My S2000. One year later. Below are some observations I have made over the past year of ownership. This post is not intended to be anything other than my opinion. Post replies at will, but I will not respond to flames. I don't expect everyone to agree with me, and a lot of you probably won't. That's fine. I just thought you would be interested in my impressions.

1. Is the S2000 the finest sports car ever made? No.

2. Is the S2000 the finest sports car ever made in the $30,000 - $35,000 price range? Yes.

3. Is it frustrating to drive an automobile who's badge historically represents an economically reliable grocery-getter? Yes. Why? Because people simply do not understand what it is that you are driving. Here's a great story to illustrate my point: I was over at my brother's house to celebrate my mother's 70th birthday. You would figure that this day would be a wonderfully happy celebration of my mother's continued good health and happiness. Well, it was. Unfortunately, it also turned into an ugly situation that I am running into more and more often when I park my car near a group of uniformed people. Needing to defend it. Let me give you a little background. My brother drives a Porsche Boxster. This was the first time that we had both brought our cars over at the same time to show the family, and figured that it would be a lot of fun. For the most part, it was. Until a friend of the family showed up. He is a sweet old man who is on his last legs, but is still relatively coherent. At the end of the day we were walking outside to say goodbye to everyone when he spotted my S and my brother's Boxster. He immediately took to my car, exclaiming "Wow! Now that's a beautiful car!" But here comes the rub; as soon as he sees the Honda emblem, what do you think he says? 'Oh, never mind, it's just a Honda..." and moves on to the Porsche. I tried explain to him that my car is far superior in performance and power to the Porsche, but once he saw that emblem, it was the end of his thought process. End of story. I was so perplexed by that statement because that pretty much sums up the issues that we must deal with when owning this vehicle. Misunderstanding. We don't have the fancy badge, we don't get the respect. (I don't count the awe of 16 to 24 year olds who dream of owning a "$30,000 vehicle" as respect). I spend too much time pounding Porsches, BMW's, Audi's, etc. into the ground on my local highways in hopes that someday our little filly will get some sort of recognition from something other than the leading car magazines. Sigh. Still, even after all of this I refuse to cover up my Honda symbols with anything other than the gleaming chrome symbol that the car came with. I will put up with the disrespect and misunderstanding until (hopefully) a day of understanding will come.

4. Would I own a Ferrari over an S2000? Let's be serious for a moment. Of course I would. The S2000 is the finest sports car that I can afford right now. If I had the chance to own a F1 360 Modena Spider, I would not hesitate for a moment. If anyone says any different, they are just as uniformed as the old man in the story above. People ask me if I love my car. I do. I love it more than any other material possession I have ever owned, sans my circa 1990 Kramer Night Swan guitar (my first material love). But does this mean that I should abandoned the possibility of owning another sports car in the future that I may love even more? Of course not. That would be nonsense. But when I bring up the fact that I love Ferrari's as much as I love my S2000, I have, on more than one occasion, received disparaging looks or remarks after such statements. Even from fellow S2000 owners! Don't be so narrow minded and short-sighted. I love being in the S2000 club because we AREN'T elitists. See your future in something better. This is a philosophy I use in my life as well as in my automobile ownership.

Moving on.....

5. Is the plastic rear-window a pain in the ass? No. One year later with regular maintenance and a little TLC mine remains crystal clear.

6. Do I lose control of the car on a regular basis as it seems is the case in so many instances on this board? No. I know how to drive a car. This the first high-performance car that I have ever owned, and have never lost real control of it (unless it was intentional of course...). Drive it like you always drive with any other vehicle you have owned. Learn what it's capable of and it's limitations. Just like you would when you drive that brand new Taurus off the car lot.

7. Do I hate owners of Porsche Boxsters? No. The owners I have met are actually for the most part really nice people (my brother included). In fact, I don't hate anyone who drives another brand of roadster. However, If they are foolish enough to challenge me, I do my part to put them in their place. But I certainly would never hate them or their vehicles. Just look at the facts folks. Our car is better on paper, period. And I guarantee you that whoever is challenging you on that warm sunny day in wherever, America, knows it too.

8. Is our car beautiful? Yes. It attracts so much attention sometimes that it's embarrassing. Probably one of the most beautiful cars ever designed.

So, what's my point? Owning the S2000 is a special experience. You need to be a special person to own it. It's akin to being the first person to wear snow shoes, or eat a raw oyster, or laugh at Benny Hill (god help me). People are going to make fun of you at first, but eventually with a little luck, they'll come around to your way of thinking.

It just takes a little patience.

Even if they don't, who gives a rat's ass. I've owned this car for over a year, and it still takes me by surprise every now and then..... ;-)

Thanks for reading,

-Vincent

 

Great reading, there is no one car for everyone, and fortunatly Honda has made the S2000 for us. As long as we are happy who cares about what other people think of the S.

 

You are right in every point you made.
The S2000 is like the Italian cars of the 60s and 70s, more reliable though.
It is too bad that the Italian cars today are not like what they used to be (economic problems I guess), remember Lancia Stratos, Lancia Monte Carlo, Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce, Alfa Romeo GTV, Alfa Romeo Montreal...........etc.etc. every car had something new to say, just how the S2000 did.
These were cars made with spirit and soul, today it is very difficult for a car company to produce a car just to show what the company is cappable to do, it costs too much.
Just think our car with an Alfa Romeo badge, wouldn't that be great. The soul and sound of this car "smells" Italy and the good old days of British hand made roadsters.
Nobody would have change the "H" badge with Rick's "S" badge if there was an Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Triumph...etc.
The car is great because it is made with soul and heart and without the economic figures. This is exactly what the first Italian and British car companies did in the old days.

 

You worry too much about what others may think of your car. Contrary to what many think, "Image is NOT everything."

What goes on under the hood, within the suspension, and inside the mind of the driver is far more important than what emblem is affixed to the car.

 

101 % Agree with everyting you've said.

Plain and clear, as it is.

Tanks

 

The best way to turn a woman's head is to tell her she has a beautiful profile.
-- Sacha Guitry

Don't be so caught up in vanity.. When I was tooling around town at the age of 26 in my Alfa GTV6, others were buying Starions and Conquests, Corrados and RX7's. Nothing looked like it and there damn sure weren't many around. It wasn't the fastest, nor best handling car of its time but damn...did that six sound glorious at WOT. You bring up many fine points but your fascination with
receiving the approval of others casts an unfavorable light on them. I dare say most of us are quite happy marching to our own drums, especially when they're beating at 9,000 rpm's....to hell with status.

 

I have all the Honda logos covered on the car with Rick's signature badges...wheels, front, rear, and steering wheel center...I did not cover them because of any misgivings about Honda...just my way of personalizing the car....plus it adds to the mystique of the car... I do get a lot of inquiries,...."What kind of car is that"....my reply now is that it is a AD-NO-H.... a limited import from over seas......As for the gent on his last legs...I think if he saw the badges, verses the Honda emblems...and a simple explanation......."it's a AD-NO- H......." you would have walked away with a sly grin!!! I know I do!!!! Just my $.02 cents

 

I haven't even recieved my S2000 yet, but I've already heard it all. Thats ok, because thats part of the reason why I bought one. I spent the past 6 months checking out a lot of cars, and the S2000 was by far the best deal for the money, as far as I'm concerned. I love it when people ask, you bought a Honda like your wifes Accord? I just smile. I think next spring I'll be smiling a lot more.

Rocker

 

What do you have against people in uniforms??? J/K

"park my car near a group of uniformed "
"they are just as uniformed as the old man in "

But why do you give a shit what people think of Honda?

 

Just a thought, but I wonder how the S would have been accepted in this country if it had an "A" for Acura???

Also, I believe in the history of automobiles, the S will shine as a breakthrough of technology. Years from now, true car buffs will admire the car for what it proved to the world.