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Nine o'clock, Saturday morning. The S2000 has
been resting in my garage all week long and I've been looking
forward to this moment all week long. I enter my garage, open
the garage door, open the door, slide into the familiar red
leather seat, insert the key into the ignition turning it
to the "on" position, clutch in, press the "Start
Engine" button and vroom. The two-litre miracle engine
has come alive, the machine has awaken from its slumber.
I back out into the driveway, gently coasting
through my community development and pass the security gates.
Now I'm out on the streets of Miami and I'm keeping it below
6,000rpm until the engine is up to temperature, indicated
by the digital temperature gauge. In this gentle mode, the
S2000 as is docile and tame as a basic Accord. Its mild mannered
and calm, but has enough power to label it as peppy.
Now finally the temperature gauge reads three
bars. I wait until the road opens up... downshift into second
gear, the smooth gearbox snicks, gas it down pushing the digital
tachometer pass 6,000rpm. The four-cylinder powerplant roars
and snarls as VTEC mode is engaged. I reach 9,000rpm and automobile
nirvana. Hit the clutch, shift into third, release, gas. Again
the Honda motor is singing its tune of madness to 9,000rpm.
The combination of the J's Racing intake and Amuse R1 Titan
exhaust makes the S2000 sound like a Formula 1 race car.
I'm coming up onto a series of curves. This
is what this machine was built for, the curves. I brake, clutch
in, downshift into second, blimp the throttle and turn. Its
responses are exact, and the handling is sharp and crisp with
little to no body roll. Passing the apex, I hit the gas as
the engine breaks into its F1-style howl into VTEC-land. Outrageous.
The S2000 is not for everyone. The OEM stereo
is basically shit and you need to drive it like you stole
it to get the most enjoyment from it. Do not be afraid of
9,000rpm. Once you hit it once, its like a drug, you'll need
a hit again and again. It is a car enthusiast's car, requiring
a lot of tender love and care. However like all Honda's, it
is extremely reliable if you take care of it. The platform
itself is rich with upgrade and modifying potential.
There are many cars out there and now several
roadsters to select from. However few will touch you as the
S2000 can. Soichiro Honda was once quoted saying, "The
value of life can be measured by how many times your soul
has been deeply stirred." Soichiro, thank you for stirring
my soul and thank you for giving us the S2000. |
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