My fear would be the new S2k would have to be some sort of heavy, feature burdened, over nannied car, likely with some very expensive hybrid drivetrain ... and that is just garbage compared to what the S2k was. The S2k was a no frills, sport minded car. Not as minimalistic as it could have been, but certainly built around the idea of keeping weight down, weight balance good and handling a high priority.

 

Unfortunately, that engineering talent retired in 2009. While I'm sure there are great engineers at Honda, there aren't any with the seniority to drive projects like the S2000 from what I've seen.

 

They're marketed as SUV or CUV, but they are the station wagon reinvented, love it or hate it. My Land Rover LR4 according to the State of Michigan is a station wagon on my registration, I'd venture to guess that's what the others are classed under as well. I know my dad's Range Rover is classed as a station wagon, as were his previous Merc GL's SUV's.

It's only in this country that the term station wagon has a negative meaning, everywhere else they're fairly common, and desired. But hey, call it a CUV/SUV/crossover and people buy them like hot cakes, in actuality they're jacked up hatchbacks/station wagons based off a car chassis, just like the domestic wagons of the 70's & 80's here, and what's currently offered in the rest of the world.

 

Hard to see how a small SUV or crossover is anything but the modern equivalent of the station wagon. That is exactly what they are. Larger, but not meant for real off road use, like driving a car, but can carry more people and groceries. They are station wagons with a different name, pure and simple.

 

Unfortunately, they are in high demand. You will see more and more of the crossovers on the road with stick figure families in the rear window. I own one myself and they are admittedly useful. Ask me ten years ago if I would have one and I would have laughed.

 

Oh I dont have issues with them. They serve their purpose, just like wagons. And some are cool as well, just like some wagons. I just think it is funny how some are just so ashamed to admit their crossover is the modern equivalent to a wagon that they fight it at every step. If it aint a wagon, then its a minivan ... I would rather my car be called a wagon :P

 

Our S2000s are hardly "minimalist." Not with power steering, power anti-lock brakes, traction control, stability control, power roof, air conditioning, etc. Gotta go back to the 1950s for minimalist roadsters (vs our convertibles). Once the Healey 3000, MGA, and TR4 arrived with roll-up windows and roofs and roof frames attached to the body we moved radically away from minimalist. If ya want minimalist get a new rolling chassis Lotus Seven clone and slide your engine of choice into it. Doors? Fenders? Windows or roof? Who needs these?.

-- Chuck

 

Not all S2000's have traction control, and not all have air conditioning.

 

In the standards of anything today, the S2k is minimalist. We are not comparing to a Model T here

And more to the point, it was designed around performance first, creature comforts second. No, not to the level a clone is, but no one in their right mind wants to drive a 7 on the street regularly.

My S2k has no traction control or stability control (AP1). That stuff came with the AP2. It has AC, but some did not.

It has electric assist steering rather than full hydraulic, to save weight.

It has no glove box, because you dont need one.

They gave in and put in a stereo (they even thought about not doing that) but lets face it.. they BARELY put a stereo in it lol.

They basically added in the few things they thought would prevent it from selling as a regular driver and that was it.

Roadsters back in the day (most of them anyways) were no more minimalist than todays relative to the technology of the day. Back then, no AC, no radio, etc was common in many cars.

Point is, the car was built from the standpoint of what made it handle well first, then some extra features were added, rather than the other way around like most of todays regular passenger cars are. Making a 3500 lb roadster with heated seats, 6 speaker sound system, every nanny known to man, 6 cup holders, heavy ass hybrid drivetrain, etc is what I would not want to see badged as an S2k, knowing the story and intent behind the original. I even have a hard time with the new "NSX", but give it some slack since the original was a technology platform of some sorts as well, rather than what the S was.

 

True enough. As long as they don't make one with a rear facing back seat like my parents had in the very early 80's (some Oldsmobile station wagon with wood grain). I'm sure all of the drivers appreciated me staring at them and making faces.