So I am on the market for a sports car around 15k. Obviously the S2k easily falls in this and is up there for the car I want. Of course, a few things before I would settle on the car and just a few questions.

1. Rain? How is it in the rain. I would assume good as long as you don't drive it like a total idiot.
2. I would probably daily drive it. Or very close to it. Around 5 times a week and even up to 7. Probably 40 miles a day. I suppose the question is how is it as a daily driver?
3. I heard the radio is flat out wack. Any good suggestions for a new one? (Getting ahead eh?)
4. How i the interior? Now, I know you don't buy them for the interior. Obviously. However, still good to know. I don't want to be driving in a total wack interior if you know what I mean.

By the way, what would you put the value of a nice clean 2000 s2k with around 35k miles? Just curious. One sort of in the area and just started looking at them so don't really know the value.

 

You'll get lots of different advice...

1. The S2000 is infamous for snap oversteer and Honda attempted to cure this with nearly annual suspension changes. The early AP1 cars can be dangerous for the inexperienced -- which is pretty much all of us at first. Add mediocre tires and slippery or wet roads to the equation and these cars spin off the road before you can say S***!. There's at least a post every week where this happens and the cars are total losses. Easiest way to avoid this is to buy the latest model you can (2006 or later have better road suspensions AND stability control) and put the best tires on it. "Purists" will immediately discredit this but they've had the seat time to learn just how fast the rear end gets loose-- or just don't drive these cars hard.

2. I'd never personally have a S2000 as my only car although I drive mine daily most days in the summer. Only -- she's currently in the garage snug under her cover until April. The car has no outside vision with the roof up and changing lanes requires a look followed by another as there are horrible blind spots. Roof down has the same visibility a a motorcycle though.

3. Radio? Stock is fine. Can't hear the radio anyway when driving due to wind and road noise. Spend your money on stuff like good tires.

4. Interior? There were no options, they're all the same depending on model year. Not sure what you want to do here.

MY2000 gets you the most slippery suspension which can be great fun in controlled conditions with the right tires but... Many owners tend to over-value these cars but prices seem to be on the rise depending on your location.

-- Chuck

 

buy s2000, then autocross it. dont drive crazy in the rain and you should be ok. lots of people daily drive their S and y ou can throw winter tires on and be ok.

 

1. I test drove an AP1 once and spun it out on the test drive. Luckily the sales guy wasn't with me and I didn't hit anything. It's the only time in my life that I actually did a 180 in a car and I remember being shocked about how easily the rear came around. I now own an AP2 and have yet to spin it, but the possibility is in the back of my mind so fear keeps me in check.

2. I would hate the car as a daily driver. I live in Philly - right in Center City. It's crowded, full of traffic and the roads are terrible. The S2000 is pretty cramped inside and very loud for long drives. While it's a fantastic weekend car, I think I would grow to hate it if I had to use it for commuting. Maybe I'm just getting old. haha

3. The radio blows. But as I mentioned the car is loud - lots of wind and road noise. So even with an upgraded radio, you'd have to crank it up to hear it and it wouldn't be too long before you had a headache from all the competing noise.

4. The interior is great, other than being a bit tiny. It's pretty bare bones and a bit cheap compared to today's nicer cars, but I don't really have any complaints. For daily driving, it's cramped. But for spirited weekend trips, it's just about perfect.

 

Keep in mind. I am very new at driving the S2k, as I just bought my 1st one a couple weeks ago.

1. Idk yet. But, I used to own an SR S13 w LSD 15 years ago and that was interesting to say the least in the rain. And, like others have mentioned, the early Ap1’s do indeed oversteer very easily. All Rwd sporty analog cars with an LSD out back will be sketchy to drive in the rain imo, not just S2ks. But, yes, I can totally feel my S2k oversteers very easily. A good option is to change out the swaybars and spring rates to transform it into a more (safer and easier to drive) front-bias/stiffer set-up. So far, I’ve changed the front to the stiffest oem bar (MY00-01) and the rear to the softest oem bar (MY04-09). I also plan to get CR or Swift Spec-R springs in the future (both of these sets are front-bias).

2. It’s decent and it works as a DD. It's only natural anyone will get used to any car (manual, blind spots, firm ride, low ride height, etc.). Def more uncomfortable than my previous ride, a Tacoma, lol. Waddyagonnado? Not everyone is rich and can afford a 2nd or 3rd car. But, at least, it’s very fun and you always have that “smiles” on tap while DD’ing (unlike any other boring DD sedan, suv, truck or eco car).

3. Radio is fine. I like oem look. I hate flashy lightshows. I got a $25 iPhone adapter for it and it works.

4. This actually surprised and impressed me. I was expecting a typical Honda interior (I had an EG 20 years ago, there was a Del Sol, CRX, Accord in my family back in the day, all of my friends had Civics, Integras, pretty much every flavor Honda offered, etc…and, this S2k’s interior, was unlike them all. It has a very nice fit&finish to it. The stitching, perforated leather, tight fit, finish, etc. actually resembles and is the same quality as all of my dad’s Lexus LS’s (he’s owned 3 of them over the years). Def the nicest interior I’ve seem from Honda (I’m guessing it’s Acura quality). Nicer than NSX interior imo. Nice as or nicer than some German car interiors I've seen.

 

Also, I've seen tons of videos, reviews and mentions of the interior being "cramped and small." Not true. It has a lot of head room and is quite roomy. It actually feels just as roomy as my previous Tacoma and any other import sporty car. Of course it won't have the same roominess of say an SUV, a sedan or a boxy Scion Xb. But, it's roomy enough. I am regular sized too I believe - 5'10"-11" and 160-170lbs.

 

I 3 season DD mine. I have an Audi A6 for winter (twin turbo), and its torture not driving the S. I can't get enough. My commute is 80 miles/day, and I'm north of 50 yo. You don't have to be hardcore, you just have to not be coddled.

Mine is an AP2, and I wish the rear end was looser! Too much understeer for my taste.

Car and Driver said the S has plenty of room, for any moves you'd make while driving. Its true. But try and say, tie your shoes, almost impossible.

The interior is bare bones, but very nice. If you want luxury, wrong car. If you want a driving focused, and nothing else interior, this is ideal.

My dbw car has VSA, and I blast through highway rain without a care. I recommend '06 and up for DD. You get VSA, you get the torquier motor, you get more interior room. You get a lot of minor refinements that came along through the years.

The last thing I would want for a car I was gonna rack up commuting miles on would be a low miles, early model. You're paying a premium for something you will quickly do away with, and which has no real value to your needs.

Instead, look for a newer, well cared for model, even if it has a lot of miles. There are plenty of these cars with 200k, 300k, and more, still running strong. They last if even decently cared for, and no low oil incidents, etc.

Sent from my SM-G920P using IB AutoGroup

 

If you are younger, using the S2000 as daily driver is probably fine for you. I'm sure I'd have loved doing so way back when. But I could never do it now.

At this point in my life though, having an Acura RDX as a daily driver, I'm good for about 2 hours in the S2000, as much as I love it.

 

1. I live in Seattle. I don't daily drive my year 2000 S2000, but I've driven it in the rain here and there and it's not too bad. Don't drive like an idiot and you won't have any problems.

2. In my opinion, it depends on the roads or route that you would daily drive it. Primarily highway? Not bad. Lots of local roads? Probably annoying.

3. To each their own with the radio. I don't mind it. Obviously it could be better, but it'll do.

4. I love the S2000 interior. If in good condition, it's appealing, clean, and gives that sports car effect. I'm not a large person so it's comfortable to me.

Value is difficult to determine because there are so many factors. Take a lot of time to research the market and the cars. Don't settle for a cheap option.

 

Newer ones are kind of pricy.

Anyways, If it is hardcore rain or snow I could probably drive another car. It wouldn't be a DD driver in the sense that it would be the only car I could ever drive. I have a honda civic available on occasion (not my car) Still, I would need to drive it in rain and all that. I live in Seattle area so there is that....

Yeah I wouldn't mind a newer one. They just seem to go for like 20k or so.