Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Honda S2000

I've owned two. A Mk2 and a Mk3. I bought them from new, bought them back to back and owned each for 3 years. In a word, stunning.

These are proper rear wheel drive sports cars and need handling as such particularly in the wet. One of my motivations for buying an S2000 was the badge snobbery around some other brands of roadsters. This machine took the fight to Mr Porsche (Boxster, not the S). It was a fraction of the price but because you didn't have to change gear until the rev counter hit 9000 revs, you could take a Boxster off the line and leave them in your mirror as they lost ground whilst changing gear.

Incidentally, the short shift in the S2000 is sublime so gear shifts are quick. The downside to the Mk1 and Mk2 was the fact I had to carry a litre of engine oil around with me in the boot because it needed pretty much a litre a week. You also need a funnel as the engine is in the middle of the engine compartment and the filler cap is directly under the hinged end of the bonnet so pouring oil in without a funnel was difficult to say the least. This issue was resolved on the Mk3 and top up oil was in keeping with most other cars of this age.

I've been tempted many times to get myself another. The engine sound when it screams is something else and the reliability is second to none. I drove 37k a year with my second one and not one issue. The car is a good all rounder, motorways and distance and nipping around town or country drives at the weekend. Boot is small but enough for two sports bags and a little more.

I've driven two seater sports cars all my life (Spitfire, MX5's, MG's, Jaguar, Astons, Mercedes, Audi's, Aero8's) but if I had to choose just one for my desert island, for the fun and reliability, it would be the S2000. You've probably gathered I love them :-)Love to hear how you go on.

Strangely the S2000 that I had never used a drop of oil, the level never shifted between its (annual) services. On the other hand it did have a very healthy appetite for tyres, particularly the rears.

Hi Calum,

Depends on the model you had and the mileage and driving style you have. It was a source of mild annoyance amongst some owners of the Mk1 and I think Mk2 at the time. Talking to the dealer when I bought my mk3 he explained the engineers had addressed this and my mk3 was so much better - pretty much as you say, between services.

Hi Rob
Did hear about the odd one of various vintages that didn't seem to use any oil for no terribly obvious reason. My only suspicion from talking to people who had very gently run in their shiny new engines only to find that they raced through the rather expensive synthetic oil was that my one may have been thrashed from new and it liked it! A bit of abuse for the piston rings maybe bedded them in better than gentle treatment.
I of course drove it carefully and gently at all times and have no idea how I was getting through back tyres in 5000 miles and fronts in 10 despite having the alignment set up properly. Did enjoy it though!
Mine was a 2007 so a fairly late one but before traction control became standard/mandatory.

Obviously in training for the M3W!

I was at an event back in the summer with the Mog and, although there were a couple of others Morgans near by, everyone went to look at the Honda.
I don't know if the great unwashed missed it first time around but the level of interest was amazing.

What was the age demographic? I'm guessing they weren't old blokes with beards..............

I know two owners of these. One is about 70 (his son bought it originally and my friend bought it from his son about 7 years ago). The other is owned by a friend's wife (though he uses it alot). They are abou 40 years old. Last time he took me out in it Inwas seriously frightened, I thought the engine would explode.....great looking car though the interior is rather bland, sort of same as a Honda Civic I think. Good fun though.
Nick

You are correct Dave, they were generally a lot younger than the average Moggie owner. I think they all arrived in hot hatches.

If the S2000 gets the hot hatch generation into real two seater convertibles I'm all for it.

Then when they are old enough to grow a grey beard they will be ready for Morgan ownership.