autofan

I think a lot of people do not understand S2000.
Many believe it's a super car with 2 liters and 240hp- WOW!
No, S2000 is not a supercar, it is built for pleasure and just a lil performance, but the main idea of it is to serve like the Mazda Miata, which has been the #1 selling sports car for I don't know how long...
I think Honda intended it to be some College Professor's Sunday ride around the city, on a shining day.
You can make any car "super", Civic for example, Honda did not intend it to be what it is right now. A lot of Civics are heavily modified and some even drag race. It was supposed to be for some College student who can't afford an expensive car- Civic is cheap and economic.
S2000 should stay your 'Sunday ride', just like the Miata.
But don't get me wrong, S2000 and the Miata is not apple to apple. S2000 has a more sports twist to it.
But that's also why it costs more.

JD@af

Well said, autofan. I have tossing this idea around a lot lately, how just about any car can be turned into a super car, and therefore who is to say that Hondas are better than Toyotas, or Chevrolets for that matter? I think it comes down to inital quality and personal preference. But I am digressing for the point of your post.

I would like to point out that a Miata will get its doors blown off by an S2000, but that on the other hand a Miata has much more options for upgrading (a good car for turbocharging, supercharging {check out Jackson Racing's vast pallet of options for the Mazda Miata - it is staggering}, other upgrades, and also engine swapping), after which time it may be able to then give the S2000 an equally brutal beating.

Honda is clearly making moves to discourage tuners from messing with their cars, as the S2000 comes with forged pistons stock, and less capability for handling boost and heaightened horsepower capabilities than other Honda engines. And the new Civic's design takes a large step away from tunability, towards practicality. For example repositioning the catalytic converter close to the exhaust manifold for easier cold weather starts and warm-ups at the expense of exhaust tuning to decreased back pressure and heightened horsepower outputs. They are going to turn another generation of enthusiast cars into "grand daddies," like the classic American muscle cars of the 60's and 70's.

qab5b

I think you guys are missing the point behind the S2000. Honda is not trying to cut the aftermarket out. The point behind the S2000 is to help Honda's Image. Honda is not making any money on the S2000. The development costs to create the S2000 and the cost to manufacture a car which has many unique parts can NOT be recouped by charging $33,000 each. It is a focused car: it seeks to attract performance minded buyers (no automatics thankfully!) away from more expensive german autos, like the Z3 and the Boxster. As an overall sports car, the S2000 destroys the Z3 coupe (even the M3 coupe), and the Boxster. Sure Honda cut some ends with the S2000, like the stereo and other "luxury items", but Honda still can not be making enough profit on the S2000 to justify its existence. The point with such cars as the S2000 is to further Honda's image. THe same thing is true with the Civic Si. Its not to cut out the aftermarket. In fact the Si has actually fueled the aftermarket. With the Si and the S2000 Honda has shown that it embraces its cars performance image. By doing so, just makes the guys in the civic ex's want to make there cars at least as fast as the Si's.

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Quentin Bearse

1988 BMW E30 M3 (fun)
1988 Sterling 825 (commuter car)

JD@af

I'll give you a lot of credit for that post. Well written and thought out. I agree 100%. However, note that my criticisms of the Civic apply to the lower trim lines. The yet to be released Civic Si, with the all new K series engines, will sport a new challenge for the aftermarket companies in making components to fit the "correct rotation" engines. But, like the 1999 and 2000 Civic Si, I'm am sure it will be a favorite of the tuners.

Eskamoe

Most people look at the S2000 and say "It's a four cylinder," "That's not a good quarter mile time for a sports car." It is a four cylinder. You don't have to have 6,8,10,12 cylinders to be a kick ass sports car. A sports car is about handling and balance. As far as quarter mile times..... if Honda wanted to build a straight liner..... they would. Honda has proven time and time again that they are all about handling. I don't care if it is a Civic VX or an NSX, it can fuckin' handle. S2000 is the king of the roadsters and will continue to be for quite some time.

F20C

S2000 is not your regular sunday track car. It has more features that proved this theory wrong. For one Honda would have drop the powered top. The single disk cd player would go as well. The seats would not be leather covered recaro. Spare tire would be taken away. A/c and power window gone as well. Lighter weight wheels etc. All these weight reduction would see the car dropped 100-200 lbs. This is what I called a true sunday car.

blit

This car is very much a supercar. There is a little formula going on
in this car. The weight, the 50/50 distibution, and the way the car is geared. Two days ago I blasted a mustang cobra. I blast trans-ams and z-28s all the time. This is not even close to a miata. It is not for the weekend,blue-hair joy rider. This an all out monster of a car. And until you own one you will never know the excitement of flying down the interstate with your rpms at about 8000 in sixth and seeing the number
150mph and knowing you have a 1000 more to go. YES IT IS A SUPER CAR!
any replys.... llblit@aol.com

Chris

To me, the S2000 is:
1) A fine daily driver. Just dont expect ANY torque. So it isnt good if you really like to point and squirt at low RPM's in city driving.
2) A GREAT race car. 50/50 weight, 9000rpms, so light and neutral, just great. Keep the revs up, and it is super.
3) A great bargain.

I'm going to go get someone who owns one

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HondaS2000tuner

First off I want to inform all of you that I'm in near tears that there are so much S2000 Lovers like me. I, for one, am VERY enthuistic and EXTREMELY loyal individual to hondas. And yes I agree with the comments posted above...well..most of em anyways. If theres one thing I, sort of, disagree with...is that I want to make a point that Honda actually LOSES money when producing these cars. True, S2000 is a showcase of the "Racing Spirt" of Honda's F1 formula racing monsters. S2000z past grassroots from the early (some 30years ago) from S600. With first Hondaz DOHC engine 600cc with (and I kid you not) ability of 11,000RPM and producing around 83hp (AMAZING AT THE TIME...about 1964) Hondaz made the S2000. S2000 are molded, put together, and completely BY HAND at the factory in Japan(I forget the detailed location) they use to produce the NSX. S2000 was originally made to celebrate the birthday of Honda. With F20C motor with 2000cc coupled with 6-speed tranny gear box, the S2000 is able to reach 9,000RPM and launch from 0-60 in 5.4sec. and 1/4 mile in 14.4sec. But POWER wasn't all Honda had in mind...and I regret to inform you that S2000 are a little low on end-torque. One of the beauty of Honda was (and still is) that their handling is EXCEPTIONAL; one of a kind. With front and rear strut bars, near perfect 50/50 weight distribution, and electric (opposed to hydrolic) power steering, the driver is at easy with complete control of the road. The thing that amazes me, is the engine layout of the car. The F20C motor is centerized and located far back into the engine bay (smart...very smart). And with a long hood, you get better tracktion and handling...not to mention the space you have to modify. My S2000 is stock for now but with S2000z aluminum block and the forged pistons, I'd say I'll be placing a vortech Supercharger(MAYBE..I'm also SERIOUSLY considering a TURBOCHARGER) with relative ease. I've also heard that S2000 were supposed to only come out on the year 2000 and stop. But due to over popular demands (not a surprise at all) they continued the production of the S2000. There is also a rumor that after 2002, the S2000 production will stop completely. I don't know if I can believe that. Jeez...I've been typing too long....lol

TUNER
:smoker:

Audio_1

a super car? no way. the closest thing to a supercar in america is the viper. yet that car needs to have its suspention worked on.

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matt

yellows2000

The s2000 is not a supercar. However, don't compare it with a stock civic or a mod civic. they drive, ride, feel, turn, sounds, just about everything is completely different. For the $, comparing with other roadsters it is a great bargin.

as for your comment on "You can make any car "super". Ture to that, with enough mods you can make anything go fast.

The s2000 has great performence out of the box. Is there something wrong with that?

Honda Beastus

i think you have a very strange misconception of what a SUPERCAR is. the McLaren F1 is a supercar. the Porsche 911 GT2 is a supercar.

like others have said above, the S is definately not built for just a "lil" performance. with a 50/50 weight distribution, 11:1 compression ratio, specific power output of 120hp, FRM cylinder liners, six-speed close ratio transmission, torsen LSD, rear tires that are equivalent to 255/50, a suspension that carves mountain roads like you may never know, and so much more, i don't see how you can just classify this car as another Miata.

Miata is a great car, but S2000 is a class or two above.

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BEASTUS

1320B4U

I would say the newer Viper GTS is definetly a supercar. Its curvaciously* exotic body, and acceleration, speed, and handling too match just about anything.
0-60 ---- 3.9-4.2sec
1/4 ----- 12.0-12.2@115mph+
slalom--- 72mph
lateral g-- 1.01

Now its (used to be) non-abs braking left something to be desired. Also redlining at 5000rpm, I assume thats a result from 8.0L of displacement and not forged internals. The GT2 race GTSR always came in first and second, bettering Porsche and BMW.
Peace

fatninja19

many old schoolers like the feel of a non ABS car, and the Viper DOES NOT need more suspension work for the average purchaser.

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teresaluvr

if honda put a 5L engine in the s2k, like most american sports cars, would you change your mind about it?
i think a 600hp s2k would blow the doors off of everything and change all of ur minds about the s2k. Just because honda does not need to plant a massive engine in its roadsters like the viper, does not mean that honda is not make better engines. The fact that dodge only gets 450hp from an 8L engine is not something that viper owners should be proud about. Why do all american cars have huge displacement engines and not equally huge HP levels? All honda needs to do is market a 3.5 litre engine and wave goodbye to the american sportscar market.



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