Aron9000

Oh man the engine was my favorite thing about the S2000. You have to drive it like you hate it and have faith that it isn't going to fly apart. The engine really is a Dr Jeyklle/Mr Hyde sort of device, feels like the engine out of your Civic if you're just putting around town in terms of feel and power level. Cane it past 5500rpm where you normally shift in other cars, its a total monster. I agree though that it isn't an engine for everybody, as you do need to be pretty adept at driving stick to get the most out of it and be real good at rev-match downshifting, heel-toe braking, etc.

I also haven't driven the AP1 S2000, which revved to 9000rpm. The AP2 model I have some seat time in has a revised engine that doesn't rev quite as high but has more mid-range punch, it starts to come on around 4000rpm and then punches you in the face around 5500-6000rpm when the cam changes over. I never found the lack of low end grunt annoying, but then again my expectation was this isn't a V8 detroit barge, its a high strung sports car.

Its funny too, as much as I love the Miata, I still think the S2000 is a better car even vs the new Miata. Given a choice, new Miata or super minty fresh S2000, I'd go S2000, even if it does cost about the same for a car that is 10+ years old.

mmarshall

I test-drove the latest Miata version, and, with the top both up and down, didn't detect any significant cowl-shake, though, of course, I didn't flog the car at its limits. In fact, the last convertible I tested that did have significant cowl-shake was the admittedly poorly-built Mitsubishi Eclipse...and that car is no longer offered in the American market. Today's convertibles are quite well-built from that perspective...the Buick Cascada, for example (which is a re-badged European Opel/Vauxhall Cascada), even with stiff-riding 20" wheels/tires felt as solid in its body structure as my Verano sedan (also a small Opel re-badge).

situman

Yes then I buy it and realized "crap I'm always stuck in traffic in a Civic and someone is making a smoothie under the hood."

AWD4Mo

LOL, quite funny!
But if you are calling an S2000 a Civic with a blender in it, you are like one of those proverbial NewYorkers who haven't ever been outside of Manhattan! Like the Miata, the S2000 was also on the 10 best list for years, until they ceased manufacturing in 2009.
Take a test drive, then talk. I consider myself incredibly lucky to own a 2007 Honda S2000...... Other than pricey supercars, I have owned and driven many sports cars in my life...... nothing has yet compared to the S2000.

huy33

I honestly love my AP2. I love taking it out to the country and driving it spiritedly. I've never felt that it needs more power either.

situman

Sorry for offending you. I just dont appreciate needing to drive the car to within 8/10 of its life to get the most out of it. Unfortunately, I dont life in Montana or the middle of nowhere America so there are plenty of expensive consequences for flooring my car every chance I get. I suppose hitting a cow crossing the road is quite expensive too.

swajames

AWD4Mo

No offence taken. I'm just asking how you can form an opinion of something without trying it? Not sure just how you gained the opinion that you have to drive an S2000 or a Miata to within 8/10 of its life to get the most out of it. Those cars are so light and stiff (by design) that they have huge power-to-weight ratio's. They accelerate plenty quick, and will beat many cars in the 3L 6 cyl. range. In the case of the S2000, the Variable Valve Timing kicks in at around 5,800 rpm and gives a huge punch to your backside, but you don't need to use that at all. When you put the power to them on a curve, they don't step out, they just get squat and carve the turn like you won't believe. And the other thing to remember is that those engines are designed to be bullet-proof even at high rpm's; you are not taking them anywhere near their lives!! But then again, I'm not really sure why I'm trying to convince you - I will close the subject by saying, you just gotta test drive one and you will know; otherwise you won't.

Aron9000

Let me guess, you live in suburban NYC, where the traffic is ****, there are too many people, weather sucks for 6 months of the year, and no good b-roads to drive on. If I lived in some craphole like northern New Jersey, Long Island, Yonkers, Connecticut, etc I wouldn't own an S2000 or Miata, no good roads to drive on just for the fun of it. These aren't good commuter cars, they're like poor man's exotics IMO, you take them out on a nice day when you want to go on a drive in the country.

Yes you can commute in them and go to the store, they are Japanese reliable and very cheap to service, but then you're missing the whole point.