Daily Slideshow: Has Perception of the S2000 Changed Much Since Discontinuation?
Honda's 2009 discontinuation of their S2000 production wasn't the end for this car. With a near-decade between now and when its last wheels rolled off assembly, there's been plenty of time for the S2K to take on a life of its own.
A Dream Car For the 2000s
To an S2000 owner, it's easy enough to forget that the car has been a dead brand for coming up on ten years now. Honda's 2-door masterpiece was iconic for its performance in the last decade. With the S2000 discontinued however, the community amongst owners and fans seems stronger than ever.
The Last Days of the S2000
Needless to say, the niche S2000 was one of the first on the chopping block when the Great Recession of 2008 brought the auto industry to its knees. It was never a lack of quality or respect that caused the S2000 to end. It took nothing short of global collapse to do the trick. With economic ruin hitting many parts of the country, suddenly people had more pressing things to worry about than being able to drive fast.
>>Join the conversation about the perception of the S2000 right here in the S2Ki.com forum.
A Beautiful Relic From Times Long Past?
Looking back at the S2000, it really does feel like a car designed for another time. The aesthetic is sleek and modern enough to fit in well enough with the current sensibilities. It's the concept itself of a faithfully specialized "race car for the street" that shows its age. For better or worse, the industry crisis that killed off the official production S2000 marked the end of an era for automobiles. Nowadays, there are so many efficiency-oriented regulations for cars to meet , and the public already has their sights in that direction anyway.
Owners and Enthusiasts
It's crazy to think that we can now speak of "good old days" from this side of the new millennium. S2000 owners will speak of the 2000s like a half-forgotten beautiful dream when it comes to the cars. Notably, however, this reverence doesn't tend to be shared by the public at large. Those who know the S2000 will unanimously agree on the impressive technical readouts, but it's never come close to the cultural sway of American attitude cars like the Corvette and Mustang. This is despite being featured in films like The Fast & the Furious series (pictured here) as well. Then again, with a bland name like the S2000, Honda clearly wasn't trying to make it a lifestyle car. This one was always going to be about the specs.
>>Join the conversation about the perception of the S2000 right here in the S2Ki.com forum.
The Stuff of Legend
Of course, casuals who do remember it well enough could have bad things to say. For one, there was no interior space. The stereo system was awful. The first model year didn't even come with a clock. The driving itself was so sharp that Honda dialed the handling back a bit for the AP2. If the S2000 goes down in history as a "niche" vehicle, so be it. It's not like it didn't earn that reputation.
>>Join the conversation about the perception of the S2000 right here in the S2Ki.com forum.
Only the Fans Understand
"Inaccessible" is another way of spelling "uncompromising" for many S2k enthusiasts!
Modding is the New Lifeblood
If there's anything that has made the S2K perception brighter post-discontinuation, it's the modding community. Between the streamlined design and impressive specs, it's an attractive prospect for many who are looking for a great foundation to get creative with.
>>Join the conversation about the perception of the S2000 right here in the S2Ki.com forum.
Still Seen in the Racing Community
Expanding upon the modding community, the S2000 is even still a sight on the competitive race course. A lot of tweaks are needed in order for a decade-old car to compete with the current competition of course, but it says a lot that the S2000 is still considered a viable option for a team to stake their glory and coin on.
>>Join the conversation about the perception of the S2000 right here in the S2Ki.com forum.
Nothing Else Replaced It
In a weird fit of irony, the features that arguably killed the S2000 are the same things that have kept it alive for this long.
They say you don't know what you've got until it's gone. In the case of the S2000, we knew it was something special back then, but we didn't know that it would turn out to be a unique sort without heirs to carry the torch onward. Between the affordability and specialized nature, the S2000 stands on its own as a unique property. And don't even try to compare it with the Miata.