This ad appears on Page 57 of the January 2003 issue of Consumer Reports:

 

well that is too cool. what a nice compliment!

too bad it wasn't a spa.

 

Don't get your hopes up.....CR historically values practicality over fun.

 

Actually, CR rates the S2000 as its top sports car, over both a base (non-S) Boxster and the Covette in the (I think) August 2000 issue. It's also a recommended user car in the sports car group and has a check mark in the 2003 Buyer's Guide.

The comments included positives about handling and negatives about the need to rev the engine, calling it "ordinary" in daily driving.

In part, I decided to get an S2000 because over the years, CR's auto reports have been uncannily accurate. And I think it's fair to say they liked the S2000 if it topped their ratings of sports cars.

 

The S2000 is currently CR's top-rated sports car:
"Our top-rated roadster, the Honda S2000, slightly outscored the Corvette and Boxster [not S] in our tests"
On their bar-graphs, it is solidly in the Excellent zone.

"The rear-drive roadster is a pure, uncompromising sports car...feels exhilarating when flogged...handling is precise, and grip is outstanding". Not all is perfection though: "[engine] a bit ordinary in normal driving...ride is hard and noisy, making this model more enjoyable on a race track".

 

Its also good to see that CR has the good taste not to put a front plate on the S.

 

Front plates? We don't need no stinkin' front plates!

 

And, notice please that the guy in the Consumer Reports picture has lots of gray hair. He is, er, um, ....., mature, just like me - and quite a few others around this forum.

 

Front plate? What's that? I told DMV not to bother, use it for a dust pan around the house.

 

I saw the ad yesterday, too. I showed it to my wife, and her response was something like it's the perfect car to highlight opposite 50 year old cars.

Tony