2005 Honda S2000
Discussion
I bought this about a month ago but I wanted to do some miles in the car before posting in readers' cars. With the (sad) departure of my 172 Cup a few days ago, the time is right now.
Firstly the obvious point is the engine is completely mental. With my eyes closed I'd say the noise at 8000-9000 RPM was a sports bike. The noise is truly addictive, then a hole seems to appear in the fuel tank
This car represents a lot of 'firsts' for me.
It's my first RWD car.
It's my first roadster! I'd never even been in a convertible before. I "get it" now.
It's my first car with ABS in the 7 years I've been driving. I still haven't owned a car with traction control though.
It's the first car I've had that wasn't a shopping car, or based on a shopping car.
There are more but they are dull things like my first car with leather and air con.
In a straight line I'd say that the 172 Cup matches it for pace most of the time, the additional horsepower doesn't quite negate the extra 250kg the S2K is carrying over the Cup until well inside that VTEC range. That's how it feels to me anyway, whether that's accurate is a question mark. But isn't a car all about how it makes you feel anyway?
There's no doubt though that when pushing on the handling is better, it's nice not to have a squirming front wheel now! I haven't driven it anywhere near quickly through corners yet, I'm easing myself into that.
Currently I have no plans to change anything on the car, though I do like the idea of getting the steering wheel re-wrapped in leather.
Now for the photos after the first wash, clay and polish.
Firstly the obvious point is the engine is completely mental. With my eyes closed I'd say the noise at 8000-9000 RPM was a sports bike. The noise is truly addictive, then a hole seems to appear in the fuel tank
This car represents a lot of 'firsts' for me.
It's my first RWD car.
It's my first roadster! I'd never even been in a convertible before. I "get it" now.
It's my first car with ABS in the 7 years I've been driving. I still haven't owned a car with traction control though.
It's the first car I've had that wasn't a shopping car, or based on a shopping car.
There are more but they are dull things like my first car with leather and air con.
In a straight line I'd say that the 172 Cup matches it for pace most of the time, the additional horsepower doesn't quite negate the extra 250kg the S2K is carrying over the Cup until well inside that VTEC range. That's how it feels to me anyway, whether that's accurate is a question mark. But isn't a car all about how it makes you feel anyway?
There's no doubt though that when pushing on the handling is better, it's nice not to have a squirming front wheel now! I haven't driven it anywhere near quickly through corners yet, I'm easing myself into that.
Currently I have no plans to change anything on the car, though I do like the idea of getting the steering wheel re-wrapped in leather.
Now for the photos after the first wash, clay and polish.
A couple of updates, the car going has been going very well so far.
The first thing I've done is to get the steering wheel re-trimmed in leather.
Secondly, I bought a second set of wheels with the intention of fitting winter tyres to them. They are the 16" wheels from a pre-facelift S2000. I haven't quite decided if I'm going to go ahead with the winter tyres yet though, but the wheels are now ready (apart from lacquer).
They started like this and cost £99.
After primer.
Painted with VHT Graphite wheel paint. (The tyres on them are mashed, so that's why I've not bothered with the cards!)
Cost me about £30 in materials, and about 12 hours work.
That's it for now!
The first thing I've done is to get the steering wheel re-trimmed in leather.
Secondly, I bought a second set of wheels with the intention of fitting winter tyres to them. They are the 16" wheels from a pre-facelift S2000. I haven't quite decided if I'm going to go ahead with the winter tyres yet though, but the wheels are now ready (apart from lacquer).
They started like this and cost £99.
After primer.
Painted with VHT Graphite wheel paint. (The tyres on them are mashed, so that's why I've not bothered with the cards!)
Cost me about £30 in materials, and about 12 hours work.
That's it for now!
robsav said:
favourite colour in them, lovely looking car. health to enjoy!
was all set on getting one a couple years back but even being 30 odd with 10yrs no claims I just couldn't get affordable insurance on one
Where do you live?! I'm 33 and my fully comp insurance is £400.was all set on getting one a couple years back but even being 30 odd with 10yrs no claims I just couldn't get affordable insurance on one
Good thread OP - For top down motoring, I can highly recommend the 'UK exhaust mod'
Mine's mainly standard as well; polybushed suspension when the geo was re-done and a K&N filter in the OEM box. Both also recommended mod's if you go down either route.
There's a wealth of info on s2ki.com if you haven't found it already...
Janosh said:
Good thread OP - For top down motoring, I can highly recommend the 'UK exhaust mod'
Mine's mainly standard as well; polybushed suspension when the geo was re-done and a K&N filter in the OEM box. Both also recommended mod's if you go down either route.
There's a wealth of info on s2ki.com if you haven't found it already...
What's the exhaust mod? Yep, found my way on to s2ki.Mine's mainly standard as well; polybushed suspension when the geo was re-done and a K&N filter in the OEM box. Both also recommended mod's if you go down either route.
There's a wealth of info on s2ki.com if you haven't found it already...
TREMAiNE said:
The wheel looks fantastic. How much did that cost?
It was £140, plus the cost of sending my old wheel back to the guy. Completely unnecessary but it's lovely to drive with.Daston said:
Nice thinking on the cards! Will be using that trick for sure 
Nice looking S2k
Thanks. Careful with the cards though, as it blocks paint from getting to the very edge of wheel near the tyre. You have to make sure you spray some paint from the outside on to that edge, quite tricky though.Nice looking S2k
bracken78 said:
Very nice looking S2000. Same interior and color as my first one... maybe it is! Does it have little twitters in the seats behind your head?
It doesn't, I think that was introduced in 2006 and mine is a 2005. That would be nice, as would an SLK style 'air scarf' 
The 'winter' set of wheels are done now, but I'm still on the fence over winter tyres as the really, really cold weather where they will be useful is quite short.
Very nice Moonrock? Lovely colour.
Just in time for summer........
Currently debating whether to put winter tyres on ours for the 'just in case it snows' days, but might just end up buying something cheap for winter duties. Maybe something a little more practical!
So, this secret compartment..........where is it??
Moonrock? Lovely colour.Just in time for summer........
Currently debating whether to put winter tyres on ours for the 'just in case it snows' days, but might just end up buying something cheap for winter duties. Maybe something a little more practical!
So, this secret compartment..........where is it??
Gaz. said:
You did well finding a set if 16's! I've been trying to find a set for two years that are within a convenient distance to collect.
Really? I looked on ebay one evening and found this set just 10 minutes away. I got a pretty good deal from my point of view. They were badly corroded, but not curbed at all, so the refurb was not too major.My winter tyres have been ordered. 2 of them have arrived at the garage that is fitting them, the other two are still in transit. Hoping to have them on the car tomorrow if the other 2 arrive in time.
Hallsy01 said:
Very nice Moonrock? Lovely colour.
Just in time for summer........
I bought it at the beginning of August, so I still had quite a lot of time in the good weather Moonrock? Lovely colour.Just in time for summer........
I had the top down on the way home from work today, it was a nice crisp sunny afternoon.Here is the car with winters fitted. They are Nokian WRD3s, a supposedly great all round winter tyre (the reviews say fantastic in snow, high performer in wet/dry conditions).
I quite like the alternative look. Even though they don't look as good as the 17s, I'm liking the change of style and the change of colour. The ride is smoother which is quite nice, the front feels a bit wayward but is improving as the tyres scrub a bit, and the rear grip is great.
I have a sticky front left caliper to sort now. Weighing up options of buying a refurbished one for £130 or buying a repair kit for £20...
I quite like the alternative look. Even though they don't look as good as the 17s, I'm liking the change of style and the change of colour. The ride is smoother which is quite nice, the front feels a bit wayward but is improving as the tyres scrub a bit, and the rear grip is great.
I have a sticky front left caliper to sort now. Weighing up options of buying a refurbished one for £130 or buying a repair kit for £20...
So the front left brake caliper got really bad, and the front right was not far away. The car was beginning to feel extremely sluggish, fuel economy was taking a big hit and the wheels themselves were very warm to the touch after only 10 miles of driving. So obviously I stopped driving it completely.
Today I had both front calipers changed for refurbished units from http://www.brake-eng.com/ - they are distributed by www.brakeparts.co.uk. They are £130 each, but you get £30 back for each of your old calipers as they refurb those and send them out again.
After driving 40 miles this evening all seems well. The car feels spritely and lively again, and I'm pretty sure the fuel economy will improve.
Not impressed with the frequency that these calipers go, as a quick google will show that this is common. Which is funny considering the fabled Honda reliability. Yet in 3.5 years of owning a Renault Clio 172 which a lot of people would say is going to break all the time, I was never actually unable to drive the thing. I even had to get the train this weekend!
Hey ho, at least it was fixed for less than Honda wanted to charge... £1300
Today I had both front calipers changed for refurbished units from http://www.brake-eng.com/ - they are distributed by www.brakeparts.co.uk. They are £130 each, but you get £30 back for each of your old calipers as they refurb those and send them out again.
After driving 40 miles this evening all seems well. The car feels spritely and lively again, and I'm pretty sure the fuel economy will improve.
Not impressed with the frequency that these calipers go, as a quick google will show that this is common. Which is funny considering the fabled Honda reliability. Yet in 3.5 years of owning a Renault Clio 172 which a lot of people would say is going to break all the time, I was never actually unable to drive the thing. I even had to get the train this weekend!
Hey ho, at least it was fixed for less than Honda wanted to charge... £1300
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