Hopefully this doesn’t sound obvious or trite, but colour spec is so important when it comes to configuring any car. The right paint can make a good car look great; the wrong shade can put a downer on everything. Perhaps that’s why manufacturers now offer so few colours on new cars, for fear of a zany customer spoiling a carefully crafted design with something other than black, white or grey. The alternative being to charge a fortune for whatever shade is desired, so at least if the car looks silly some money has been made.
The Honda S2000, among many other likeable attributes, could keep all parties happy when it came to colour. There were plenty for the customer to choose from, and it suited every single one of them. And there aren't many cars where that’s the case. It could resemble the traditional, mature rear-drive roadster in darker colours, evoke classic sports cars in red or yellow, and suit Honda’s trademark white. It looked brilliant in all of them, in both first and second generation.
This might be the best, however. This is an S2000 painted New Imola Orange Pearl, a hue that will conjure up many fond memories for Gran Turismo kids thanks to its NSX association. A very rare colour for S2000s - the seller of this one reckons there are only around 35 in the UK - it’s absolutely stunning, searingly vivid in the sun and warm, almost coppery out of the light. Maybe New Imola was an expensive option new, and that’s why it’s rare, or maybe it was just because the S2000 did suit so many other colours, but it’s a real treat to see one of them now.
There’s plenty more to recommend this Honda than the paint and the pictures, however. There’s a long, detailed advert, for starters, with details we all love to see like using V-Power, replacing discs, pads and calipers all round when one was sticking, plus a stack of service history. It’s been with the current owner for three years, who purchased it from a Honda-loving previous keeper. It’s been undersealed, used only during the summer months, and is only being sold because it’s not getting enough use. This owner’s loss will be someone else's gain.
Need to know more? The bodywork is pristine, the interior nearly as good and it’s not burning any oil. Last year the valve clearances were adjusted, a new timing chain tensioner was fitted and a very smart gold spark plug cover from the S2000 Club Racer was also put on. So it looks just as good with the bonnet up, too. If you’re a fan of Honda’s legendary sports car - and there are many reasons why you might be - then there’s an awful lot to appreciate here. Almost nice enough to show, used enough to drive, it promises to be hugely entertaining.
The market’s fondness for an S2000 certainly shows no sign of abating, either. Which, given the powertrain and the design, probably shouldn’t be a surprise. It’s not perfect, but the appeal of the old-school sports car recipe brought into the 21st century with Honda reliability doesn’t need much explaining in 2024. So there isn’t an S2000 below £10k anymore. The very best ones are nudging £30,000. This one, the only New Imola Orange Pearl example on PH (of course), is up at £17,995. It promises to make every drive in the summer months very special indeed.
SPECIFICATION | HONDA S2000
Engine: 1,998cc, four-cylinder, naturally aspirated
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 240@8,300rpm
Torque (lb ft): 153@7,500rpm
CO2: 236g/km
MPG: 28.2
Recorded mileage: 62,000
Year registered: 2009
Price new: c. £28,000
Yours for: £17,995
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