I've been planning to buy an S2000 this spring and took my first test drive on Saturday. It was great, although I didn't want to push the demonstrator car so I never got over about 5000 rpm and half throttle. I'll wait for my own S2000 to put it through its paces. I did take my 12 year old son (who absolutely drooled over the machine), and we put the top down (and the heat up) for the last couple of miles, in sunny, 30 degree weather. Man, it was great!

Anyway, I've read on this forum that many owners think the OEM radio/CD player is poor. I didn't play it during the drive -- wanted to hear the car foremost -- but I sat in the car with the engine running at the dealer's lot afterward and listened to it. Other than the speakers being too far forward, the sound system didn't seem bad at all. Maybe the headreast speakers would help. Can anyone tell me what's wrong with the radio? (And, yes, I did a SEARCH first and couldn't turn up anything directly on the topic -- but maybe I just missed it.)

Thanks.

 

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Glad to hear you're interested in buying an S. First off, what model were you looking at buying? The model year 2000 (and maybe 2k1) don't come with the upper door speakers, and I think some more changes were made following the first production year on the sound system. For the most part the car's audio is pretty poor with the top down. It doesn't really bother me since I'd rather just enjoy listening to the car than the radio with all the wind noise. I wouldn't worry about it too much, most people don't buy the car for the radio anyways .

Oh, and don't put the top down below 40 degrees, big no no unless you want your plastic or glass rear window cracking.

 

My problems with the radio are:

- reception isn't that great; I often get some static on stations that are crystal clear on other cars

- the low end of the bass is weak

It's not a big deal to me, though, since I often prefer to listen to the car sing anyway.

 

I'm going to buy a new one -- an '04 or '05.

Thanks for the scoop on the rear window. I'm in Maine, and there are more than a few times, even between the beginning of May and the end of September, when the evening temperature can get down below 40.

 

My main complaint would be the poor reception. Anyone know if it is due to the antenna system or the radio itself?

 

The stock audio system in my 04 was the worse I've heard in any modern car. The only system that almost rivaled its suckyness was the system in my 03 Accord. The output of the head unit is pathetically weak and the speakers are unforgivably inadequate. On the freeway with the top down you may as well turn the system off as it's nearly unusable. That

 

I agree with your impression of the car; it is an absolute blast to drive, and I still look forward to driving it each time.

About the radio.... I'm not by any means an audiophile. I seriously hoped that I could keep the stock radio, but I quickly found that I couldn't hear it on the highway with the top down, especially actually understanding what was said (I unfortunately listen to sports talk radio). I bought an inexpensive amp, new speakers and a new head unit (as long as I was doing the other things, I wanted a HU which would play MP3 CDs, and I was willing to spend $200 for the indulgence). The new system sounds very good, and I can easily hear and understand what is said on the highway with the top down.

 

I have to agree with an above poster on the radio being the worst stock system. I changed my HU, speakers, added rear speakers, and added an amp, now it sounds great! and I can hear it just fine going down the road at 80+ with the top down. Before I could barely hear it going down the road at 55 with the top up. (with aftermarket exhaust)

 

The problem with the audio system is poor speakers and not enough power! It is an easy fix: new speakers and an amp! I did it and it now sounds great.
Good luck.

-Steve