After its arrival just before the year 2000 and the 50th anniversary of the brand, Honda's S2000 revolutionized the world of the convertible sports coupes with is 4 cylinder 2.0L VTEC engine (F20C) that developed 240bhp, a world record for an atmospheric engine with its 120bhp per litre. Honda offered a revolutionary and ultra-performing vehicle with a red zone that started at 9000rpm!
The S2000 was not only a success from a technical point of view, it also has tons of character and a superb design based on the following formula: sports coupe + power + simple lines + convertible. It was very hard not to succumb to the charm of the S2000 when it first hit the market, whilst others tried to lure customers with cars that were designed with complex lines and shapes. Honda adopted an incredible elegance with a long diving nose that reminded us of some of the most superb Britannic creations.
From the moment it was available, I had the chance of testing the very first series of the S2000 for the European market and that started the long love story between the S2000 and myself. An exceptional vehicle that offered incredible and GT-like performances, that's what the S2000 meant in my dictionary...
Time went by, and the market saw the apparition of an incredible number of successors to the throne of the "2 door roadster" empire: the BMW Z3 (1996) and Z4, the Mazda Roadster (already available here since 1989), the M-B SLK (199, the Nissan Fairlady Z350, the Porsche Boxster, the Audi TT, ... Six years later, the S2000 is not the only kid on the block anymore and we asked ourselves whether this superb vehicle was showing its age and whether it still had the grunt to screw the competition away.
In what ways did the S2000 change over the past years you might ask? Well, the diabolical roadster changed in quite a lot of ways... the original 2.0L engine was replaced by a 2.2L that develops 242bhp, the red zone starts at 8000rpm now, the first 4 gears of the 6-speed gearbox have been shortened, you get more torque nowadays (221Nm instead of the original 208Nm), some aesthetical aspects have been changed both on the interior and the exterior, you get sublime 17" aluminum rims nowadays and new headlights have been mounted too... but the original concept has not changed a bit, the car has just matured and still provides tons of driving pleasure.
The interior of the S2000 remains quite Spartan in comparison to the competition, so don't look for lines of buttons but just the basics for the air-conditioning, the Cd player, the electric windows and the electric roof. The seats are just perfect, and even after 4 days and 500km of testing, my companion and I did not suffer for a single second. Important to note is that Honda worked hard to offer the best driving position possible, and sitting at the steering wheel of this road-racer is a true delight.
A 2 door roadster implies getting a small boot, and we have to say that this S2000 confirms this statement. We were however able to store all our audio and video equipment and other gear (tripods, lenses, a laptop bag with 3 spare batteries, 3 full backpacks) into the storage compartment... and to our surprise, we were even able to store another backpack. So you really shouldn't worry too much about limited storage capacities when going on a long weekend...
Let's move on to the aspect of the S2000 that should interest us the most, the performance on the road. Before we attack this, note that we were able to test an S2000 Type V or VGS (Variable Gear Ratio) that has a system that adapts the steering in relation to the speed and a specific suspension with special dampers, anti-roll bars and a limited slip differential. 2 versions are available in Japan, a standard S2000 (the one that is available in Europe) and the VGS that we were able to test.
Six years went by since we first drove this car, and we have to admit that this 2006 S2000 is still an incredible machine that offers shorter gears, a tad more torque and an absolutely amazing sound when this little roadster is pushed. The S2000 might be considered as a purists' car that seek driving pleasure and performance before comfort, but the car has become a bit "smoother" and offers good performance at low revs too. For the less scared ones amongst us, all hell breaks loose when you hit 6000rpm, and the VTEC engine delivers all it's got accompanied by a majestic soundtrack. Dropping below 6000rpm is just to breathe in some air before you immediately succumb to the pressure and floor it again and undergo the symphony passed the 6000rpm.
When we compare the S2000 to the competition that crowds the segment nowadays, we must say that the car, the S2000, has not lost its charm... on the contrary, and despite the lower torque level, it has the same amount of horsepower than the Z4. When compared to the Fairlady Z350, the Nissan has a 3.5L engine that develops 40bhp more and 363Nm but it weighs 360kg more too. The S2000 might seems a bit too "light" in the comparison to the Nissan, but the weight difference and the incredible road handling of the S2000 make that the Honda offers superior performance on the track. A Japanese car magazine compared the S2000 to a BMW Z4, a Porsche Boxster and a Z350, and the lap times of the S2000 were almost identical to the ones from the 2 German roadsters while the Z350 was 3 seconds slower on that same Motegi lap.
6 years have passed since its introduction, and the S2000 is still a leading player in the market… and its design has not even changed that much whereas other manufacturers had to radically change the looks of their cars to stay up-to-date, e.g. the SLK from Mercedes-Benz has received its second complete makeover, the Z3 and its successor the Z4 from BMW, the facelifts from Mazda’s Roadster (but this one is quite difficult to compare with the S2000 since it’s almost 20 years old) and the Audi TT that will change its metal skin in the very near future… The S2000 has aged well and did not need a new design and is still as attractive nowadays as it was 6 years ago.
Comparing the S2000 to a SLK or a Z4 is not entirely correct either in our opinion, because it’s not a car for Mr and Mrs Average, it’s an extreme car, an exceptional vehicle that could compete, despite its lower power output, with cars like the BMW Z8 or a TVR for example. We’re totally aware that the 242bhp of the S2000 are not sufficient to enter the very select club of extreme roadsters, but the concept of the S2000, its design, its philosophy and its naturally aspired engine that pushes the limits of a 2.0L engine, are definitely an affordable alternative for a Z8 or a TVR because of its price and handling. The price of a S2000 even stays below that of a Z4, SLK or Z350!
So if you have a passion for beautiful cars and want to get a lot of bang for the buck, strong sensations, a unique concept, a design beyond all superficial fashion trends, this S2000 is for you. This S2000 is THE car to get, and you can be sure to remain up-to-date for at least 10 years!
Honda S2000 Type V Test Drive
, the Nissan Fairlady Z350, the Porsche Boxster, the Audi TT, ... Six years later, the S2000 is not the only kid on the block anymore and we asked ourselves whether this superb vehicle was showing its age and whether it still had the grunt to screw the competition away.
