5 Jaw-Dropping Builds that Prove S2000 Culture is Alive and Well
The years since discontinuation haven't worn on the S2000. The car's fandom remains a hotbed of passion as ever. Here's a handful of street and race-spec customs to show it.
1. The Holt Highway Runner
There are numerous approaches to modding, but they all boil down to the same thing: a passion for cars and a creative push for something new. This culture is especially important with regards to the S2000. Because of it, we've never run dry of new things to talk and write about with the little Honda, which is amazing considering it has been a decade since one rolled off the factory floor.
S2000 enthusiast (and subsequent modder) Matthew Holt's modding story began in a way shared by many; that being the irresistible urge to see their "dream car" brought to life. In Matt's own words: "This is literally my own rendition of how I want this car to be." A personal custom is always best-suited as an ongoing process. The Highway Runner had already cycled through a number of different paint jobs and under-the-hood incarnations by the time it was photographed and covered at The Motorhood earlier this year.
2. Rywire AP1 Widebody
Among the notable builds, the Rywire AP1 Widebody is a great place to start. Road & Track astutely note this car's front-facing resemblance to a Peugeot 207. One thing that's impressive about it is how it has managed to retain the identifiable S2000 character despite such significant modifications to the body.
>>Join the conversation about the modified S2000 culture right here in S2Ki.com.
3. The reimagined AP1 by Complete Custom Wheel
This fresh take on the AP1 was brought into being by aftermarket tuning outfit Complete Custom Wheel. CCW packed a lot of bold choices into this build. The dark grey trim and gloss coat may lend it a neutral elegance, as well as the tasteful addition of a hardtop. Reactions were comparatively murky with regards to CCW’s choice to give the design its exaggerated negative camber; tilted wheels are always going to be a “love or hate it” kind of thing.
>>Join the conversation about the modified S2000 culture right here in S2Ki.com.
4. Jackie Ding Racing's JD86
The S2K's finesse-over-force engineering was what made the car attractive to Jackie Ding, a promising semi-professional racer who has demonstrated her talent in her impressive time attack scores. Different sets of tires are used on the JD86 depending on the nature of the time trial she is competing in.
>>Join the conversation about the modified S2000 culture right here in S2Ki.com.
5. James Li's dream racer S2000.
Outsiders to the modding subculture are often quick to bemoan the perceived expense of it. Making one’s automotive dreams come dream is an expensive hobby, no doubt about it. However, the role of money is overplayed enough for James Li to set the record straight when his S2000 was covered by Power Performance News.
Li’s consummate DIY approach has meant that much of the project has been “learn as you go.” Not that you would be able to tell by looking at the thing; Li’s machine looks as professional as any we’ve seen. The clear racing orientation of the mods is most powerfully conveyed by the freshly installed Voltex mounted wing and diffuser. Also worth noting is the mock-up Castrol logo as part of the car's paintwork-- a not-so-subtle visual nod to the A-list pro racing circuits.