Discussion
I was looking at buying a Honda s2000 and have read in a few articles that the new revised s2000, as well as having bits of chrome, glass rear screen and extra letaher also has a different suspension set up. However the sales man at Honda knew nothing about this. Does anyone know the facts and would they recomend one?
Get yourself over to www.s2ki.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=25
...its the UK section of the S2000 forum.
I took delivery of my 2002 S2000 three weeks ago - since 600 miles(run in period) I've had a huge grin on my face.
The main revision are:
Revised rear suspension settings (spring rates, roll bar thickness and damper settings) - this is to make the car "safer" - i.e. less tail happy (the original S2000 was very tail happy).
Revised clutch and gearbox (to cure previous selector problems)
Glass rear screen (heated).
Chrome light surrounds.
White side repeaters.
4 speaker stereo with single CD player.
Leather centre console.
New external and internal colour combinations.
Thats it I think - take a test drive - not everyone likes the power delivery of a VTEC engine. Make sure you test drive an Elise as well.
>> Edited by douglasr on Monday 13th May 20:37
...its the UK section of the S2000 forum.
I took delivery of my 2002 S2000 three weeks ago - since 600 miles(run in period) I've had a huge grin on my face.
The main revision are:
Revised rear suspension settings (spring rates, roll bar thickness and damper settings) - this is to make the car "safer" - i.e. less tail happy (the original S2000 was very tail happy).
Revised clutch and gearbox (to cure previous selector problems)
Glass rear screen (heated).
Chrome light surrounds.
White side repeaters.
4 speaker stereo with single CD player.
Leather centre console.
New external and internal colour combinations.
Thats it I think - take a test drive - not everyone likes the power delivery of a VTEC engine. Make sure you test drive an Elise as well.
>> Edited by douglasr on Monday 13th May 20:37
I have one of the older S2000 (Xplate) and I have to say I have no complaints, the engine and gearbox are great and I would not describe the car as at all tail happy (coming from a 4.5l TVR the back end feels very grounded) I have read mixed reviews on the S2000 and the Evo ones have never been good, but I have to say drive both, and make your mind up. If the new one is alot better then get one. (PS mine is for sale see the honda section in cars for sale)
Also woth going to http://uk.s2ki.com and asking there, though douglasr just about summed it up I think.
See my comments on the JapChat version of this post.
See my comments on the JapChat version of this post.
quote:
I have one of the older S2000 (Xplate) and I have to say I have no complaints, the engine and gearbox are great and I would not describe the car as at all tail happy (coming from a 4.5l TVR the back end feels very grounded) I have read mixed reviews on the S2000 and the Evo ones have never been good, but I have to say drive both, and make your mind up. If the new one is alot better then get one. (PS mine is for sale see the honda section in cars for sale)
How does the S2K compare to the Chim - I wanted a TVR, but I didn't think I had the correct mindset to put up with the possible niggles/break downs.
You cant compare them, they are totaly different cars. I loved the TVR and want to by another next. The TVR is light, fibreglass, with a hard roof that you take of yourself, the clutch is heavy, mine did not have PAS or AC and the stearing was hard work at low speed, and the BW gearbox is crap. The S2000 has electric roof, airbags, PAS, ABS, and is a little more sensible, I have absolutly no compaints about the S2K apart from the fact that it could do with another 20bhp. As a sports car the TVR wins hands down, I do like the high revs of the S2K but it can not compare with the roar of a V8. I never had any reliability with my TVR. If you are going to by one make sure it has AC and PAS, if you want something just a little more PC go for the S2K.
What a tremendous car!
Just had the keys chucked at me this AM by a lucky new owner I know, who insisted I take it for a spin. (OK, if you insist!)
Impressions?
Build quality impressive, Germanic in fact. 10/10.
Driveability superb, especially around the streets at 25-35 mph, with a delightfully direct, chunky gear movement and a fairly unsnappy clutch compared to older Hondas driven.
Ride quality and comfort quite magnificent by any standards and truly a great place for confidently doing your thing, whether fast or slow, hood up or down.
Unfortunately, it was strange being in an environment that screamed 'speed' but which simply couldn't (initially) deliver as I'd hoped; it felt simply gutless and so annoying that I couldn't shake off a bog standard, tail hogging Focus until...eureka! I remembered the secret that all VTECs keep - drop to second, up the slip road and BANG! Holy smoke, this cracker threw off it's MX5 foppery and lunged like a bullet with the aural accompaniement only Maranello's V8s can better. It flew like a nitrous switch had been activated and any qualms about it's performance delivery were silenced forever!
My only worry was, despite it's outstanding straight line stability, what felt like twitcheryitus of the worst/most entertaining variety on anything bendy but nothing that couldn't be coped with, at least at modest speeds!
All in all though, fabulous car; I can imagine it being a real hoot round a track. Not for everyone, probably but understand it for what it is and it creates a nice little niche market between Elise/Chimera but with the added benefit of damp-proofing.
Just had the keys chucked at me this AM by a lucky new owner I know, who insisted I take it for a spin. (OK, if you insist!)
Impressions?
Build quality impressive, Germanic in fact. 10/10.
Driveability superb, especially around the streets at 25-35 mph, with a delightfully direct, chunky gear movement and a fairly unsnappy clutch compared to older Hondas driven.
Ride quality and comfort quite magnificent by any standards and truly a great place for confidently doing your thing, whether fast or slow, hood up or down.
Unfortunately, it was strange being in an environment that screamed 'speed' but which simply couldn't (initially) deliver as I'd hoped; it felt simply gutless and so annoying that I couldn't shake off a bog standard, tail hogging Focus until...eureka! I remembered the secret that all VTECs keep - drop to second, up the slip road and BANG! Holy smoke, this cracker threw off it's MX5 foppery and lunged like a bullet with the aural accompaniement only Maranello's V8s can better. It flew like a nitrous switch had been activated and any qualms about it's performance delivery were silenced forever!
My only worry was, despite it's outstanding straight line stability, what felt like twitcheryitus of the worst/most entertaining variety on anything bendy but nothing that couldn't be coped with, at least at modest speeds!
All in all though, fabulous car; I can imagine it being a real hoot round a track. Not for everyone, probably but understand it for what it is and it creates a nice little niche market between Elise/Chimera but with the added benefit of damp-proofing.
thats great! i love the S2000 soo much, it seems like a great car, fast, RWD, well built, looks more expensive than it actually is, i cant wait till im older, so i can actually try driving one, but ive NEVER and i mean NEVER heard anyone say any bad words about the S2000, anyone who has one in my opinion has got a great car at a bargain price
My 2 pen'orth on the new S2000:
I got to drive a mate's S2000 (mark 2) about a month ago. Fantastic engine which I could listen to all day. After several years driving mainly I6 and V6 cars I never thought I'd ike an I4 engine again but this is great. Ergonomics and hood down aerodynamics about average. However, for me, suspension and steering (surely the things which matter most in a sports car?)were big let downs. Massively better than Z3 or Alfa (staying in the 25-30k bracket) but the steering managed to be both heavy and lacking feel while the suspension set up made the car jiggley (can't think of a real word!) on anything but very smooth roads which rather spoiled it for me.
I got to drive a mate's S2000 (mark 2) about a month ago. Fantastic engine which I could listen to all day. After several years driving mainly I6 and V6 cars I never thought I'd ike an I4 engine again but this is great. Ergonomics and hood down aerodynamics about average. However, for me, suspension and steering (surely the things which matter most in a sports car?)were big let downs. Massively better than Z3 or Alfa (staying in the 25-30k bracket) but the steering managed to be both heavy and lacking feel while the suspension set up made the car jiggley (can't think of a real word!) on anything but very smooth roads which rather spoiled it for me.
Make sure the alignment is done by a competent and qualified dealership before you drive it. Preferably by a dealer with an NSX trained technician rather than the 'plug it into the computer and get the part from stores' monkeys most dealers seem to employ these days.
The problem most S2000 owners seem to find is that this car's suspension system is far more adjustable than most Honda dealers are used to and subsequently reviewers get cars which are poorly set up at best. Every time I read a review of the S2000 I wince because it's obvious the car was sent out with the wrong settings - my car was sent to me by a UK dealer with the tyres inflated to 40psi (should be 32, the car is sensitive to tyre pressures) and the alignment totally out of whack. Once they were sorted, the car became a different beast altogether, incredibly well balanced and able to soak up British road surfaces far better than other sports cars I've owned.
I agree on the steering feel though, there is some feedback, but it's muted by the electrial power steering setup. Still compare the car with it's price competitors and I couldn't find anything half as much fun to drive for the same money (£25k).
>> Edited by Mark Benson on Monday 29th July 10:42
The problem most S2000 owners seem to find is that this car's suspension system is far more adjustable than most Honda dealers are used to and subsequently reviewers get cars which are poorly set up at best. Every time I read a review of the S2000 I wince because it's obvious the car was sent out with the wrong settings - my car was sent to me by a UK dealer with the tyres inflated to 40psi (should be 32, the car is sensitive to tyre pressures) and the alignment totally out of whack. Once they were sorted, the car became a different beast altogether, incredibly well balanced and able to soak up British road surfaces far better than other sports cars I've owned.
I agree on the steering feel though, there is some feedback, but it's muted by the electrial power steering setup. Still compare the car with it's price competitors and I couldn't find anything half as much fun to drive for the same money (£25k).
>> Edited by Mark Benson on Monday 29th July 10:42
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff