In short: of course! The Honda S2000 makes a perfect daily driver if your lifestyle aligns with a sports car’s limitations.
What’s to complain about when driving a nimble convertible that revs to 9000 RPM every day?
For the past 2 and a half years I have owned an S2K as my only car. I’ll give you an inside look if this car will fit your lifestyle. Quick rundown: It’s a 2003 AP1 with 56,000 miles. (I put on 16,000 of those miles) You can read more about my car here.
Is it Comfortable?
Of course not, it’s a sports car. However, I am pleasantly surprised by the interior quality and ride quality of this car.
I feel like it’s something that gets looked over when discussing the S2000, but the interior is an amazing place to be. It is not at all what you expect from an early 2000’s Honda product. The door panels, dash, and steering wheel are all made of quality materials. There are limited creaks and rattles. The “leather” seats grip you well for a sporty but comfortable seating position.
All the in-car controls (AC/Heat, volume adjustment, etc.) point at the driver and are within a finger’s reach. The gauge cluster is inspired by an actual F1 car (Aryton Senna’s Mclaren MP4). When it all comes together – you get this cockpit-like feel that is surprisingly comfortable.
If you are anything 5’11” or over, I recommend you physically sit in one of these cars and experience the seating position yourself. There is no tilt steering wheel adjustment and the roof is pretty short. So tall people can feel extremely cramped and have their knees banging all over the dashboard while driving.
The suspension feels sporty and nimble, and the ride quality is smoother than you would think. My friend recently picked up a bone stock AP1 and I was in shock during the drive home how comfortable it was on the 450-mile drive home.
The soft top isn’t going to give you a comfortable experience at highway speeds with the excessive wind noise. However that has never bothered me much, it just comes with the territory.
Sure it’s no exotic car quality experience, but Honda did an amazing job given the price point.
Is the S2000 Reliable?
Honda’s are known for their reliability, and the S2000 is no exception. These cars can easily surpass 200,000 miles with limited problems.
Just like any model of car (especially cars at least 12 years old), there are some flaws that you need to be aware of. Here are some common S2000 Problems:
Clutch Master Cylinder/Slave Cylinder
The rubber seals inside of the master cylinder tend to prematurely wear on these cars and leak. You will slowly see your clutch fluid level dropping and the pedal feel softer. I got my master cylinder replaced but it wasn’t very expensive. An OEM replacement is around $120 and the labor is about $80. You can easily do this yourself to save money.
Timing Chain Tensioner
If you’re hearing weird nosing from the engine bay, there is a good chance it’s the timing chain tensioner. If you own an S2000, be prepared to eventually have an issue with the TCT.
Oil Consumption
The s2000 burns oil for breakfast. Especially the AP1. You will be spending a little time and money on these constant refills, but it comes with the territory.
Most owners report burning about a quart per 1000 miles. Some common issues contribute to extra oil consumption like the PCV valve. Your S2k will always burn oil though, especially when cracking VTEC. Don’t stress this too much though, just check the oil often and enjoy the car.
Soft Top Replacement
- Any convertible with a fabric top is going to need a replacement at some point. The S2000 soft top design has pressure points that can rip the top as the straps stretch. Replacing these straps with Modifry’s Strap Fix before they get too loose can help prevent this problem.
- You can find a quality soft top replacement for around $600, but the labor is what costs the most. It’s typically quoted as around 9 hours of work and will cost you around $500-$700 to get installed. Sure, you can do it yourself. However, that will be a back-breaking install that takes meticulous attention to detail to do right. In my opinion, it’s worth every dime to pay someone to do it.
Is it Fun to Drive?
Most definitely. The S2000 is a lightweight, nimble car that is a thrill on the road.
One of the most impressive pieces of the S2000 is the gearbox. There is no linkage, the shifter shaft goes directly into the transmission. The result is a shifter that slots into gears like a rifle bolt. A solid and satisfying feeling that will ruin driving other cars for you. The clutch engagement point is perfect and you can just tell how much passion went into this shifting experience.
Revving a car out to 9000 RPM is an experience like no other and a huge piece of the S2000 charm. Sure in traffic you won’t be using this but when you get a piece of open road, the smiles are endless.
In the canyons and twisties, the handling of the S2000 is engaging and thrilling. With little assists and no traction control or stability control, the experience feels raw compared to newer cars.
Is an S2000 Easy to Work On?
Having the option to repair a car yourself and not paying an excessive amount for repairs is a plus. The S2000 gives you the option to tinker and repair yourself.
This is a Honda after all. So most things are not over-engineered and fairly accessible. Almost all of the repairs can easily be done in the average garage with little to no specialty tools. The motor is tucked back pretty far back in the engine bay which can make certain things hard to get to, but I wouldn’t be concerned with the difficulty of repairs on this car.
Is the S2K Expensive to Insure?
When I upgraded to an s2000 from my Mazda Miata I was concerned about how much it would cost to insure. I was paying around $80 a month for my NA Miata and now I pay around $105 a month.
Of course, your age and driving history are going to play huge factors in that number. Most S2000 owners are paying around $1,200 a year for insurance.
What Gas Mileage Does it Get?
MPG should be your last concern when buying a sports car, but I have to mention it here. Like any car, it all depends on how you drive it. It is rated at 18 city and 25 highway.
My daily commute to work and back is about 8 miles of city driving and I get around 17MPG average. On the highway, I tend to get around 23MPG. The S2000 tempts you to drive spiritedly and open up the VTEC. So don’t be surprised if you see MPG numbers much lower.
Can You Race It on the Track?
The S2000 is a perfect track car. The rear end can be unforgiving, but in general, it’s a great platform to have fun and grow as a driver.
I took my S2000 to two-track days at the Streets of Willow in California. Wow, was I impressed. Sure this car is fun on the street and in the canyons. However, trying to push the car to the limits without the worry of road rules is a completely different experience.
I had a huge smile on my face the entire day. It’s a complete joy to rev all the way out to 9K RPM again and again. All day the car felt predictable. There was so much more time I could have gotten out of the car. That leaves plenty of room for driver growth.
The car performed flawlessly, I drove it there and back with no issues (270-mile round trip).
The Shocking Increase in Value Might Deter You
If you’ve been in the market for sn S2k, you have seen an extreme increase in prices lately.
A decent condition S2000 with fairly low miles will easily run you $20,000+ in today’s market.
Take a look at this Bring a Trailer S2000 sale prices since 2016 and you can see an upward trend in prices in the past year.
A standout example is this CR that went for $112,111 in February 2021. For a more “average” s2000 representation, here is an 05 AP2 that went for $28,000 in June of 2021.
With the way the market is moving and these cars quickly becoming a “cult classic” it’s going to deter people from daily driving and thrashing on these cars like they used to. You need to decide for yourself what this means to you.
Personally, I buy cars to enjoy and drive as much as I want, not to make money. “Don’t Park it. Drive it.”
The #1 Daily Driving Downfall of the Honda S2000: Torque
A strung-out 9000 RPM revving 4 cylinder doesn’t leave much room for low end torque. Driving an S2000 for the first time is pretty surprising how slow it feels up to 5000 RPM. After driving a different car and hopping into an S2K, you might think something is wrong with it because it’s so slow in the powerband.
For a daily driver, this can be a nuisance. You really need to be in the 6000-9000 RPM range to have the most fun. On your daily commute, it’s pretty unlikely you’ll often be in that range.
Summary: Should You Daily Drive a Honda S2K?
The S2000 can be a great daily driver. As long as you are okay with the lack of space and seating, you have nothing to worry about.
What you lack in space, you gain back in fun and excitement every single day. In an ideal world, you would have a secondary car in the household with space and seating you need for everyday life.
As a single guy with no kids or hobbies that require a large truck or SUV, the S2000 is perfect as my one and only car.
Happy driving, I hope you join the S2000 family soon.
