<\/p>\n
Almost every new performance car sold has adjustable drive modes. They usually don\u2019t work all that well \u2013 making the car stiffer, harder, rougher, but not really adding any kind of performance or feel. You set them once, and then never touch the button again. It makes me wonder \u2013 who doesn\u2019t want all the performance all the time in their performance car?<\/p>\n Don\u2019t you want it like this AP1 Honda S2000?<\/p>\n Never intended as a daily, it shines as a 25-year old classic<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Give me a famous Japanese sports car. Here, I\u2019ll make a list: Acura NSX, Mark IV Toyota Supra<\/a>, Nissan 300ZX \u2013 I could go on, but all of these cars were celebrated, yet never sold all that well, were produced far too long, and\/or became prohibitively expensive.<\/p>\n So in 1999, Honda tried something different. Light. Cheap(ish). But still very Japanese \u2013 in fact, they\u2019d hand-assemble it alongside the NSX in Tochigi, Japan. Manual-only, no turbos, no tech. Just strict attention to detail and maximizing every single gram. The highlight here is the engine: the high-revving 2.0-liter F20C with an astronomical 9,000 RPM redline, a lightweight 14-lb flywheel, 16-inch wheels, and a mechanical cable throttle.<\/p>\n On paper, that sounds incredible. The AP1\u2019s engine held the world record for the highest specific output of any naturally aspirated production car (120 hp\/liter) until the Ferrari 458 Italia arrived. But after a few years, people were complaining. They had to drive the S2000, I mean really drive it, hard<\/em>, all the time or else it felt like it was running a marathon in a fat suit. So, the AP2 was born.<\/a> Redline reduced. Rear suspension geometry dialed back and softened.<\/p>\n In 2026, we press buttons to make a car softer. Honda retooled the entire car to accomplish the same thing back then. But I\u2019ve always wondered whether they made it worse.<\/p>\n I now know the answer.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve washed every press and personal car with specific tools \u2013 you don\u2019t have to spend a lot to get the same results.<\/p>\n In theory, the AP1 and AP2 are identical \u2013 just a few pound-feet of torque separate their numbers, and their acceleration times are identical. But I can assure you that they do not<\/em> drive the same.<\/p>\n 240 horsepower out of a naturally aspirated four-cylinder sounds ludicrous, and it is, but what makes this car even more special is how it goes about its business. This 2-liter gives you peak power at 8,300 RPM, and revs up to 9K. The AP2\u2019s 2.2-liter unit has peak power at 7,800 RPM, and revs to \u201conly\u201d 8,000 RPM.<\/p>\n You really gotta dig into this thing to make it move, which is why Honda lowered peak torque by 1,000 RPM. It is economy-car slow around town, and I don\u2019t mean new economy car either \u2013 think 2000 Honda Civic EX. Now if you were going to the store or work, you might be annoyed after a while, but since this is a classic and will sit in the garage five days a week, it\u2019s a revelation.<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to drive this car fast at first \u2013 you must recalibrate your senses. There\u2019s a loud and buzzy feel to it, and man does that VTEC kick, \u2018yo. But amid all this fury, you will probably look down at the tach and assume it\u2019s time to shift. No, you still have 1,500 RPM to go!<\/p>\n BMW\u2019s S65 V-8<\/a> and this F20C are the only engines I can think of that offer this experience at civilian price levels.<\/p>\n The changes aren\u2019t just to the engine. In this original S2000, there is a 14-pound flywheel compared to 22 pounds in the AP2. That means as soon as you\u2019re off the gas, the revs drop. I personally don\u2019t think it\u2019s harder to drive, but Honda thought so, which is also why the AP2 had shorter lower gearing.<\/p>\n This remains the best shifter on the planet, short of an NSX (I assume, I haven\u2019t driven one). The clutch is direct, the shifter so easy to engage but solid in its position \u2013 just a real joy to use. Even a modern 911<\/a>, for all its charms, feels artificial in comparison.<\/p>\n They say this car is twitchy at the limit, and so Honda revised the rear end to help make handling more predictable. The AP2 is great because of it, but this car is better.<\/p>\n On my drive, I felt no tendency for snap oversteer, where the rear suddenly breaks loose at 10\/10ths and you end up staring at what you just passed. You just need good driving habits \u2013 don\u2019t lift abruptly off the throttle and so on. It\u2019s Porsche-level telepathic, and though it\u2019s been a very long time since I\u2019ve driven a 350Z, I can assure you they do not handle anything like this S2000. In fact, even a new Nissan Z<\/a> can\u2019t touch this car\u2019s level of tactile feel.<\/p>\n It\u2019s never harsh either. Because it\u2019s so light, just 2,800 pounds, it doesn\u2019t need huge wheels and super-stiff suspension bits just to make sure it doesn\u2019t roll. It\u2019s just incredibly balanced and alive. That goes for the steering too \u2013 direct and actually heavy, which makes driving the entire car hard work. This very much feels like a sports car should, and it\u2019s something new cars have lost along the way.<\/p>\n For its production life, Honda kept the brake hardware the same \u2013 11.8-inch up front with single-piston calipers, 11.1 in the rear. What they did change is the tuning, including the ABS and master cylinder.<\/p>\n That said, there\u2019s really not much difference \u2013 this pedal felt stiff and gave me confidence to push the car on back roads. More serious users will want a full track setup, but as a weekend toy this works quite well.<\/p>\n I know that this sort of car is all about romance and theater, but just like that hottie on the first date, eventually you\u2019re gonna need to move in with them and find out they chew with their mouth open.<\/p>\n In the S2000\u2019s case, that chewing reveals itself in just how tiny this thing really is. I wish I fit, and I\u2019m not even that big \u2013 but the seat does not move back enough, and the dash is in your face. The seats themselves are good \u2013 holding you in for support, but the bottom cushion isn\u2019t long enough for me. This is very much a try-it-before-you-buy-it car.<\/p>\n A trunk? Sure, there\u2019s one. You can fit a suitcase in the back if you need to, but pack light \u2013 nearly every other sports car has more room. Still, if this were 2001 I\u2019d be more skeptical, but for its intended use now as a weekend toy, the S2000 is fine.<\/p>\n How ironic that Honda came out with their original Insight the same year this S2000 debuted (built in the same factory with the NSX too). They couldn\u2019t be any further apart in mission or feel.<\/p>\n The 2001 Honda S2000 gets a combined 20 miles per gallon, but I doubt you\u2019ll see anything above 18 \u2013 this isn\u2019t exactly a highway cruiser, and you need to beat it into submission anyway. Believe it or not, the Nissan 350Z, a much more powerful and heavy car, gets about 2-3 miles more. Hey, since I\u2019m on the topic, a 2004 C5 Corvette gets a combined 20 as well, and isn\u2019t that a lumpen prehistoric piece of metal?<\/p>\n I digress. You\u2019ll enjoy the S2000 all the same.<\/p>\n Cars very much have a brand DNA that runs common with all of them, so when I say this feels like a baby NSX, I very much mean it.<\/p>\n I must be honest, it\u2019s not bad in here per se \u2013 I can feel Honda quality throughout. But it\u2019s spartan for the sake of it, and the difference between this and an AP2 is apparent.<\/p>\n Unlike that car, this 2001 model has things like an exposed cup holder, a ridiculously small arm rest, fishnets that double as door pockets \u2013 even the seats changed. I don\u2019t think it makes the experience that much worse, but there really isn\u2019t a place to put anything<\/em> in here.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a selfish sensation too \u2013 all the controls face you, including the HVAC. That\u2019s cool, Mrs. Machines knows better than to touch the air anyway. A faceplate hides the radio, wisely replaced with an Apple CarPlay unit (though it must be hilariously small to fit). The AP2 is nicer inside, but it wouldn\u2019t be enough to pull me away from this motor. At least the top is power-operated.<\/p>\n This is Berlina Black, a difficult color to photograph, and one that hides the S2000\u2019s natural good looks. The AP1 lacks the refreshed front end and LED lighting from the updated model, but those are bits you can always add later if you so choose.<\/p>\n The S2000 has maintained a classic look, more so than other cars from the era. The best question to ask is always, \u201cCould they sell this new today?\u201d,<\/em> and yeah, I think they could.<\/p>\n As we get on in time, I find myself preferring the original wheels on most cars, but the good news is that at just 16 inches, these are always going to be cheap and easy to swap.<\/p>\n \n AVAILABLE TRIM LEVELS<\/span> In 2001, the Honda S2000 (AP1) established itself as an instant legend, engineered to celebrate Honda\u2019s 50th anniversary with uncompromising motorsport DNA. Built alongside the NSX at the Takanezawa plant, this rear-wheel-drive roadster delivered supercar engineering at an accessible $32,300 base price. Honda kept ordering blissfully simple by offering the S2000 in a single, fully loaded specification. Buyers merely selected their color, decided whether to purchase the newly available factory aluminum hardtop, and prepared for one of the purest driving experiences ever built.<\/p>\n Mounted completely behind the front axle sits the crown jewel: the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter F20C inline-four, generating 240 horsepower and screaming to an astronomical 9,000-rpm redline. Power routes through an ultra-precise six-speed manual gearbox with rifle-bolt throws and a standard Torsen limited-slip differential. Supported by fifty-fifty weight distribution, double-wishbone suspension at all four corners, and a rigid \u201chigh X-bone\u201d monocoque chassis, the AP1 attacks apexes with razor-sharp reflexes, sprinting from 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds. Tap or hover below to compare S2000 configurations.<\/p>\n \n AVAILABLE PACKAGES<\/span> My test car arrived finished in $0 Berlina Black (paint code NH-547). This deep, non-metallic black finish lends the roadster an understated, menacing presence, accentuating the long hood, low nose, and short rear deck. The gloss-black paintwork perfectly frames the standard high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights, integrated dual exhaust outlets, and 16-inch five-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in sticky Bridgestone Potenza tires. Without visual clutter, the AP1\u2019s timeless proportions still turn heads decades later.<\/p>\n Inside, the cabin is an uncompromising temple of driving purity. Deeply contoured sport bucket seats trimmed in Black leather lock the driver firmly in place. Inspired by Honda\u2019s Formula 1 racing cockpits, the minimalist dashboard angles all controls within fingertip reach, anchored by a sweeping digital LED tachometer and a bright red starter button. A concealed radio door hides the factory audio unit to eliminate night glare, while air conditioning and cruise control provide essential touring usability.<\/p>\n Because Honda sold the S2000 mono-spec, equipment choices centered around factory dealer accessories. The most significant addition for 2001 was the optional $2,995 removable aluminum hardtop, which added year-round grand touring refinement and a heated rear glass defroster while weighing just 44 pounds. Drivers could also add the $450 front underbody chin spoiler and trunk spoiler to reduce aerodynamic lift. Skipping cosmetic add-ons preserves the pure, lightweight purity intended by Tochigi engineers. Tap or hover below to explore period equipment pricing.<\/p>\n Manhattan Machines follows the journey of capturing cars in a city that hates them. Foreword by Larry Kosilla of AMMO NYC.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-front](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-14.jpg.webp)
<\/picture><\/p>\nGet one<\/h4>\n
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Don’t get one<\/h4>\n
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2001 Honda S2000 Soul Score<\/h5>\n
8<\/span>\/10<\/h3>\n
The 2001 Honda S2000 Overview<\/h2>\n
![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-side](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-17.jpg.webp)
<\/picture><\/p>\n![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-rear](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-42.jpg.webp)
<\/picture><\/p>\n![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-rear](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-27.jpg.webp)
<\/picture><\/p>\n![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-side](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-2.jpg.webp)
<\/picture><\/p>\n![\"wet-m3\"](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/wet-m3-480x320.jpg.webp)
<\/picture> <\/div>\nThe MWS Press Car Kit<\/h3>\n
\n As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. <\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nPerformance Score: 8. Screaming Eagle<\/h2>\n
![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-front](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-26.jpg.webp)
<\/picture>Engine<\/h3>\n
![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-tach\"](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-33.jpg.webp)
<\/picture>![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-exhaust\"](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-30.jpg.webp)
<\/picture>![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-start](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-22.jpg.webp)
<\/picture>Transmission<\/h3>\n
![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-manual\"](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-9.jpg.webp)
<\/picture>Chassis and Steering<\/h3>\n
![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-steering](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-25.jpg.webp)
<\/picture>![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-front](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-29.jpg.webp)
<\/picture><\/p>\n![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-chassis\"](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-5.jpg.webp)
<\/picture>Brakes<\/h3>\n
![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-front](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-3.jpg.webp)
<\/picture>Lifestyle Score: 2. Please, no more<\/h2>\n
![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-trunk\"](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-15.jpg.webp)
<\/picture>![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-seats\"](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-13.jpg.webp)
<\/picture>![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-dash\"](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-34.jpg.webp)
<\/picture>Fuel Economy: 3. Giving you insight<\/h2>\n
![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-dash\"](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-32.jpg.webp)
<\/picture><\/p>\nFeatures and Comfort: 3. Hon-DNA<\/h2>\n
![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-interior\"](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-24.jpg.webp)
<\/picture><\/p>\nInterior<\/h3>\n
![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-head](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-10.jpg.webp)
<\/picture>![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-foot](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-11.jpg.webp)
<\/picture><\/p>\n![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-hvac\"](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-23.jpg.webp)
<\/picture>Exterior<\/h3>\n
![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-front](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-39.jpg.webp)
<\/picture>![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-side](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-36.jpg.webp)
<\/picture>WHICH TO BUY?<\/h2>\n
\n STARTING MSRP LADDER<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nWHICH PACKAGES MATTER?<\/h2>\n
\n PACKAGE PRICING LADDER<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nOthers to consider<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/mws-book-cover.jpg.webp)
<\/picture> <\/div>\nMANHATTAN MACHINES<\/h3>\n
If you want an S2000, then the AP1 is the only way to get the full experience<\/h2>\n
![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-front](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-40.jpg.webp)
<\/picture><\/p>\n
![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-side](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-41.jpg.webp)
<\/picture>![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-rear](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-31.jpg.webp)
<\/picture>![\"2001-honda-s2000-ap1-rear\"](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-38.jpg.webp)
<\/picture>![\"Vehicle](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2001-honda-s2000-ap1-8.jpg.webp\"\/)
<\/picture>![\"Machines](\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/themes\/machines-with-souls-2\/images\/mws-logo-small.svg\"){kind=logo}