2005 Honda S2000: Road Test
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2005 Honda S2000 Manual
2005 Honda S2000 ▼
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- MSRP: $33,150
- Invoice: $29,820
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Our road test for the 2005 Honda S2000 includes a full evaluation of the 2005 Honda S2000 from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2005 Honda S2000, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2005 Honda S2000 help you decide if a 2005 Honda S2000 is right for you.
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ACCELERATION
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 8 | 6.3 |
No chance yet to time a 2.2-liter model, but it should beat or match our earlier 2.0-liter test car's 6.7 sec 0-60 mph. The 2.2 engine offers more usable power across a broader rpm range without sacrificing high-revving excitement. Liberal shifting still needed for best performance, especially in town, but that's no problem with the slick, short-throw gearbox and manageable clutch action.
FUEL ECONOMY
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 6 | 5.8 |
Averaged 24.6 mpg in test that included about 70 percent highway miles. Premium-grade fuel required.
RIDE QUALITY
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 3 | 4 |
A small, light, stiffly sprung sports car, so nearly every small bump and tar strip registers through seats. Still, S2000 is never brutally harsh.
STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 10 | 8.1 |
Nimble and precise, with terrific cornering balance and virtually no body lean. Impressive straightline tracking, but poor snow traction. Braking swift, easily modulated. Some testers say steering not as pin-sharp as in previous S2000s, but few other sports cars respond better.
QUIETNESS
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 2 | 3.2 |
Top down, noise unobjectionable. Top up, tiresome tire roar.
CONTROLS
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 6 | 6.1 |
Small cockpit, so everything is close. Audio unit a bit low, but redundant controls for major functions flank steering wheel. Electronic bar-graph tachometer, digital speedometer not sports-car norm, but easy to read, fit S2000's high-tech image. Unlit power-window controls. Solid materials. Top operates quickly, seals well.
ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 4 | 5.1 |
Large people have precious little room to spare, may find seats too confining. Tall transmission tunnel adds to cozy feel. Crouch-and-crawl entry/exit. Top-up visibility not great over the shoulder, but better than in many rivals.
ROOM/COMFORT (REAR)
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 0 | 1.4 |
(No rear seating.)
CARGO ROOM
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 2 | 3.2 |
Pack light. Trunk holds a fair number of plastic grocery bags or a couple of day packs. Interior storage modest.
VALUE WITHIN CLASS
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 7 | 6.7 |
The S2000 is pure sports-car fun and a solid Recommended pick. It's a bit stiff and noisy, and the Mazda Miata is a little more practical and a lot less costly, but the spicy S2000 runs with the Porsche Boxster and BMW Z4 3.0i for thousands less.
Total Score
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 48 | 49.9 |
Total Score: 48
Scores for all Sporty/performance Cars
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