I just drove a 2004 S2000. In my opinion I hate it. I just got word that in the future there is talk about them putting an automatic transmission in it. I think the S2000 will turn into more of a luxury car in the future, rather than the roadster it used to be. Below is listed some of the key elements as to why I have this opinion:

1. They softened the suspension up. There is nothing I loved more about the "old" S2000. I loved the way that the car rode because the stiffness of the suspension made it feel like you were driving a go cart instead of a car. In the 04 was cruising not even knowing I was hitting speed bumps.

2. You cant feel the VTEC engagement. I really enjoy everytime I VTEC it in the "old" car because it gave you that little extra kick before you had to shift, When I drove the 04 I thought it was broke because I did not feel it.

3. Whats with this "quieting down the engine" garbage. I think that the engine noise in the 00-03 was the best sounding car there was other than Ferraris. The 04 just does not have that noise that the "old" S2000s did.

4. I still think that the clutch is spongy in both of them.


5. Another thing that dissappoints me is that they took away the 9000 RPM redline. It just dissappointed me.

6. I dont really like the new gauge cluster at all.

Some of the things i did like though:
The new look was good
The added room in the cockpit
And the New radio and radio cover



Anyways, that is my opinion and I thought I would share it with the world. And for all of you people who are opinionated I am saying this because it is what I think, and I dont have to think what you think so save yourself the time before you attack me because of my opinion.

 

i think that's just the way it goes...sports cars are an endangered species, unless you can fork out 100s of thousands of dollars.

look at all the sports cars/sporty cars out on the market today. except the elise, they are meant for the nice cruise and not so much the raw thrill.

take the 350z....or the rx8...one of the problems with the rx7 was it was too much for people, so mazda had to go in the opposite direction and give them the rx8.

 

Such maligning comments only come from jealousy....

 

When I test drive one (soon) as long as the steering is tight and responsive and the car doesn't have any body roll, I will consider the suspension to be adequate. That's all I really want in a sportscar for handling (aside from traction and grip). Now I believe I read on vtec.net that they LOWERED the steering response, meaning it takes more turning to go from lock to lock which is BAD news to me. I love razor sharp handling. I love how the Evo8's steering rack is and if the s2000's is much less than that I will be disappointed. The 2003 I test drive felt just right. I hope the 04 is just as good.

 

where did this come from? just because yuo don't like something doesn't mean you're jealous

 

I reached 600 miles today and took my 04 to 7k a couple of times. The VTEC kick IS there. There is just more power below 5500 than in previous MYs, so the change isn

 

I too think the car is STARTING to, not that it is, become more mainstream. I will have to reserve comments till I see/drive it for real. All I can say is the 04 is looking mighty sharp...

 

if you think the s2000 is too soft or too mainstream, go buy an elise and call it a day

KTHXBYE

oh and as for the noise comment, not everyone likes the farty, high revving N/A sound most hondas make. it seems the only ones who do indeed like that "noise" are the owners.

 

If you want to feel a VTEC transition, try driving a car w/ a B18C5 or a B16A SiR-II. Those two motors make the F20C VTEC transition seem dismal. Smoothing out the transition is good, but I don't believe in completely eliminating that transition point to the extent that you can't even tell it's there; leave that to the lack luster i-VTEC.

Enough MY04 bashing threads. I don't really like the MY04 changes, and even I'm already tired of this. We've already heard asu_lee's brilliant comment; where the rest of the usual suspects?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cfusionpm
if you think the s2000 is too soft or too mainstream, go buy an elise and call it a day