Honda S2000 (1999 - 2009)

Last updated 2 July 2018

Buying Guide

Good

Has track car performance if you use the revs. 

Electric roof goes up and down in seconds. 

Revisions including glass rear window from February 2002. 

Achieved an excellent four star rating for crash safety in 2002 NCAP tests.

Joint 2nd top make in 2002 'Which?' reliability survey cars 2000 - 2002; also 2nd for cars 1997 - 1999. 

Honda generally 8th lowest average warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index (index 67.27 v/s lowest 31.93).

Honda 2nd top top of Reliability Index for 2004 combining low average cost of repair of £263.17 with low 19.62 failures per 100 Warranty Direct policies www.reliabilityindex.co.uk 

1999-2007 S 2000 5th most reliable car in 2007 Warranty Direct Reliability Survey with 7 faults per 100 cars. 

Bad

Early S2000 did not have track car steering feedback, so you feel a bit nervous about using the power on the road. 

Torque output doesn't match power output, so gears need to be used. 

Plastic back window up to February 2002.

Watch

Kerb damage from over-exuberant drivers. 

Plastic rear window dates car as before Feb 2002, whatever the reg date. 

One report of late model glass rear window breaking when hood was electrically folded.

Recalls

26-5-2000: June-December 1999 build: seatbelt webbing could become trapped between seat back and roof cover and fail to tension properly. Modified roof cover to be fitted.

24-11-2000: 1,426 S2000 models built 29/6/1999 to 21/4/2000 recalled because seat belt webbing may lock in the retracted position. Locking mechanisms of both belts to be replaced. 

All official Honda recalls: www.honda.co.uk/cars/owners/youandyourcar/recallsandupdates