2003 Honda S2000: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Honda's sports car is unchanged for 2003, except that a tan interior can be substituted for the usual all-black affair on cars with white paint. S2000 is a high-performance 2-seat convertible with a high-revving 4-cyl engine, 6-speed manual transmission, and a power soft top with glass rear window and electric defroster. Also standard are antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, 16-inch alloy wheels, high-intensity headlamps, leather upholstery, wind deflector, and AM/FM/CD stereo. Side airbags are not available, but a removable aluminum hardtop is.

COMPETITION

This class features an interesting mix of hard-core performance models and more luxurious touring convertibles. Our Best Buys give you a little of both worlds. Chevrolet Corvette is fast, comfortable, and reasonably affordable, but it doesn't beat you up with a hard ride, and it will cruise quietly at highway speeds. Our other Best Buy, Mazda Miata, is a bare-bones roadster with few frills at a great price. For weekend fun on a twisty back road, it's hard to beat.

A Recommended selection, Honda S2000 offers up all the performance and thrills of a traditional sports car without the intimidating price tag. Audi's TT is solid, stylish, and loaded with features making it fit for the Recommended list as well. Like no other in its class, TT offers the all-weather advantage of available quattro AWD at a great price. New this year is the Nissan 350Z. It offers heart-stopping performance and civility at a very reasonable price. After additional tests we may well move this vehicle to a Best Buy.