Honda S2000
HONDA S2000
There’s a good reason why Japanese technology underpins so many of the cars in this feature, and the Honda S2000 absolutely embodies it. Honda, and Yamaha – which engineered so many great Toyotas – made their names with motorcycles, which necessitate engines that rev reliably beyond the realm of any car and remain spinning at washingmachine speeds for thousands of miles, without running the risk of going bang. Upsize that thinking into a car and you have something that intoxicates in sound and performance as completely as anything from Maranello, yet is no more intimidating to own than a Civic.
The S2000 screamed into the Nineties roadster wars, its 240bhp delivered at 8300rpm, and its sharp and occasionally unforgiving handling endearing it to the sort of people who bought TVRS.
Unlike a TVR though, it’s unlikely to leave you stranded, bonnet up, by the side of the road. That 2.0-litre VTEC engine boasts complex variable valve-timing technology, but is fundamentally reliable so long as 9000-mile oil changes with a fully synthetic formula have been kept. They’re track-day favourites, so check the suspension – wonky steering and an overly firm ride points to seized suspension arms and pulverised bushes, which can cost £1000 to set right.
The S2000 resists rust well, although leaking soft-tops are causing a bit of sill rot in some examples. If they’re thoroughly rotten it’ll cost £2000 to fix, although extensive rust is more likely to be the result of poorly-repaired accident damage than the straightforward ravages of time – good reason to question the overall provenance of the car anyway. GT models featured an aluminium hardtop as standard, which is a major bonus but costs £1000 to replace. Damaged soft-tops aren’t cheap to sort either – replacement parts alone will set you back £700.
A good one will be easy to look after though, and it’s a worthwhile investment – prices are strong and rising. While you might be able to find a good private sale for under £10k, concours examples are already nudging £25k. It won’t just look after your pennies, it’ll make a few too.