S2000

The S2000 AP1

Honda launched the S2000 to mark its fiftieth anniversary, putting it on sale in Japan on 15 April 1999 as a two-seat roadster with an electric soft top. The F20C at its heart is a 1,997 cc four-cylinder with VTEC that makes 250 PS at 8,300 rpm and 218 Nm at 7,500 rpm, and revs to 9,000 rpm without a turbocharger. It sits behind the front axle, in a body stiffened by Honda's X-bone frame, for close to equal weight front and rear, and drives the rear wheels through a six-speed manual Honda designed for those revs.

The AP1 changed as it went. The Type V of July 2000 added variable-ratio steering (VGS). In September 2001 a heated glass rear window replaced the plastic one, and the October 2003 facelift brought 17-inch wheels, a stiffer body, retuned suspension, new headlights, LED tail lights and carbon synchromesh in the gearbox. The AP1 was sold until November 2005.

What AP1 owners upgrade

Seat rails are the AP1 owner's first buy, from the interior range, to sit lower or fit a bucket seat under the roof. Aero kits from the exterior range come next, then exhaust systems and headers.

The F20C makes its power high in the rev range, and supercharger kits are the popular way to add torque lower down. Throttle bodies from the intake range, engine belts, brake calipers and pads, and suspension bushes fill out the list. Back Yard Special, Spoon, J's Racing, Toda, HKS and Mugen are among the names owners choose.

Genuine parts

The valve clearances need checking at regular intervals, and a rattle on starting points to the timing-chain tensioner. Oil use varies from engine to engine, up to a litre every 1,000 miles, so check the level often. The front lower arms and their bushes are an early wear point, and water in the cabin comes either from the hood seals near the screen pillars or from a loose air-conditioning drain. Seals, arms and service parts are in our genuine Honda parts catalogue.

Wheels

Early AP1s ran 16x6.5 +55 front and 16x7.5 +65 rear, and cars from the 2003 facelift 17x7 +55 front and 17x8.5 +65 rear, on a 5x114.3 bolt pattern with M12 x 1.5 nuts. More sizes are listed under wheels that fit the AP1.