S2K is a visceral ride given its rorty rev-happy engine, slick close ratio shifter and excellent dynamics. The convertible top remains the fastest in the industry with its 6 second retract/raising time, and lowering it on the way home after work transforms it into the ultimate decompression chamber. BTW I use it top-down a greater percentage of the time in DC than I used other 'verts in Miami. B. Country Roads: The S2K truly shines on winding country or mountain roads with excellent balance and driving dynamics. The engine truly sings on open roads skipping along between 5K and 8K RPM. Reliabiity: Absolutely Zero problems in 18 months and my first service was free. Quite a change in cost of ownership from some great Euro sportscars I owned before the S2K. Looks: The exterior is timeless. Not especially attention-getting, but very clean and purposeful. The interior dash is dated with the LCD instrumentation, but it is functional. Comfort: If you are looking for serious comfort, you are not looking for a true sports car that effectivel transmits road nuances. Having said that, the S2K has well bolstered seats that are ideal for its mission as a sports car. I fit well despite my 6'0" 190lb frame. The smooth leather steering wheel falls easily and comfortably to hand for active driving. Pedals are well spaced for heel and toeing, and the dead pedal is well placed too as is the shifter (one of the best factory shifters on the market...I have installed after market shifters on three previous sports cars I've owned..this one needs nothing). The trunk is actually roomy for a car this size, with enough space for a weekend trip for two. Build Quality: This car is tight as new after 18 months. I had a squeek from the roof a few months ago that was readily cured by applying grease. I can eek a squeak out of the seats on very bumpy roads when driving aggressively, but that is a rare sound. Value/Competitors Comparison: If you like to get involved with your driving and are looking for a pure sports car at a reasonable price point and low maintenance, this is could be your car. At the time I bought the S2K the Nissan 350 was less the sports car and more a GT car (although the 370 is leaning more towards the sporting side). I looked into GM's Solstice and Sky-- nicer exterior designs but aweful interiors and the driving dynamics don't compare. The Miata costs less and offers a convertible hardtop, but it falls short engine-wise compared to the 2K. The base Z4 was boring to drive The Lotus Elise is a truly visceral sports car with a fantastic design (I owned one) and even better driving dynamics, but it is at a higher price point, the body consists of two clamshells that are expensive to replace ($8K each) with minor hits and there is less interior room (although I fit fine in the Elise too). The Boxster is also an excellent ride (I had an '04 S version) with a great design inside and out, better materials throughout and much greater trunk space...but all at a higher upfront price and higher mainetnance bills. Is the S2K better car to drive than a Boxster S? No. But it may well be the better car to own."

35 people out of 35 found this review helpful

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My Laguna Blue

By LoudMusic (Arkansas) on Tuesday, January 29, 2008

"I bought my 2006 S2000 with 5,500 miles on it and drove it home 350 miles in the rain. Yay, new convertible ... Since then we've taken it on several road trips including a 6,500 mile loop from Arkansas to the Pacific Northwest. The entire time the driver was in perfect comfort, but unfortunately the passenger often found it difficult to fully relax. Napping was not an option ;) The S2000 is my daily commuter for a 60 mile round trip drive. Again, as the driver it is very comfortable. Not the level of a large SUV, but as far as sports cars go, it's pretty nice. I've had both of the larger door speakers replaced under warranty and I think the passenger is going out again. The stereo is acceptable, but could be much better - like Mp3 support!?! I installed a $200 iPod adapter that works mostly well, though it has its own problems. There is a surprising amount of cargo space, but it's all in the trunk. Inside the cabin you have a map pouch behind the driver's seat, a glove box between the seats that won't fit a Kleenex box, and a double shelf for cellphones and iPods at the passenger's knees. There are a couple useless pouches on the doors and a cargo net along the center console on the passenger side - my wife puts her scarf there. The trunk, however, works. We packed for two and a half weeks in there, including a large tent and sleeping bags. The first priority is moving the tire tools to the top of the spare (which lays flat under the folded soft top) so you get an additional cubic foot or so of space in the trunk. Performance? It goes like a rocket. I've experienced very few things as exciting as red lining my S2000 in third gear around a bend in the Arkansas hills. It's even more fun when you're with a group of S2000s and like-minded drivers. The lack of low-end torque / power are pretty much irrelevant after you're over 10 miles per hour, and why would you ever go that slow? ;) In the past month I've installed the removable hardtop. It is a welcome addition during our inclement weather months. And long time owners say it's the best thing they've ever done to their car. I look forward to owning this car for many years."

20 people out of 20 found this review helpful

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Waited All My Life

By CarGuyPgh (Pittsburgh, PA) on Wednesday, June 23, 2010

"Just purchased this 2007 2 weeks ago. Fantastic performance. Constant smiling and laughing. Amazing car. Carves turns unbelievably - I take the back roads to work now as I make just as good time on the twisties as I did on the main roads in my SUV. Can't say enough great things about this vehicle. Handles impeccably. Just glue the road as it takes curves like other cars takes straights. 6-speed is just silk. When the top goes down, your face hurts from the smile. Buy one before you die. It's that great."

8 people out of 8 found this review helpful

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