I am looking to get an S2000 in a month or so. I drove a model year 2000 and liked it; I expect the 2007 to be better and will be test driving one soon.

The latest Road & Track, in forecasting a new, small roadster from Honda, called the S2000 "the ultimate penalty box" in day to day use due to the stiff ride and high-revving nature. Is it really THAT bad in day to day use? I don't want a weekend garage queen. I suspect this article was written by someone who hasn't actually lived with one for a while, and was just taking info they read and came up with the phrase. Still, a test drive doesn't always tell you what a car is like to drive day to day. I have a 1997 Miata and I don't mind driving it all the time, though it is worlds apart top-up vs. top-down.

I'd even like to... -gasp- take the S2000 on a road trip once in a while, maybe 200-300 mile radius.

Anyone who has lived with the latest S2000, pleae chime in...

 

without going into details: absolutely NOT. i take it on 300 mile journeys frequently, and day to day, and grab groceries

 

^ I agree completly. It is my daily driver and has worked out great for trips.

 

Yep, daily driven. Drove from Texas to Florida (17 hours) with no complaints, and the ride quality should be worse with 18s and springs.
Actually, I may be quite the opposite from most people, I don't like smooth riding cars. Last time I was in my friend's truck, I wanted to puke.

 

ultimate penalty my @$$!!! more like The Ultimate Ride for ME.

It my daily driver car and sometime you feels you want to take to the next the next level. but on a daily basis I barely VTEC at all..more like 4rpm is my redline. hahah Probably would VTEC like every other day..
If you notice the car is very cool when driving normal just like any other car, but once you hit VTEC baby it a different type of Breed!!!
Otherwise it just like any other civic or so

 

After owning a Toyota Supra, a Nissan 300ZX and a Miata I am now the owner of my 3rd S2000. I am 55 years old and 6' tall. It is my daily driver during the warmer months here in Ohio and I have taken many 200-300 mile trips. The '06 I currently own is noticibly more civil than the '03 (my 1st S2K).
I agree that those who haven't lived with an S2K really can't truely judge what it is like.

 

I too am a daily driver with the S2k and wouldn't have it any other way. The S is just too much fun to drive the S embraces everything that a sports car should be!

 

Maybe the writer was a fattie. I drove 15 hours to the Dragon, 10 hours on the Dragon, and 15 hours back. With earplugs, it might have been any other car....

 

To defend publications criticizing the harshness of the s2000, they do need to relate to the average, camry/accord buying consumer and test drive luxury cars right along the hardcore cars, making the harshness of the S2000 that much more amplified.
I've used my S for daily driving for almost a year and I'll admit that it can be difficult to live with. It does ride harder than say a Camry, it is a lot louder than an Accord, and has less space than a Civic. Driving in stop and go traffic going uphill can be a test of patience particularly when the person in front of you doesn't know how to use the gas pedal and people in back of you has never seen a manual transmission before.
But an Accord can't rev up like an S2000, a Camry isn't as poised or composed when you turn the wheel, and a Civic can't drop its top when the weather is just right. I came from an SI before my S and to be honest, my butt hurt more on long trips in the stock SI than my S; matter in fact my roommate and I were both impressed by the ride quality the S gave. As far as harshness goes, if you ever swapped springs and shocks in any of your previous cars and lived with it, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised about the ride quality of the S.
I'll be quick to mention though as a weekend car (which is sorta is now), the car is just that much more enjoyable, but these days I find myself wanting to drive another car when I'm in my daily whereas when I was in my S I found myself wanting to find a more challenging road... even if it does take 30 minutes longer .

 

You guys have taken away my fear. Gonna get a Blue one next month! Is it hard for dealers to locate blue ones? All I see around here are red and silverstone.