they're rare because they don't make sense to buy anymore. paying 35k for a 20 year old car just isnt worth it imo. Sure, it's reliable but I mean these things wear and what stupid owner wouldn't thrash the living hell out of their S2K.
Honda S2000! Have owned mine for 5 years and no other car comes close to the exhilarating and rewarding drive. Driven Porsche 911, BMW M's, and the S2000 is an absolute joy to row through the gears. I can the S2000 drive like a hero without committing a felony. Insurance is cheap, maintenance is cheap, sips gas and parts are widely available. S2000 all the way!
Wow that’s crazy! I guess it confirm what folks say about low mileage cars. Mine had 100k miles when purchased. All I’ve done is oil, brakes, air filters and coolant. Everything else is in perfect shape. And I really mean “I drive it like I stole it”. I also have a 90’s M and that car has required over $8k in maintenance. But have owned that car 13 years and it has needed clutch, suspension, AC, Brakes, Radiator, Regulators, Tires. Also drive it spiritedly.
I think you captured the enjoyment right there. You really don’t have to drive quickly to get a great experience, I live in rural Essex (England) and just cruising round the country lanes is just superb 😊
I have a S2000 AP2 and a FC RX7. I have to say both cars have very different characteristics, but both are exhilarating to drive. I imagine the miata would be another different but exhilarating car to drive.
I made that decision 16 months ago. S2000. I like the Honda motor, full analog, no driving aids, and no iPad like display. The Miata is a great car though. No bad choice here.
@@orlando6914 they are both roadsters yes they are both cars, but too much difference. never had to worry about the transmission failing on the ap1, on the nd2 i fear it blowing if driving spiritedly too often. ap1 was built with f1 in mind, miata was born with lotus elan in mind -- way different cars. looks = subjective though, hence my reply to the comment of them being different cars. i loved the s2000, miss it, and also love the miata -- but they simply can't be compared.
Its a honor 20 + years later and the technology has yet to surpass what is the Ap1 and Ap2 experience as i do daily. Since 2011 and 220k mile and still redlines.
No brainer. You buy nice S2K keep it for 5years, cherish it. Sell with profit. You can’t do that with mx-5. Also, don’t you think that interior of S2K looks much better? Mx-5 is great car but I don’t think it should be compared with S2K
I had an AP2. Excellent build quality, best shift action, looks amazing, double wishbones and rwd with the engine tucked nicely behind the front axle & glorious over 6K rpm. Unfortunately the chassis simply isn't rigid enough. I could feel flex on turn in. Especially after I installed coilovers. Also heavy for what it is. Very poor steering feel. Sold it for an Evora and then a 997. Had an Elise before it. Also, the ND feels much stiffer. Because the chassis is about 30% stiffer, 500 lbs lighter & with a shorter wheelbase. With better chassis/steering feel, mid range torque and high vs low slide controllability. S2000 for more casual drivers seeking clout, value retention, nostalgia & Vtec yo.
The ap2 isn't the real s2000, the ap1 is specially the early 00/01 model years. The AP1 has the higher redline, twitchy rear end, and much quicker steering ratio. Try driving an ap1 before you complain.
The idea of chassis flex vs mm lbs whatever doesn’t really matter- it matters if bumps in the road/undulations cause noticeable twist in the frame- and thanks to the xbone frame and double wishbone suspension, they dont. So yeah a frame machine might say a nc Miata or a rx8 is stiffer, but it doesn’t work out that way
@svetlingueorguiev1198 but it does. I could feel front end flex on turn in on track. AP2, HKS Coilovers, proper alignment. Add awful steering feel and it does matter. Greatly. Why some of us require sincerely stiff chassis cars. The S2000 is not in that category. They suffer from cowl shake and body flex. The X brace is more marketing than function. An NC MX5 has greater rigidity. That's some serious mental gymnastics, dude... So could racing driver, Max Angelleli. Motortrend 2007. Called the chassis subpar. Because it is. I sold mine and bought an Evora. And I'd take an ND2 or GR86 any day, all day.
@@sdlausen1 Totally agreed; gotta try an AP1! I have a 2001 AP1. In the AP1 you better keep pumping that gas pedal as you go through those twisties. Stock suspension and the drive is amazing. Very springy, no chassis flex. In fact the S2000 has a "High X-Bone" design, which is not only great for torsional strength, it also ensures that weight is distributed as evenly as possible, making the car a sweet handler.
I’m my opinion there’s no comparison! They are 22 years apart, the S2000 wins hands down!! I own a 2001 S2000 Spa Yellow and wouldn't trade it for a Miata or a Corvette. A Corvette is like an Elantra; you see them everywhere.
I was a bit disappointed you didn't go into the driving differences between the two cars on the road. I owned an early S2000 and have just ordered a new ND3 Mazda MX5.
Does anyone besides me get tired of comparisons with the Honda S2000? The Miata has been and always will be a very different car. Just as today's Porsche Boxster is very different from the S2K. Any comparisons end with all three being sporty convertibles. You can find devoted fans of all three. It all depends on what qualities and performance you desire in a car and of course your budget. As a long time S2K owner I can say that the Honda engineers designed and built a car that is uniquely pleasurable to drive. You only have to watch many of the videos posted on RU-vid to realize the passion felt towards the S2K.
I can't speak about other RU-vid creators but the reason I made this video was because I had access to an S2000. I've never driven it before and as I mentioned in the video, it would've been nice if it was a stock one instead of this modified one. But beggars can't be choosers. As for the MX-5, I see it as the closest competitor to the S2000 in today's market. So to me, it was a natural comparison.
I much prefer the ND. I found the chassis in the S2000 to be a bit of a wet noodle. Especially the front end. It flexes too much. Even more apparent after I installed coilovers. The steering feel also leaves a lot to be desired. Early EPS steering was dreadful outside an RX8. Definitely prefer the high slide controllability, less weight, stiffer chassis, mid range torque, steering feel of the MX5. Bottom line, it's over 500 lbs less with a stiffer chassis and better feel at and over the limit.
An EV successor to the S2000 would not upset me, simply because the original would only increase in value. For reference, just look at the original versus new NSX.
I love Honda, but they're moving on from fun simple cars. Even if they made a new S2000 with ICE, it would likely end up being closer to something like a Z4 type offering with a turbo. If you want simple direct driver feedback for B roads and twisty fun, you're stuck with the AP1/2 options, or going with a Mazda(or if Toyota keeps going the direction they've been headed, Toyota might have something coming up too).
For a daily driver that you would need reliability with, the ND Miata all the way. If it's only going to be a weekend car or a track car, then an argument can be made for the S2000. It's way too expensive for how many miles it's got, and anyone with an S2000 got it for one specific reason, the same reason you're looking to get one; which is not good to buy used from lol
@@Manvswild11 and the fact that you can get a new ND for $30k - $40k depending on trim. I wouldn't spend that much money for an 80,000mi S2000 since some things are going to need to be repaired or at least maintained at that point. On top of that, the type of driving that people do in an S2000 also doesn't help.
I own that black s2k, can confirm I purchased it for reliability even though it has 140,000kms, it is a Honda afterall. For me, the fact that the ND lacked an enjoyable engine was enough to say "whatever" about the s2000s mileage.
@@mokutekimotorsport2566 The ND2 with the rev at 7800rpm feels really good to me. Sure, it's not anything like Vtec at the higher end, but it provides quite a bit of torque at the lower ends. My reason for suggesting a Miata for a daily is that you don't have to rev it above 8000rpm to get power. It's also a much more comfortable ride. If you love stiff rides and tracking your car then the s2000 is still the best within this price range.
There's a fair amount of s2k with 300k miles and they are still going strong. The engine mounts, clutch and suspension will need replacing around 80-100k miles.
