I wouldn't take CR too seriously on sports cars. It's a little like Mister Rogers rating bourbons.

Well, it appears CR just can't tell a straight story. On page 178 of my CR 2006 Buyer's Guide I just received a couple of weeks ago, the S 2000 is "check rated" (recommended) , and rated as "much better than average in predicted reliability and accident avoidance. In fact, that page of this CR publication gives the S 2000 the HIGHEST reliability rating of any sports roadster.

If CR reported the S 2000 as only "average" in reliability in another one of its publications, that just goes to prove that CR has become very inconsistent within its own rating system, as I pointed out in an earlier post on this thread. I used to rely heavily on CR's car reports. Now, I don't, for this reason. About the only thing I can say for them is that if they CONSISTENTLY report that a certain car is a "dog" chances are it probably barks! But the differences between ratings of "average" and "much higher than average" reliability have become blurred in CR's own internal inconsistency.

Thanks,
Richard

You own the 2nd year of a new model of car, there are going to be problems. Nearly all problems were worked out by 02-03.

Actually i've got quite a laundry list as well.

My 2nd gear had to be replace at 10k miles since it kept jumping out if i was decelerating in 2nd at 4k and simply let go of the throttle.

My top strikers were made by Ford or so im guessing since they rattle like crazy. Had that fixed at 11k miles.

The car has been notchy to shift since day one. It gets smoother as i drive a few miles but the first 2 miles or so are just downright ugly to drive.

The clear coat quality sucks. I get swirls washing it with the two bucket method + grid guard + using new sponges. What gives? Now im starting to get white/blue specks on the paint.

The rear bumper isnt aligned properly.

Thats about it. Its still a great car but it has quite a few unexpected faults.

I actually had 2nd gear pop out on me twice on the way into work this morning... that's actually what led me to this thread. I was trying to figure out if I had done something wrong... my '04 also has about 10K on it.

My top also rattles as well :)

Fun car, but I went with it over an older M3 b/c I figured the reliability would be better. It is a blast to drive and I am sure I will keep it, but I must say I am a tad nervous as to what suprises the future may hold. A feeling I've never had before with a Honda.

Add a zero. Actually, Honda is on track to sell about 7,700 S2000s in the United States by year end. This data came from the Automotive News data center.

I sympathize with those who have had problems from any model year, but I think we might be seeing a normal distribution of defects. Those who have problems are more likely to post them on this forum, and those with a troublefree experience remain silent. I have not experienced ANY of the problems listed in this thread.

The only thing I can agree with is that the paint on my car is not extremely durable. I have a collection of tiny rock chips in my paint, but swirl marks are not visible because of the light color.

While I have two cars with which other owners have had problems, and I have had none (s2k and MB C 320), the REAL issue presented on this thread is the accuracy of CR's reliability reports. Twenty years ago, I found CR's reliability reports to be 100% accurate and consistent. Now, I find different reports and conclusions among CR's reports on the same car --- sometimes even within the same publication! Can't rely on CR any more.

And then there is the problem that nobody else reports on longer term reliability, with companies like JD Powers all concentrating on the first year of ownership. I guess we will have to go back to that old Packard ad slogan (for those of us old enough to remember it) which was: "Ask the man who owns one."

Thanks,
Richard

05 owner a little more than a year. bought it new w/8 or so mi. on it. now have 16000 mi. NO complaints. walked around car at dealer lot and eyeballed everything before i drove off the lot. frist few hundred miles i did experience 2nd gear pop out, more me than tranny, YES the car needs to warm up. one rattle sometimes in driver door panel i think. otherwise i love the BANG for the buck.

over two years old and 21,000 plus miles and never been to the dealer for anything except the first oil change. no problems, no oil use, nothing wrong, period.

top gear posted their reliability poll and ranked over 150 cars, which one was #1...over all of them...you guessed it, our honda, out of 76,000 repondents, owners like us. it also ranked #1 last year. and withint the top 5 in 2003.

consumer reports is a good source for info, but not the only one. all cars built have examples that are lemons or less than ideal and many that we never hear about like mine, that are gold.

i think odds are that a honda S2000 will be a great car for its' life, a satisfying ride for the owner.