S2000 Coupe?
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S2000 Coupe?
Anyone else wish that Honda made an S2000 coupe and not just the roadster?
I would like to see pretty much the exact same car but with a roof. I know they make a hard top, but its just not the same. I think the car is a perfect sports car, but I'm not a convertible fan so it really turns me off. What does everyone else think?
I would like to see pretty much the exact same car but with a roof. I know they make a hard top, but its just not the same. I think the car is a perfect sports car, but I'm not a convertible fan so it really turns me off. What does everyone else think?
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I like the fact that they don't make a coupe.
the main reason is the design and engineering. they designed this car as an open top from the start, which contributes to the fact that it handles so amazingly. with it's high x-bone frame, and the entire design, including reinforced a-piller and roll bars, the car's stance and stability derive from it's design.
if you made it a hard top you'd have to redesign the entire frame.
FWIW, the S2000's chassis is stiffer and stronger than most other coupes and hard top cars on the road.
but that's my opinion on the coupe vs roadster issue.
the main reason is the design and engineering. they designed this car as an open top from the start, which contributes to the fact that it handles so amazingly. with it's high x-bone frame, and the entire design, including reinforced a-piller and roll bars, the car's stance and stability derive from it's design.
if you made it a hard top you'd have to redesign the entire frame.
FWIW, the S2000's chassis is stiffer and stronger than most other coupes and hard top cars on the road.
but that's my opinion on the coupe vs roadster issue.
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Originally Posted by nindoo
If they make it a coupe, does it simply mean it will be hardtop, or will they actually need to modify the shape of the car?
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Rep Power: 0 ^^^ it would be much easier to go from a convertible to a coupe. Going the other way (coupe to convertible) is much more difficult because you have to stiffen up the frame. I don't think it would be a major redesign. No doubt it would be a fair amount rework, but nothing that couldn't be done reasonably. On another note....Anyone have experience with the hardtop? Is it noisy? leaky?
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Originally Posted by snowboreddave
if you make the s2000 more than a 2 seater, then it would break tradition as far as honda roadsters go.. like the s800 and such..
I say leave it alone. Don't mess with near perfection under $35k
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Originally Posted by Got Boost???
YOu guys seem to forget that adding weight up top will adversely affect handling.
So basically a coupe S2000 would be outhandled by the roadster
So basically a coupe S2000 would be outhandled by the roadster
WRONG! A coupe will ALWAYS weigh LESS than a convertable version of the same model. Check the specs of ANY car that offers a coupe and convertable, and you'll see weight increase on the convertable model. The frame requires more stiffening support because of the lack of a roof, and that equals more weight and a decrease in performance.
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Originally Posted by R1Style
Aren't they discontinuing the S2000? 
i just wish they made one that sells closer to the miata price range but then that would mean less power
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Originally Posted by SmiteSwift
WRONG! A coupe will ALWAYS weigh LESS than a convertable version of the same model. Check the specs of ANY car that offers a coupe and convertable, and you'll see weight increase on the convertable model. The frame requires more stiffening support because of the lack of a roof, and that equals more weight and a decrease in performance.
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WRONG! A coupe will ALWAYS weigh LESS than a convertable version of the same model. Check the specs of ANY car that offers a coupe and convertable, and you'll see weight increase on the convertable model. The frame requires more stiffening support because of the lack of a roof, and that equals more weight and a decrease in performance.
Because you obviously missed the point I'll try to dumb it down for you
As it is now an S2000 has very little weight above the doors, thus it has a low center of gravity. Now even though a convertable S2000 would be slightly heavier than a coupe (i'll get to this later) the coupe S2000 would have a higher center of gravity because your subtracting weight down low (supports etc) and adding weight up top (the roof).
The reason why most convertables are much heavier than coupes are because these cars are designed first as coupes and than as convertibles. Meaning a manufacturer makes a coupe version than chops off the top. This obviously hurts the overall structure, so they add in structural reinforcement to the existing frame instead of reworking the entire frame, which would take time, money and alot of R&D.
The S2000 was designed as a convertable first. Meaning your not going to find a bunch of supports and reinforcing members just slapped onto the frame because the frame itself was designed to be a solid roadster frame. Because these reinforcements weren't just slapped on, you can't just take them off,because they are part of the frame. So they only way Honda could make the S2000 coupe a decent performer would be to redesign the frame, which as mentioned before takes time, money, and R&D.
So Honda could do one of two things
1) Redesign the frame and make it a coupe, this would be a slightly worse performer than the convertable S2000 because although it would weight only a little less it would have a higher center or gravity.
2) Convert a convertable into a coupe, this would be a poor performer because its heavier and has a higher center of gravity.
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Originally Posted by chocobo15_2000
coupe as in 4-seater coupe or still 2 seater? if 4-seater then no...that would make the car look ugly...would probably be too long
Nothing works better than a Chris except a Honda.
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Am I the only one that knows that coupes are more popular in the US than anywhere else?Honda's simple method of making a car that fits perfectly in the market that it is suited for still applies to the S2000, a sportscar. When most people think sports cars they think fast, great handling, red, convertible and manual...
With that said, I don't want to see a coupe version. It's one of the few cars designed to be a convertible in the first place.
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Originally Posted by Got Boost???
reading > you
Because you obviously missed the point I'll try to dumb it down for you
As it is now an S2000 has very little weight above the doors, thus it has a low center of gravity. Now even though a convertable S2000 would be slightly heavier than a coupe (i'll get to this later) the coupe S2000 would have a higher center of gravity because your subtracting weight down low (supports etc) and adding weight up top (the roof).
The reason why most convertables are much heavier than coupes are because these cars are designed first as coupes and than as convertibles. Meaning a manufacturer makes a coupe version than chops off the top. This obviously hurts the overall structure, so they add in structural reinforcement to the existing frame instead of reworking the entire frame, which would take time, money and alot of R&D.
The S2000 was designed as a convertable first. Meaning your not going to find a bunch of supports and reinforcing members just slapped onto the frame because the frame itself was designed to be a solid roadster frame. Because these reinforcements weren't just slapped on, you can't just take them off,because they are part of the frame. So they only way Honda could make the S2000 coupe a decent performer would be to redesign the frame, which as mentioned before takes time, money, and R&D.
So Honda could do one of two things
1) Redesign the frame and make it a coupe, this would be a slightly worse performer than the convertable S2000 because although it would weight only a little less it would have a higher center or gravity.
2) Convert a convertable into a coupe, this would be a poor performer because its heavier and has a higher center of gravity.
Because you obviously missed the point I'll try to dumb it down for you
As it is now an S2000 has very little weight above the doors, thus it has a low center of gravity. Now even though a convertable S2000 would be slightly heavier than a coupe (i'll get to this later) the coupe S2000 would have a higher center of gravity because your subtracting weight down low (supports etc) and adding weight up top (the roof).
The reason why most convertables are much heavier than coupes are because these cars are designed first as coupes and than as convertibles. Meaning a manufacturer makes a coupe version than chops off the top. This obviously hurts the overall structure, so they add in structural reinforcement to the existing frame instead of reworking the entire frame, which would take time, money and alot of R&D.
The S2000 was designed as a convertable first. Meaning your not going to find a bunch of supports and reinforcing members just slapped onto the frame because the frame itself was designed to be a solid roadster frame. Because these reinforcements weren't just slapped on, you can't just take them off,because they are part of the frame. So they only way Honda could make the S2000 coupe a decent performer would be to redesign the frame, which as mentioned before takes time, money, and R&D.
So Honda could do one of two things
1) Redesign the frame and make it a coupe, this would be a slightly worse performer than the convertable S2000 because although it would weight only a little less it would have a higher center or gravity.
2) Convert a convertable into a coupe, this would be a poor performer because its heavier and has a higher center of gravity.
I agree...somewhat. Your right on the center of gravity issue, but if they were to add a roof, little structural change would have to take place because it is stiff enough as is. This way, any roof design would be purely for cosmetic and "roof" purposes. It could be very light and it wouldn't have to contribute to the overal rigidity of the car at all. Your cornering performance would probably be in line with that of the S with the optional hardtop or even the soft top up. Perhaps only slightly worse.
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Originally Posted by JP375
I agree...somewhat. Your right on the center of gravity issue, but if they were to add a roof, little structural change would have to take place because it is stiff enough as is. This way, any roof design would be purely for cosmetic and "roof" purposes. It could be very light and it wouldn't have to contribute to the overal rigidity of the car at all. Your cornering performance would probably be in line with that of the S with the optional hardtop or even the soft top up. Perhaps only slightly worse.
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Originally Posted by S2000man01
Unfortunately it's not that simple. Since there is not any direct part of the frame that is made to handle a "roof" in coupe format, the frame must be modified and redesigned. You can't just slap a roof on and go "wheeee". A large part of this has to do with safety requirements as well.
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Rep Power: 0 ^^^amen to that bro... a 20-30lbs polyurethane roof wouldn't hurt performance/handling if you're NOT going 130MPH in a 180degree curve... just get it custom made done deal... joy 
Last edited by pnoyster2k1cvic; May 10, 2005 at 05:25 PM.
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