2005 Honda S2000

Background:

Honda launched their S2000 sports car as part of the celebrations for the company’s 50^th anniversary, the '2000' standing for the 2-litre engine’s displacement and the 'S' for Sports, continuing the lineage from the S500, 600 and 800 roadsters of the 1960s.

The new front-engined, rear-drive open sportster continued more than just a naming tradition from those earlier models – like them it was a rev-happy buzz-bomb with the model’s entire development being carried out by Honda’s designers and engineers, with almost zero input from marketing. The results was an outstanding sportscar, focussed, compact and as light as practicable in the modern era.

The 2-litre, 16-valve DOHC VTEC power-unit was a jewel, producing what Honda claimed to be the highest specific output per litre of any production engine (237-247bhp depending on market). It was mated to a slick 6-speed manual gearbox and drove through a Torsen limited-slip differential-equipped rear axle. Front suspension was by double wishbones and the car boasted electrically assisted steering and integrated roll hoops. The compact and lightweight engine was mounted low and entirely behind the front axle, giving the car a 50:50 weight balance front to rear, for superb handling, itself refined on European and Japanese circuits and mountain roads, for maximum driver satisfaction.

From the 2004 model year, changes were made to the S2000, now built at Suzuka. Outwardly, it now sat on larger 17" rims with new front and rear bumpers, revised headlights, new LED tail lights and oval-tipped exhaust pipes. Uprated suspension was also fitted.

By the time production finished in 2009, the car was already a bona-fide modern classic and has remained popular with driving enthusiasts ever since.

The car:

This drop-dead gorgeous blue S2000 is a two-owner vehicle, which our vendor has owned since May 2019. It has been used as an ‘occasion’ car, used mainly for Car Club meets and fun road trips (e.g. North Coast 500) - always a weekend car, never a daily driver - and has always been garaged by both owners.

It was treated to a suspension refresh in 2020 with Öhlins Road & Track Coil-overs, Powerflex purple bushes and Mugen compliance bushes (the OEM springs and dampers have been retained by the vendor and will be included with purchase if desired. There was also an OEM clutch replacement in 2020, as well as undersealing in 2021, which has been documented with photographs available.

More recently, the car was treated to a major service carried before the UK S2000 Car Club meet in Belgium at 71,873 miles in February 2024, which included new brake pads (EBC Yellowstuff), new front discs, brake and clutch fluid, differential flush and valve clearance check.

This delightful Honda has been well treated, properly looked after and enjoyed as its makers intended. In the comfortable cockpit, an Alpine head-unit with Bluetooth connectivity has been added, while the OEM head-unit will be included in the sale.

The car comes with an OEM tonneau cover and indoor car cover, lots of Modifry accessories including GoPro mount, passenger side removable cup holder, and cubby organiser. Other maintenance items will be included with the purchase.

Summary:

A classic sports car from the day it was launched, this handsome S2000 will be as pleasing to every other sense as it is to the eye.

Location: Wiltshire

Seller: Private

Photography: Professional