| Winding country roads provide great
| |
| | electric defroster and a wind deflector
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| driving delight. They give sports
| |
| | are standard. A removable
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| car owners ample proof why they often
| |
| | aluminum hardtop is optional, but side
|
| sacrifice luxury and comfort for
| |
| | airbags are not available.As a two-seat
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| speed and excitement.In Northern
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| | sports car (there is no rear cargo or
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| California, the wine country roads
| |
| | passenger area),
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| through the Napa Valley
| |
| | space is at premium. That's good and
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| and Mendocino Coast are prime examples
| |
| | bad. The shifting box, audio
|
| -- at least for drivers. There
| |
| | system, small vertical, locked console
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| are plenty of stretches where passengers
| |
| | storage compartment and all
|
| susceptible to car sickness
| |
| | other instrumentation is in close
|
| may be in trouble. But for a driver, the
| |
| | proximity.But as a 6-foot, 185-pound
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| deep turns and switchbacks
| |
| | driver, the comfort level waned after a
|
| require plenty of shifting, maneuvering
| |
| | few
|
| and accelerating skills.So with a 2004
| |
| | hours on the road. Likewise, entering
|
| Honda S2000 as my weekly test drive,
| |
| | and exiting the vehicle is best
|
| could there have
| |
| | accomplished with the "crouch-and-crawl"
|
| been a better location for a getaway
| |
| | method.Surprisingly, while the trunk
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| weekend?The two-door, rear-wheel driver
| |
| | compartment could hardly be described as
|
| sports car is a sleek, quick-moving 2.2.
| |
| | spacious, it provides enough room for
|
| liter, 16-valve, 240 horsepower
| |
| | two soft-sided weekend luggage
|
| convertible with a six-speed manual
| |
| | bags. And there was also enough space
|
| transmission. The renowned Japanese
| |
| | left for several plastic bags of
|
| manufacturer offers the vehicle
| |
| | beach-combing discoveries.One oddity:
|
| as competition against the BMW Z4, Mazda
| |
| | Since the convertible top is not
|
| Miata and Nissan 350Z.The S2000 has a
| |
| | insulated, the car drives with
|
| nicely contoured body design, its front
| |
| | less bothersome noise with the top down
|
| and rear
| |
| | than it does with the top up.
|
| bumpers and lights have been restyled
| |
| | The convertible top, by the way, is easy
|
| from 2003l and it offers an
| |
| | to lower or raise.It attaches and
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| increase to 17-inch tires from the
| |
| | detaches with pushed button locks on the
|
| 16-inch tires from last year. With its
| |
| | outside ceiling
|
| new features, my red (body) and black
| |
| | of the driver and passenger seats. The
|
| (top) vehicle drew plenty of looks.But
| |
| | electric function is engaged by a
|
| while the exterior is attractive, it's
| |
| | large red button on the middle console.
|
| the interior of the vehicle that
| |
| | It can't be missed unless it's
|
| figuratively shines. It is a combination
| |
| | covered by a map and newspaper, as was
|
| of efficiency of space and homage
| |
| | the case when we wanted to
|
| to racing vehicles.For example, I
| |
| | lower the top. We looked for several
|
| wouldn't have known, but a friend keen on
| |
| | minutes before discovering the
|
| motor sports
| |
| | button was right in front of our
|
| mentioned that the S2000 RRM and gas
| |
| | eyes.Not-so-easy to find is the gas tank
|
| tank volume graphic bars are
| |
| | cover opener. After another extended
|
| the type used in Formula 1 racing
| |
| | search and without the benefit of an
|
| cars.In fact, combined with the large
| |
| | owner's manual, the button was
|
| digital MPH readout, the instrumentation
| |
| | finally located inside the driver's back
|
| is void of traditional needle-style
| |
| | door panel.Its discovery provided more
|
| readings. Similar to other racing cars,
| |
| | humor and another small confirmation of
|
| the S2000 also has a push-button
| |
| | the
|
| ignition when the key is in the start
| |
| | S2000's unique position in the sports
|
| position.To further accentuate the
| |
| | car marketplace.2004 Honda S2000Safety
|
| sports car feeling, both driver and
| |
| | features -- Driver's and front
|
| passenger
| |
| | passenger's airbags, side impact
|
| sit in tight but conforming seats. As
| |
| | door beams, emergency trunk opener.Fuel
|
| the driver, the small, compact
| |
| | Mileage (estimates) -- 20 (city), 25 mpg
|
| steering wheel complements the 17-inch
| |
| | (highway).Warranty -- 3 years/36,000
|
| wheels. The result is superior
| |
| | miles (bumper to bumper), 5 years
|
| responsiveness, and "Go-Kart-flat"
| |
| | unlimited
|
| corning and "Pin-sharp steering," as
| |
| | mileage (corrosion).Base price --
|
| one consumer guide describes the
| |
| | $32,600.James Raia is a syndicated
|
| vehicle's feel on the road.Further, with
| |
| | journalist in Sacramento, Calif., who
|
| the six-speed transmission and quick
| |
| | writes
|
| acceleration (rated at
| |
| | about sports, fitness and business
|
| 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds in 2003),
| |
| | topics as well as the free electronic
|
| anyone who enjoys the mechanics
| |
| | newsletters Endurance Sports News and
|
| of driving, gets his or her
| |
| | Tour de France Times and The
|
| share.Leather upholstery, high-intensity
| |
| | Weekly Driver, a car review column.
|
| headlamps, a glass rear window with
| |
| |
|
