What Is It That Makes People Love The Honda S2000 So Much?

Doug DeMuro casts his analytical, quirk-finding eye over the legendary S2000

Updated: 10 Oct 2024

Despite going out of production only nine years ago, the Honda S2000 already seems to have achieved modern classic status. But why? What is it about these cars that love them so much?

Us at CT - and plenty of other motoring outlets - have written about what’s awesome about the S2000 plenty of times before, but for a look at all the car’s cool features, who better to drill down to the nitty gritty than lover of quirks Doug DeMuro?

Over to you, Doug…

Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.

Comments

You woke it up…

reeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
snap-oversteers in a wall

Here are 2 facts people probably don’t know about the S2000:

It has a X-bone frame - this gives it superb rigidity for its convertible body. In fact, it is so stiff, it drives as though it has a fixed roof.
It has a FMR layout - this stands for Front Mid-engined, Rear wheel drive. This is where the engine is placed between the cockpit and the front axle. This helps give it a 50:50 weight distribution, improving its handling.

From what ive heard its not a great handler, although neither is the Fd in the wet at higher power!

Looks great, revs even better, feels even more amazing to drive.. BUT, its as practical as a dead Phil when it comes to day by day driving.
The price is way too high still, even for the first ones out of production.
For the same retail, i would go for an Opel Speedster (Vauxhall VX220) that in my opinion, is a better car in the same category. Or a used abarth 124 (future)

How did he not say VTEC once during the video. That is what defines the S2000

I love the S2000 well I also love the Miata but the S2000 is one of Honda’s significant cars, a pure rear-wheel-drive sports car FR layout. This was the golden days of high-revving four-cylinder engines which are now made by Ferrari (the LaFerrari and 458 are really awesome). The new FK8 Civic Type R is awesome but I miss the days of glorious NA engines.

Totally agree whith the NA part.

Who else thinks he needs to highlight all the quirks on an RX-8? Also, who else feels sick every time he says ‘quirk’?

Ehh im not really in love w/ it.. Its a okay car but ehh my heart is taken by something else..

Practicality… The Honda is as practical as can be. It is a driver’s car not a party in the cockpit car. It’s meant to be driven and to explore and feel the road not for you to explore the inside

How convenient

I remember Matt Farah making the same remark about the RX-7’s engine: its not that you can rev to 9000, its that you have to, since both the S2000 and RX-7 are gutless in low and mid range rpm.