New Honda S2000

[Pac]

Hello all.

I used to talk on Porsche site, but have been away for some time and back again now!!

I am looking at the Honda S2000 as a new company car. Has anyone any thoughts or experience of this car?

The other roadster alternatives were MR2 (too slow) or Audi TT (too many).

Thanks in advance.

[incorrigible]

You need to talk to Mr Blue Sky, much better idea of a "proper" company car

[hoganscrogan]

Great car, if you get a good dealer. That was the only reasoin I got pissed off with the thing, couple of problems and the dealers were very poor. (Leeds and Bradford dealers).

Amazing fun, if you get one take the airbox top off for some extra noise!!

Also there are a few posts on gassingstation somewhere about peoples s2000 views

[iguana]

Ive not owned one, but did have one for a play. Thepower is pretty much the same as any dull 2 litre saloon till about 6500-7000rpm and then from there till 9000rpm when it pumps out 240bhp its a properly quick car if obiously rather frantic but more flexible thatr the 1800cc Civic typre R engine. Handling wise I found it fine ( I know the early ones were not rated by the press) with tail out action easily controled ( allthough you need the revs up, my only moan was the gearing. As with sod all torque below 7k many tight bends needed 1st gear to make a rapid get away and on a twisty road you often never get out of 2nd if you really want to hustle along.

Overall I liked it, and the build quality is ace. But you must try a Boxster if your budget allows.

[adeewuff]

iguana said: ....but more flexible thatr the 1800cc Civic typre R engine.

I wasn't aware that my Hondas engine had shrunk to 1800cc????

[douglasr]

I own one of the new 2002 models, It has been everything I expected and more. Its main criticism in the press has been the tail happy handling and the power delivery. The handling is much improved on the 2002 model, although the OEM tyres are not good in wet, cold conditions, hence the tail happy reputation. The power delivery is as you would expect...it feels like any other 2 litre engine until 6000 rpm, then the VTEC kicks in and you will get to 60 in 5.7 and 100 in 14.3...not bad. You need to drive it like you stole it to get the best from it, and when you do, its fantastic. The things that have surprised me are the excellent build quality and the refinement. The car has never leaked...not even in the worst downpour I have ever experienced on a motorway. At 70 on the motorway with the top up, you can have a normal conversation with your passenger. Since its a company car, I'm not sure of the 240g/m CO2 is a problem tax wise...maybe the TT is better...the Elise will be about half that !

Depending on your budget, I would have a look at the TT and the Elise. The Boxster at £31K in basic spec makes the S2000 a bargain.

go here for all the info you could ever want:
www.s2ki.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=5eeff927051efd5ae33ab1188441886d&forumid=25

[Mark Benson]

I have an S2000 as a company car.
I looked at the Elise and the TT as alternatives (both on the company car list).
Elise is great, I would have gone for it had I not a 100 mile round trip commute every day. If you don't have long motorway distances to drive, the Elise would be a good choice, so long as you understand the compromises you have to make if it's your only car.
The TT was an appalingly poor drive IMHO. A wooden car, using gizmos to compensate for the fact it is based on a bland hatchback platform. Yes, it's quick point to point, but there is absolutely no involvement for the driver and I found the coupe's cabin oppressive.
I chose the S2000 because it was RWD, has a decent amount of oomph delivered from a n/a engine and it has enough comfort for long periods in the drivers seat.

Yes, to get the full 240bhp performance you need to keep it in vtec (not too difficult with the sweetest gearbox I've ever used) but who needs all that on the Monday commute? In traffic, it's as easy to drive as any car (exception being cold wet weather when you make allowances for the fact it's a RWD car etc. etc.).
When you get it out on track it's a sharp handling sports car, easy to chuck around (post 2002 model adjustments) and laps as quickly as much more expensive machinery in the right hands. It has double wishbones all round, 50:50 weight distribution and excellent brakes.

You either love or hate Honda engines, but for me it provides the perfect Jekyll and Hyde car, plods along with the motorway traffic while commuting, but when the conditions allow, it's a lot of funfor the money.