Teresa’s View
The baby-blue S2000 roadster in my driveway perfectly matched the cloudless sky above. I took it as a sign and the sign said, “Road trip!”
With the top down and my spirits soaring, I spent the next few hours enthusiastically cruising country lanes and slingshoting onto random freeways.
I really have to get one of those long, white driving scarves. Oh, well.
The S2000 is the real-world evolution of Honda’s SSM concept car, which itself derived from Honda’s first high-performance car, the S500.
Reflecting the Japanese company’s storied racing heritage, the rear-wheel drive S2000 is agile and precise.
This year, the S2000 receives a tweak to the engine, revised suspension and transmission, larger wheels and the obligatory nips and tucks inside and out.
The new 2.2-liter inline, four-cylinder engine pumps out an impressive 240 horsepower – nearly as much as most engines create using six cylinders. The S2000 is available only with a manual transmission, as it should be.
Note that the S2000 gets attention and, by extension, so do the occupants. Driving the sporty Honda roadster is a bit like wearing a pair of flirty high heels – it looks oh, so very good on, but appearing suave takes practice. The low-slung car presents some potentially awkward ingress and egress challenges.
Inside, the S2000 combines striking design with race-car heritage. One starts it by pressing a large, red button mounted on the dash to the left of the steering wheel. A digital display like the ones used in modern race-cars is situated in front of the driver.
No faux forest gave its life for the S2000. Instead, metallic-look trim with the heft of the real thing graces various nooks and crannies. I especially liked the silver, sliding lid for the restyled cupholders, although the square holders themselves are disappointingly impractical.
Despite the small engine, the S2000 gets SUV-like gas mileage and uses premium fuel.
What Is It?: The S2000 is a two-seat roadster with available hard top. It’s priced at $33K.
Gadget Rating: 7 of 10. It may look sparse inside, but the car is well-equipped, with cruise control, air conditioning with filtration system and power windows, mirrors and door locks. The audio system, discretely hidden behind a cover, includes a CD player and is wired for XM radio.
Dropping Top: Couldn’t be easier. Just unclip two front fasteners and press a button. A permanently installed wind guard means no fussy parts to mess with. Bonus: the rear window is real glass and includes a defroster.
Grocery Sack Test: Paper or Plastic? Paper sacks don’t stand a chance in this shallow, small cargo area. It’s frozen pizzas in plastic bags, baby.
Safety Features: Anti-lock brakes are standard and, um, that’s about it. Side air bags aren’t even offered. There’s still no passenger airbag cut-off switch.