A Year in the S

"yitznewton" (yitznewton)
11/27/2016 at 12:34 • Filed to: honda s2000

On Tuesday, November 17 of last year, I took a flight from New Jersey to Charlotte, NC, and made the 6th car purchase of my life: a 2003 Honda S2000. My vision was a light, probably-rear-drive car with excellent dynamics and an engaging personality. My search led me through all the Miatas, FR-S/BRZ twins, EcoBoost Mustang, MR2s, Fiesta and Focus ST, and probably some other cars I’m forgetting. I would have pulled the trigger on a first-gen MR2 if I’d found a clean one, but that didn’t happen, so I went with the first clean Suzuka Blue S2000 I managed to get a bid on. I couldn’t be happier.

Twelve months and about 8000 miles later, I’ve done:

3 oil changes

OEM air filter element

Viper alarm

alignment

aftermarket radio with Modifry dash button adapter

aftermarket horns

replaced soft top latches

cleaned soft top drains and sealed trunk vent to stop leaks

flushed brake and clutch fluid with DOT4

improved timing belt tensioner

polished headlamps

spliced broken wire for trunk release

replaced battery

replaced some interior panels butchered some time in the car’s past

replaced worn pedal covers with aftermarket

valve adjustment

re-patched a crack in the soft top

The cruise control never worked, but other than that everything’s functional. Idle can be shaky at times; not sure whether that’s a function of gasoline, or atmospheric conditions, or what.

As far as I’m concerned, the S2000 has earned all its reputation. The AP1 chassis is very sensitive and willing to oversteer, so appropriate tires are especially important. The engine has about the right amount of power, and does make you wind it above 5000 RPM to access it, sharing your joy with its remarkable howl. It’s a playful companion to drive fast on backroads and interstates, and still engaging around town.

I haven’t done any upgrades, yet. The two things that would be first and second on my list after good tires: a roll bar, because track day bro, and a better seat. The factory seats are leather, which is hard and slippery after 13 years. They’re mounted relatively high, and the bolsters are prone to collapse. Assuming you are on board with the car’s dynamics proposition, I believe the seats are the weakest part of the overall package, not quite in character with the remarkable lack of compromise everywhere else in the design.

If you want a car in this segment for a daily driver, and you don’t have to deal with much particularly bad pavement (which is really uncomfortable) or stop-and-go traffic (which is really annoying), I recommend the S without hesitation. If you want to modify and track/autocross, its record speaks for itself, but I’ll join the chorus of praise on that note too.

DISCUSSION (18)

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > yitznewton
11/27/2016 at 12:56

For seats, are you going aftermarket or trying to do a seat swat with another Honda?

RWS Motorsport > yitznewton
11/27/2016 at 12:59

Did you do the valve adjustment yourself, or take it to a garage? Im pondering doing it on mine, and am not sure how DIY the job is.

Just over a year into owning mine personally, and daily it too. Its a great little car with a few foibles. Its off for a new roof next week.

Batman the Horse > yitznewton
11/27/2016 at 13:10

The S2000 sits high on my list of “financially attainable dream cars.” It is such a perfect roadster.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > RWS Motorsport
11/27/2016 at 13:16

Idk about the F-series, but on the D series it’s easy enough. You can double check yourself by rotating the engine by hand before firing it up. That way if something hit it won’t cause any damage, probably.

Although the D series was single cam and the F is double, so I’d imagine it’d be a little more complicated.

Steve in Manhattan > yitznewton
11/27/2016 at 13:21

There is an S2000 on Turo ... one of these days I’ll get it.

yitznewton > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
11/27/2016 at 13:23

I thought about having mine reupholstered with something other than leather, but I would probably get aftermarket seats. Fitment is tight though, so selection is limited.

yitznewton > RWS Motorsport
11/27/2016 at 13:24

I had Billman do it; he’s out in eastern Long Island and at least on S2KI is reputed as the best S2000 mechanic on the east coast. He engineered his own timing chain tensioner, which is what’s installed now.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > yitznewton
11/27/2016 at 14:00

I wonder if any other Honda seats fit in there

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > yitznewton
11/27/2016 at 15:21

Wonderful vehicle. I hope I get to drive one some day. And it still looks completely modern. Aging better than many things made since 2000, that’s for certain.

AestheticsInMotion > yitznewton
11/27/2016 at 16:08

And here I’ve wanted to swap s2k seats into my miata for what I assumed was great bolstering for a stock seat

RWS Motorsport > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
11/27/2016 at 16:17

Ah thats really good advice about turning the engine. Makes sense. Hmm might head to Youtube, see if there are any tutorials/guides.

RWS Motorsport > yitznewton
11/27/2016 at 16:19

Ah I’ve heard the name Billman mentioned lots of times on S2KI. Didnt realise he was a mechanic, but east coast of the US is a bit far for me, plus I dont think the S can float... :) I will look into the TCT too, might as well do some preventative maintenance on it, planning on keeping the car for a while.

yitznewton > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
11/27/2016 at 20:17

Heh, I actually stopped by Garden State Honda once to sit in an Si, out of curiosity about the seat. Just having cloth or suede or something would be a major improvement over sliding around on the leather. Of course this was in the gap this past year where the Si was not available (?), and the sales guy was completely clueless.

yitznewton > AestheticsInMotion
11/27/2016 at 20:21

Hmm yeah, I personally wouldn’t recommend them.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > yitznewton
11/27/2016 at 20:23

would they fit? 8th gen Si seats are EVERYWHERE so i wonder...

yitznewton > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
11/28/2016 at 06:29

I don’t know, that was just my first try at feeling out what a sporty Honda cloth seat might feel like. I can’t remember if I researched fitment of those seats.

Steve in Manhattan > yitznewton
01/02/2017 at 17:07

So they put a timing chain in that engine, not a belt. A good choice for something that revs to 9 grand.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > yitznewton
01/24/2017 at 14:44

The S2000 has roll over protection from the factory. What will you need a roll bar for?