Recreational Vehicle
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Honda S2000 2005: The Weekly Driver Review
   
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Whatever Happened To Simplicity?
Those of us who are in classic car clubs, regardless of model or make, decide to become members for any given number of reasons. .....
The 30-mile stretch from Willits to Ft. Bragg along Highway 20 in Those of us who are in classic car clubs, regardless of model or make, decide to become members for any given number of reasons. .....
Northern California is an ideal place to drive a sports car. The two-lane
road offers tight switchbacks, extended flat stretches and plenty of
climbs and descents.
On a warm, spring day and with a convertible top down, anyone who
enjoys the combination of shifting gears, fresh air and the open road will
thrive on the route. It's a drivers' nirvana tucked among forests of
Redwood trees and rolling hills.
And so it was recently when my wife and I spent a getaway weekend.
We drove the segment twice en route and returning from the Mendocino/
Ft. Bragg coastline to Sacramento in a 2005 Honda S2000.
The two-seat convertible, unchanged from its 2004 debut, is Honda's
only sports car, and it adds a pure-fun component to the popular
manufacturers' line of efficient, well-designed sedans, SUVs, vans and
hybrid vehicles.
For my weekly drive, I had 4-cyclinder, 240-horsepower, 2.2-liter, 16-
valve, six-speed model that includes a power soft top and 17-inch alloy
wheels. With its bright (Rio Yellow Pearl) paint, black top, black interior
and sleekly contoured exterior, the vehicle immediately attracted
attention.
Two fellow gas station patrons offered compliments. The driver of the
identical car and his passenger offered an enthusiastic wave when I
passed them on one afternoon's solo oceanfront drive. And several
other pedestrians and drivers offered praises.
Yet the S2000, while offering a wonderful appearance, also presents a
varying mix of sports-car niceties and disappointments as a practical
vehicle.
The positives are numerous: The six-speed transmission shifts nicely
through gears. Acceleration tests for this year weren't available, but the
2.0-liter model from 2004 was given a 6.7-second mark in its 0-60 mph
test. The tight, conforming seats, small, rigid steering wheel and short-
throw gearbox afford plenty of excitement. The vehicle maneuvers well
through traffic and despite its small size, has great balance and little
body lean or wavering in the proximity of 18-wheelers.
The convertible top works easily. The routine includes unhooking or
hooking two side top latches and engaging one electric console switch.
The top seals tightly and folds well.
The S2000's standard interior and exterior features include: leather-
trimmed seats, AM/FM/CD stereo system, air-conditioning, cruise
control, power window and door locks, remote mounted audio controls,
aluminum pedals, dual exhaust and Xenon HID headlights.
Traffic Zoology
There is a secret zoo that runs encaged along the roads.
They are liquid, semi-visible goliaths that rage through the .....
The console is nicely appointed. It's tight on space, but there's a small, There is a secret zoo that runs encaged along the roads.
They are liquid, semi-visible goliaths that rage through the .....
lockable vertical glove box between the seat backs and another push-
button storage area between the front seats.
The trunk will hold two medium, soft-side duffel bags and a few other
small items like a purse and small backpack. But the trunk won't hold
much of anything unless the trunk cover is left behind.
Just like the 2004 model, the current S2000 has a few overt drawbacks.
There's very little interior room, the seating material is less than
comfortable and the car's quietness or lack of quietness is perplexing.
The S2000 is considerably more noisy with the top up than it is with the
top down. And with the top up, there are driver's corner blind spots.
Further, the car's suspension absorbs little; every road bump and can be
felt by driver and passenger. Entering and exiting the S2000 defines
well the "crouch-and-crawl" method.
Still, the S2000 is a formidable offering. Its good looks are eye-catching,
and its shortcomings can be overlooked if their buyer's desire is sports-
car fun, not vehicle practicality.
2005 Honda S2000
Safety features Driver's and front-seat passenger's airbags.
Fuel Mileage (estimates) 20 mpg (city), 25 mpg (highway).
Premium gas recommended.
Driving Our Car While Fighting To Stay Awake
While on a trip, or even close to home, we all want to keep driving for as long as possible. Yet nobody, in their right mind, wants to be .....
Warranty Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Corrosion, While on a trip, or even close to home, we all want to keep driving for as long as possible. Yet nobody, in their right mind, wants to be .....
5 years/unlimited mileage.
Base price $32,950.00.