Consumer Reviews

S2000 ~NO better bang for your buck ! PERIOD !

by Lee from S2K owner Indiana on Fri Sep 01 2006

I've owned several cars in the Honda S2000's class including: BMW Z-4 , Porsche Boxster, Nissan 350Z, Toyota MR-2 Spider and even Lotus Elise and I would abolutely buy the S2K over any of them again and again. With the exception of the Elise none of these cars handles better. With S2000's x-beam frame and high reving (9000 RPM redline) 240 hp 2.0l I-4 VTEC (thats over 100hp per litre folks!) and very light body, for a short list,none of these cars even come close to these stats for the MSRP ($32k average). Pure unadulterated adrenaline! Take the time, do the comparison research and see if I'm wrong. ....and then tear up the road!!

Purchased a New car

Does recommend this car!!

12 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Did you?

A true sports car, not a sporty car.

by DangerWiilRobinson from Zephyrhills FL on Mon Sep 10 2012

I have owned a 2000 and 2004 S2000 and have driven over 100,00 miles between the two. It's a sports car not a sporty car. If you don't know the difference, Move on. The 2000-2003 2 litre models were the better sports car. In 2004 honda lengthened the engine's stroke making it a 2.2L. Having owned both models I can tell you that honda got it right the first time. Early models had some teething pains. Check for service bulletins on transmission syncro's and gear resonance. If the transmission grinds when shift from 1st to 2nd gear at high RPM it isn't you. It's the transmission. They could also make gear resonance noise. If it sounds like an exhaust heat shield vibrating when you let off the gas, It's gear resonance. Though it's annoying it wont hurt anything. These transmission issues should have been fixed when the car was in warranty. If not transmission tear down time. Do your homework If the clutch pedal squeaks when depressed. It's the clutch fork. The fork has been updated. There's a Service bulletin that says to lube it but I haven't seen it work. Had to R&R the clutch fork on mine. Once again transmission pull time. Convertible tops have been known to wear prematurely from the inside due to sharp angles on the frame. Round the edges with sandpaper. The original bridgestone S02 rear tires don't last long and cost over $200 each so many used cars on the market have inferior replacement tires. This car is capable of 150+mph. Tires should be ZR rated. Overall a great perfectly balanced track car that's also very capable every daily driver. You'll love it. And buy a radar detector.

Purchased a Used car

Uses car for Just getting around

Does recommend this car!!

12 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Did you?

Best Driver's Car under $85,000

by m. from San Francisco, CA on Tue Mar 12 2013

I wanna start by saying i like to test drive cars for fun. It's a geeky hobby, but it beats a movie. The first 3 years of the Honda S2K are flawless driver's cars. If you just wanna go fast in a straight line or look all manly, or if you don't understand the physics of driving, this is probably not the car for you. Get a muscle car or something with electronics that won't allow you to crash and a shiny, shiny brand name. But if an empty mountain road and a perfectly balanced, light, rwd sports car sounds like heaven on earth to you, go drive an early S2000. You'll buy one too. It has the most intuitive transmission ever, you can feel the smallest details in the road through the steering wheel, the car's balance is in right in your hands, the handling is telepathic, it revs to 9000rpm(!), it gets more bhp per liter than any car ever, (245bhp, 2L, NA/ so no turbo lag) except the ferrari 458 italia, it has an excellent trunk for it's size, better leg room than my mother's civic, you can reach all the in-car controls w/o taking your hands off the wheel, the heater keeps you warm on a cold night with the top DOWN, and it's a perfectly competent daily driver. if you growl around town in 4th gear, you can get 40+ mpg. You can also empty the tank in an a couple hours if you wanna scream around at 80mph in 2nd gear :) but lately i've been filling up once a month. ONCE. Twice a month if i drive every day. And i live in san francisco. i could literally go on about this car forever. Best of all, it's perfect proof that good power-to-weight and a manual transmission is more eco-friendly than any hybrid. Most cars make more pollution being built than they ever will being driven. The S2 is mostly aluminum, so it won't rust, it was only shipped once before going on sale, it doesn't have two engines, it doesn't have both a nickel battery AND a lead battery, it's very light, and it's not made of plastic. Plastic is, of course, a petroleum product.) I'm proud to be called a tree-hugger. Please ignore the hybrid hype. Hybrids are terrible for the environment, and only good for the wallet if you drive slowly all the time. And...that's true for every car ever. If you wanna save the world, get an old car from a country not powered by coal. While i'm at it, there's no such thing as "clean coal". It's just a catch phrase.) Did i mention that it's a convertible with 4 star rollover rating? 5 stars everywhere else, if i recall correctly. The only weaknesses that spring to mind are the roof (the original roof is one of those vinyl-type things, and they eventually wear holes at the joints. Replace it with a cloth one with a glass window and you'll be fine), and the brass synchros in the transmission. If you treat it kindly, they'll last forever, but if you do need to replace the transmission, the newer ones have carbon fiber synchros, so...again, no worries. The only reason someone who loves driving for driving's sake would buy anything else would be a need for more seats. Even with unlimited funds, there are very few cars that feel better on the road than this one. Go drive it, see for yourself, and i'll see you around town in your shiny new S2K.

Purchased a Used car

Uses car for Commuting

Does recommend this car!!

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Did you?

Great car for the value!!!

by bbd324 from on Mon Jan 16 2012

This car is fantastic!!! It handles freakin crazy good, it accelerates when you want it to and its actually very comfortable. I am 6' 3'' and i fit in this vehicle very comfortably. Highly recommended, HOnda reliablility, car looks sexy, and when vtec hits... you're put into a different place. AWESOME CAR!!!!!!

Purchased a Used car

Does recommend this car!!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Did you?

The Most Practically Impractical Car

by 9000RPM from Phoenix, AZ on Fri Aug 18 2017

I love the S2000! It is a fantastic vehicle with nothing else like it. It was built as a tribute to Honda's racing roots, and it nailed it perfectly. The exterior of this car was beautifully sculpted, and the car just looks fast and elegant while sitting. It has a timeless design, and became an instant classic. The interior is a mix of luxury and a performance-oriented design. Every single aspect of the interior was designed with the driver in mind. All of your controls are at your fingertips, and you rarely ever need to take your hands off the wheel. It's not the fastest car out there, but it has plenty of pep, and it handles like it's on rails. The 6-speed transmission and the 9,000 RPM redline make for an enjoyable experience every time you start it up, whether the top is up or down. The S2000 is a car you can't help but grow attached to. I can't count the number of times I've opened the garage door just to admire it.

Purchased a Used car

Uses car for Having fun

Does recommend this car!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you?

A Keeper for Life!

by Jdrum1 from West Texas on Wed May 20 2015

There isn't much I can say about the s2000 that hasn't already been said; one of the best drivers cars made! I've had mine about 4 years, and am sitting at around 85k miles. It looks, runs, and drives like new. If you are considering one, you need to be educated on the following; 1. Transmission; yes, the AP1 has brass synchronizers. If the transmission has been abused (drag racing, skipping gears, and overly fast shifts), they wear out. Minor grinds can often be remedied by proper technique, MTF choice (tried 4 fluids before finding the best in my car; Redline MT90), and clutch play adjustment. Most AP1 transmission issues are overblown. I'm betting many AP1 transmissions were repaired/replaced before it was actually necessary. 2. Clutch; another reviewer mentions replacing the slave cylinder. The slave cylinder gets burs. It can be disassembled, and the burs ground off. Easy fix! 3. Valve Retainers; The AP1 exhaust retainers have the potential to crack, causing a valve to drop (can happen if engine is mechanically over-revved). The preventative solution is to upgrade to AP2 valve retainers. 4. Oil Banjo Bolts; In some situations, the design of these bolts can lead to oil starvation. I've only seen it happen on heavily tracked cars. Upgrading to AP2 bolts is the preventative solution. 5. Oil Consumption; The F20c engine has a reputation for oil use. Some oil types seem to vanish faster than others. My car does best with Castrol Edge (maybe .5 quarts between changes). Some oil consumption is perfectly normal. Keep an eye on the dipstick! 6. Differential; Rumor has it, Honda made the diff out of glass. Seriously, don't launch your s2000 and you'll be fine. It's not a drag car anyway. 7. Weak Top; The early cars came with a cruddy plastic rear window. Most cars have now been upgraded to an aftermarket top with a glass window. Surprisingly, my '00 still has it's original top! All said, this is a pretty minor list of issues for a 15 y/o car. The only unplanned repair was a new radiator (go with an all aluminum aftermarket model). With maintenance, they can give many miles of pure driving enjoyment with VERY little invested.

Purchased a Used car

Uses car for Having fun

Does recommend this car!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you?

Pretty much as feviewed here

by Phil from Socal on Sun Jul 03 2016

Drove an 2002 for about 9 years. Everything was original, including the top. The trick is to put some black cloth tape on the underside at the obvious places. Unfortunately a garage fire put and end to its useful life. Good low mileage ones are getting harder to find at a reasonable price. Guys who can finally afford one turn them in to scrap because of inexperience. I recently found an 2000 at a price the insurance company decided was the worth of my old one. I have owned and driven many vehicles in my 83 years. They include troop transports, Porches and Bently double turbo coupe. Price aside, the Honda is my kind of car. I've only owned manual trannies and this 6 speed is the best I have ever driven. A little experience will fix the occasional crunch. Learn to pause for a fraction of a second between shifts and double clutch as you downshift. I don't think there is a better bang for the buck if you learn to drive it. If you don't it will suddenly try to swap ends. The AP 2's have been changed to make them more for the masses and forgive a little bit more. I use Honda MTF in the gearbox and Mobil1 gear oil in the differential. Change them when due and you'll get good service from them.

Purchased a Used car

Does recommend this car!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you?

My S2000

by STLJ from St. Louis on Tue Sep 14 2010

Owned the car since new only problems were dealer created during servicing. 65K miles and still take her out on nice weekends. Original tires are dangerous in wet weather very little grip.

Purchased a New car

Uses car for Having fun

Does recommend this car!!

6 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Did you?

The Definition of a Roadster!

by S2000 Fan from Rural Illinois on Sat Feb 12 2011

Its little engine revs to 9K rpm if you dare challenge the speed limits and sheriff. This is a classic roadster and it definitely turn heads. There is virtually no body torque or convertible shake with the solid X frame design. Interior space is tight and a good incentive to diet in anticipation of warmer months taking it out on the road. The location of the trunk release is annoying and hiding the radio behind a panel takes some adjustment. AC is strong and decadent to use with the top down on a hot day. Finding one with the right mileage and prior care will be worth the effort.

Purchased a Used car

Uses car for Having fun

Does recommend this car!!

5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Did you?

Beasty car

by s2000 dude from on Sat Feb 14 2009

this is da best car EVER lol....i have beaten DUMB mustangs wit this....this is my V8 eater..............................................................................

Purchased a Used car

Does recommend this car!!

5 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Did you?