- convertible 102,727
- Fremont, CA
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- autoshopper.com
- convertible 102,727 gasoline manual
2000 honda s2000 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. An all-new tiger from tochigi. introductionif sports cars are the athletes of the automotive world, then the easiest way to characterize honda's new s2000 roadster goes something like this: imagine a mazda miata that's gone through an intense olympic training regimen, emerging quicker, faster, and altogether more capable than anything in its class. it's not much of a stretch, because the miata and the new honda are similar in size and basic concept: pure sports cars, front engine, rear-drive, drop-top, few frills. In fact, the s2000's performance eclipses that of much more expensive rivals, including the bmw z3 2. 8 (from about $37,000), mercedes-benz slk (from about $41,000), and the porsche boxster (from about $42,000). from the purist's point of view, this new honda represents one of the best sports car buys going, as well as an awe-inspiring technological statement by a company that has absolutely no peer in the realm of extracting big horsepower from small displacement engines. lineupwhen it goes on sale september 15, one model will be available for about $30,000. walkaroundroughly the same size as its roadster rivals, the s2000 has perhaps the highest chassis rigidity of the whole lot, up to and including chevy's formidable corvette convertible. For example, the second, more radical set of camshaft lobes that distinguish the vtec system don't go to work until the tachometer has reached 6000 rpm. Peak torque, a modest 153 pound-feet, comes on at 7500 rpm. Horsepower doesn't peak until 8300 rpm, and the electronic rev limiter doesn't assert itself until 9000 rpm. The car has classic roadster proportions -- a long hood, which permits the entire mass of the engine to sit behind the centerline of the front axle, and short rear deck. But it looks a little slab-sided and plain compared to its rivals. In fact, we think honda, a company that's usually very good at making the most of interior space, could have done a better job of providing small-object storage in the s2000. Aside from a couple of small bins sequestered between the upper portion of the seatbacks, there's just no place to put odds and ends. No map pockets in the doors. And, worse, no glovebox. we're not too keen on the instrument package, either. A big tachometer is standard competition practice -- most race cars don't even have speedometers -- but as racy as it is, we'd still prefer an analog speedometer in this car because analog instruments provide rate-of-change information and digital readouts don't. we're also a little mystified by some of the choices honda made concerning the s2000's soft top. Mystifying choice number one: the rear window is plastic, rather than glass. Plastic doesn't wear well in a folding top. Honda opted for plastic as a weight-saving measure, according to company officials, but we note that the rear window in the much less expensive miata is glass. Mystifying choice number two: the top is power-operated. We expected performance, but we were surprised and impressed with how tractable the s2000 can be when the driver wants to cruise at a sedate pace. With an engine that doesn't really wake up until the tachometer ticks up to 7000 rpm and suspension tuning designed to eliminate body roll in cornering, we expected sluggish performance and harsh ride quality. It takes a little rowing through the gearbox to generate passing speeds, but the s2000 is otherwise as composed and comfortable as any other topless boulevardier. but make no mistake, the tiger burns just below the surface, waiting to be unleashed. as we suggested earlier, the s2000 doesn't really come to life until the tachometer soars beyond the point where most engines run out of breath. There's an electric motor quality to its power, like a japanese superbike -- no punch in the back, just a sense that with enough forward gears, one might keep accelerating beyond the speed of light. although the engine's unique powerband makes it difficult to generate really quick getaways, the s2000 is nevertheless capable of hustling to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds. The s2000 is capable of 150 mph at the top end. Most important, it emits a delightful, high-tech tenor snarl while it's doing all this. but that's only part of the fun. Though the s2000's 16-inch bridgestone tires aren't particularly wide, the car can handle impressively high cornering speeds, and its responses are as decisive and precise as a cheetah closing in on an antelope. Not a misstep or false move, regardless of the pace. a set of world-class brakes complements the s2000's speed and agility, augmented by abs (a standard feature). These are the best brakes we've ever encountered on any honda vehicle, and they round out a set of sports car credentials that's tough to top. summarythe s2000 is a limited-edition car that is likely to command prices higher than the expected $30,000 retail price owing to its scarcity. At most, just 6000 of them will be imported into the u. Each year, and only for two years. Power Windows✔ Power Mirrors✔ Tachometer✔ Bucket Seats✔ AM/FM✔ Air Conditioning✔ Cruise Control✔ Leather Seats
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