Honda Needs Fun, Honda Needs a Sports Car

"RightFootDown" (rightfootdown)
08/18/2015 at 13:51 • Filed to: honda

I loved Honda. Astute readers will immediately recognize the past tense unfortunately. The year was 1999, I had just graduated college (yes I’m older than you, average reader) and was moving to the big city (Well, the Virginia suburbs of DC). That meant that I needed a solid daily driver. That sadly also meant that my 1996 Chevrolet Camaro was going to have to go. I know, I know, it was a sad moment for me as well but my first job paid just above minimum sustainability levels and I needed a lower payment and better MPG. And money for beer. Enter Honda.

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Their dealership, at the time, was full of fun. You couldn’t walk very far without tripping over (the newly released) S2000, or a Prelude, or some sort of manual transmission VTEC screamer. If you’ve visited my !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , you know what came next. Also, did you know you could type “garage” with just your left hand? Sorry, where was I? Oh right, I left with a brand new 1999 Civic EX, 5 speed manual with the upgraded 15” Honda wheels and a spoiler so large that it caused some next-day “what have I done”s. It sort of looked like this, only with better alloy wheels.

It was a gateway drug. Fast forward to the new Will millenium and I was back at the Honda dealer again. I had a taste of VTEC but I wanted more. More power, more styling, more, more, more! I exited the dealership in Alexandria, VA with an electron blue Honda Prelude. A “Fifth Gen” as we called them on the forums. It came complete with a 5 speed manual, 200hp H22A engine, a moonroof and a much too large car payment. It was like genesis. In the Biblical sense, not the South Korean or Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel sense. I disappeared into an automotive hole of web forums, car clubs, and eventually race tracks. The Honda took me on a ride that I’ll never forget and I credit this blue coupe with starting me down the path to petroheadedness. It looked a little something like this.

I don’t need to give you, fellow enthusiast, a history lesson what came next at Honda. Prelude production ended in April of 2001, mine being the last of its kind. The S2000 soldiered on another eight years to 2009 before ending its fun run. I actually mistyped that, decided to leave it since it’s poignant. That was that. Aside from the Civic Si, which admittedly has had its ups and downs over the years, there was nothing terribly “fun” at Honda. It’s time for that to change. It’s time to bring back the fun. It’s time Honda built a sports car. Again. Well, it turns out they have actually already done it, we just don’t get it. Meet the S660.

It’s legitimately a sports car too. RWD, transverse mid-engine layout, two seats, manual transmission. Check, check, check and check. Since going on sale this past April, it’s sold out in Japan for the 2015 model year. They sold 8,600 cars since April. Mazda !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Naturally we hope that changes with the fantastic new MX-5 coming out as we speak. Back in Japan, four out of five buyers were over age 40, take that for what you will. You recall when I graduated college, be careful at what you label “old”! Apparently this little kei-car, which sells there for around $16,000, was popular, and I think it could be here as well. It’s too small you say? It’s not really, the measurements of the Japanese spec version are as follows.

20150 JDM Honda S660

Wheelbase: 2,285 mm (90.0 in)

Length: 3,395 mm (133.7 in)

Width: 1,475 mm (58.1 in)

Height: 1,180 mm (46 in)

Curb weight: 830–850 kg (1,830–1,870 lb)

If that means as little to you as it it did to me, don’t fret. Let’s compare it to something legitimately small.

2015 Smart fortwo Hatchback

Wheelbase: 6 ft. 1.5 in. (73.5 in.)

Length: 8 ft. 10.1 in. (106.1 in.)

Width: 5 ft. 1.4 in. (61.4 in.)

Height: 5 ft. 0.7 in. (60.7 in.)

Curb weight: 1808 lbs.

So as you can see, it’s not any smaller overall than a Smart car, and people buy those. For some reason. Like !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . So small doesn’t necessarily scare people off in the domestic market anymore. The JDM version uses a 660 cc (40 cu in) engined dubbed “S07A” also known as “Earth Dreams”. Because Japan. But it’s also got a 6 speed manual (we’ll forget the CVT exists for now and will not welcome it on our shores) and at around 2000lbs or so (ours will be heavier, because America) it should be good fun.

Naturally, this being the US, we would want something with a bit more power. Well, the L15A1 VTEC 4 cylinder we have in the base Honda Fit would do. 130 horsepower and 114 ft. lbs of torque would do nicely, if it fits in the engine bay. Just don’t bring us a hybrid-only S660; learn from the CR-Z, don’t. It’s worth mentioning that the CR-Z also makes 130hp but weights 600 lbs. more. Sure, a higher output engine, even the 143hp mill from the current Civic, would do in case you want to go faster. And don’t get me started on what an S660 Type-R might be like.

So Honda, if you’re listening , we are ready. Your leadership in the US has already said they want to “add some spice in the lineup.” Naturally, we are quite excited that the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! But we want this. We deserve this. Make it happen. I’ll take one in white. Will these two bring Honda and Acura back to fun?

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DISCUSSION (11)

Party-vi > RightFootDown
08/18/2015 at 13:58

The new NSX isn’t a fun car. It’s an AWD hybrid that will cost too much for any owners to treat it like a “fun” car. The S660 should be a fun car, bu we won’t see it here because Honda still won’t give us anything good after years of buying their economy cars. The Type R isn’t a fun car either - it’s too serious to be fun.

RightFootDown > Party-vi
08/18/2015 at 14:01

Negative Nancy! haha

Hope you are incorrect, sadly history isn’t on my side.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > RightFootDown
08/18/2015 at 14:01

or...just make Acura back into a real sporty brand. (See the handle for what I want)

Justin Hughes > RightFootDown
08/18/2015 at 14:02

The S2k is dead - long live the S2k. The new NSX is essentially vaporware. The new Civic Type R will be awesome, but it’s still a tuned up economy car, not a purpose built sports car. If Honda wants to add some spice to the lineup, bring in something to fight the Miata and FR-S/BRZ - like the S660.

Party-vi > RightFootDown
08/18/2015 at 14:03

Honda shrugged at us when they killed the S2000, but now their middle finger is fully extended in our direction.

Sneaky Pete > RightFootDown
08/18/2015 at 14:19

Another former Prelude owner here (92 Si with the H23A1 and 5 speed manual, what a fun little car). I’ve owned at least 1 Honda since I started driving back in 1997 (first was an 86 Accord LXi with 5 speed manual) and currently own an 08 Honda Fit (relatively fun for a commuter) however, the Fit will be the last for the foreseeable future. The stupid thing has a defective headlight system design. It’s a massive PITA to do routine maintenance on. Plus, as you stated, Honda doesn’t make anything fun anymore. I now DD a 2012 CTS and have a Viper for a fun car. Looking to unload the piece of Fit. Honda peaked in the late 90s.

Funktheduck > RightFootDown
08/18/2015 at 16:44

Willenium. Man. That flew over most readers’ heads by a mile

wiffleballtony > RightFootDown
08/18/2015 at 16:53

Honestly the NSX might as well not exist. It will be as rare as an LFA. The S660 won’t come here either, because it doesn’t jive with anything in their line up. I also doubt it’ll pass safety standards.

Nauraushaun > RightFootDown
08/19/2015 at 19:23

You’re saying that Honda sold more of their new sports car than the MX-5 has since it was a new sports car?
Of course Mazda haven’t sold many MX-5s lately, the thing is at its end of life. Comparing the first year sales of one model with the final years of another is misleading and useless. Not to mention that you’re comparing across markets that couldn’t be more different. You’re actually comparing apples with watermelons.

I think the S660 to ForTwo comparison is compromised as well. Of course the ForTwo is shorter and taller, it’s a very different kind of car. That doesn’t mean the S660 is big. I think you’d find that the S660 being 3.3 inches narrower would mean more than anything else - that’s something that directly affects the passenger compartment. I think, sitting inside, it would feel much smaller than the ForTwo. It’s a damn kei!

I do agree with you though. Honda have stopped making fun cars, something ridiculous like the S660 could bolster their image across the world.

Nauraushaun > Party-vi
08/19/2015 at 19:24

People shrugged at Honda when they stopped buying S2000s and sports cars in general. Honda is company that chases sales, so they responded by building more SUVs.

Joe F > RightFootDown
08/31/2015 at 16:36

All great points. I’m hopeful. I know what really matters is the balance sheet and one thing I have never seen is the potential revenue uplift of fun. I say that only because I wonder what made Honda/Acura bail on enthusiast-oriented...anything in the first place. And for so long...

Honda/Acura need to execute on the follow-through that should just barely trail the NSX. They need to hit the ~$25k and ~$50k tiers nicely with models that attract new customers. Back in the 90’s they were coming off of F1 successes, were really shaking things up with the Acura line, and had released an aspirational car in the NSX that people could pretend to be in as they wound their GS-Rs to redline.

Releasing the NSX Gen 2 along will do nothing with the current culture that Honda/Acura has. It will be a great car...and still not one that people aspire to because juju ... yes JUJU! is that extra thing that makes people put your poster on their wall and desire you.

Honda has to start somewhere. The S660 is a good place to start. Re-entering F1 is a good place to start. Gifting me a Gen 2 NSX is a good place to....