S2000 CR Is One of Doug DeMuro’s All-Time Favorite Cars

More than Marketing

Astute S2000 fans have long recognized the Club Racer as the ultimate version of Honda's beloved roadster, but as mega-popular YouTuber Doug DeMuro points out in this new video, most haven't always felt that way. When it arrived later in the S2000's life cycle, many believed the CR was just Honda's way of selling more S2000s as the model was a bit stale at the time. But in reality, it's far more than just a marketing ploy, as DeMuro points out.

Golden Era

The mid-2000s was a glorious time for sports cars, and many vehicles from this era line DeMuro's favorites list. However, the Club Racer holds a special place in his heart for a number of reasons. Obviously, it's rare and quite valuable today, despite the fact that it isn't terribly different from a regular, run-of-the-mill S2000 from this era. 

>>Join the conversation about Doug DeMuro loving the S2000 right here on S2Ki.com.

Nothing Earth Shattering

The Club Racer had some suspension upgrades, as well as a tighter steering ratio, wider, upgraded tires, a unique wheel treatment, a body kit with a giant rear wing, no soft top, and a host of unique interior treatments that differentiated it from "normal" S2000. But the CR didn't have any upgrades one might consider earth-shattering, including its engine, which was identical to the regular S2000.

>>Join the conversation about Doug DeMuro loving the S2000 right here on S2Ki.com.

Special Car

Regardless, the CR didn't need any major modifications to make it special. And DeMuro is quick to point that out once he hops behind the wheel. "It is sublime," he says. "It is wonderful in here. I love the way this car drives. The gear lever and the clutch are fantastic - the clutch is light but not too light, just enough that you can easily feel where the engagement point is."

>>Join the conversation about Doug DeMuro loving the S2000 right here on S2Ki.com.

Blast to Drive

Meanwhile, DeMuro notes that the shift knob makes the gear lever feel a "bit more precise," which is the perfect way to describe the Club Racer in general. "The most important and best thing about this car is the way it handles," he points out. "I have been throwing it around and driving it is a blast."

>>Join the conversation about Doug DeMuro loving the S2000 right here on S2Ki.com.

Handles Like a Dream

"The steering is so good, it's incredibly precise," DeMuro says. "But the handling is the thing that's most impressive about this car. Dead flat, and it just feels like you can throw it anywhere and it'll never get out on you or be too aggressive. It is just perfectly tuned to be thrown around and enjoyed." Of course, it isn't all good, as the S2000 isn't terribly powerful by today's standards, as DeMuro points out, but that doesn't matter when you're behind the wheel.

>>Join the conversation about Doug DeMuro loving the S2000 right here on S2Ki.com.

Missing the Point

"Overall, that's not what this car is for," DeMuro says. "It's not intended for speed, that was never its purpose. It's so exciting on canyon roads, on tracks - that's what it's for, and that's what it's still amazing at now." And that's precisely why the Club Racer is still so highly regarded and coveted today, years after it first appeared on this earth.

>>Join the conversation about Doug DeMuro loving the S2000 right here on S2Ki.com.