Honda S2000: The Evolution of AP1 & AP2. How Many Times Has This “Beautiful Weapon” Almost Killed Us?
Listen up, and listen well. The Honda S2000 is a “rolling drug”—a machine born from Honda’s 50th-anniversary madness (and I mean that as a compliment), where they essentially puked F1 technology directly onto the public roads.
Today, I want to talk specifically about its “looks.” To talk about the S2000 without knowing the transition from AP1 to AP2 is as foolish as eating Buri-shabu (yellowtail shabu-shabu) without the yellowtail! It’s pure madness!
【AP1】The Razor-Sharp Shock of the Early Years
First, let’s talk about the early model, the AP1. It debuted in 1999—the year of Nostradamus’s prophecy, a time when I was personally feeling a bit restless. And then, BOOM, the S2000 was released.
Its appearance is exactly like a “razor.” A form born solely for speed, with every ounce of unnecessary fat shaved off. The 16-inch wheels might look small by today’s standards, but back then, that “lightness” was the ultimate justice.
But let me be brutally honest with some self-deprecation. If you get cocky and floor the accelerator of this AP1 on a rainy day, the tail will slide out in an instant, leading you into a “passionate embrace with a guardrail.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve soaked my seat with cold sweat. She is truly a “femme fatale” where beauty and danger coexist.
By the way, my S2000 is also this early model.
【Late AP1 & AP2】The Pinnacle of Sophistication Wrapped in “Adult Composure”
A major facelift occurred in late 2003, and by 2004, the S2000 suddenly became “refined.”
- Headlights: They gained a 3-lamp “sparkling” look, drastically increasing the car’s presence on night roads.
- Tail Lights: Triple-circle LEDs. They have a beauty that tells anyone you overtake, “Just keep watching my back.”
- Exhaust: Changed from circular to oval tips. This solid stance speaks volumes about the “composure” of the 2.2-liter engine.
To be honest, some critics say the AP2—which focused more on usability—became “soft.” But think about it logically. What’s wrong with “manageable beauty”? Buri-shabu is great because you finish it with Zosui (rice porridge) at the end, right? It’s exactly the same thing!
【Overseas & Limited Specs】The “Forbidden Fruit” We Can’t Reach
Even more annoying (and incredibly envious) is that overseas, there’s a beast called the “CR” (Club Racer) that ditched the electric top entirely in favor of performance. In Japan, we have the “Type S” and the “Type V” with its insanely quick steering, but nowadays, these are trading at prices equivalent to about “10,000 yellowtails” on the used car market.
Is a commoner like me allowed only to stare at the screen and sigh…?
Conclusion: Choose by Looks. Ride with Soul.
Whether it’s the sharp, initial impulse of the AP1 or the perfected allure of the AP2. Whichever you choose, you become part of “Honda’s Dream.”
But let me warn you about one thing. Once you fall in love with this beauty and get your hands on one, your bank balance will be sucked into a black hole called “parts and gasoline costs.”
A revival plan has started for the NSX, Honda’s first supercar. I sincerely hope this spreads to the S2000. Many parts necessary for driving are already discontinued.
Still, if you can buy one, I believe it’s a car that will satisfy you even today. Since we can’t expect prices to drop much further in the used market, if you’re going to buy, buy now.
関連投稿:
S2000の魅力（外観編）
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[Tears of Joy] Will Honda Save the S2000? The “Forever Car” Dream Becomes Reality with Heritage Business Expansion
S2000 Battery Upgrade: My Lonely Battle Against the “Ghost of 2021” in a Silent Midnight Garage
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