by Baron Wilton
posted on February 28, 2024
Revving up Y2K nostalgia
In a sea of award-winning, practical CRVs, Accords, and Civics, it’s fun to remember one of Honda’s coolest sports cars. The rad Honda S2000 is a roadster that began production in the new millennium and hoisted the brand into every conversation between car enthusiasts at 1999 New Year’s Eve parties. Let’s take a look at the potent high-rev engine and impressive Y2K swagger of Owen’s 2005 Honda S2000, our February car of the month.
2005 Honda S2000
| ENGINE | HORSEPOWER | 0 to 60 MPH | TOP SPEED | MILEAGE | DAILY PRICE* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L I4 | 240 hp | 5.8 sec | 147 mph | 20 mpg | $127 |
| ENGINE | HP | 0 to 60 MPH | TOP SPEED | MILEAGE | DAILY PRICE* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L I4 | 240 hp | 5.8 sec | 147 mph | 20 mpg | $127 |
It’s no coincidence the S2000 has the year in its name. The two-seater convertible honored Honda’s 50 year anniversary and was introduced in 1999 to showcase the brand’s innovation and future-forward mission. The S2000 was an instant success. It boasts a high-rev, six-speed manual transmission with 240-hp distributed across its rear wheels. At just over 2,800 lbs, it had one of the highest power-weight ratios of any production car of its time, and its performance ranked head-to-head with the Porsche Boxster, Mercedes SLK, and BMW Z Roadster. It’s not every day that a Honda is compared with German performance brands.
The S2000 is incredible top-down fun with a roaring and bubbling exhaust note, refined handling, crisp braking, and quick shifting. Owen’s low-mileage 2005 sample benefitted from a model refresh that brought enhancements to the car’s suspension, transmission, and design. Of these changes was a reduction in the rev line from 8,900 RPM to 8,000 to preserve its high-rev status while adding versatility to typical gear ranges. This gives the driver more control on curvy coastal roads and less to worry about cruising at high speeds.
The S2000’s beloved design started with a retro, futuristic concept car that was developed by Pininfarina — the famed Italian auto designer at the forefront of brave style. The result is a sleek canvas, ripe for modification. The S2000 has a rich legacy as a tuner, so it’s rare to see one show up at a local car show that looks fresh off the dealer lot, like Owen’s Rio Yellow spec. Even the color is special, as less than 3,000 S2000s were ever sold in the US with this bronzed yellow metallic.
Inside the coupe, the interior layout is poised to keep occupants focused on the road ahead. Unlike some over-engineered modern vehicles, the S2000 has just a handful of buttons to power the radio, air-conditioning, and cruise control. Owen’s car is blacked out, with black leather, exterior badging, smoked tail lights, and a black retractable roof. Even the mini duckbill tail light is a cool black contrast. And just like Honda’s Civic Type R, red is used to accentuate performance elements like the digitized dashboard, start/stop button, and engine bay. To contrast, silver aluminum covers the audio equipment where you can listen to your favorite CDs as a soundtrack for your road trip.
The Honda S2000 is a charming turn-of-the-century sports car that set the foundation for the entry-level sports car segment of the past two decades. Even in a world focused on electrification and plus-sized SUVs, the nimble and attractive roadster continues to draw attention and offer pure driving bliss, especially with a stick shift and a retractable roof. Let Owen’s pristine model be your companion on your next adventure around the SF bay.
Share your car, earn extra cash
Cover your car payments or earn some extra cash by sharing your car whenever you’re not using it.
Get startedHit the road
Browse thousands of cars for every occasion and budget near you, or wherever you’re going.
Browse cars*Daily price is subject to change
Baron Wilton
Baron is a walking encyclopedia of car facts. His favorite sport is behind the wheel of his Jaguar F-Type, which he drives more in the canyons of SoCal than on the streets.
