I was told that Model year 2000 s2000s require a retrokit to use the OEM hardtop. What I heard is that this kit is either not yet for sale, or not fully developed. If anyone has information about this, please let me know.

 

go to H and A Accessories (link at bottom) and ask trevor. He said that some year 2000's don't need the kit because they already have them on it. He can order the top for you so I'm guessing he can order the kit also.

David

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by hondas2200
[B]I was told that Model year 2000 s2000s require a retrokit to use the OEM hardtop.

 

The kit is my only hangup right now. What can you tell me about it? Is it an electrical or structural kit? What I hear is that cars built in 99 need this kit.

If I had to guess or make any kind of judgement I would say its an electrical thing. Non-US cars have headlight sprays and slight nuances like a button where there is a useless shallow tray.

After a year this soft top is bugging me. Even though its clean its difficult to see out the plastic window. I've already had a couple close calls due to the blind spot.

 

When I talked with my friend that works at Honda R&D, he told me that the kit is all mechanical (i.e. hooks and latches kind of stuff). Honda actually already ran the electrical wiring for the defroster and such out to the back.

As far as the blind spots, I'm not sure the hardtop is going to help all that much with that. From the pictures I've seen, the window doesn't look that much bigger to help out. What you really need, are windows on the side. I could be wrong though.


[QUOTE]Originally posted by hondas2200
[B]The kit is my only hangup right now.

 

When ordering i had to state the chassis serial number (VIN?) and was told that for -00 S2000s the hardtop kit comes in two versions; with or without some extra electric cabling for the rear window heater and for disabling the softtop switch when the hardtop is on. It turned out my car was produced late enough to already be prepared for the mounting kit (which in itself contains more electric cables and other hardware).

As for visibility i can only say the difference is day and night! The glass window is a major improvement (especially in the cold, with heating) and the blind spot is much smaller - you can even see cars in the back window over your left shoulder between the rollbar and the side of the roof.

[Edited by BassMan on 02-05-2001 at 12:26 PM]

 

FYI. . .

I spoke to the parts guys at D&C Honda (Tenafly, NJ), he said that model year 2001 S2000's with VINs under 00500 will need additional parts to properly install the hardtop. . .

Further, he stated that while you can place an order now (paid in full), deliveries will not start until 90-150 days from February 1, 2001. . .

 

Check out this post for some hard top pics and more info.

http://www.s2000online.com/forums/showthre...p?threadid=6501

I think Bass Man was the one that bought the hardtop. looks like the window is pretty big (sorry for the previous misleading post).

 

If your 2000 S2000 was made before Feb '00, you will need the retrofit kit for the hardtop. If you're not sure, check the VIN#. If it end in YT005730 or lower, you will need it.

 

"Further, he stated that while you can place an order now (paid in full), deliveries will not start until 90-150 days from February 1, 2001. "

The 90-150 day lead time is only after Honda has run out of their supply of them in the US. I just got confirmation on the first 2 tops I put in orders for saying that they will be here within 30 days.

-Trevor