2000 Honda S2000 Sports Car Reviews & Ratings

Like the other members of the small roadster flock, the S2000 affords room for two -- in a pair of highly supportive bucket seats -- and not much more. In fact, we think Honda, a company that's usually very good at making the most of interior space, could have done a better job of providing small-object storage in the S2000. Aside from a couple of small bins sequestered between the upper portion of the seatbacks, there's just no place to put odds and ends. No map pockets in the doors. And, worse, no glovebox.

We're not too keen on the instrument package, either. The modest layout is dominated by a digital tachometer that arcs across the top of the array like an electronic rainbow, with a digital speedometer in the middle, flanked by small fuel and coolant temperature gauges. A big tachometer is standard competition practice -- most race cars don't even have speedometers -- but as racy as it is, we'd still prefer an analog speedometer in this car because analog instruments provide rate-of-change information and digital readouts don't.

We're also a little mystified by some of the choices Honda made concerning the S2000's soft top. Mystifying choice number one: the rear window is plastic, rather than glass. Plastic doesn't wear well in a folding top. Honda opted for plastic as a weight-saving measure, according to company officials, but we note that the rear window in the much less expensive Miata is glass. Mystifying choice number two: the top is power-operated. If weight savings is such an issue -- and less is always better when it comes to weight -- then what's the point in the complex machinery, including hefty little electric motors, associated with a power top? The Miata's manual top can be operated with one hand, from the driver's seat.

As you'd expect of a car in this price range, the S2000 comes with the usual luxury features-leather seats, air conditioning, an AM/FM/CD sound system, power windows, power mirrors, cruise control, keyless remote entry, and tilt steering. It also has some-thing you wouldn't expect-a big red starter button to the left of the steering wheel, an-other reminder that you're driving a thinly disguised race car.

We expected the S2000 to deliver exhilarating performance, and we weren't disappointed, even during a session at Road Atlanta, a northern Georgia racing circuit. We expected performance, but we were surprised and impressed with how tractable the S2000 can be when the driver wants to cruise at a sedate pace. With an engine that doesn't really wake up until the tachometer ticks up to 7000 rpm and suspension tuning designed to eliminate body roll in cornering, we expected sluggish performance and harsh ride quality. Not so. It takes a little rowing through the gearbox to generate passing speeds, but the S2000 is otherwise as composed and comfortable as any other topless boulevardier.

But make no mistake, the tiger burns just below the surface, waiting to be unleashed.

As we suggested earlier, the S2000 doesn't really come to life until the tachometer soars beyond the point where most engines run out of breath. There's an electric motor quality to its power, like a Japanese superbike -- no punch in the back, just a sense that with enough forward gears, one might keep accelerating beyond the speed of light.

Although the engine's unique powerband makes it difficult to generate really quick getaways, the S2000 is nevertheless capable of hustling to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds. That's quick. The S2000 is capable of 150 mph at the top end. Most important, it emits a delightful, high-tech tenor snarl while it's doing all this.

But that's only part of the fun. Though the S2000's 16-inch Bridgestone tires aren't particularly wide, the car can handle impressively high cornering speeds, and its responses are as decisive and precise as a cheetah closing in on an antelope. Not a misstep or false move, regardless of the pace.

A set of world-class brakes complements the S2000's speed and agility, augmented by ABS (a standard feature). These are the best brakes we've ever encountered on any Honda vehicle, and they round out a set of sports car credentials that's tough to top.

When it goes on sale September 15, one model will be available for about $30,000.