Honda S2000: Spotted

Standard S2000 or BBR-tweaked MX-5? Decision time!

'Or go buy an S2000?' is the second Facebook comment from our BBR MX-5 Super 200 drive yesterday. It's a valid point, especially given the significant outlay required for the full upgrade (for BBR to fit the power kit, suspension and wheels totals £3,788). For argument's sake let's say the budget is £10K; what's on offer?

Nice shorts

This Honda S2000 is a 2006 car, the year traction and stability control was added to the S2000's options list. The advert doesn't make clear whether these are fitted but there's plenty to be encouraged by; it's a standard car in decent condition with no apparent interior, hood or paintwork issues. Of course you will take a copy of the PH S2000 Buying Guide to a viewing to be especially diligent in your checks but, on first inspection, it looks pretty good. With the MOT due next month there should be some negotiating room on the £8,995 price too.

And the MX-5? This NC look like a good basis for some BBR fettling. A 2.0-litre Sport with low mileage (45K) but also at the bottom of Mk3 values by virtue of its age (£5,570) it would surely suit 204hp rather well. Add the £3,788 and the total price is £9,358. With the £745 exhaust that sounds like a worthwhile investment you're just over the imaginary £10K threshold.

Even with BBR's tweaks, the S2000 still has the more exciting engine. The MX-5 is revvy and eager with the Super 200 boost but a standard S2000 is something else again. As mentioned in the buying guide it's a key part of the appeal for many people and the major turn-off for others. But given both cars are fairly light on torque (the BBR MX-5 makes 161lb ft at 4,000rpm and the S2000 151lb ft at 7,500rpm) so you'd assume a prospective buyer of either isn't afraid of revs. Having said that, Dan's driving impression of the BBR would suggest there's a more linear delivery in the MX-5 than the archetypal VTECness of the Honda.

Sun's out, roof's down; looks fun, no?

It's hard to make a call on handling without driving the two back to back but you would think the MX-5 would be the slightly sharper device with its uprated components and lighter weight. Again there's nothing to stop some tweaking of an older S2000 either...

Some will argue standard versus modified isn't a fair comparison but we'd like to think PH car purchases aren't always the most logical. As something of a VTEC convert I would probably plump for the Honda. As a man mildly in love with his Eunos Dan would surely opt for the Mazda. Either way you'll have an excellent roadster with one of the sweetest manual gearshifts ever known for less than £10,000. And that's got to be worth celebrating.

HONDA S2000
Engine: 1,997cc 4-cyl
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 240@8,300rpm
Torque (lb ft): 152@7,500rpm
MPG: 28.5 (NEDC combined)
CO2: NA
Year registered: 2006
Recorded mileage: 67,000
Price new: £27,940
Yours for: £8,995