S2000
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 13
From: Redding California
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,094
Likes: 7
From: Stillwater Oklahoma
They are a solid car, but are heavy. They are know to have a problem with Snap understeer too. They are kindof small too. I am a 6 foot guy, and it is a little tight. I feel like I am staring at the top of the windshield.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
A friend of mine owns one, but I've never actually driven one so I can't comment on handling. As others have mentioned, the interior is expectedly cramped. The poster above me, AllRed, is 5' 6" and had a tough time getting in and out of one. I'm 6" even. 
Once you're in though, the ride quality is rather firm and I didn't find the seats anywhere near as comfortable as the C5 seats. Of course that's not why you buy a sports car, but it's a nice bonus to have. The stock sound system is a joke, so if you like listening to music be prepared to do some upgrades to that.
That's about all I can say from a passenger's perspective. And yeah, the car is pretty quick too.
(duh)
Once you're in though, the ride quality is rather firm and I didn't find the seats anywhere near as comfortable as the C5 seats. Of course that's not why you buy a sports car, but it's a nice bonus to have. The stock sound system is a joke, so if you like listening to music be prepared to do some upgrades to that.
That's about all I can say from a passenger's perspective. And yeah, the car is pretty quick too.
(duh)
Last edited by NickT; Dec 11, 2007 at 06:30 PM.
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Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: DFW TEXAS
I owned one before I bought the Z06 and everyone's comments are pretty dead on. It feels extremely light (great in the twisties, provides lots of confidence for beginners), definitely lacks torque compared to a vette (but just fine for daily driving & taking off in 2nd gear), extremely "LOUD" especially compared to the vette (seriously, going over reflectors on the road sounds like you have a bad strut, but this is due to lack of sound deadening material to keep the car as light as possible), interior fits like a glove (rubber glove that is), but that 9K rev sure as hell is fun With all that said...I miss mine every now and then because it's a blast to drive and the shifts are out of this world (very tight shifts)....makes the vette feel like you're driving a diesel truck....
With all that said...I miss mine every now and then because it's a blast to drive and the shifts are out of this world (very tight shifts)....makes the vette feel like you're driving a diesel truck....
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: North Richland Hills TX
I owned 2 of them, an '01 and an '03, before trading up to my Cayman S. They were great weekend/track cars, but not great daily drivers. Prob. about the closest you can get to a sportbike feeling on 4 street legal wheels short of a Ferrari F430 Spyder.
The AP2 ('04+) models have a 2.2L engine w/ more torque, redline lowered from 9K to 8K, more interior room, visual enhancements, and safer handling. The changes make for a better daily driver/in town car, but at the expense of the visceral experience.
They're very polarizing cars - they have a huge following of loyal fans, but also turn many enthusiasts off. Your best bet is to test drive one (or, ideally, at least an AP1 and AP2) and see how well the experience resonates w/ what you want in a sports car.
Lots more good info @ www.s2ki.com and www.s2kca.com. I really enjoyed the 6 years I spent w/ my S2000's.
The AP2 ('04+) models have a 2.2L engine w/ more torque, redline lowered from 9K to 8K, more interior room, visual enhancements, and safer handling. The changes make for a better daily driver/in town car, but at the expense of the visceral experience.
They're very polarizing cars - they have a huge following of loyal fans, but also turn many enthusiasts off. Your best bet is to test drive one (or, ideally, at least an AP1 and AP2) and see how well the experience resonates w/ what you want in a sports car.
Lots more good info @ www.s2ki.com and www.s2kca.com. I really enjoyed the 6 years I spent w/ my S2000's.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 18,139
Likes: 49
From: Grenora ND
(I put 36,000 miles on an 02 S2000)
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,940
Likes: 43
From: shavertown Pa.
Never owned a s2000, but had a few civics, the latest one is an 07, 5 spd stick, for 17 thousand dollars, its an LX, coupe.
Easy to get in and out, and alot of fun to drive, it''s only 140 hp but its likes to go, the Z go's out only on extremly nice days, and I have a cherokee 2 dr for the slop.
But I love to drive this thing and the 39 mpg around town doesn't hurt either, you have room for actual human beings inside, I had a 04 with an auto. wasn't much fun to drive, but this for the price is a fun car, and it keeps the big miles off the Z.
Easy to get in and out, and alot of fun to drive, it''s only 140 hp but its likes to go, the Z go's out only on extremly nice days, and I have a cherokee 2 dr for the slop.
But I love to drive this thing and the 39 mpg around town doesn't hurt either, you have room for actual human beings inside, I had a 04 with an auto. wasn't much fun to drive, but this for the price is a fun car, and it keeps the big miles off the Z.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 10
From: Cupertino CA
I've never even heard of snap understeer.
Understeer is where the front of the car "pushes", and it doesn't turn.
Oversteer is where the back of the car rotates faster than the front.
The S2000 had the most oversteer biased suspension setup of any factory car I've ever owned.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,032
Likes: 124
From: Dallas TX
They are obviously confusing understeer with oversteer.
I had an '05 for nearly 30k miles. It's a sweet, little ride. I leased it and just beat the **** out of it for the whole 30k miles. It ran like a top the whole time. Only issue was a bad strut and I think I blew it out when I went off the track during a roadcourse weekend.
You have to keep it above 6k rpm for any power, but the chassis and balance is superb. I'm 6'2" about 220lbs and I fit comfortably in the car. I didn't have any extra room, but it was cozy enough.
I'm getting back into a Vette, just ordered an '08 C6. Had an '01 C5 for nearly 5 years before selling it, miss a sports car, and trying out the S2000.
I had an '05 for nearly 30k miles. It's a sweet, little ride. I leased it and just beat the **** out of it for the whole 30k miles. It ran like a top the whole time. Only issue was a bad strut and I think I blew it out when I went off the track during a roadcourse weekend.
You have to keep it above 6k rpm for any power, but the chassis and balance is superb. I'm 6'2" about 220lbs and I fit comfortably in the car. I didn't have any extra room, but it was cozy enough.
I'm getting back into a Vette, just ordered an '08 C6. Had an '01 C5 for nearly 5 years before selling it, miss a sports car, and trying out the S2000.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 126
Likes: 29
Just purchased a S2000CR. It is very hard to get in and out. Very fast steering, feels in between the STi and evo. Feels very light and reactive car. Brake feel good. Seats grippy and pretty fun car. No pickup at all.
Last edited by gtr; Dec 21, 2007 at 11:24 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 0
I'm on my 3rd one so I guess you could say I like them.The 06'+ have the VSA which is very unobtrusive and can really save your *** if you get out of control. I sold my C6 to help pay for my son's college bills (why did I have kids?) and really missed having a sports car so I bought the S2000 new for $30k. I'm looking at getting another C6 in 09'. I Was gonna trade my S2000 in but since my buisness venture is starting to pay off I think I'll keep it.As others have said its light on torque and really not that fast in accelleration but is ton's of fun in the twisties.If you live in the mountains like me its a great toy.I'm 6' 160lbs and find the car very live-able.I added a K and N intake and the car sounds like an F1 car ( well sorta).
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 18,139
Likes: 49
From: Grenora ND
I don't know where you guys are getting this snap understeer thing.
I've never even heard of snap understeer.
Understeer is where the front of the car "pushes", and it doesn't turn.
Oversteer is where the back of the car rotates faster than the front.
The S2000 had the most oversteer biased suspension setup of any factory car I've ever owned.
I've never even heard of snap understeer.
Understeer is where the front of the car "pushes", and it doesn't turn.
Oversteer is where the back of the car rotates faster than the front.
The S2000 had the most oversteer biased suspension setup of any factory car I've ever owned.
its an 01. its a blast to drive. excellent car on the twisties. only thing bad i have to say is lack of room. but that comes with that type/size of car
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,260
Likes: 64
From: League City TX
Pros:
Snick-Snick Shifter
Robust Drivetrain
Cool little power top - open air in 15 s.
Cons:
Very small inside.
Very small trunk
Watch for bad tranny synchros and bad clutch
Honda runs some crazy lease offers on these occasionally - so a new one might not be a bad idea if you want a toy for a while.
I used to run an Acura dealer and drove many of these as trade-ins.