This is my first post so please help me to understand HondaThink. The S2000 is a SPORTScar, so why didn't Honda follow thru with the complete sports experience? Forinstance, why doesn't the car have these things:

1. Manual top (to save weight and keep it simple)
2. Single exhaust (to save weight, be more efficient)
3. Cloth/alcantara seat surfaces, as Honda used in the Integra Type R (shiny leather is too slippery)
4. Functional front brake duct grilles, instead of fakes (do I need to explain why?)

As Mazda offers a base Miata, is there any talk of Honda offering a base S2000? That would solve all the problems...don't you think?

BruceB.

 

I hope honda doesn't offer a "base" s2000. I mean, just like the NSX, there is only one trim line for the car. I like it that way. Makes the car really special. Now, while the Type-R integra is also a special car, it comes from a family of cars ranging in different trim levels. The same car also comes in a 4-door LS version. That kind of ruins the flavor of it. Plus putting out cars in "cheaper" trim levels also exposes it to the dangers of "rice!!!"

 

you (and I) are probably in the fringe 1% of the auto-buying public who would actually spend $30k+ on a "stripped down" car for the sake of weight reduction. the fact of the matter is, honda sells more of these cars if they appeal to a broader market. i am just glad they kept the luxury factor as low as they did.

p.s. the type R seat fabric would simply not hold up in a convertible. those seats were nice but the s2k's seats are much better designed...and they are one of the car's strong points if you ignore the cheap leather.

 

I'm guessing most buyers in this class expect things like a power top, leather and a GLASS REAR WINDOW. uhh, sorry had to vent there a little.

 

maybe you shoulda bought a spyder.

 

It sounds like you're talking about a club sport version ala the Porsche 911 of a while back. This would probably be more expensive than the current model, however. If I remember correctly, the power top only adds a very few pounds over a manual one. I'm sorry, but I really like the few amenities the S2000 does offer.

 

I think the key is the market segment Honda wanted enter. I don't believe Honda ever intended to build a better Miata. If that was the case, the S2000 would not have had power everything, leather, its current (rather sophisticated) suspension, an aluminum hood, etc. Conversely, I believe Honda wanted to build a better Z3/Boxster. Subsequently, the S2000 has all of the creature comforts of its true competitors, virtually identical performance and a price tag that's approximately $10K less expensive (when compared to the M & S variants of the BMW and Porsche, respectively).

Though I understand the weight savings issues, the items mentioned in original post would only account for minimal reduction. Significant weight reduction would have to be gained by replacing larger steel components with lighter alternatives. This would have resulted in higher production costs.

In addition, by not offering a "base" model, I'm fairly certain that production costs were decreased (due to economies of scale).

 

The only thing I would have paid slightly more for is aluminum suspension pieces.

I still think the S2K is an amazing performance bargain.

 

I think that I now understand why they gave us a plastic window rather than glass.
They probably didn't want to hear the grumbling about all the extra weight.

Thank you Honda!

 

Everyone, thanks for your thoughts.
Interesting, none of you touched on Honda's unnecessary stylin' statements on the car. Namely the fake brake ducts in the front and the dual exhausts out the back. How come we have to go aftermarket to correct those points?
1. why put fake grilles on the front when you could just as easily put the real thing on at the factory?
2. dual exhausts are heavier and less efficient than a single. Do owners really think its "cool" to have duals on a 4-banger?!


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'97 original owner Type R (sold)
'88 Porsche 911 Club Sport (sold)
'00 Audi S4 (mtm modified)