S2000
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 40
From: Orangevale California
St. Jude Donor '10
I was actually considering one around the same time that I was shopping for my C5. I have driven a few and was loaned one for a full weekend. I will try to sum it up as follows:
When driven normally, it drives like your standard Honda Civic making the standard Honda engine sound (sewing machine). When you rev the sh*t out of it, it wakes up and makes some decent horsepower with a F1-like sound. Torque is non existant, however. It is fun to drive but you have to like keeping the engine above 8000RPM. They are nice cars, with excellent handling but I am glad I picked the C5 instead. The two are completely different beasts. As far as bang for the buck goes, C5 all the way!
When driven normally, it drives like your standard Honda Civic making the standard Honda engine sound (sewing machine). When you rev the sh*t out of it, it wakes up and makes some decent horsepower with a F1-like sound. Torque is non existant, however. It is fun to drive but you have to like keeping the engine above 8000RPM. They are nice cars, with excellent handling but I am glad I picked the C5 instead. The two are completely different beasts. As far as bang for the buck goes, C5 all the way!
While working for a Honda dealership, I had an oppurtunity to PDI (pre delivery inspection, which includes a spirited test drive) these cars. The above description is pretty accurate, however they are amazing cars that are engineered to the hilt.
When they first came out, they were famous for having the highest horsepower per liter of any naturally aspirated factory installed engine. With 237 HP out of a 1997 cc engine, it equates to 118HP per liter. If you push those numbers out to a 5.7 liter engine, our Corvettes would have to have 676 HP, stock.
They are fantastic cars, capable of being putted around all day in traffic with a factory race car engine under the hood. The clutch is smooth and easy and it shifts as easy as my Accord. I may still add one of these to my stable.
If you're thinking about getting one, I recommend an '07 or later due to the improved front end styling.
Last edited by flynbyu2; Feb 1, 2010 at 12:06 PM. Reason: for living
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,847
Likes: 10
From: Bartlett, IL
Cruise-In XI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Good friend of mine used to own one, got to drive it on a few occasions, its a blast to drive, small, tight handling and easy to toss around but as others have mentioned due to the small displacement it likes to be revved...... polar opposite experience from driving a V8 corvette.... not a bad opposite, just different, its certainly not a car for everybody. As mentioned its hard to be a C5 in terms of bang for buck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,074
Likes: 0
From: Marietta ga
Personally, I like how smallish it is. To me, cars have gotten way to big over the years, including my C5. Good handling. But man-o-man, you gotta beat the ever lovin' schizzle outta them things before you get any decent power.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,032
Likes: 124
From: Dallas TX
Had one for a couple of years, an '05 model. Nice cars, but they definitely lack power compared to a Vette (obviously). Fun to drive and nimble handling with a great gearbox and good suspension. Overall, a nicely engineered roadster, but Honda has discontinued them after a 9 or 10 year run.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,032
Likes: 124
From: Dallas TX
There wasn't a lot of excess room in my '05, but I'm 6'2", 225lbs and I fit fine in the car. It was snug, but comfortable...well, at least as comfortable as a 2 seat roadster with a sports suspension would feel. 
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 18,126
Likes: 49
From: Grenora ND
I had an 02 S2000 (watched it roll off the truck at the Honda dealership) great little car, if you like a pure sports car.. (think a British MG on steroids, that's reliable) around town, it's just like any other small nat aspirated engine.. slow.. not till you get over 6000 rpm and the "VTEC" kicks in does it get any power (and yes VTEC is nice, I'd love to have it on my V8)
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