Honda S2000 (99-09) - Review

The cockpit is best described as snug and supportive, plus there is a fair bit of engine and exhaust noise. With the roof down it's very blustery at speed as you'd expect, but its more than acceptable when driving gently and the sports seats are well shaped to make long journeys comfortable. The GT model comes with a removable hard top, which makes the cabin warmer in winter and far quieter on the motorway.

The semi-electric folding roof is fiddly to operate - you have to release two catches but it's awkward and requires some man-handling. Overall it's quite an effort when other manufacturers offer slick folding metal hardtops. The boot is quite big for a two-seater but is an awkward shape and there are too many intrusions so fitting square objects (such as larger suitcases) isn't easy. Worse still, there's little additional space in the cabin for storing much else - the tiny door pockets are pretty useless and there's no glovebox either.

The cabin is quite cramped, especially for taller drivers, but it does feel sporty with a high placed gear lever and low slung seating position. The instrument cluster is dominated by the large rev counter while the rest of the main controls are placed close to the steering wheel including the red engine start button - now a standard feature on the 2006 Civic. The sports seats offer plenty of support, however, there's no adjustment in the steering column which can be annoying when trying to find a good driving position.