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2008 Honda S2000 Full Review
Date Published: 7/19/08
Also in the 2008 Honda S2000 Review:
5.
6.
Honda S2000 Full Review
7.
8.
9.
2008 Honda S2000 Review
The 2008 Honda S2000 gets a new model aimed at club racers. The S2000 CR has a removable hard top, track-ready suspension tuning, and added body cladding. Other S2000 models have a power soft top and heated glass rear window. All S2000s have a 237-hp 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine and 6-speed manual transmission. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, and an antiskid system. Leather upholstery is standard on the base convertible.
Competition
Consumer Guide Automotive places each vehicle into one of 18 classes based on size, price, and market position. The Sporty/Performance Car class consists of two-seat roadsters, 4-cylinder hatchbacks, and V8 muscle cars. Regardless of configuration, all have an emphasis on affordable performance.
Our Best Buys include the Mazda MX-5 and Scion tC. Our Recommended picks are the Ford Mustang and Mini Cooper. New this year is the Mini Cooper Clubman.
Our Best Buys include the Mazda MX-5 and Scion tC. Our Recommended picks are the Ford Mustang and Mini Cooper. New this year is the Mini Cooper Clubman.
News
It appears the S2000 will continue as is until Honda redesigns it or offers something else. When might that be? Beats us, as Honda is famously good at keeping secrets. But the seven-year-old design still seems pretty fresh, so we'd guess Honda won't act until sales start tapering off.
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2008 Honda S2000 Road Test
| Pros | Cons |
| Acceleration | Ride |
| Steering/handling | Passenger and cargo room |
| Brake performance | |
Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings
Acceleration
Liberal shifting is needed for best performance, especially around town, but that's no problem with the slick, short-throw gearbox and manageable clutch action. S2000 provides a surprising supply of usable power across a broad rpm range, combined with ultrahigh-revving excitement. No opportunity to test an S2000 CR.
| Base | Class Average |
| 8 | 6.6 |
Liberal shifting is needed for best performance, especially around town, but that's no problem with the slick, short-throw gearbox and manageable clutch action. S2000 provides a surprising supply of usable power across a broad rpm range, combined with ultrahigh-revving excitement. No opportunity to test an S2000 CR.
Fuel Economy
In Consumer Guide testing, we averaged 24.6 mpg with mostly highway miles. Premium-grade gas is required.
| Base | Class Average |
| 6 | 5.3 |
In Consumer Guide testing, we averaged 24.6 mpg with mostly highway miles. Premium-grade gas is required.
Ride Quality
A small, light, stiffly sprung sports car, so nearly every small bump and tar strip registers through the seats. Still, S2000 is never brutally harsh.
| Base | Class Average |
| 3 | 4.1 |
A small, light, stiffly sprung sports car, so nearly every small bump and tar strip registers through the seats. Still, S2000 is never brutally harsh.
Steering/Handling/Braking
Nimble and precise, with terrific cornering balance and virtually no body lean. Impressive straightline tracking. Braking is swift and easily modulated.
| Base | Class Average |
| 10 | 8 |
Nimble and precise, with terrific cornering balance and virtually no body lean. Impressive straightline tracking. Braking is swift and easily modulated.
Quietness
Top down, noise is unobjectionable. Top up, tire roar is very intrusive.
| Base | Class Average |
| 2 | 3.2 |
Top down, noise is unobjectionable. Top up, tire roar is very intrusive.
Controls
S2000 has a cozy cockpit, so everything is close at hand. The audio unit is mounted a bit low, but redundant controls for major functions flank the steering wheel. Electronic bar-graph tachometer and digital speedometer are not the sports-car norm but are easy to read.
| Base | Class Average |
| 6 | 5.6 |
S2000 has a cozy cockpit, so everything is close at hand. The audio unit is mounted a bit low, but redundant controls for major functions flank the steering wheel. Electronic bar-graph tachometer and digital speedometer are not the sports-car norm but are easy to read.
Details
Materials are solid and assembled well. The power top operates quickly and seals well.
| Base | Class Average |
| 6 | 4.8 |
Materials are solid and assembled well. The power top operates quickly and seals well.
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)
Large people have precious little room to spare, so they may find the seats too confining. A tall transmission tunnel adds to the cozy feel. Crouch-and-crawl entry and exit. Top-up visibility is not great over the shoulder but better than in many rivals.
| Base | Class Average |
| 4 | 5.4 |
Large people have precious little room to spare, so they may find the seats too confining. A tall transmission tunnel adds to the cozy feel. Crouch-and-crawl entry and exit. Top-up visibility is not great over the shoulder but better than in many rivals.
Room/Comfort (rear)
(No rear seating.)
| Base | Class Average |
| 0 | 1.4 |
(No rear seating.)
Cargo Room
Pack light. The trunk holds a fair number of plastic grocery bags or a couple of day packs. Interior storage is modest.
| Base | Class Average |
| 2 | 2.9 |
Pack light. The trunk holds a fair number of plastic grocery bags or a couple of day packs. Interior storage is modest.
Value within Class
The S2000 is pure sports car fun. It's a bit stiff-riding and noisy, and the Mazda MX-5 is a little more practical and a lot less costly, but for motoring enjoyment the spicy S2000 rivals the Porsche Boxster and a comparably powered BMW Z4 for thousands less.
| Base | Class Average |
| 6 | 6 |
The S2000 is pure sports car fun. It's a bit stiff-riding and noisy, and the Mazda MX-5 is a little more practical and a lot less costly, but for motoring enjoyment the spicy S2000 rivals the Porsche Boxster and a comparably powered BMW Z4 for thousands less.
Total Score
| Base | Class Average |
| 53 | 53.3 |
Scores for all Sporty/performance Cars
| Low Score | 42 | |
| Average Score | 53 | |
| High Score | 70 |
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2008 Honda S2000 Prices & Equipment
Model Prices
Prices Updated: 06/16/2008
| Trim Name | Retail Price | Dealer Invoice | Destination Charge |
|
|
|||
| Base 2-door convertible | $34,300 | $31,055 | $670 |
|
|
|||
| CR 2-door convertible | $36,300 | $32,862 | $670 |
|
|
|||
| CR 2-door convertible w/air conditioning | $37,300 | $33,766 | $670 |
Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's
manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker.
Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are
what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options.
The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price
and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently
throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's
window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.
NA = price note available, NC = no charge.
Rebates and Incentives
| Model | Rebate & Incentives | Type | Expires |
|
|
|||
| S2000 | 0.9%-2.9% financing. | Customer | 09/02/08 |
Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national
manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings
may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.
Standard Equipment
Base
Powertrain
2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine, 6-speed manual transmission, limited-slip differential, traction control.
Safety
Dual front airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, brake assist, antiskid system, tire-pressure monitor, roll bars, emergency inside trunklid release, daytime running lights.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Air conditioning, interior air filter, leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, leather upholstery, bucket seats, center console, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/CD player, tachometer, outside-temperature indicator, intermittent wipers, rear defogger, windblocker, power convertible top, floormats.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Theft-deterrent system, rear spoiler, xenon headlights, 215/45WR17 front tires, 245/40WR17 rear tires, alloy wheels.
CR adds to Base:
Comfort and Convenience Features
Cloth upholstery.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Deletes: air conditioning, interior air filter, AM/FM/CD player, power convertible top.
Removable hardtop, sport suspension, 215/45WR17 front tires, 255/40WR17 rear tires.
Optional Equipment
No factory options.
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2008 Honda S2000 Specs & Safety
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | Honda S2000 2-door convertible |
| Wheelbase, in. | 94.5 |
| Overall Length, in. | 162.2 |
| Overall Width, in. | 68.9 |
| Overall Height, in. | 50.0 |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 2813 |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 5.0 |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 13.2 |
| Seating Capacity | 2 |
| Front Head Room, in. | 34.6 |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 44.3 |
| Rear Head Room, in. | -- |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | -- |
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.
Engines
| dohc I4 | |
| Size, liters/cu. in. | 2.2 /134 |
| Horsepower @ rpm. | 237 @ 7800 |
| Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm. | 162 @ 6800 |
| Availability | Standard |
|
EPA City / highway mpg
|
|
| 6-speed manual | 18/25 |
Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft;
dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders;
V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions
per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--"
= measurement does not exist.
Safety Features
 Antilock Brakes Traction Control Antiskid System |
 Front Side Airbags Curtain Side Airbags Rear Side Airbags |
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
| Test | Honda S2000 2-door convertible |
| Front Impact, Driver | 4 |
| Front Impact, Passenger | 4 |
| Rollover Resistance | 5 |
| Side Impact, Driver | 5 |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's
worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to
rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury:
5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact
crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%;
1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover
when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%;
2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Manufacturer's Warranty
| Class | Years/Miles | Comments |
| Powertrain | 5/60,000 | -- |
| Bumper-to-bumper | 3/36,000 | -- |
| Corrosion | 5/unlimited | -- |
| Free roadside assistance | None/-- | -- |
| Free scheduled maintenance | None/-- | -- |
Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive.
There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two
other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for
2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any
on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts
and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.
Built in:
Japan
Drivewheels:
rear-wheel drive
Locate a Dealer
Get a FREE Price Quote:
Also in the 2008 Honda S2000 Review:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Honda S2000 Full Review
7.
8.
9.
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