Question about Honda S2000
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
The big thing to think about with an S2000 is not how fast it is, it's living with it that's a problem.
In normal, day-to-day traffic, it has no torque. You really have to use the gears constantly to keep it on the boil. No relaxed cruise to work for you.
Now, if you don't have to fight traffic and all you ever need a car for is going to play in the mountains, it's a fine car, but few of us have that sort of luxury.
In normal, day-to-day traffic, it has no torque. You really have to use the gears constantly to keep it on the boil. No relaxed cruise to work for you.
Now, if you don't have to fight traffic and all you ever need a car for is going to play in the mountains, it's a fine car, but few of us have that sort of luxury.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 524
Likes: 0
From: Draper Ut
Best friend's S2000 is absolutely a blast to drive. Drove it for a month steadily while he was away for business. Will it take a C5 in the twisties??? Answer is no all things being equal. Do not under estimate the g-force a C5 can pull with a good driver. Do I love driving S2000's..Absolutely. Would I own one..NO. 
BTW.. My friend is now selling his S2000 for a Vette. He will cut you a fantastic deal if you'd like.
BTW.. My friend is now selling his S2000 for a Vette. He will cut you a fantastic deal if you'd like.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,549
Likes: 0
From: MDT
i had an 87 c4; sold it about 5 yrs ago. recently snagged a 2000 c5 silver coupe. i realize that opinions will indeed vary but the c5 is a better car in every way. take one out for a ride; i think you'll guickly get a sense of what a c5 is. good luck. bub
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,706
Likes: 552
From: St. Peters MO
C7 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
2018 C7 of Year Finalist
Originally Posted by donkeykong
I just sold my C4 and am looking into getting a C5.
I really like the S2000 as well.
Now I know that the C5 will totally hand the S2000 it's *** in a straight line.
What about the twisties. I took a long test drive in an S2000 last weekend, and I must say I really enjoyed it. I thought the handling was awesome.
I haven't had the opportunity to drive a C5 yet. Has anybody here driven or owned both? What about racing them at a track event? Were they even competition? I would like to here from you.
*No need for flames, I like all vehicles. I would just like to know how these two compare in the handling department.
Johnny
I really like the S2000 as well.
Now I know that the C5 will totally hand the S2000 it's *** in a straight line.
What about the twisties. I took a long test drive in an S2000 last weekend, and I must say I really enjoyed it. I thought the handling was awesome.
I haven't had the opportunity to drive a C5 yet. Has anybody here driven or owned both? What about racing them at a track event? Were they even competition? I would like to here from you.
*No need for flames, I like all vehicles. I would just like to know how these two compare in the handling department.
Johnny
Instructor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: Warrenton va
Not Sure but....
I have never driven an S2000 but I recently got back from http://www.sportscardrivingexperience.com and learned what the vette is capable of. As said in other posts in this thread it is all about the driver and keeping the balance of the car where it needs to be. The vette is much more capable than most drivers think. Going into a turn in any car the wrong way can be bad. Without getting the load of the car to the front some and keeping some on the rear to not oversteer any car will have trouble correcting the problem.
The vette is very capable but just like any car you need to know how to transfer the load correctly.
By the way, the Race Ready Z06 with slicks was really hot to drive. It hook up very well and pulled very hard out the last turn allowing most drivers to get to 130-140 to the first turn to slow down to 70 or so to get through the first turn.
The vette is very capable but just like any car you need to know how to transfer the load correctly.
By the way, the Race Ready Z06 with slicks was really hot to drive. It hook up very well and pulled very hard out the last turn allowing most drivers to get to 130-140 to the first turn to slow down to 70 or so to get through the first turn.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
From: Annapolis MD
I bought an S2000 in Dec 99 and kept it until May 2004. It was a fine car, with about the best 6 speed transmission ever built. Cornered as if it were on rails. Lots of fun if you enjoyed shifting, and a blast when VTEC kicked in. It had no torque, so that part was annoying. Great brakes, great build quality and nice looking. No CL problems there. But I prefer my C5. Why? For the looks and the motor and the fact that I can actually get enough stuff in it to take it on a trip. Horsespit GM built quality, but what a motor.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 585
Likes: 0
From: Park Ridge NJ
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by C5 MANIAC
You need to drive a C5 first, and you will totally forget about the HONDA! 
Thats exactly what happened to me. drove that and the boxter.... both were rather effeminate compared to the Vette...
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Verdad Gallardo
Lifetime Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,702
Likes: 76
From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05, '12-'13, '15-'16, '21
Originally Posted by army2000
Unfortunately the S2000 and Corvette are two totally different animals. The Honda may be nimble and it looks "cute", but it just "ain't no Vette". 20 years from now our cars will be classic, 20 years from now the Honda will be a "Coca-Cola Classic" 
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,710
Likes: 0
From: Langhorne PA
My wife has the S2000. I've got the Vette. Both are not DDs. Was able to take her's on a road trip last weekend. It's.......OK to drive but it's no Vette. There is one really nice feature...the power top. Too much wind, goes up at a stoplight very easily. The C6's are able to do this. That's about all the positive that I can think of.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 588
Likes: 0
From: TX
I ran a turbo s2000 with a big intercooler, (that all i could see) lets just say this sucker stayed bye up through 145+ then i started to pull a lenght or 2! (IM 400 rwhp) 
Their cute, their fun but they aint no vette. Obviously they can be made very fast but im sure at a high price.
Their cute, their fun but they aint no vette. Obviously they can be made very fast but im sure at a high price.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I have been looking into them recently for my new DD and spent some time lurking on the Honda board. I was surprised that several folks had the motor grenade and Honda completely blew them off and stuck them with the bill. This was under warranty. Once I read of their experiences, I kind of cooled on the car. I do like the style and the feel of the cockpit, but now I am nervous if I have a problem Honda won't help so I have started looking elsewhere. My short list is now the Solstice, Mustang and Miata although I will take a lot of crap from friends if I get a Miata even though the 06 model looks pretty good.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,263
Likes: 0
From: Bealeton Virginia
Originally Posted by donkeykong
I can tell that this is a Corvette place, considering that I've been a member here 3 years longer then you, and have quite a few more posts as well. I'm on this board 3 or 4 hours a day.
I also realize that the 2 cars are different. I would just like to know about the difference in handling.
Johnny
I also realize that the 2 cars are different. I would just like to know about the difference in handling.
Johnny
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 3
From: Life moves pretty fast... if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it!
CI 6-8-9 Veteran
I think the Honda is a great car, I just have problems with the 'cute' side of it. I know it's not a Miata, but that whole group of cars, from Mazda, BMW, Honda, etc. kind of go against the reason that I have a Vette. It's that classic 'muscle' with just enough handling and rugged, not 'cute' look to it. It's a classic American! Just my 2 cents. Zuti
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,257
Likes: 8
From: Avon CT
I test drove a couple before getting my C5. My son has one. It is a fun car and high quality, but too small if you are a big guy or tall. You have to keep the rpm's up which is a pain in traffic, but I am sorry to say it shifts better than my car. Even with my Hurst shifter. Some people like driving with high rpm's all the time. Trunk is smaller than a C5 if that is a consideration. They are very nice cars.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 857
Likes: 0
From: Olympia WA
I was a Honda tech. for over 20 yrs. have driven many S2000's I think in a tight track or autocross coarse the Honda will win. But in any other type of driving ( street, drag, or open track) my Z-51 vette will kick its butt. The S2000 is more like a sport bike it loves high RPM, but get it in the wrong gear its a dog. (no torque) If you think there is no room in a vette the S2000 is worse, small trunk and no room in interior, with the top up it is right by your head.(that bugs me) Honda also has had some problems with motors being over revved, by missed shifts, mostly down shifts. But I have never seen warr. denied to a customer, unlike Chevy. P.S. I'd buy the vette(Z-51 or Z-06)
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
From: Perry Hall MD
The Honda is constantly getting electrical problems, column lock, horns blowing for no reason, seat switches being activated by some ghost, leather seats aren't worth a damn, the seat bolsters break, every light bulb must be replaced much sooner than normal, and a host of other problems... Oh' yea that's the Corvette. 
The Honda will be trouble free. :o Maybe that's why Chevrolet is on the verge.
Oh' yea that's the Corvette. The Honda will be trouble free. :o Maybe that's why Chevrolet is on the verge.
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,743
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
I test drove a S2000 a couple of months ago and thought it was a great car. I had more fun driving that thing that my Vette, even though the vette is faster straightline. I thought about getting an S2000 for the wife...fast enough for her and very fun to drive.