5 Best Years For the S2000
Are you in the market for an S2000 but don't know what year is best for you? Here are the five that S2000 owners love the most.
1. 2006
2006 brought a number of improvements to the S2000 that make it more desirable than the 2004-2005 models. Honda introduced drive-by-wire in '06, and they can be tuned using Flashpro. Other S2000 firsts introduced in 2006 include electronic stability control, revised seats, new wheels, and a better stereo system. '06+ cars had a slightly larger engine with a bit more torque, but the Honda reduced the redline from 9,000 rpm to 8,000. These models also have a reputation as being quite reliable, so you get a lot of car for your money when you buy an '06.
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2. 2008-2009 Club Racer
If you can find one and you have the cash to spend, a 2008-2009 Club Racer (CR) is the ultimate iteration of the S2000. Honda originally planned to build 2,000 of the CR's but wound up producing only 699 - all of them in North America. What you get is a lighter car with aero upgrades that reduce lift by 70%, a stiffer suspension, bigger tires, and faster steering. Tipping the scales at 90 pounds less than a regular S2000, the CR was an admirable performer and makes a nice little collector's item today.
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3. 2005
If you don't care about things like drive by wire and traction control, the 2005 model is worth a look. You still get the styling updates that lots of folks love, plus 2005 retains the first generation seats with helmet cutouts. They also come a lot cheaper than the 2006+ models and offer arguably a more "pure" driving experience without the added electronic nannies.
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4. 2002-2003
A lot of folks really like the last of the first generation S2000 because it retains the original car's flair and hard edged driving personality. Unlike the early cars, however, the '02-'03's have revised suspension settings, a glass rear window with defrost, a revised engine control unit, various leather interior bits, and a better stereo with separate tweeters. And unlike the later cars, these will still rev to 9,000 rpm.
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5. 2009
Many folks believe that the very last S2000 made was also the best, and their reasoning is solid. Honda revised the S2000 every year, making tweaks as the years went by. With that in mind, you could make the case that the newest one is also the greatest. 2009's do contain all the factory tweaks and goodies lacking on previous cars, and a much nicer gauge cluster. Plus, you can tell people that you drive the last S2000 ever produced, and that has to be worth something.
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