| We
love this car. It's different, it's fast, it's as sharp-edged as a Ginsu knife.
And yes, it's sexy. Until
two years ago, we doubted that anything from Honda's stable could make it into
our Sexy Car Buyer's Guide. And even after the four-cylinder S2000 made its debut,
there were some who saw it more as a glorified Miata than a sexpot on wheels.
Then they drove it…. Now
aesthetically speaking, the S2000 really isn't much more than a glorified Miata
(not that a glorified Miata would be a bad thing, considering how much sheer joy
the Miata is, both to look at, and to drive). Still, the S2000 has some interesting
stylistic attributes, not the least of which is the severe, wedge-shaped profile
that all but irons out any curves the fenders would like to flaunt. The front
fenders flare out to the side, then, something you don't see in profile. The car's
zoomy snoot, then, really comes alive when you walk around it, or when you stand
in front of it, staring head on into those glass-enshrouded high-intensity headlamps.
Speaking
of coming alive, the S2000's lustworthiness starts when you insert the key and
press the little red button just left of the steering wheel, aptly labeled "Start."
A 240-hp four-cylinder engine revs to life and sings all the way to its 9,000
rpm redline. Nine grand is some serious spinning, folks, and let us tell you that
the noises it makes, say, between 6,000 and 9,000 are among the most exhilarating
sounds you'll hear in any car, at any price. That's saying nothing of the kind
of acceleration that happens when you punch the throttle. So
despite its somewhat tepid styling and rather modest interior, no one makes Miata
comparisons after driving an S2000. This is car is unique unto itself. A true
automotive enigma.
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