Author : James Raia
Winding country roads provide great driving delight. They give sports
car owners ample proof why they often sacrifice luxury and comfort for
speed and excitement.In Northern California, the wine country roads through the Napa Valley
and Mendocino Coast are prime examples -- at least for drivers. There
are plenty of stretches where passengers susceptible to car sickness
may be in trouble. But for a driver, the deep turns and switchbacks
require plenty of shifting, maneuvering and accelerating skills.So with a 2004 Honda S2000 as my weekly test drive, could there have
been a better location for a getaway weekend?The two-door, rear-wheel driver sports car is a sleek, quick-moving 2.2.
liter, 16-valve, 240 horsepower convertible with a six-speed manual
transmission. The renowned Japanese manufacturer offers the vehicle
as competition against the BMW Z4, Mazda Miata and Nissan 350Z.The S2000 has a nicely contoured body design, its front and rear
bumpers and lights have been restyled from 2003l and it offers an
increase to 17-inch tires from the 16-inch tires from last year. With its
new features, my red (body) and black (top) vehicle drew plenty of looks.But while the exterior is attractive, it's the interior of the vehicle that
figuratively shines. It is a combination of efficiency of space and homage
to racing vehicles.For example, I wouldn't have known, but a friend keen on motor sports
mentioned that the S2000 RRM and gas tank volume graphic bars are
the type used in Formula 1 racing cars.In fact, combined with the large digital MPH readout, the instrumentation
is void of traditional needle-style readings. Similar to other racing cars,
the S2000 also has a push-button ignition when the key is in the start
position.To further accentuate the sports car feeling, both driver and passenger
sit in tight but conforming seats. As the driver, the small, compact
steering wheel complements the 17-inch wheels. The result is superior
responsiveness, and "Go-Kart-flat" corning and "Pin-sharp steering," as
one consumer guide describes the vehicle's feel on the road.Further, with the six-speed transmission and quick acceleration (rated at
0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds in 2003), anyone who enjoys the mechanics
of driving, gets his or her share.Leather upholstery, high-intensity headlamps, a glass rear window with
electric defroster and a wind deflector are standard. A removable
aluminum hardtop is optional, but side airbags are not available.As a two-seat sports car (there is no rear cargo or passenger area),
space is at premium. That's good and bad. The shifting box, audio
system, small vertical, locked console storage compartment and all
other instrumentation is in close proximity.But as a 6-foot, 185-pound driver, the comfort level waned after a few
hours on the road. Likewise, entering and exiting the vehicle is best
accomplished with the "crouch-and-crawl" method.Surprisingly, while the trunk compartment could hardly be described as
spacious, it provides enough room for two soft-sided weekend luggage
bags. And there was also enough space left for several plastic bags of
beach-combing discoveries.One oddity: Since the convertible top is not insulated, the car drives with
less bothersome noise with the top down than it does with the top up.
The convertible top, by the way, is easy to lower or raise.It attaches and detaches with pushed button locks on the outside ceiling
of the driver and passenger seats. The electric function is engaged by a
large red button on the middle console. It can't be missed unless it's
covered by a map and newspaper, as was the case when we wanted to
lower the top. We looked for several minutes before discovering the
button was right in front of our eyes.Not-so-easy to find is the gas tank cover opener. After another extended
search and without the benefit of an owner's manual, the button was
finally located inside the driver's back door panel.Its discovery provided more humor and another small confirmation of the
S2000's unique position in the sports car marketplace.2004 Honda S2000Safety features -- Driver's and front passenger's airbags, side impact
door beams, emergency trunk opener.Fuel Mileage (estimates) -- 20 (city), 25 mpg (highway).Warranty -- 3 years/36,000 miles (bumper to bumper), 5 years/unlimited
mileage (corrosion).Base price -- $32,600.James Raia is a syndicated journalist in Sacramento, Calif., who writes
about sports, fitness and business topics as well as the free electronic
newsletters Endurance Sports News and Tour de France Times and The
Weekly Driver, a car review column.Samples of Raia's writing can be viewed on his web site: ByJamesRaia.com.
His car reviews and newsletters can be viewed at The
Weekly Driver,
Endurance Sports News and Tour
de France Times
Keyword : Honda S2000, 2004 Honda S2000, S2000
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