2000 Honda S2000

Highlights

• 2.0-litre F20C VTEC revs to an almighty 9,000rpm
• Wonderfully slick six-speed manual
• Just four owners – current 18 year same family ownership
• Lovely, original spec
• A new hood with glass rear window fitted in 2014

Overview

Let’s face it, the Honda S2000 needs no introduction to a knowledgeable PH audience. It’s unquestionably a proper, bonafide classic. But let’s recap on its history and salient points just to celebrate what makes these cars so special. It came to be because Honda wanted to commemorate its 50th anniversary, and, being an engineering-lead company, it didn’t just plonk a few badges on an existing car. It created a brand-new model. One that chimed perfectly with its sporting past – not to mention its then huge success as the F1 engine partner of McLaren during the glory years of Senna and Prost.

The S2000 was the result. A thrilling two-seat, open-topped sports car that offered arguably a more thrilling experience than was available with the likes of the Mazda MX-5 and MG F. The S2000’s underpinnings was a new AP1 chassis that featured an ‘X-bone’ frame providing the required rigidity and crashworthiness. There were even nods to the F1 cars. Take the design of its digital instruments, for instance. Boy did they look the biz, with the rev-counter arching across the top and aping the design of the McLaren MP4/5s. Nice.

This was no pastiche, though. It was a properly engineered product. A front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car. Along with its ‘correct-wheel drive’ it had double wishbone suspension and a limited-slip differential. The engine was also shoved right back in the chassis, à la Ferrari 550 Maranello, which gifted the S2000 its perfect 50:50 weight distribution.

Then there was the engine itself. Hello the F20C 2.0-litre. Sure, it was ‘merely’ a four-pot, but no ordinary one. With twin-overhead cams and Honda’s fabled VTEC valve technology, the F20C could rev to the dizzying heights of 9,000rpm, and offered the highest specific output of any production engine at the time.

Actually, when we write ‘could’ rev to 9,000rpm, what we should really have written was ‘flipping loved’ to rev. Indeed, 7,000-8,500rpm is its happy place – the place where it truly hits its stride. And to help you work it up to and hold it in that magic zone was the slick six-speed manual transmission, complete with a tactile aluminium gear knob.

The S2000 we have for you here is an early example of the breed. It’s been in its current ownership since June 2008, when it was purchased from a family member who’d owned it since July 2006. In that time it’s had plenty of work, such as a replacement hood complete with a glass rear window (instead of the original plastic) and structural work to mitigate the corrosion that often plagues these models.

So, if you want, you can simply jump in, hit the red starter button, and sail off into a summer of fun. Or, if you’re the tinkering type, what you have here is a solid base to work off and apply a little TLC to bring this S2000 back to tip-top nick.

History and documentation

• Registered 30th June 2000
• Currently showing 83,646 miles (when photographed)
• Just four owners in total – very few for a car that’s now nearly a quarter-of-a-century old
• This car’s been with its current owner since June 2008 after being bought from a family member who’d owned it since July 2006
• Stamped service book with services as follows: May 2001 @ 9,350 miles, July 2002 @ 18,289 miles, July 2003 @ 27,310 miles, May 2004 @ 36,125 miles, Sept 2005 @ 41,205 miles, June 2007 @ 45,557 miles, May 2011 @ 58,839
• The seller tells us that the car has covered limited mileage and has been regularly maintained during his ownership
• Maintenance work was carried out at local garages in East Linton, where the owner resided for 36 years, but the garages only issued physical invoices and several of them remain archived in unpacked boxes following the last move a couple of years ago
• There are invoices for the more recent work that the car has received, including some welding
• Full document pack included with the car
• Complete with original tool kit, jack and locking wheel nut key
• Collection of invoices and old MOT certificates
• Two keys
• Current MOT expires 27 July 2025 – the only advisory was slightly worn brake discs
• V5 present in owner’s name
• HPI clear

Interior

• The fantastic two-tone red leather and black interior is in remarkably good condition for this car’s age
• The only obvious issue is the usual scuffing on the driver’s seat bolster – it’s not worn through, though
• Factory equipment includes: digital instruments, air conditioning, electrically operated windows and mirrors, electrically operated roof, engine stop-start button, headlamp powerwash, airbags, remote audio controls, aluminium pedals, Honda S2000 stainless kick plates, aluminium gear knob, Alcantara sun visors, Xenon headlights
• Original Honda-branded digital radio cassette head unit
• Dig out your old CD collection and you can make use of the factory 10-disc CD autochanger
• The owner said that an issue with the nearside window occurred just before the listing went up – this is scheduled for repair prior to sale and, otherwise, everything is working as it should be

Exterior

• Overall, this S2000 is in sound shape for its age and mileage
• Classic S2000 twin cannon-esque chrome tailpipes finish off what’s still very much a smart-looking design that’s ageing well
• The owner’s very detailed and honest appraisal of the car points out the following cosmetic issues to attend to: some bubbling and stone chips on the bonnet; a tiny dent in the boot; slight bubbling on the front edge of the bonnet; a small rust patch on one of the wheel arches; surface rust on both sills towards the rear wheel arch – oh, and the rear mudguards are missing
• Original 16-inch Honda five-spoke alloys appear free from kerb damage
• No apparent UV damage or cracks on the light lenses
• A new hood was fitted in February 2014 at a cost of £850, which upgraded the original plastic rear window to a glass rear window
• Underneath, this S2000’s had loads of work done to deal with the usual rust issues, including fabricating and seam welding repairs as follows: rear floor and inner sills; the front floor and inner and outer sills; front and rear jacking points; paint all sections as required
• The car comes with a new and unused tonneau cover, a new and unused red garage dust cover, plus two exterior Classic Additions car covers

Mechanical

• 1,997cc, in-line four-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol VTECH – revs to an almighty and wonderful 9,000rpm
• Originally rated at 240 @ 8,300rpm with 153lb ft @ 7,500rpm
• Performance when new was 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds and 160mph top whack
• Mid-front-engine layout producing a perfect 50:50 weight distribution
• Six-speed manual transmission
• Rear-wheel drive with Torsen limited-slip differential
• Double-wishbone suspension
• New battery fitted March 2024
• No known mechanical issues
• The owner tells us that the car starts at the first push of the start button, sounds brilliant and runs perfectly and ‘although engine revs to 9,000 RPM the car has never been driven above 5,000 RPM since we have owned the car except once to 8,000 RPM as a test’
• Engine bay looks free of oil leaks and generally tidy – just cosmetic, age-related issues like the flaking finish of the red rocker cover

Summary

You have a few alternatives if you’re looking at affordable two-seater roadsters, but none will offer the unique driving experience of this Honda S2000. That uniqueness comes directly from its wonderful VTECH motor that revs to 9,000rpm – you’d need to spend somewhat more on a Ferrari 360 to emulate that kind of engineering brilliance.

This particular car is a lovely, original, and solid example. The interior is very clean and, with a little cosmetic work to the exterior, you could easily bring this back to A1 condition. Or, just get out and enjoy it as it is. The choice is yours, so happy bidding.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This car is located in Manchester.