AP2 S2000 Can Still Hang with the 2019 Mazda Miata
You might not imagine that a 15-year-old S2000 could hang with a brand new Miata, but then, you'd be wrong.
Old/New Comparison
It's hard to believe, but the S2000 has been gone from this world for a full decade now. But as you already know, that hasn't slowed down our enthusiasm for Honda's masterful roadster. And you can bet we were more than a little interested to see how the "old" car fared against a brand new Mazda Miata, perhaps the closest thing you can buy to an S2000 today, in this interesting feature from The Drive.
Photos: Michael Tsui for The Drive
Pure Experience
By most accounts, the 2019 Miata is an excellent driving machine. It's about as pure as open-air sports cars get these days, after all. And since the author of this piece owns a 2004 S2000, he thought it might be prudent to actually compare the two. And the results are extremely interesting, to say the least.
Photos: Michael Tsui for The Drive
Better Daily?
As far as normal driving goes, it's not surprising that The Drive found the Mazda to be "an immensely better daily." After all, the newest Miata packs quite a few nice interior features, including headrest-mounted Bose speakers. It also rides quite softly, thanks to a newly revised chassis.
Photos: Michael Tsui for The Drive
Down to Specifics
The S2000's ride was "less compliant" yet "reasonably comfy," while the cabin features more of a "spartan charm." The S2000 does sport a better shifter and "does win out on outright space with its marginally airier top-up cabin and more usable trunk."
Photos: Michael Tsui for The Drive
Small Gap
Next, The Drive headed out to Toronto Motorsports Park for a proper track test. There they found that the two are actually not too far apart. "In terms of outright pace, there wasn't much of a gap between the more powerful but heavier Honda and the less-is-more Mazda."
Photos: Michael Tsui for The Drive
Clear Victor
How these two go on about their business is the real story, then. And that starts with the shifter. "It's well-documented by now that the Honda S2000's manual shift action is one of the most satisfying experiences of modern motoring," said The Drive. "It's oily, metallic, and comically short. It feels like a wartime weapon and leaves no ambiguity as to which one of the six cogs is currently hooked up to the rear axle. It's as good as they say, and a clear victor here."
Photos: Michael Tsui for The Drive
Two Points
The S2000 also wins, unsurprisingly, in the powertrain department. "Above 6,000 rpm, the F22C emits a manic VTEC wail that makes me feel like a child again," said The Drive. "Winding it out to 8,000 rpm and rowing through the gears is the sort of experience I find myself thinking about lying in bed at night when the dopamine is running low. Meanwhile, Mazda's revised 2.0-liter still feels and sounds more workmanlike, not as special as the car's looks might suggest."
Photos: Michael Tsui for The Drive
Steer Me
Unsurprisingly, the Miata does manage to beat out the S2000 in terms of steering feel. "The Mazda's rack is quicker, more direct, and transmits more of the road surface to your hands than the Honda's, which is noticeably number and suffers from a small on-center dead spot."
Photos: Michael Tsui for The Drive
Fleet of Foot
Weight makes a difference as well, even though the S2000 isn't exactly what one might call portly. "The denser-boned Honda has the edge on track charisma, but the lightweight-to-a-fault MX-5 feels just a little more fleet of foot."
Photos: Michael Tsui for The Drive
Murky Results
So which one wins this comparison? Well, the answer isn't as clear as you might think. "For a no-holds-barred lap of the track, I'd take the Honda," says The Drive. "But in terms of sheer enjoyment on both road and track, it's the Miata." To us, however, the simple fact that a 15-year-old S2000 can run with and even beat a brand new Miata tells you all you need to know!
Photos: Michael Tsui for The Drive
For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our How-to section in the forum.