Honda S2000 advice before I buy

[AWP]

Hi,

I want to buy an S2000 facelift model. Can someone tell me the benefits over the non-facelift model? Did any further changes to the S2000 get made in 2005/2006? Are there any simple ways to tell the difference?

I realise they are tail happy. Is the VSA stability system standard with the facelift model? If not in what year did it become available and is it standard on any models?

Apart from the hard top do you get anything more with the GT?

Any advice before I part with cash would be appreciated. Sorry for all the Q's!

Thanks

Edited by AWP on Saturday 14th April 10:52

Edited by AWP on Saturday 14th April 10:53

[cookieboy]

Check out the s2000 owners website;

www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showforum=25

im sure all the answers you need are on there.

[awp]

Thanks

[s2k]

They are no more tail happy than any other fairly powerful rear wheel drive car, it is after all, you, the driver that that determines what happens at the back end !!

[john57]

AWP said:

Hi,

I want to buy an S2000 facelift model. Can someone tell me the benefits over the non-facelift model? Did any further changes to the S2000 get made in 2005/2006? Are there any simple ways to tell the difference?

I realise they are tail happy. Is the VSA stability system standard with the facelift model? If not in what year did it become available and is it standard on any models?

Apart from the hard top do you get anything more with the GT?

Any advice before I part with cash would be appreciated. Sorry for all the Q's!

Thanks

Edited by AWP on Saturday 14th April 10:52

Edited by AWP on Saturday 14th April 10:53

Facelift model from 2004 has better handling ..... smoother Vtec engagement - both of which some say dampen the experience comapred to the older version (generally said by those who own the older ones ). Different looks and wheels - subjective that one. Also supposed to be slightly more arm room in the newer models due to door trim being slimmer.

They are not any more 'tail happy' than any other rwd car without traction control .... it is your right foot that decides whether you slide ! I have had two S2000's (a 2004 and now a 2005 model) and had no problems at all. It is an easy car to drive. The earlier ones had different tyres and susp set up which I believe caused a few problems ... but, as I say, I have a facelift one and think it's a pussycat to drive.

VSA has only been an option on 2006 onwards. Nothing before that even had it as an option.

GT version is basically an S2000 with a hard top .... nothing else. FWIW both my S2000's have been GT's but the hard top has only been on the car for probably a total of 3 weeks in the time I have owned them - I didn't buy a convertible to use it with a hard top! That said they are handy for the winter in bad weather where they make the car quieter and give better rear vision. Storing the thing takes up a good bit of space in a garage though ....

Hope this helps.

[havoc]

john57 said:

GT version is basically an S2000 with a hard top .... nothing else. FWIW both my S2000's have been GT's but the hard top has only been on the car for probably a total of 3 weeks in the time I have owned them - I didn't buy a convertible to use it with a hard top! That said they are handy for the winter in bad weather where they make the car quieter and give better rear vision. Storing the thing takes up a good bit of space in a garage though ....

Agree with the last two sentences, certainly.

I've got a GT, which through necessity isn't kept in the garage (hidden drive), so the hard-top goes on in Oct and comes off in March. It does make it a little quieter and more habitable a place to be, and rear-vis is better than with the hood-up. And for the handful of occasions in those months when I'd be able to put the hood down, I prefer the extra habitability/visibility. Plus it preserves the soft-top from the elements that bit more.

[cardigankid]

I agree. I have a 2006 GT with VSA. I got this because I test drove one in 2000 and scared myself with what seemed to me to be whiplash oversteer. It could also have been driver incompetence. Visually I dont think that the facelift achieved much. It was a nice looking car and it still is. But if the handling mod came in at the same time I would go for a facelift one if I were you. I think that the car I now have is much more progressive and is really a delight to drive. Especially when you do the party piece and pass some irritating roadblocker at 8500 rpm, har har.

Its a comfortable car with the hardtop on but the hardtop is a big awkward thing when its off the car. Its a good soft top with a glass rear window.

I would question the need for the VSA in retrospect. It is an option on 2006 and later and costs £300, factory order and 3 month wait. For that reason you can't buy VSA ones from the discount lads.

I tell you what is good on the '06 models - there are speakers built into the headrests and you get superb clarity on the radio whatever the engine is doing.

Edited by cardigankid on Thursday 19th April 18:47

Edited by cardigankid on Thursday 19th April 18:49

[Lurking Lawyer]

cardigankid said:

I would question the need for the VSA in retrospect. It is an option on 2006 and later and costs £300, factory order and 3 month wait. For that reason you can't buy VSA ones from the discount lads.

There is at least one person on s2ki who has bought an 06 with VSA from Bob Gerard, one of the parallel importers. It does rely, however, on them having one in the pipeline which has VSA specified if you don't want to wait 5 months for a special order from scratch.....

[puggit]

Lurking Lawyer said:

cardigankid said:

I would question the need for the VSA in retrospect. It is an option on 2006 and later and costs £300, factory order and 3 month wait. For that reason you can't buy VSA ones from the discount lads.

There is at least one person on s2ki who has bought an 06 with VSA from Bob Gerard, one of the parallel importers. It does rely, however, on them having one in the pipeline which has VSA specified if you don't want to wait 5 months for a special order from scratch.....

Drivethedeal (who are not as cheap now as they were) order from dealers, so would be able to factory fit...

[cardigankid]

I found Bob Gerard less than courteous. Also not interested in supplying models with the hardtop.

[havoc]

cardigankid said:

I found Bob Gerard less than courteous. Also not interested in supplying models with the hardtop.

I looked at a 2nd hand car there and found the chap extremely pleasant and helpful.

It's possible to get a crappy salesman anywhere, equally to catch someone on a bad moment.