Now you’re a Honda expert, it’s time to buy one...
Honda S2000 / 1999–2009 / £7,000–£22,000
What is it?
The Honda S2000 is a car you’re likely familiar with. Whether that’s from Gran Turismo and
Fast and Furious fame, or simply because you’re a petrolhead who lusts after sports cars made via the purest of recipes, it’s a bit of an icon.
That recipe? Engine in the front, drive to the rear, a manual gearbox and absolutely no sign of turbos or superchargers. If you want to buy a sports car that fulfils those criteria brand new, your choices are extremely limited.
About that engine. Ask anyone who’s driven an S2000 and one component dominates all. It’s a Honda VTEC engine in the very finest tradition; one which has two distinct characters.
The S2000’s naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder produces 237bhp and 153lb ft of torque. Combined with a 1,260kg kerbweight, it offers a 0–60mph time in 6.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 150mph.
Driving
Low down performance is not the S2000’s strong suit. Below 6,000rpm, its engine barely feels like it belongs in a sports car, and until you reach that figure, the revs do not build quickly. But keep your foot in, and as the digital dial passes six, all hell breaks loose, as the wee Honda aggressively and intoxicatingly screams to its near-9,000rpm red line.
You rev. You rev a bit more. You rev until you think pistons are going to burst through the bonnet, before grabbing the next gear via the utterly, utterly superb manual shift. One of the best ever. Perhaps the best...
As you maintain momentum to keep the engine singing, you appreciate the car’s balance – the engine is tucked right back behind the front axle, for perfect 50:50 weight distribution – and how wonderful each of its controls feel.
On the inside
It’s a wee car, and even if you’re wee yourself, it might feel like a bit of a squeeze, particularly as the driving position is unexpectedly high and there’s no adjustment in the steering wheel. Test driving a used performance car is a must for various reasons, but making sure you’re happy with the seating position is one to pop on the list in the case of the S2000. The boot, however, is impressively sized.
Whichever vintage of S2000 you buy, prepare for an interior with the style and finish of a late-Nineties, rather than late-Noughties car. It’s no biggie – this car isn’t about luxury – but it does mean there’s some fragility in-built. If an aftermarket audio system has been fitted, for instance, the original clips beneath the feng shui friendly stereo flap might have snapped beyond any usefulness.