Honda S2000: Spotted
How does a large and prodigious car manufacturer at the top of its game celebrate turning 50?
The Honda Motor Company was officially formed in 1949 and, to mark the firm's jubilee (an event that occurs every 50 years, incidentally), it gave the world the S2000, a rear-wheel drive, two-seat drop-top sports car of prodigious performance, 50/50 weight distribution and impressively low polar moments of inertia.
It had even more than that: for starters there was a wonderful 2.0-litre 16-valve VTEC engine which produced 240hp at 8,300rpm. It was a vivid screamer that could potter all day and then hammer like a racer at the switch of a cam profile. Top speed was 150mph - wonderfully quick - and the 0 to 60mph time was 6.0 seconds - delightfully brisk. Chuck in a slick six-speed 'box and a Torsen limited-slip diff and suddenly things looked decidedly juicy.
And there was more. The front/mid-engined layout, the low centre of gravity, the wide track, the aluminium double-wishbone suspension, the rigid frame, the high-geared electric power steering, the special Bridgestone tyres, the digital instruments and even a hood that was quick to use. It was all tremendously well thought out and brilliant fun on the road - and it was an 'onda, so it'd never go wrong.
I have to point out at this stage that some thought the on-the-limit handling of the earlier cars too twitchy, and others weren't convinced by that electric steering (later models had minor mods to quell its zest), but punting an S2000 of any vintage down a winding road on a sunny day will still have you laughing out loud - it's a yaw-busting, jaw-aching hoot.
What isn't such a cause for laughter is that some time back you could have picked one up for under £5k, but this one, spied in our classifieds for a mere £7.5k, is about as low as you're going to get now. It's still a good price, though, especially for a car with plenty of history and only 79k on board - this one's also a GT model with a hardtop - and the value's only going to go one way.
An investment in which you can have fun? Sounds like a cause for celebration to me.
SPECIFICATION - HONDA S2000
Engine: 1,997cc, 4-cyl
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 240@8,300rpm
Torque (lb ft): 162@6,500rpm
MPG: 28.3
CO2: 236g/km
First registered: 2000
Recorded mileage: 79,000
Price new: £25,995
Yours for: £7,500
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Mark Pearson
However i bought my S2000 for £4K 4 years ago, its not been the most reliable an needed a few quid spent on it, however when all working its such fun to drive on some fun roads.
I like it so much i just cant bring myself to sell it!!
Personally I think the investment opportunity boat has sailed on these now. A year to 18 months back you could get a tidy one for 5k. The same car now is close to double that and I can't see them going much higher unless it is something particularly special.
I would still love one but I don't think I'm willing to pay the premium for a good one.
Everything seemed like it was designed with a singularity or purpose, and moved with the precision of a well-oiled rifle bolt (if rifle bolts are indeed oiled?).
I have to ask the question I guess, but as people comment on the lack of torque, what is the car like with a supercharger kit from TTS performance?
Either way, one of these is on my radar for myself and SWMBO to use for a long drive into southern France and onto Spain. I’m sure there’s more relaxing cars to do the trip in, but other than a TVR or a Coxster, I can’t think of anything I’d prefer at this price point...
Took my 14 year old daughter out for a leisurely drive in mine last night. We found ourselves at the Hindhead tunnel, so we went through it. Three times.
Laughing her head off she was. I've had mine 5 years this August, it's staying with me until I can't get in it anymore.
When just pootling around (hardly the point of a car like this) it was fine, no more difficult to drive than a warm hatchback, apart from slightly worse visibility with the roof up, or perhaps more pertinently an MX-5.
When hammering it, it sounded brilliant, but if I recall correctly, by the time the engine hit 9k RPM in 2nd, you were already over the 60 limit and changing into 3rd dropped you the bottom of the VTEC point, so you may as well just shift straight into 6th.
Mine also had far too may rattles after only a year of ownership and around 10k miles.
Having said that, I still miss it a little bit......But not enough to want to own another one.
For a 2.0litre car, it’s about average.
For a 240bhp car, it’s low (NA, you’d usually be looking at a 3.0 V6 for this sort of power)
However, it’s got a gearbox with a lovely action. Use it, and the revs, and an S2000 can be a wonderful thing. Not perfect, but don’t imperfections add to the charm?
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