The best definition of a real sports car came from the late John Timanus, a successful racer in the ’50s and ’60s and long-time technical director of the Sports Car Club of America: “A sports car is a four-wheeled motorcycle.” As with a motorcycle, a real sports car makes the driver feel as if he is the car: Superman, cape flapping in the breeze. Like a motorcycle, a real sports car needs a skilled pilot for top performance. A real sports car is light: The S2000’s curb weight is almost 900 pounds less than that of a Sprint Cup racer. A real sports car has a manual transmission. A convertible top, while not crucial, earns extra points. A real sports car doesn’t necessarily have the most horsepower: A well-driven real sports car can be quicker up a mountain road than a pretender driven by one who believes bigger and more makes up for ineptness. The S2000 exceeds all the expectations of a real sports car. And one more: A real sports car allows you to imagine you’re driving a real racecar.
Long ago, I tested Comptech Racing’s Reynard 95I-Honda Indy car. The S2000’s digital dash is a near copy of that racer’s. You needn’t be as short or trim as an Indy car driver, though the big of butt will find the S2000 cramped. Like an Indy car, the S2000’s 237-horsepower 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine doesn’t make a lot of torque at low engine speeds and doesn’t reach its peak of 162 pound-feet until 6,800 rpm. Once either the Indy car or the S2000 smells the sweet spot of the torque band, their engines begin revving like crazy. Fortunately, the S2000’s Torsen limited-slip differential helped prevent the rear from stepping out.
On a public road. Old habits die hard. To get maximum drag-race-style acceleration required a drag-car style launch. The driver held the gas and clutch pedals to the floor and, with the engine bouncing against its 9,000-rpm rev limiter, sidestepped the clutch.
The Honda S2000 - Quicker Than a Porsche Boxster?
Executive Summary about Honda S2000 Review by Pete Ridgard
Often the mundane aspects of everyday life get on top of us and can weave a bit of disillusionment. In time-honored test driving tradition, me and my colleagues take as many vehicles to these events as possible and review as many as possible in a short space of time. We squabble over who gets the glory of driving the Lamborghini Gallardo (my colleague wins), who has the distinct pleasure of driving the Golf R32 (I win) and finally an argument over who drives what in a 2 lap race between a Porsche Boxster and a Honda S2000.
Not only did the Honda S2000 scream off the line with more aggression than the Boxster, within the first left-hander it had about a 25 feet advantage on the Porsche and held itself perfectly, neatly kissing both the inner and outer rumblestrips from entry to exit of the corner. Essentially, what I was driving was a wolf in sheep’s clothing; a beast dressed as your Gran.
It’s not only quicker than the Porsche Boxster, it’s a lot cheaper. So bear that in mind next time you’re drooling outside a Porsche dealership.
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