Does an S2000 Make Sense as a Daily?

Advice Needed

Unlike a lot of other specialized vehicles out there in the world, a pretty good portion of S2000 owners actually uses them as daily drivers. Of course, doing so often comes with some concessions. So you can't really blame S2Ki forum member Joe Grant for seeking advice from those who drive their cars on the regular before taking the plunge himself.

Photos: S2Ki Forums

Questions and Concerns

Grant currently owns/dailys an 8th gen Civic Si, but it's getting up there in miles. Thus, he presents his unique situation for our consideration. 

"Would an S2000 make sense for me? I see a couple of AP1s in my budget. A few points:
- Love a high rev Honda experience.
- Never owned a 2-seater or convertible. But rarely need more than that much space.
- This would be my daily driver. Wife has the (yawn) SUV.
- Live in the St. Louis area. We get nice weather, but also some snow and ice. Frankly, not a lot of days where you could count on keeping the top open.
- Have a garage at home. At work -- at least for now -- have a parking garage.
- I am NOT mechanically inclined and want something really reliable.
- Have heard the top-up experience can be claustrophobic. I suppose that remains to be seen with a test drive how I'd feel about it."

Nonsensical?

Many members, including pdexta, point out that this decision may not seem rational. But it is totally worth it. "Does it make any sense, absolutely not. Would a reasonable person do it, probably not. Could it be done, most definitely. Shoot me back to being single and 25...that's exactly what I'd do."

Great Start

Others, including hatsubai, have faced this kind of decision in the past. "I was in your exact same shoes almost word for word. I got one anyway and don't regret it one bit. I'm in the metro Detroit area, so we definitely get snow, too. Only real issue I've had was my radiator developing a hairline crack around the neck filler cap area. Easiest swap I've ever done, too. It's literally two bolts, three electrical connectors, and some hoses. The car is a dream to work on and a great car to learn how to work on vehicles, too."

Young or Old

Some older folks admit their physical limitations are what keeps them from daily driving their cars. But not Birdybog. "Do it, you’ll never regret it. I daily mine, just have to decide which one. I'm 52 and love every minute I drive. Was always afraid to do anything on my own until I actually tried, and now I do nearly all my own work. There are tons of videos and invaluable information on this forum."

Salt Kills

While there are a lot of members who actually drive their cars in the winter, folks like B serious aren't crazy about the idea. "I won't drive mine through salt because salt destroys cars. And for some reason, the S2000 gets ruined faster than most. If I was willing to, however, there would be no reason this could not be my only car."

Can't Look Away

But for folks like DesertWanderer, there's just something that entices you to drive your car all the time. "I daily drive my 2007 S2000 and have a bit over 380,000 miles on the original engine. I always smile and try not to look back at her over three times as I walk away. I almost always lose. I put every one of those miles on her myself and bought her new. I lost one clutch, one differential, two A/C compressors, one alternator, and one starter (preventative maintenance). I have a couple of MR2s that I love as well, but the S is the one that I can never get away from."

Snow or No?

DesertWanderer also shared his thoughts on driving the S2000 in the snow. "I do not agree with the S being a lousy car in the snow. I think with the right tires it handles well in the snow. I do think that it is a lousy idea to drive it in the snow on a regular basis."

Icy Danger

Then again, slalom44 somewhat disagrees with that notion. "With the right tires, snow isn't a problem. But ice is a BIG problem since the S is RWD. It's easy to lose traction on icy pavement, even if everyone else is buzzing by with no issues. Roads with hard packed snow that are glazed over are a problem too. For this reason, I don't drive my car well below freezing or if there's a chance there is ice on the road." 

Daily or Rarely?

So far, it appears that most S2Ki members have no issue daily driving their cars, at least in the warmer months. But we want to know what you think. Head over here and tell us (and the OP) whether or not you believe the S is a great daily driver, and why or why not!