Hello all! I bought my 2000 S2000 right before the pandemic started. Covid has kept me from taking any serious road trips thus far but I have had a blast driving our local mountain roads while we ride this thing out. I have always liked these cars and decided late last year it was time to track one down. Found this little beauty on Bring a Trailor last February in Portland. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2000-honda-s2000-57/

I would love to meet some other owners in the area for a drive. I need to find out who is the best S2K mechanic around Boise to trust it with and track down a few annoying rattles with someone in the know. I haven't done any real modifications yet besides upgrading the stock tires and wheels.

Here are a few photos of the 2K from my road trip from Portland back to Boise after the purchase.





Here is a photo so you can see what it looks like with some new shoes. That is my lovely co-pilot Megan who is enjoying the new car as well.



Looking forward to the new year with more sporty scenic drives and fingers crossed a break from all the craziness that was 2020. Feel free to reach out if anyone wants to chat or hit the road.

Thanks!

John

 

ALL the photos look great! Wink, nudge.

Forget rattles with the roof up, that's why there's a volume control on the radio.

Tread lightly on the back roads until you learn the handling limits. Even highly experienced S2000 drivers have spun these in seemingly innocent corners, especially the early models before Honda tweaked much of the oversteer out of them. Not dangerous but different from FWD and AWD vehicles.

-- Chuck

 

The passenger seatbelt latch on the belt always rattled in my 2000 S2K. Just move it so it won't be hitting the door panel. Year 2000 is very tail happy as Chuck said.

 

Thanks, Chuck! I used to live in Virginia in a past life. You guys have a beautiful state. I have been careful as I learn the nimbleness of the new car. I have felt it start to walk out from under me a few times that surprised me. I think that is one of the reasons the car is fun to drive. Keeps you on your toes for sure.

 

The noise I'm getting is some weird resonance that shows up when I'm off the throttle and engine braking. It sounds tinny like some sort of heat shield? I test drove another 2000 S2000 before I bought mine and it made the same exact noise. The seller for that first car told me the noise had been there since day one and the dealer said it was due to the lightweight construction of the car and the lack of sound deadening. I dislike it very much and would love to find a remedy.

 

My model year 2000 also made the same noise just as you described. My 2006 AP2 and both 2003 AP1 models do not make that rattling noise when you lift ohh the throttle.

 

My new-to-me MY2000 also makes that noise too. Not sure if it is the fabled "clutch buzz", although like you, I suspect a rattling heat shield or something less sinister. Incidentally, my '01 that I had for a few years from 01-05 did not make that same noise, although the car was very new and had little mileage at the time.

 

Clutch buzz? What is that? I might do some investigating on the forum to see who else has dealt with it. It is my biggest turn off for this great car.

I do wish it had a bit more of a grumbly note to the exhaust. The car, until you get into the upper rev range, is whisper quiet and doesn't make you feel very sporty unless you are pretty well stomping on it. However, I'm reluctant to mod it out very much since it is such a low mile original car.

 

Yes, do search it up, although many of the threads you will find on the noisy clutch will be many years old. Apparently, there was a TSB back in 2001 where Honda claimed that while annoying, there was no need to worry about the noise resulting in any damage or affecting the longevity of the OEM clutch. Here is a link to a Youtube video which may confirm for you the source of your rattling:


My new S2000 has 55K miles on it, so not as low as yours, but for a first year car, still fairly factory fresh and free of any modifications over the years. I agree that the car is very docile at lower RPMs, but the cacophony after 5000RPM more than makes up for it!!

Happy motoring
Asif

 

The forum search function is basically non-functional so copy and paste the next line into your Internet search block exactly as written. Sit back and read and keep hitting the links.

clutch buzz site:www.s2ki.com

-- Chuck