Lately I've heard a lot of talk about how the new S2000 will have to do this and that to be competitive and how it won't and how underpowered it is starting to be in the market. I've also consistently heard that Honda is thinking of making the S2000 into an MX-5 competitor (using a K series engine), and it finally dawned on me:

With 5 more years of development, the 2450lb MX-5 should finally reach or exceed 205 horsepower (why not?), which will in turn meet or exceed the still unchanged 2850lb/237hp ratio of the S2000. Ashamed at that point to approach powerful new Camrys or Accords, S2000 owners will only be able to competitively drag race against newer Miatas, Toyota Echos, and new Geo Metro variants. And like the NSX, at 15 years of production, it will finally be old enough for honda to retire the car.

In the meantime, the only significant change we should expect in newer S2000 models will be updated spring rates, modified guage clusters, and newer rim styles that will follow suit with the MX-5's trends.

In the near term, expect to see frequent street encounter posts about poweful diesel pickups and minivans that will taunt NA S2000 owners by cutting them off on the freeway, leaving the owners of underpowered S2000s powerless to merge or even drive unashamed on any public roads. (Ruprect, I put that in for you.) And more and more S2000 owners will be forced to purchase FI systems to give fresh wind to their broken souls.

 

If we are very lucky, around 2010-2012 we may receive another 0.20L displacement bump, which will add 5 ft-lbs of TQ at 3000 RPMs. However, the new engine will have a redline conservatively lowered to 6000RPM, at which point the S2000 will develop 234HP, as defined by the latest horsepower counting procedures.

 

Hmm, the new Civics and Accords are arguably as fast as the S2000 today, and have close handling numbers. Unless there's another Shigeru at Honda, I think the S will just go bye-bye, maybe to be replaced with a small sportish fwd coupe.

 

It was a fun run. In the early years, it was a first string player.

Now it's evolving into a novelty car like the MGB in the 80s.

It ain't about being fast, it's just about the love of the art.

Once the transition is complete (a few more years will do this) then we won't see debates about power...just as nobody debates power on the MGB MKIII.

 

I think its safe to say the S2000 is going to be the last of Hondas cheap RWD roadsters for a while. Maybe in 20 years they're go "retro" and bring something similar back.

I love my car and with such a huge aftermarket it has amazing potential to do whatever I want it to and compete (read win) in any event you build the car for.

 

Keep all your OEM parts guys. In a very few short years, the S will move to vintage status. Then the buzz will be not how fast it is (or was) but how original it is. Maybe even a dealer window sticker will bump the value of a car.

 

My opinion on the matter is thus:

Discontinuing the S2000 altogether > downgrading it to "compete" with the Miata.

I'd rather see the S2000 be retired as what it is now than watch it get commercialized to death.

 

Did you just fall off the turnip truck and smack your head??? The S2000 is a road car and not a drag racing car. If you want to drag race, get a Mustang.

 

^^^ I hope your not suggesting that a mustang is needed to outrun the echo and geo metro?

 

I don't mind the S2000 being "demoted" to Miata level, as long as the WEIGHT is significantly reduced.

IMO, the only thing that keeps the S2000 from being a LANDMARK sports car (like the 240Z or original Miata) instead of merely a GREAT sports car is that it weighs a lot more than it should.

Progress is (or *should* be) doing MORE with LESS. I would LOVE to see a 1.6 liter 205+hp S2000 (or S1600, rather) weighing in at 2400 lb. as a successor to the S2000.