The S2000 was unveiled in 1999 and granted the “AP1” chassis designation for the 2000 model year. It has a front engine, rear-wheel drive design, with a 1,997 cc (122 cu in) inline four-cylinder DOHC-VTEC engine that provides power.
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The Honda S2000 is swift.
What Speed Is an S2000? The S2000’s 1,997cc inline four cylinder DOHC-VTEC engine produces 237247hp (depending on the market), allowing it to reach 100 km/h in about 6 seconds and reach a top speed of little over 255 km/h (158 mph).
What kind of drivetrain is in the S2000?
For usage in the Honda S2000, Honda created the F20C and F22C1 inline-4 engines. They are one of the few Honda 4-cylinder car engines with a longitudinal seating arrangement for rear-wheel drive.
These engines are not closely related to the F-series engines used in the Honda Accord and Prelude in the mid-1990s.
[1] Honda engineers used technologies from Honda’s racing engines to make the most of the little engine.
The F20C and F22C1 both use a timing chain and have two overhead cams with roller followers, a ladder-frame main bearing stiffener, a VTEC system for both the intake and exhaust camshafts, Fiber-Reinforced Metal (FRM) cylinder liners, and molybdenum disulfide-coated piston skirts for reduced friction.
There are two distinct cam lobe profiles used in the VTEC system. The cam phasing is not variable. In order to reduce friction in the valvetrain, roller followers are used. Metal injection molding is used to build the rocker arms.
The aluminum engine block has a metal sleeve with fiber reinforcement. The cams are driven by an intermediate gear, which is driven by a timing chain. They are aluminum forged pistons. For quick engine response, the intake plenum was designed with a small volume, and until 2004, a 14 lb (6.4 kg) flywheel was included. The combination of a high-flow catalyst and an exhaust air-injection system significantly reduces the catalyst’s light-off time and cold emissions.
What is so unique about the Honda S2000?
First of all, that engine contributed to the mythology of the S2000. When you first start the car, this might not seem to be the case because it doesn’t seem to show anything exceptional as you wait for it to reach idle. You continue to apply some revs while pondering the fuss. However, the S2000 really starts to become truly unique until you find that redline and begin to drive it seriously. The S2000 had a normally aspirated production automobile engine with the highest specific output ever recorded. Remember that the engine produces 124 horsepower per liter—without a turbocharger or supercharging.
The engine is connected to the absolutely stunning manual transmission. For years, people have waxed poetic about this gearbox, but the truth is that it is just that amazing. According to publications like Top Gear, the mechanical connection you feel between the engine and the gears may perhaps be the greatest available right now. In the S2000, changing gear is an event rather than just a procedure. At high rpm, you can shift into the next gear quickly, or when softly cruising, you can shift into the next gear gradually. Honda did a fantastic job pairing the engine and transmission.
Why did Honda abandon the S2000?
The Honda S2000, a lightweight roadster that was first introduced in 1999, immediately established a reputation as a formidable rival to the venerable Mazda MX-5 Miata. However, the S2000 was terminated in 2009 due to sluggish sales, and plans for a replacement were shelved due to the financial crisis, whilst its Japanese rival is still being produced today. Since 2015, there have been rumors about a second-generation model, and it currently appears that Honda is getting closer to producing a replacement to reenter the market and compete with the Mazda Miata.
Is buying an S2000 worthwhile?
A fantastic high-performance roadster that is practical for regular driving is the Honda S2000.
For aficionados of sports cars and roadsters, the late 1990s and early 2000s were a brilliant time, as numerous fantastic models, including the Nissan 350z, Mazda MX-5, and of course the Honda S2000, were debuted. The Honda S2000 is still extremely desirable because it is still one of the best sports cars you can buy.
It’s a fantastic alternative for anyone seeking for a used roadster because to its renowned VTEC engine and classic design. There are a few drawbacks to purchasing an automobile that is 22 years old, though, because of its age. Before purchasing a Honda S2000, consider the ten items listed below.
S2000: Will it be collectible?
Due to their high level of intelligence, today’s drivers view their vehicles as more than just means of transportation. Many people are searching the area to determine which vehicle will become the next collectible in the future. The worth of so many vehicles has recently taken us by surprise; these are vehicles that were taken for granted when they were new but are now fetching millions at auction. Here are some reasons why the S2000 is a sure thing to become valuable in the future.
Honda S2000 dependability
The S2000 continues Honda’s tradition of building some of the world’s most dependable automobiles. The S2000 has shown to be a dependable mode of transportation, whether you use it daily or as a weekend warrior, despite its high-revving engine and aggressive suspension. Even better, because the S2000 is still a Honda, replacement parts are still widely accessible and reasonably priced.
On its reliability assessment, Repair Pal even gave the Honda S2000 four out of five stars. The only maintenance required, according to CarZing, is an oil change around every 6,000 miles, which serves as additional support. Of course, once the automobile has accumulated 150,000 miles, other maintenance tasks like clutch replacement, brake work, and perhaps strut replacement may be required. However, there have been numerous accounts of S2000 owners logging 300,000 or more miles on their vehicles without any significant problems.
In fact, a Road and Track editor just bought a Honda S2000 with more than 300,000 miles on it. He claimed that the vehicle runs “amazingly” and that no significant repairs are required because everything is “tight and calibrated.”
Is a Honda S2000 a reliable first vehicle?
The S2k is not a very good vehicle for novice drivers. Danger: RWD + Immaturity. A 16-year-old could want to push the car down every on-ramp and off-ramp, I can just picture that. gradually approaching the limit until one day the automobile begins to bite back.
Which year of the Honda S2000 is the best?
What years are ideal for purchasing? Truth be said, there is no undisputed “best year S2000. On paper, the 2002 and later versions should be chosen because they have updated suspension and glass back windows.
What distinguishes the AP1 from the AP2 S2000?
The AP1 is distinguished from the AP2 by its smaller weight and stiffer spring rates. By remaining as true to the race car design as feasible, weight was reduced. To reduce weight, items like a plastic back window were employed in place of a glass windowpane.
Are S2000s uncommon?
Honda sold only 700 S2000 CR models, making them exceedingly rare. Due to their scarcity and assortment of track-focused improvements, they have increased in value over the past five years from being $30,000 cars to six-figure collectors. In addition to having unique wheels, a quicker steering rack, stiffer suspension, revised aero, extra chassis bracing, and a one-piece detachable hardtop roof, CR models also received these upgrades.
This one, which has 123 kilometers on the odometer and is finished in yellow over black Alcantara and cloth, looks the part. The interior is in excellent condition, and the body panels and roof piece appear to be in flawless condition. The car’s engine compartment and underside appear to have never been touched by the outside world, which is not unexpected given that it has only traveled an average of 8.7 miles annually since it was first delivered in 2008.
Currently, a similarly equipped CR that sold for $122,500 on Bring a Trailer back in February 2022 has the distinction of most valued S2000 in the world. However, the mileage on that vehicle was 5500 when it was sold. At the time of writing, Rahal’s CR had received bids as high as $111,111, and there were still three days left to place them.
Rahal has relocated an S2000 using the Bring a Trailer platform before. The six-time IndyCar race winner paid $48,000 back in 2018 for a pristine 2000 S2000 painted in red with 1000 kilometers on the odometer. The next year, he earned $70,000 by auctioning off a 91-mile example.
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Honda S2000s only come in manual?
The Honda S2000 will undoubtedly come up while discussing the purest sports cars. The S2000 was a lightweight roadster that was produced from 1999 to 2009 with the driving pleasure as its main focus. Don’t take this to suggest that the automobile was slow; rather, the emphasis was on how much the car engaged the driver rather than setting records for speed.
What exactly constitutes an automobile that is driver-only? There are several variables at play. Most of it comes down to personal preference, although there are several standards that are commonly accepted.
You need a very light vehicle with corner-handling suspension. It must have a characterful engine that is anxious to exert its power. Last but not least, you’ll want a manual transmission.
an automatic transmission? You’re right, that strange ancient way of shifting gears manually comes to mind.
Once upon a time, it was the “go to option for enthusiast cars like the Honda S2000.