As with the Viper thread that serves as "Volume 1" I thought this would be more of a fun thread comparing the two vehicles in driving, ownership and overall enjoyment.

I've owned this particular S2000 going on 3 years and the M3 for a year now. The S2000 is an'01 and the M3 is an '02, which is nice because it's more of an "apples to apples' comparison in the way of comparing vehicles of the same vintage. You could have purchased either of these vehicles in the same general time period at each of their respective dealerships. It's not as fun of a discussion when you're talking about a 2021 M3 for instance and a 2001 S2000, the technology is vastly different 20 years later.

We'll start off with a baseline of the two vehicles...

Honda S2000
113,000 miles
Performance mods: Ohlins coilovers
Tires: Firehawk Indy 500

BMW M3
136,000 miles
Performance mods: Koni Yellows, front and rear strut tower braces.
Tires: Firehawk Indy 500

Reliability: In the 3 years of ownership for the S2000 and 1 on the M3 I've spent $0 on anything outside of oil changes for both vehicles. Anything I've spent money on has been purely cosmetic or upgrades such as new radio head units, speakers, shift knobs, replacement boots etc.

Both of these cars give ZERO hesitation to get in and drive wherever you heart desires. I purchased the M3 in Rochester and drove it home a straight 14 hours with not a single issue. It's been my daily driver since May 2020. I haven't taken a trip like that in the S2000, though I have driven 4 or 5 hours, obviously without issue as well. I wouldn't have hesitated to take the S2000 on a similar trip by any means though. With that being said, the M3 just happened to be up to date on it's maintenance. It had recently had $8,000 worth of work which included replacing the clutch, valve adjustment, Koni's and the dreaded "rear subframe" repair. Rear sub-frame issues are known on this vehicle and it can be a real pricey repair for an already expensive repair if not caught early. Fortunately this had been caught and addressed before I got it. The previous owner had been very meticulous about the maintenance, so as with anything, the best examples are the best purchase.

Power: The M3 has roughly 100 more hp and torque than the S2000. It has an extremely smooth delivery and feels really nice. There's plenty of low end power and is very quick to accelerate as it winds up to it's 8,000 RPM red line. There's usable power everywhere, but more so in the upper RPM's of course, very much like the S2000 in that regard. It's the power everywhere else that separates the two. The car feels quite fast and really powers out of corners with plenty of grunt. It's easily the faster car in a straight line between the two, it really has enjoyable, substantial power. It's not the Viper of course...but what is?
With all that being said, I enjoy the power of the S2000! It's very quick, when you're in the power band it has substantial feeling. Darting in and out of traffic is fun, rewarding and brings a constant smile to your face. When you're done with your drive, you've had fun, you're relaxed, you're looking forward to the next one. You're not beating anything modern for sure...in a straight line, but that's not where the S2000 shines.

Sound: This is an interesting one, and is subjective. With the S2000 nobody knows you've turned it on in stock form, it has a nice unassuming sound at idle. On your favorite back road at 8,000-9,000 RPM's however...it's heavenly! It's a beautiful noise that makes you feel empowered, strong, athletic...like you have a purpose...and the purpose is to carve that road up as quickly as you can. The sound of the S2000 reaching redline is one of the best automotive sounds there is, I truly enjoy it and look forward to getting there every chance I get.

The M3 sounds pretty good at start-up. I will have to say it has one of, if not the best induction noise you can hope to hear inside the car. It has a very nice sound as you reach the upper rev limit! Imagine an AP2...with two more cylinders! Between 6,500-8,000 RPM's it's a beautiful symphony of raspy metal howling ever louder and louder until you shift and do it again. On my favorite backroad after the 5 minutes it takes to get to the end, you have a very wide smile on your face from listening to 6,500 RPM's+ roaring for an extended period of time. It just sounds flat out fantastic!

This one's really, really close but...Iprefer the sound of the S2000! It reminds me of watching my favorite Formula 1 drivers on Sunday, I feel like them. It sounds like so much more than you're actually doing, but that's ok. My old Factory Five Shelby Cobra you could swear was going 110 mph...you were only doing 62, and I'm fine with that, my ears didn't know that, if my eyes were closed my brain wouldn't know it either. I get the same feeling out of the S2000, yes, you're only doing 50 mph, but the intoxicating wail from that engine singing at redline...I just LOVEit! Perhaps it's because there's a different feel to the S2000 and the general layout of it as opposed to the M3. It looks more like a racing car and with the sound you feel like you're in one. It's a really close call, if somebody took the other stance I would 100% respect that opinion as I'm 9.9/10 there myself. Perhaps if I had aftermarket exhausts on either vehicle my opinion may be swayed one way or the other. I like this though as it was just how the cars were built.

Looks: I do not like how convertibles look for the most part, I'll start there. I DO like how the S2000 looks! It's the only convertible I would own, I find it to be absolutely beautiful at every angle and believe it looks far better with the top down than up. It looks purposeful, strong and athletic. I went for a long drive enjoying the fall colors in early October. I stopped along the river at the boat docks and there were some elderly gentleman at the bench right in front of the parking spaces. I pulled up right behind them and they just wouldn't stop going on about the car. "That just looks fun", "That's the prettiest car I've ever seen", "If I were a young man again and had that, I'd never quit driving". I get compliments on the car all the time. There's always a conversation to be had at a gas station, somebody always has some type of compliment, somebody is looking at the stoplights. It just has a calm beauty about it.

The M3 on the other hand looks like a vehicle with a back seat. It doesn't have the same race inspired looks of the S2000 and if a person didn't know anything about either of the cars and you had them parked side by side saying "I'm going to the track"...they'd assume you were jumping in the Honda. That's not to say that the M3 is bad looking, it's not, at all. It's a very striking vehicle! It's low and muscular looking, it does look purposeful, the hood bulge looks great, the rear tire width looks good. If I get compliments on it, the person knows what it is. They respect it and are typically a fan of the marquee. I had a woman chase me down in traffic two days ago, when I looked over...she was driving an E36 M3 and giving me the thumbs up. We chatted a moment at the light, I previously had an E36 M3, so we were talking about some of the differences. It just doesn't look like an exquisitely styled 2-seater convertible because, well, it's not. That's ok, that was never the discussion. When I made "Volume 1" of this discussing the Viper we were discussing 2-seaters and you could make those comparisons. These are different automobiles.

Driving: This is the meat of the discussion in my opinion. Both cars have excellent handling characteristics. The differences I can point too is that the M3 feels a bit heavier, but not by much really, though I believe it's between 400-500 pounds heavier. From numbers I've looked up it appears the M3 is faster around "the 'Ring". I assume it's because of the substantial difference in straight line speed, though I believe the S2000 definitely has the edge in the twisties. But not by much there either really. The M3 is surprisingly nimble, just not as nimble in my opinion as the S2000. When exiting a corner the M3 has a ton of grip and just rockets out of it. The S2000 does somewhat the same, just a bit quicker on the transitions where it settles and plants so firmly to hit the next corner with very little body roll. That's where it slightly outshines the M3. That also could be just a perception as well, the M3 is very capable and if I were being timed I might be surprised with the results.

But we're not discussing tracks here, we're talking about the real world on your twisty back roads. I mentioned last Spring in another thread about a run-in I had with a new Corvette that was heading to the same destination I was of back road. How he was shocked when we chatted for a minute at the end of the stretch of road that I was in his rear view the entire time! The S2000 doesn't need 500 hp to be extremely enjoyable in your favorite twisties. Even if you're not going as fast as a Viper, Corvette or perhaps M3, you certainly feel like you're doing that much and possibly more, all the while with confidence. The engine is screaming at 8,000-9,000 RPM's, you're up shifting, down shifting with that perfect, laser precise, effortless transmission and short throw shifter you forget you're not going 100 mph...and that's ok. This is such a massive tick in the "win" column! The shifting in the S2000 is just SO. DAMN. GOOD! It's a thing of beauty! I don't know that anything has ever been engineered on a car to work so good as the shifting in a Honda S2000. Period...I said what I said! The shifting feels good on the M3, clutch is good, short enough throws...but just not remotely close!

Putting all things together under normal circumstances it's the S2000 winning but not by a vast margin.

Overall: Why did I even write this? It's my continuing homage to how good the S2000 actually is! These are two very different cars and you may not be typically in the market for either-or if you were purchasing one. Do you want a 2-seater sports car or not? That eliminates the M3. Do I have the need for passengers? That eliminates the S2000. Do I have only room for 1 car and I would like to do double duty? If you wanted a track ready sports-car AND you had to take the kids to school sometimes...you could do far worse than an E46 M3! There's a reason why it's so highly acclaimed and well regarded, it is that good of a car! It does everything so well and so right. Car and Driver named it "The Best Car Ever", that's saying an awful lot! It ticks every box...it just has too many seats! But, I have one of each in my garage, and if I'm going to choose just one for a 70* perfect fall day where I'm going to be lost for hours on back roads and my favorite twisties doing U-turns at the end and having another go over and over and over...I'm choosing the S2000! There's something just right and magical about it. Bouncing off a wailing 9,000 RPM rev limiter, braking, downshifting, powering out of a turn and bouncing off the 9,000 again, with perfect shifting throws sun on your face, wind in your hair...it's just, it's perfect. If I absolutely had to sell one of them and I live in Illinois I'd unfortunately have to part with the S2000 as I've driven one for an entire winter season and it's just not all that enjoyable. If I lived in San Diego there wouldn't be a shred of second thoughts, the M3 would be down the road in a heart beat. This is my 3rd and last S2000. I searched, traded cars, bought cars, tried different vehicles all for the purpose of finding something "better". In this mans opinion there isn't "better". Granted, I'm not a person of unlimited funds, I haven't and am not going to be able to afford a Pagani Zonda, McLaren F1, Ferrari Enzo etc. Buying a car that is attainable for any car guy, this is the one, if you're not under any pretenses.

Again, if I had to pick just one for a perfect day and a perfect drive it's the Honda S2000. If I lived in the perfect climate and could only have 1 vehicle, Honda S2000, no questions asked! As far as I'm concerned, the other stall in the garage can revolve with new and exciting things for years to come, but my GPW S2000 will be waiting patiently in its reserved spot for the next beautiful drive. I can toss the Viper I can get different daily drivers, but that S2000 is staying right there!

I'll visit another Honda S2000 vs. xxxx down the road in "Volume 3". I hope you guys enjoyed reading this, as it's not your typical "vs." post, can't wait to hear your feedback.

 

I've driven a lot of expensive performance vehicles from Audi's to Pcars to Jags and BMW's etc... I've also driven older British sports cars like MG's and Triumphs etc.
The S2000 is just superb at what it was designed to be. I appreciate it more and more as my ownership ages.
Great review though!

 

Great review!

Having driven the E46 M3 multiple times and having considered buying one multiple times as well, my assessment is much the same although, stock for stock, I actually prefer the noises from the M3. S2K's shifter is unmatched. M3 has far better steering feel but the S2K's chassis makes up for it so it's kind of a wash. The S2K just feels better as a "fun" car which is largely due to how small and basic it is in comparison to the M3. M3 is definitely the better all around car though. As much as I enjoy the S, I don't think I could DD it.

Its good to hear that your M has been reliable so far. I know the manual E46 is pretty reliable but some of the long-term or high mileage problems keep steering me away like rod bearings and subframe issues. Any concerns with those when you purchased the M?

 

I have owned both. Note: on the sound, many owners hate the E46 M3's "rasp" and spend money on expensive aftermarket exhaust to "fix" it. I stayed stock, and enjoyed the induction noise. But the E46 M3 exhaust note to be a detriment. My E90 and E92 M3's exhaust notes were delightful though.

Speed: M3 was way faster in all conditions.

Space: rear seat, actual truck - M3 is better.

Fun: Tie- but very different. M3 was borderline too fast for street driving double and triple the limited was very very easy to do on a simple pull.

Reliability/Maintenance/Parts cost: S2000 wins by such a margin it sort of laps the M3. The M3 does require attention, and the cost of the parts and time can be daunting.

I have owned three M3's, and its a fun experience but the S2000 is a bit more fun for safe/legal street driving.

 

Yes, the bearing was a warranty fix ages ago and the subframe cracked and had to be repaired a year before I got it. So...it's something that isn't necessarily a "it's pretty rare but look out for" issue. Most cars likely have the issues and need addressed OR fortunately for me, were addressed at one time before I purchased the car. Once the repair is done however, it's over with and you can move on. In the instance of the rear sunframe, it's now stronger than when it left the factory. I went with a manual because, there's another issue, the hydraulic pump goes out on the SMG and it's a very costly repair from my understanding, like $4,000 or something outrageous.

So while buying an E46 M3...make sure the rod bearing has been addressed, rear subframe has either been inspected thoroughly or repaired (in which case get it reinforced anyways to avoid future problems) and make sure you get a 6-speed. But hey, once that's all out of the way, you're driving one of the best vehicles ever made from a pure driving aspect! There's the next issue...try finding a 6 speed! There's videos all over youtube claiming that it's now or never for the E46 M3 as the prices are sky rocketing. An M3 from the 80's is now a $100,000+ vehicle. I don't know what these will do...but they're becoming really hard to find at any type of decent price.

 

I really appreciate the spirit of this comparison, thanks for the thoughts. For me personally, the "sun on your face, wind in your hair" factor cannot be overstated. The primary reason that I wanted to own a S2000 was due to the fact that it features a soft-top that can be dropped at any time you like. I'm guessing that a person is either a convertible/roadster kind of person or they aren't. (I tend to love the look of most any roadster that was designed as a convertible from the get go.) That the S2000 seems to be able to bridge the gap between guys like me and those who would really rather own a coupe is rather telling in my opinion.

For me the S is a second car, so I drive it almost exclusively with the top down. Despite it being a roadster, the fact that it does so many other things well (well enough to fare the way it has for you in this comparison) says a lot about what Honda accomplished with this car. At the end of the day we all have different likes , demands and preferences. Whether contemplating the S2000 or some other vehicle, it really comes down to how many of the individual boxes that are important to each of us are ticked by the time we've fully evaluated it.

 

I'm with you on that! As I stated, I don't typically like convertibles, but I love this one and I do indeed love the fact that I can have the sun on my face. I always hated performance cars that were convertibles, would never think to own one actually, yet this ticks every box for me. Yes, if I were into some type of hardcore racing my weapon of choice would be the Viper, but I'm not. If I just wanted a fun track day, the S2000. If I want to just carve up some backwoods forest drive, the S2000. If I want to enjoy the 68* fall day with crisp air and leaves falling on me driving through said forest, the S2000. For most everything, I just prefer to be in it. I've been in my M3 exclusively for the last 4 months through the winter. I have the S out today, yes, on my way to work there are spots I like to get on it...I found myself in the wrong gear wondering why nothing was happening LOL...you're not powering out of a turn in 3rd gear at 35 mph in an S2000! Whatever, I was in the right gear the next turn and the few after that and remembered why it's so enjoyable to drive when you're doing it right.

I will say this, I enjoyed every minute of the drive to work and I'm going to enjoy the long way to lunch and back as soon as I hit "reply" right now!