Honda S2000 road test

There are many nice, refined, cars available to buy. The s2000 isn't one of those. I've wanted an s2000 for many years now, not because its the fastest/most powerful/best handling, it isn't. What it is, is raw, raw and simplistic. If you hate the thought of changing gear or revving a motor this isn't the car for you. If you like seat warmers, sat nav, electric everything you should, again, look elsewhere. If you think most of the cars around today are terribly overweight and have been longing for something different, something more raw, this may just be the car for you. At 1300kg it's relatively light, it has double wishbone suspension all round and a limited slip diff for those rear driven wheels. A 2.0 litre naturally aspirated engine sits far back in the engine bay, behind the front axle for great weight distribution.



The gearbox sits just behind it, directly below the sweet 6-speed gear lever. The seat isn't height adjustable and the steering column doesn't move at all, if you don't fit, well you don't fit. If you do fit however, you get a great driving position with some rather comfy seats, a perfectly placed steering wheel and a gear lever which falls perfectly to hand. You should by now have figured out this car was made for driving. When you're comfortably seated and ready to begin your journey you turn the key, the entire lcd dash lights up as if in test mode for a second or two before returning to normal readings. You then push the lightly glowing red start button and the engine fires to life.



It immediately has a rather high idle of 2000rpm when cold which quickly settles to around 1000rpm when warmer. The clutch is surprisingly light and the gearbox slightly notchy when cold. You can gently drive away shifting at or under 3000rpm just like any car until everything has warmed up nicely. Once warmed up apart from a lovely gearbox and great driving position you'll be wondering what makes this car so special. That is the perfect time to explore the upper ranges of the rev range. Whilst the car accelerates quite happily like any ordinary car to 6000rpm it's about that same rpm that the s2000 engine really comes alive. The engine tone changes into the most awesome sound as the revs rise from 6000 to 9000rpm. The reason for that close ratio sweet shifting gear lever become very clear as you change gear at the red-line and start the whole process again. It's something that can't be put into words, you need to experience it for yourself.



I will gladly admit that driving a car like this, in such a demanding fashion, doesn't appeal to everyone but those who do enjoy it will find this a very rewarding car. It is loud when in the vtec zone, even more so with top down which just adds to that wonderful experience. It's so mechanical in everything it does that it's truly brilliant. The grip levels are decently high on the 245/40-17 rears and 215/45-17 fronts and the handling on smooth roads is really great with very little body roll. Rough roads are quite harsh and best avoided or taken with a lot less enthusiasm. I've had my dream car for a few months now and I'm loving it more every day.