5 Reasons the S2000 is the Perfect Platform

FR Layout. Power. Weight.

You can’t entertain the idea of having a 2,800 lb sports car next year that comes with a simple FR layout, no traction control and 3 pedals for an affordable price. Forget about 240bhp while we’re at it. Bluntly put, cars like the S2000 are gemstones because they simply aren’t being made this way anymore. High revving naturally aspirated engines are going the way of the dinosaur unless you have 6 figures to spend on a super exotic. Find a car that revs to 9,000rpm for the price of an S2000. It’s almost impossible. 

image courtesy of autoweek.com 

Over Built

If lightweight helps us move quickly through the corners then a strong chassis is the skeletal system. In the anatomy of an S2000 nothing is built more robustly than the chassis. These cars can handle power upgrades with ease thanks to an x-bone frame that created positive feedback at all times. It’s a key element that goes into making this car part of the perfect platform because when a chassis isn’t strong it will negatively affect the tire’s ability to hold the road.

image courtesy of cargurus.com  

>>Join the conversation on the S2000's base offerings right here in the S2Ki Forum!

Wheelbase

Short wheelbase cars rotate with outstanding precision in tight twisting bends that require supreme agility, but they suffer as speed increases. At high speeds, you want a long wheelbase for stability and confidence. Fortunately for F-series owners the S2k slots in at a very convenient 94.5”. For reference, a Mazda Miata has a wheelbase of 91” and the brand new Porsche 911 measures in at 96.5”. S2000s have the best of both worlds. 

image courtesy of thedrive.com 

>>Join the conversation on the S2000's base offerings right here in the S2Ki Forum!

Polar Moment of Inertia

Placing the engine behind the front axle is a trick used to create what is known as a front mid-ship layout. This particular layout has great balance like a mid-engine Ferrari or Lamborghini with one key advantage: the engine is over the front wheels. Something about this layout just feels right when you drive on a mountain road or a racing circuit. Where other cars feel fast but on the ragged edge, the S2000 always feels at home and at ease. It makes for a confidence inspiring platform that encourages the driver to go faster.  

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>>Join the conversation on the S2000's base offerings right here in the S2Ki Forum!

Aftermarket Spearhead

There are a lot of great cars in the world that are affordable, lightweight and well laid out, but that doesn’t mean they have aftermarket support. It also means that if they do have some small support the people doing it aren’t going to be competitive with each other. This is where the S2000 flourishes in so far as that there is enough return on investment for big companies—like TEIN & HKS—to develop these cars on the race track. Quality parts, parts that fit and do their job are much harder to come by when no one cares about the platform. In this sense, there are more options to plug and play when it comes to getting your setup dialed to absolute perfection.  

>>Join the conversation on the S2000's base offerings right here in the S2Ki Forum!

Summary

The S2000 is a car that comes highly recommended to anyone who wants a car that they can stick with for life. An overbuilt 2.0-liter racer for the road that takes well to drifting, road racing and even drag racing these cars are found anywhere on the planet where speed is the ultimate goal. Throw a supercharger on one of these and for a modest price you can smoke anything from Turbo 911s to McLarens if you’re an ace behind the wheel. Honda needs to bring this car back and give the people what they want.

Hope you enjoyed reading. 

image courtesy of cargurus.com 

>>Join the conversation on the S2000's base offerings right here in the S2Ki Forum!