My New Toy: 2005 S2000

"Shane Moore" (snakesm13)
10/23/2013 at 15:09 • Filed to: S2000

Traded the wife's 2008 Mini Cooper S for this beauty.

2005 Honda S2000

1-Owner

86,000 miles

OEM Hardtop

Brand new soft top

Immaculate interior

Spotless engine bay

Not thrilled about the cheap BBS wheels

DISCUSSION (34)

Lets Just Drive > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 15:13

Right on!

I absolutely love the S2K. There's no way you have any money left now, though, because that thing is going to eat up every dollar you make in tires and mods.

Great job. Can we get a video maybe?

Here's one for you, because I'm a lover Opponaut.

cazzyodo > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 15:13

Mmmmmmmm...

(that's all I have to offer)

Casper > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 15:14

That's a nice upgrade from the Cooper. Congrats. I bet you guys will love it.

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 15:19

You traded up her car? Have fun sleeping on the couch.

RMudkips > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 15:19

Congrats on the purchase! Here's hoping explaining the thing to the wife will go well...

Shane Moore > Casper
10/23/2013 at 15:20

The Cooper was a joy to drive but seemed to always need something or have a quirk. Closest dealership is 150 miles away and that got old quick since it was under warranty.

Shane Moore > Lets Just Drive
10/23/2013 at 15:21

No video yet, haven't really pushed it too hard. Going to go to the local autocross to find the limits first. Thanks for the video though!

EL_ULY > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 15:22

I installed tires for a guy in San Antonio for his S2000 back in 2008. ASA wheels, 18 inch.

Shane Moore > EL_ULY
10/23/2013 at 15:24

Bought it in San Antonio, did it look like this one? Kuhmos in the front, Michelin in the back? Kinda like a mullet.

EDIT: didn't see you said 18'

Shane Moore > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
10/23/2013 at 15:25

She was there for the purchase, I have to keep my truck so she sees this as a compromise for my MotorMania.

Shane Moore > RMudkips
10/23/2013 at 15:25

She was there for the purchase, I have to keep my truck so she sees this as a compromise for my MotorMania. Once the top goes down, shes happy.

Lets Just Drive > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 15:27

Regular Cars has some great reviews, none of which anyone who owns any of the cars reviewed should take offense at as their aim is to do every review in their "voice".

Casper > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 15:28

The S2000 probably won't "need" anything, but there will be an endless list of wants. Once you get comfortable tossing the S2000 around you won't miss the cooper a bit. Do you guys autocross or anything?

EL_ULY > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 15:29

could of been 19 lol, but they were ASA's just like that for an S2000 exaclty like that. Shorter asian dude i forget his name. Not that many S2K's rolling ASA's Idk, just wondering :]

MIATAAAA > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 15:31

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHMAZINGGGGG!!!!! Enjoy it!

Shane Moore > Casper
10/23/2013 at 15:33

I usually go to a lot of local events: autox, drift, Texas Mile, ect. with my buddies EVO X but I haven't participated since my Thunderbird SC has been down. The wife is not interested at all.

Shane Moore > MIATAAAA
10/23/2013 at 15:36

Judging by your name, the drawn out letters seems to be a thing with you...

Thanks, I already have forgot about the MINI. This thing is tons of fun.

Casper > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 15:37

The S2000 is a blast in autocross. If you do road courses you will immediately want more power. The diff is really weak for launches, so I tried to stay away from drag racing too much, but it works fantastic on tight courses and bad weather.

Kinja'd!!!

daender > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 15:40

Great find, great condition! I heard those hardtops are even harder to find than a Miata's.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 15:48

Well done.

MIATAAAA > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 15:52

Haha. Touche.

I really wanted a new car, which is why I got a Miata. If they still sold S2000s, I would've been all over that.

And now I'm perpetually jealous of S2000 owners.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 16:19

Now swap in a V8

Shane Moore > daender
10/23/2013 at 16:29

Hardtop sealed the deal for me, if I don't like it I can sell it and its like I got a couple more grand off the car purchase. Plus the hardtop comes off in about 30 seconds and the soft top is brand new.

Shane Moore > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/23/2013 at 16:31

I got 2 Supercharged 3.8 V6s laying around... W12?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 16:44

So a twin supercharged W12?!

MAKE IT HAPPEN, MAKE IT HAPPEN NOW!

D > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 16:47

Awesome! What's the damage?

If those are real BBS, I kind of like them.

Hardtop convertibles kick ass.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 16:48

just noticed the name plate...another texan! my friend has an s2000 as well, and I recently watched and helped him install an Invidia exhaust on it. this car is going to be my next car...and I'm saving up right now. ;_;

Shane Moore > D
10/23/2013 at 17:07

They are not real BBS, they are made by ASA who used licensed molds from BBS but different material I believe. Came out just shy of $16k.

Shane Moore > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/23/2013 at 17:08

How is that exhaust, I'm tempted by few upgrades but that is one of em.

Where in Texas are you? Currently I'm in Corpus Christi but that might change soon...

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 17:51

The Invidia N1 exhaust for the S2000 is very loud. When the car was fired up for the first time with it, he rev'd it to probably 4-5k and it off a car alarm's warning chirp. (4-5k without the exhaust on set off the same car's alarm earlier). The removal of his stock exhaust (however had the UK exhaust mod) and installation of the Invidia was performed mostly by a friend of ours who knows how to do it, I was tagging along to learn alongside my friend how the exhausts come off and go on (since it will indeed be one of the first of the few mods I have planned when I get an s2000).

It sounds great but it comes at the sacrifice of hearing your music in the car when cruising normally while accelerating. The 3k rev point is kind of the point where you can hear the music okay. Full throttle the car sounds so good, and in full swing can be heard for a very long distance.

Another thing, I'm not sure if this is caused by the exhaust or my friend's driving style in his shifts, but in between first to second gear in full throttle acceleration, there is some snap and crackle to be had.

He also noted that downshifting became noticeably smoother, however not significantly. Lemme tell you something...the downshifts sound amazing, especially when he chanced on an empty road to prepare for a full throttle pull coming down to second gear from fourth gear.

Monday was the third day with his exhaust, on that day he told me that he didn't want to go anywhere because it's so loud and would try the silencers that came with the exhaust when he purchased it. He hasn't tried it yet and I don't think he will, him and I just love to hear that exhaust too much.

He drives a 2004 S2000, and strangely enough, when he got the car in February it was equipped with AP1 wheels and seats. (no idea who owned it before, since it was bought from a dealership)

Aaaand I'm in Houston! If you're thinking about moving to Houston, you could try visiting the first Saturday or Sunday in November, the Coffee & Cars gathering here is huge (first Saturday of each month), the weather is improving and the Ferrari Festival takes place on November 3rd.

Yep, I'm trying to convince you to move to Houston. I like it over here despite any cons or downsides it may have. We get events like the above and the Lamborghini Festival and the TX2K event and many localized meets that might happen either on weekly/monthly basis.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 19:41

Traded the wife's 2008 Mini Cooper S for this beauty.

This trade, was it mutual?

Nice car though. I always love them.

daender > Shane Moore
10/23/2013 at 19:57

Just my opinion here, NEVER SELL THE HARDTOP UNLESS DIRE FINANCIAL ISSUES. Also, it's a great loophole for getting into track days without having to install a rollover bar, my friend's Miata has a hardtop just for that sole purpose.

Shane Moore > daender
10/24/2013 at 09:34

Very good advice! Thanks.

daender > Shane Moore
10/24/2013 at 14:40

No problem, I saw two on track last week. One had a rollcage and no hardtop but the another was a CR replica without a bar so he had to run with his hardtop on. They sounded great under load.