Honda S2000

The Honda S2000 is a sports car that papers over some less than ideal dynamic characteristics with a superbly high-revving VTEC engine and the sort of gearbox you can enjoy for hours without even turning a wheel.

• Comfort

  You have to wring the 2.0-litre VTEC's neck to see the best of that 176Kw, which is far from relaxing, but there is some merit to being able to pootle about in the dead calm of the lower rev range.

  

• Performance

  The stats don't really relate the visceral experience of gunning an S2000. The sound of this small engine foaming like an inmate of Bedlam beneath the bonnet is what it's all about. A little frightening, but wonderful for that.

  

• Cool

  Purpose built as a soft-top, the S2000 is definitely cooler than retrospective hatchet jobs like the heavy and ugly Nissan 350Z Roadster.

  

• Quality

  If your S2000 has broken up ring up Honda HQ in Japan and someone will probably commit hari kiri down the phone. Or accuse you of crashing it.

  

• Handling

  Stories of ‘incidents' in the S2000 relating to a slight conflict of interest between steering feel and banzai VTEC power surge are legion. We would say go see for yourself, but we like you. Well, most of you.

  

• Practicality

  The boot is small, the cockpit even smaller. You don't buy an S2000 to move house, but it'd be nice if there was a modicum of adjustment to the driving position for the non-Japanese amongst us. But there isn't.

  

• Running costs

  The S2000 is relatively affordable these days, and 10L/100km isn't that bad for a performance car. You'll be opting for generic brands at the supermarket to save money as insurance for this piece of engineering will cost a pretty penny.