The S2000 has accessories galore on offer from several vendors. While the quality of vendor-manufactured accessories may vary, there is no doubt that Honda offers some of the best looking and functional (or in the very least, appearing to have some function) accessories for the S2000. The front lip, rear spoiler(s) and the side strakes multiply the visual appeal of the car. However, there is one accessory that we think is the king of them all and that is the OEM aluminum hardtop. You are probably sharpening your blades right now and preparing for a lynching as retribution for this blasphemy, after all the S2000 is a roadster and any proper roadster must always be driven top-down with a wide open grin so that bugs may splatter freely onto your pearly whites. Hear us out though and give us the benefit of a fair trial.
As much as the S2000 is fun to drive with the top down, there are times when one has to drive with the top up (especially during winter months or in inclement weather). Anyone that has driven with the top up has noticed that the interior feels claustrophobic. Massive blind spots are created with the top closed making lane changes an exercise in caution and luck. The OEM hardtop, by virtue of its design, is not only surprisingly roomier but also eliminates the blind spots to a great extent and gets as close to driving top down, in terms of visibility, as can be. With the hardtop on, wind and road noise are significantly reduced and one can actually hear the engine as it revs up to the limit, reducing the need for an aftermarket exhaust. The hardtop is a blessing for those that have no choice but to daily drive their S2000 during the winter because of the visibility it provides and because it protects the cloth top from the elements.
Those planning on driving their car on track, may find that some groups won’t allow the S2000 out on track unless it comes equipped with a hardtop or a roll bar or both. The days of open-top roadsters being raced without a shred of safety have long since passed. Several track instructors would be unwilling to ride in a convertible so getting a hardtop may not be an option for some if not most of us who drive on track. In the interests of your safety, it is always better to have both a roll bar and a hardtop should you have plans to track your S2000.
The hardtop is constructed using aluminum and weighs 44 lbs. It is well finished on the interior with soft padding and, by virtue of its clever design, adds more head room to accommodate a helmet, but the real visual impact it makes is on the outside – with the hardtop on, the S2000 appears like a whole other car. Gone is the friendly and sunny roadster attitude as the car now appears more lean, mean and muscular.
There is little wonder that, for reasons of function and form, the demand for hardtops today is higher than the supply. The few, if any, new ones that can be found command a premium price. For most of us, the only recourse may be to buy used. We can only hope that Honda keeps a supply of the OEM hardtops coming into the market so that, in the future, anyone considering purchasing the S2000 for track duty is not turned off by the lack of a hardtop on offer from the manufacturer. Perhaps they can take a page out of Mazda’s playbook and continue offering the hardtop to S2000 owners, especially those who seek to drive on track. More than anything, it will be the presence of the S2000 on track that will build its reputation and sustain its legend, and for that reason we think the OEM hardtop must always be available.
For the ease with which it can added and removed, for its ergonomics, for the manner in which it enhances the visual appeal of the car and for its help with making the S2000 compliant for track duty, we declare the OEM hardtop to be our favorite accessory.
Do you think or feel otherwise? Feel free to let us know in the comments section.
Images courtesy of Triple-H & Mark355
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on Aug 23rd, 2011 at 2:25 pm
The hardtop is baller status PERIOD. DONT HATE
on Aug 23rd, 2011 at 3:03 pm
I definitely find myself more and more interested in owning a hardtop. But the occasional unpredictable weather in Texas is enough for me to keep the soft top. Some time after a long day of work, it is nice to be able to put the top down in the spring or fall when it is a perfect temperature after a small rainshower.
As far as blind spots are concerned, those can be eliminated when you properly set the side mirrors.
on Aug 23rd, 2011 at 3:03 pm
If the Hardtop is required for tracking, I would wish that Honda make it available now. With no intentions to track mine soon, the soft top keeps the sun off when it’s 110 outside, but also goes easily down for the trip home at night. My convertible top goes up and down too often to have to worry about a hard top. My gal will want to ride to the concert or theater with the top up to save her hair, but on the way home, it’s top down time, it it blow in the wind!
on Aug 23rd, 2011 at 4:05 pm
Soft top all the way. Its too much of a hassle to own a hardtop if you like going top down. you probably end up never taking it off especially with unpredictable weather.
not to mention the price on those things
on Aug 23rd, 2011 at 4:37 pm
Modify. Glove. Box. Organizer. /discussion
on Aug 23rd, 2011 at 8:14 pm
been looking for an OEM hard top for ages. So rare
Any one know the splitter on the Yellow AP1 with the black rims at the top?
on Aug 23rd, 2011 at 8:52 pm
Favorite accessory Ap2 front lip
on Aug 23rd, 2011 at 10:03 pm
Modify glove box organizer++
on Aug 23rd, 2011 at 11:01 pm
My favorite is the gear knob.
on Aug 23rd, 2011 at 11:03 pm
I have to agree with Samir. Modifry Glove Box Organizer is the one thing that the S2000 should have come with stock. Absolutely.
on Aug 24th, 2011 at 3:06 am
Anything Modifry is great. His DCI works flawless with my Alpine and the glove box orgainizer is a must. Also the dash bracket is nice to have. Will hold my GPS or my iPhone so can stream blue tooth to my stereo for music or hands free driving while talking on the phone.
No, I’m not shilling or own stock in the company. Have a lot of his products, including his tools, and have had great luck with it all.
Yes a hard top would be great. May look into one, but since I drive top down 3/4 of the year would not utilize at present time. Hopefully Honda could at least consider the continued production.
Maybe a letter/email campaign could be started to bombard them with love the same way we all love our S.
on Aug 24th, 2011 at 4:53 am
i bought my S in March and it came with the hardtop which was originally installed way back in 02. I love it to death and despite constant inquiries it’s really hard for me to give it up on a shear rarity basis. However much like the people above, in the summer I want the top down any chance I get and the car is in storage during winter. Regardless, I do install it from time to time to get some extra looks, come fall it will go on full time for a month or so before storage. The OEM accessory I’m after is the AP1 trunk spoiler…
on Aug 24th, 2011 at 4:58 am
i do admit that the hardtop has become more appealing to me however i wouldnt trade it for the ease of the soft top. i bought this car for several reasons and one of them is because its a convertible. there are plenty of other cars that i would be interested if a coupe was the only thing i wanted. also i dont drive it in increment weather. thats what the cheap daily driver is for
on Aug 24th, 2011 at 8:12 am
I agree, the oem ht is the best. Have it and luv it
Besides my softop is torn, so have no choice
on Aug 24th, 2011 at 12:43 pm
Mark, I’ve never heard of the hard top being required for track events. I’ve heard of some places requiring aftermarket rollbars but as the hard top offers very little (if any) rollover protection it’s really just a cosmetic thing.
on Aug 24th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
@Patrick H – Local BMW CCA chapter requires both HT & rollbar. Also Lime Rock Park wont allow any convertible unless it either has a rollbar or a hardtop.
Rules vary based on the group you are running with, PCA may not require any protection as long as you pass broomstick. But in order to run with all clubs it is best to have both a roll bar and a hardtop to avoid them nitpicking on the car during tech inspection.
on Aug 24th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
The hardtop transforms the car. Correct. The S2000 looks much much better as a coupe than it will ever look as a roadster IMO.
Spoon hardtop?
on Aug 24th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
My S2K is 100% top down, if top up I will drive my beater. With about 2k to 3k for the top I could get another beater.
on Aug 25th, 2011 at 6:16 am
“those that have no choice but to daily drive their S2000 during the winter” – they had a choice when they decided to have a light rwd roadster as their only car
The track restrictions I’ve seen around here on club track days have stated only a roll bar that passes the broomstick test will suffice/no hardtops – I could understand I guess, I don’t really see a hardtop providing protection. But hey, if some tracks let you get by with one and/or if people like ‘em, more power to the hardtop world.
on Aug 25th, 2011 at 9:25 am
Sebring Dream and PJ, thanks for the insight. I know it’s for insurance purposes but it’s my neck on the line at the track (literally
) Given all the idiots on the public roadways I think it’s hilarious (in a way) that rollbars are required for on track activities, where you are far safer than if you were just commuting to work surrounded on the local interstate by mindless idiots texting on their phones and fixing their make up.
on Aug 25th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
Can you still order hardtops from the dealer? and if you can how much do they go for?
on Aug 25th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
Mugen HT is what I am going with. I knew as soon as I bought the car that’s what I was going to get.
on Aug 25th, 2011 at 9:07 pm
i was a softtop guy for a looooong time…until i invested in a mint hardtop…much to my surprise, I LOVE IT!! Occassionally I do take it off to drop the softtop on really nice days…but I’m a hardtop guy now
…probably the best investment towards the S
on Aug 26th, 2011 at 3:50 am
Guys we need to get to the basics of the S2000. It is all about being lghtweight, having a low centre of gravity and a perfect 50/50 balance.
A hard top ruins all this. A hard top is adding weight in the very very wrong place. It effectively increases the height of the centre of gravity therefore increasing roll and ruining handling.
If anyone wanted a ‘non convertible’ S2000 one could have purchased something else, like a 350Z.
on Aug 26th, 2011 at 6:06 am
@Schumiii
Agree to Schumiii, if I really want a hard top I could go with EVO, STI, M3 coupe, 370Z, 5.0……etc
on Aug 26th, 2011 at 8:09 am
@Schumiii
get rid of the soft-top and all the mechanism and you will be lighter by 97lbs. Now add on the ht and you have a net weight savings of 50+ lbs.
on Aug 29th, 2011 at 11:41 am
Haha… very funny. I just picked up my S in Philly Tuesday of last week (22nd of Aug) with a Hardtop. You gotta be outta your mind to go without it if you can afford it. I put 4 thousand miles on the car in six days driving across this great country of ours, and suffice it to say there few moments if any where I thought this would be a great time to have the top down. 100 plus temps from Philly all the way to California. Yeah the soft top would work just fine, but 800 miles a day combined with wind noise will make for an even longer ride, with more fatigue from wind noise. The hard top gives the car a more complete look and transforms it into a very handsome roadster.
Interesting that unscrewing 3 bolts (per side, in my case) and lifting the top off is some how inconvenient… Really?
on Aug 31st, 2011 at 11:37 am
@Sigma Black
Removing the soft top and mechanisms in favour of the hard top is a good suggestion, either one or the other, but this means that you will not experience the VTEC right in your ears with the top down.
on Sep 3rd, 2011 at 12:46 am
Hi guys, I’ve been reading this thread and as I have a S2000 buy not the GT one, will a hardtop go right on it?
I’ve been told I need some roof kit that costs quite a bit? Can anyone shed some light on this?
thanks
Luke
on Sep 4th, 2011 at 8:49 am
@LukeVtecS – Hardtop is the same for all trims of the S2000. If you are buying the hardtop brand new from a dealer/Honda it will include all the hardware.
Not sure if it is any different for the UK.
on Sep 5th, 2011 at 12:49 am
If you have the money to burn and can find one, just get one. It’s an investment. It’s so easy to take on and off (two people), it gives you the best of both worlds. Just make sure you call your insurance company and add it to your policy just in case.
I only use mine during winter when it’s not snowing, and I pop it on occasionally when it gets 95-100 degrees outside. Sometimes it’s hard to take off because of how much nicer the car looks, and how quiet it is, but I miss the top down feel, so I remove it before long. I pop mine on and off a lot, and I love it. It’s simply the best accessory period no matter what the circumstance, as long as you have room for it in your garage.
on Sep 8th, 2011 at 5:28 pm
i just purchased my oem ht for $2000. It’s mint condition and it was already painted Berlina Black. Looks very sporty and nice with my stock 2006 BB AP2. I love it. I love the softtop, but a change is nice.
on Sep 15th, 2011 at 7:44 pm
I want one but can’t find one near me. San Antonio, TX. Any help out there would be greatly apprcieated.
Thanks
Dan
on Sep 30th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
I love my hardtop ( mugen rep VIS ) lighter then oem, all though the blind spots do still exist…. but I am a pro at taking it on and off in less then 5 mins… its hard to roll without it because its such a sweet part to have and would be like taken off your Volk wheels sometimes to roll steelies to save tread lol but on road trips I do wish to roll there top down but cant, do to leaving my car unattended every were I park … and of course bad weather through a mountain pass.