Alot has been said about the demise of teh S2000. Personaly all I believe is that the 2008 car will be the last, not based on fact, just intuition.

Why has this car not evolved to a larger extent, say like the Z has? Upgraded interior, more hp, different chassis and suspension upgrades, brake upgrade options, improved gearbox/linkage, NAV, etc?

The Miata has a power hard top, several trim levels, put out a limited production club racer and a turboed car and always has special editions to offer. they also has mazdaspeed accessories. where is the factory after market support for the S? In Japan the S2000 has come with NAV and trim options, even some go fast stuff.

Why has Honda just put out the same car, with minor tweaks, and destined it for an end run like the NSX? Why has Honda, who led this price and performance class with the S2000 for so long, who put together a dazzling auto of just a few years ago, who created a benchmark in 4 cyl roadsters...just sat.

Honda has filled has many models of accord, civic, etc...evolved the acura line and added to it...but just stopped with the S2000. And in the same breath rumored a Miata beater to be unveiled soon?

I for one would think they could increase sales with option and trim packages, revised interiors , nav, better stereos, more cyl or hp, turbo, etc?
Any thoughts as to what they are thinking?

 

The first major reason is that the S2000 doesn't share an engine and platform with any other car Honda produces. It's much easier to justify additional development when it benefits multiple lines/models. Options are streamlined because it simplifies production and helps control manufacturing costs. While some mfrs will hand an option sheet with 237 checkboxes, Honda doesn't. Some models offer a couple of trim levels, but for the most part it's auto/manual and decide if you want navigation.

 

To be honest, I don't think they've had too. In 05 R&T did a comparison test of sports cars where the S2000 ranked in t he middle of the class they tested, but was the cheapest car. It beat the 350Z, it beat the Z4, it beat the Merc. At 04 they probably said, we aren't making enough money to worry about serious upgrades, and with it's performance in the 05 test, they probably thought, lets ride this car as long as we can without dumping serious money into it.

 

It's perfect the way it is, quit complaining.

If they change it, people will start bitching how they screwed it up. You can never please everyone.

 

S2000 was designed to be a limted run, one-off from the beginning - frankly I'm surprised its been made as long as it has.

I also think 2008 truly is the final year of production, and I would not be surprised if nothing similar comes after the S2000.

Also, the S2000 was so advanced for its time, it hasn't needed a lot of updates to stay current - it is just now startng to fall into the fold of other cars regarding looks and technology imo.

But to your point, the S2000 HAS evolved.

The interior HAS been updated.

The suspension HAS been improved.

The gearbox HAS been improved.

The brakes HAVE been improved, well at least the pads were updated...

Unlike a 350Z, the S2000 was a top-shelf car to begin with. The S2000 is an engineering wonder with more technology and R&D than even the latytest 350Z has.

 

Whats wrong with the interior?
Whats wrong with the chassis and suspension?
How can you improve the best (or one of) gearbox made?
Why do you need NAV? It won't have track maps or coordinates.

The brakes could be a little better, but they are still plenty good.
Obviously HP could be bumped, but I have no complaints.

You bought a sports car.. if you want bells and whistles, you're in the wrong place.

 

The way I see is that the S2000 is Special in ITS Time. So let it stay there. hahhaa

Yes.. I preferred some JDM VGS & Navi. Freaking Honda

 

somehow i do not see the connection between sports car and no options?
i agree that for some there should be a lightweight, no radio, no a/c, hardtop only car, etc...

i do not think it has evolved, i think it has been tweaked, improved yes...but not evolution, sure there were changes, but they seemed to fall short and end .....there was the first car, then glass rear window, then....the 2004 car with all its changes, then the 2006 car with the changes there...then....the CR?

compared to the rest of the automotive industry...take just about any car, there are always tweaks, things to improve on original design, things to refresh...as example the accord of 2000 is way different than the one for 2006 or even the proposed new one coming. the civic is wayyyy different than the one of old and my 2004 TL is completely different than the 2003 and before car.

so now we come to the question at hand...call it evolution, call it tweaking, call it change...but why has honda not done much to the car...sure we can say it was perfect when it came out...so was the 911 and the toyota camry...but each car has changed to keep pace with the market...that has just not happened to the S2000 in a competitive way.

..it is almost as if honda says...here is the car...the best car we can manage for this price...it is a gift to you honda enthusiats...you can have it for a while and then we will no longer offer it, but rather offer another departure from the front drivers we do so well. very different than others who sell cars!

 

Having owned an 02 MY from new with over 100,000 miles on the clock , never missing a beat , the S2k is everything I want in a car. No real need for evolution but I do question why the CR hasn't more power. Slight weight reduction with the elimination of radio and a/c and various other slight mods hardly seems a fitting syonara to the top engineer who fathered the S2k and R Types. Where's the extra power ? It can be done , as it has been done with the European CTR which was raised from 197bhp to 260bhp without any forced induction.

I would have liked to see the CR with at least another 40bhp but as it is it's just a rebadged S2k with a special paint job