Many of us feel exactly the same way that you do. The real issues that you have are:

1) Can you live with the noise?
2) Is the ride too firm/harsh for you?
3) Is there enough creature comforts in the car for you?
4) Can you live with and enjoy a manual transmission?

If you enjoy driving a sportscar/roadster the answers to the above questions are obvious. If you don't the answers are also obvious.

Do not concern yourself with having to be a high performance driver to enjoy the car. Much of that is the hype and myth that has grown around the car. Don't listen to the salesman's pitch, it is all they know how to say, and they think it is effective. . Enjoy the car the way that you want to. That is what most of us do.

 

I would suggest the RSX, Integra, or a late model Prelude. I don't think the S is for the average Honda customer. I'm not saying that you have to "drive it like you stole it" but it certainly capable of more than most drivers abilities.

I personally could not wait to get my S. I had to save for three years to buy mine. While I consider myself to be a average driver as I sport around in my Odyssey, I turn into Michael Andrettti when I get behind the wheel of the S. Julie Andrews said it best. "The Hills are Alive with The Sound of Music" I'm sure she was refering to the sound of of the S, at full song, slicing though the Hills of Southern Indiana.

The noise, the expensive normal wear items, and the lack of space makes this Honda unique. If you understand that this is not yout average Honda and that you can put up with the car's attributes than by all means buy it. Just make sure that you can live with that because the S requires more than an oil change every 3k miles.

 

I agree with Hondafan. Before I got my S I had the RSX. And while the RSX handled better than any FWD that I've driven, it's nothing compared to the S. It's a rush that you won't get from a RSX, for example.

 

In my opinion you can drive it normally. I do my share of spirited driving, but most of the time I drive my S like I drive my Civic. I commute 150 miles every other day with this car.
You should be aware that this IS a performance car and is not made for comfort.
Road racing is it's forte' hence most of it's power unleashed between 6K and 8,300K.
It is loud. (A welcome trait for me)
It's cabin is plain and doesn't have foo foo items throughout the cabin. (Another plus for me and also a road car doesn't need them)
It's not the most comfortable car for everyone. It's a stiff ride. Not unbearable, but it's no Mercedes.
I have been on trips from the SF Bay Area to San Diego non-stop and my back didn't ache as much as it does when I take the Civic there. In fact, it didn't hurt at all. The seats are perfect for me. (5'9")
It's drivability while cruising is fine. It's very tame... Integra like. Flog it through the corners and it might bite you at first, but you'll get used to it.
If you want comfort this car may not be for you, but I think if you get one you may kick yourself for not getting one sooner.
This is just my opinion, I hope this helps a little.

 

Don't buy the car if it's your only car. Great for the weekends and for dates and just getting out on the open road and hitting the curves, but as an everyday driver, you will butt will hate the sight of bumpy roads. And you will get tired of hearing the engine whailing when you are driving at a steady 25MPH. The lack of TC does make a difference. I was a FWD person when I bought my S and almost got into a wreck the first day I drove the car. I hit a corner too hard and tried to adjust. Without the TC, you are really on your own. It's like playing Gran Turismo without the driving assist on after you've been playing with it on for 10 years. Except, when you run off the road, instead of starting the game over, you die. And the trunk isn't adequate for your only car either. I almost traded in my Civic when I bought the S. I don't know what I was thinking.

The car is a wonderful car, but it's a fun car, not an everyday car. As long as you don't expect it to be a touring sports car, you will be alright.

 

I agree with what everyone's been saying -- it's a pure roadster, it's not like an Accord, and it's idiosyncratic in ways you'll either love or hate. (I love 'em.)

But you do have to be careful in "Civic mode" because of the tires. All the stuff you read here about the S02's being like claws until they reach the limit is very true. Hit that limit -- even for a second -- and you've got ice on ice.

There's this one left turn on my normal commute when I take the S2000 to work. It's at a major intersection. You turn left exactly 90 degrees from a two lane road into the left lane of a four lane road. No sweat for thousands of cars every day. Dull. Predictable. A Buick Century, one-fingered turn.

But make a beginner mistake like I did (shifting into 2nd at about 6000RPM) and flooring it, and the S2000 absolutely breaks loose.

Milliseconds and one quick jerk of the wheel later, you are back in control.

But that's when you realize that this car is not like anything else on the road. It's the moment you first love it because you know it's temperamental, imperfect, unforgiving in certain ways. And you respect anew the engineering aspects of the car as well as Honda's balls in producing something so completely unsuitable for the masses.

 

I use the S2000 as my daily driver, year round, commuting, everything but going snowboarding or shopping for large items; for those we use my wife's Integra, or borrow a truck.

I love the S2000, it makes boring commutes fun.

It does take more attention to drive aggressively than most other cars, but that's part of the fun once you are aware of it and accept it. I don't want an automatic, traction control, stability control, four wheel drive, understeering, soft-riding car.

 

My wife and I share our "S" as a daily driver and it is great. I've got a 20 mile, freeway drive home and it's wonderful to drop the top, slip a Miles Davis CD in the player, cruise home in the slow lane, and nod at people that pull along side of you and give you a after a day on the JAY OH BEE.

 

Buy it, and in a month you won't drive like a "normal" driver!

 

I will have to take the car for a drive this weekend. Its the only way I will know for sure how its going to do for me.

You guys are all probably going to hate me, because you will think I drive like a wuss and therefore have no business owning this car...LOL! One of the earlier posters mentioned how he lost control of the car by dropping down into second at 6,000 RPM and floored it. Ummmmm....I don't think thats something I'd even have had the balls to try LOL. If these are the kinds of mistakes I need to worry about, then I wil be fine, since I drive cautiously.

The one thing I am curious about is the "noise" factor. Thats a relative thing, I suppse. I drive with the stereo cranked anyway and don't expect to be redlining it, so I'm not sure I'm going to care much.

As far as giving up any luxury comforts, keep in mind that I'm drive a 95 Civic with no power windows, steering, ABS or comfortable seats at all. Ride quality in this old car is anything but comfortable

Thanks for all the input. Overall, I've seen only a few replies to give me pause about the car, but most have made me think I'll be fine. I'm trying to compare it to my friend's 2002 Mustang GT, which I drove just fine. I had some trouble getting use to the feel of a RWD car, but I never once felt like I was in any danger of losing control of the car. I just dont drive that way.