We often like to tell others that our car revs motorcycle-like to a giddy 9,000 RPM (slightly less for the AP2) and it is a an attribute that has endeared the car to us. There is an inexplicable thrill that comes from keeping the revs close to or at 5,500 RPM and stepping on the gas as you come out of a corner, the F20C/F22C wailing banshee-like as you point the nose forward to the next braking zone. We have become attuned to shunning straight roads and salivating at the very sight of a corner, even if it is a gently sloping off-ramp. The S2000 has indeed set our standards high for what we come to expect in a vehicle. What then would you pick as a replacement or as a stable-mate from the current Honda lineup?
The CR-Z and the 2012 Civic Si appear to be the only “sporty” choices, but those could be considered a giant leap backwards if you held them up and compared them to the S2000. Needless to say, the Accord Aardvark (Crosstour) and the other vehicles carrying a Honda badge don’t quite match up. We will leave the current Acura lineup out of the picture as it is very hard to get past that power plenum (maybe Acura went with that design hoping to make the cars unattractive to thieves and chop shops).
Honda has several products ranging from engines to power equipment, snow blowers and household generators and has even entered the aerospace industry with the Honda Jet. Something tells us that this may not be what most of us seek to provide thrills on par with the S2000. For some of us the answer to the question of what other Honda to buy may lie in going back to the roots of the company. Soichiro-san started out building motorcycles and racing them. It is one area of the company that continues to participate in motorsports primarily because of how much it meant to Soichiro Honda.
Chances are that, being enthusiasts, many of us have at some point had a brush with motorcycles, whether it be brief, prolonged or continuing. Our two-wheeled cousins, by virtue of their high-revving nature and love for curves, would appear to be the only brand new Hondas you can buy that could come close to matching the joy of driving the S2000. One could also purchase a Honda ATV or a watercraft, but in terms of having fun on the same stomping grounds as the S2000, it is only the Honda motorcycle that will match up.
While the oval-pistoned, virtual V8 Honda NR 750 will only be a pipe dream for us, the VFR, the CBRs, Gold Wing and other two-wheeled delights are readily available should you feel inclined to ride. What do you think? Will a motorcycle be your next Honda or do you think the lawn mower would be just right?
Images courtesy of JulieU, Mrivera78 and yours truly
RELATED LINKS: S2KI Bike Talk
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on Jul 11th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
Waiting for the first person to go hellaflush on the lawnmower.
:fail:
on Jul 11th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
“Keep your S2000 until they come out with something meaningful as a successor” is my vote.
on Jul 11th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Keep the S and pick up a Ridgeline. Sport and utility.
on Jul 11th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
I’m considering an Element for a DD. Those are super practical.
on Jul 11th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
Have owned a Honda lawnmower for 20 years. Still starts on the first pull. Would love to see a front engine, rwd coupe to replace my 97 Prelude SH.
on Jul 11th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
I’m in the market for a new car at the moment, and I’ve particularly been looking at AP2′s. Part of me says that a TSX, TL, or something like a Pilot or Element would be a more practical choice, but coming from autox’ing a modded DA9 and EH2, I just don’t feel ready to give up on owning a car that’s FUN to drive! I’m almost positive that after the “new car” excitement wore off (from one of those practical choices), I would shed tears, knowing that I had passed up the chance to have a true performer. As far as bikes go, I might just be a big chicken, but I simply don’t trust other drivers on the road. S2K, here I come!
on Jul 11th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
just got a new accord v6. nothing drives like an S though
on Jul 11th, 2011 at 5:50 pm
Sveral people be misisng the point of the article. Honda 919 please to go with the S2K
on Jul 11th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
Something to pair up with my S2000? How bout a Honda lawnmover? It’s more interesting than the CR-Z, that’s for sure.
on Jul 11th, 2011 at 6:27 pm
My wife to be chose a 3door civic type r as DD
on Jul 11th, 2011 at 7:11 pm
The CR’s stablemates: XR650L, antique 1st gen prelude, and an impreza outback sport for DD/winter. Need a Ridgeline to trailer the CR cross country…
on Jul 11th, 2011 at 7:15 pm
next honda would have to be something very s2k like.na, rwd, 2seater, super responsive, with no bloatware, etc etc My 09 pearl white cbr 1k is nice, but the s2k is in a different class. I would LOVE to see a honda 3.0, straight six. (maybe 9k redline too?) Then! n only then, will I get another honda. Can you imagine.. The power of dreams.. xcept this one will never happen =[
on Jul 11th, 2011 at 10:49 pm
patiently looking for the right NSX
on Jul 11th, 2011 at 11:18 pm
Im with Fierc3. Short of an epic new real wheel drive, light weight roadster that revs sky high, i dont see myself buying anything from Honda. They genuinely seem to have lost their mojo.
I drive a stock 2008 AP1 and am considering buying a second one (if i can find one) to put a few mods on.
Come on Honda….bring on the straight six revving to 9k!
on Jul 12th, 2011 at 1:24 am
I have just given a daughter the second, & definately last front drive car I will ever own. When the S2k is getting too old, it will be up to Honda if they want to offer me a replacementy.
Meanwhile I am more than happy with my 2 Honda powered pumps, & the generator.
on Jul 12th, 2011 at 3:56 am
Back in the days of ‘working for a cause’ instead of a reasonable salary, our second vehicle and my daily driver was a 400cc bike. Too many close calls and a couple incidents with other vehicles. Though they enjoyed riding with me, I gave up a bike for greater chance to raise kids without serious injury to myself. Our S and Rave (sailboat) are the ‘pocket rockets’ now. The vehicle to pair with these would be more utility than pure fun.
If buying a new or nice used Honda/Acura, I’ll need moderate towing capacity, which leaves me with the Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline or MDX. Unfortunately for H/A, competitors have small SUV’s (or similar) with better towing capacity than the H/A offerings in similar sized vehicles, and I tend to be a best-bang-for-the-buck buyer. Honda, can you up your small SUV towing capacity before my next purchase?
on Jul 12th, 2011 at 5:30 am
Well if Im going to Keep it fair I would have to say another S2k in the garage to keep my S2k company at night. if i must make the sacrifice I would drive a rangeline, and let my wife pretend it belongs to her.
on Jul 12th, 2011 at 6:30 am
Get a camel… or! a turbo neon! vroooooooooooooom!
on Jul 12th, 2011 at 6:32 am
I agree with the camel… no neon though, SS Cobalt for the win…. errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
on Jul 12th, 2011 at 6:56 am
I went with an NSX. But I had to sell the S to get it. I miss the S but I’m really enjoying the performance, luxury, and torque of Honda’s semi-exotic. Maybe someday I can get another S to go with the NSX, although I’ll also have to get a bigger garage.
on Jul 12th, 2011 at 10:14 am
as hard as it is to think about driving anything other than my S, the reality is, i need something more practical. so i’m saving for an nsx.
on Jul 12th, 2011 at 10:18 am
tof…any regrets? what year NSX did you get and is it more fun to drive than your s
on Jul 12th, 2011 at 11:00 am
LOL i got a bike (gsxr 750) prior to my S just cause i wanted the color combo. Honda has came to an end.
on Jul 12th, 2011 at 4:21 pm
Ditto on the NSX
on Jul 12th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
considering what the future s2000 will have to be like with new laws for pedestrian safety, emissions and traction control standards I have little hope for the future.
I will admit the crz convertible has possibilities but the suspension fwd and anemic powerplant kill even those. I think I’ll be keeping my s for a long time.
And even if they do come out with something else I probably won’t replace it.
I just sold my motorcycle and kept my s because wearing a helmet and sweating a high side arent as much fun as top down.
on Jul 12th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
btw the nr 750 is garbage to ride compared with any modern bike and less reliable by far, the rc51 is obviously it’s superior no matter how high a value you put on limited edition ultra expensive things it’s still supposed to be ridden.
on Jul 12th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
I already did. A 95 civic with a k20a2 motor swap. No offense but it’s more powerful than the f motor and much more responsive. The civic is also harder to drive fast con the track, but it is faster.
on Jul 13th, 2011 at 3:50 am
I really wish that lawnmower wasn’t photoshopped. I would own the shit out of that lawnmower.
on Jul 13th, 2011 at 5:45 am
other then not having any power the crz is pretty stylish imo. i always liked crx’s back in the day. i have had several bikes in the garage along with my S so that keeps me content with speed and things. i track my bike quite often and have been eyeing the ridgeline so that i could have something to haul it with. right now i do own a 92 accord ex so the S does have another honda to hang out with lol
on Jul 13th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
I’m pushing hard to pay off my ’06 GPW by mid October, sell it, then procure an NSX. It’s been a dream of mine to own one and I will miss the S2000 dearly. I’ll one day own another GPW S2000 down the road.
on Jul 13th, 2011 at 8:07 pm
hmm… all this nsx talk.. makes me want one.. I do like torque..
on Jul 15th, 2011 at 4:06 am
Just picked up a Black/Chrome 2003 Honda 600 CBR-RR and its like a s2000 on two tires and steroids. The only down side is it can kill you in a blink of an eye if you are not careful
on Jul 18th, 2011 at 7:57 pm
I just bought an 07 Honda CB919, it makes a wonderful addition to the S2k.
on Oct 8th, 2011 at 5:04 am
Get an RVT1000R (RC51) to compliment the S2K.