Even racecars like the Honda S2000 CR stop and take time to enjoy a good sunset. The term "sports car" is thrown around fairly loosely these days. It seems that anything that has a slightly louder exhaust and tuned suspension qualifies. There are few true sports cars out there and I was happy to be sitting behind the wheel of one such car, a 2008 Honda S2000 CR . The CR stands for Club Racer but it could just as easily stand for Crazy Rocket … I got off to a fairly rough start with this 2008 S2000 (we didn't need to test the 2009 Honda S2000 as it is a carryover). I went up to Torrance, CA, to pick it up and it happened to be pouring rain outside. This car is rear-wheel drive and wears high-performance tires. I was expecting the worst. However, I was extremely surprised that I had zero problems on the highway, which is a shock considering this is Southern California and people around here react to rain the same way others might react to meteors pelting the road. If this car were wearing regular tires, I probably would have even been able to relax my white-knuckle death grip on the wheel…just in case. Bright yellow paint? Check. Big rear wing? Check. Nick Hogan? Thankfully, not present… The S2000 CR is created by taking a standard S2000 and then stripping out some of the non-essential items while at the same time adding some essential racing items. This results in a fairly null amount of weight loss but I do appreciate having the removable hardtop over my head. The engine is the same 237-hp 2.2L four-cylinder engine which is efficient in moving the S2000 in a straight line. It is when you turn the wheel that car really comes alive. I don't want to rattle off all the goodies, but the track tuned suspension and steering work very nicely around the bends. The car feels so confident rushing around a corner that I constantly find myself keeping the close ratio six-speed manual transmission in a lower gear to hear the engine push to the 8,000-rpm red line and then upshift as I come out of the turn. When I do get the car pointed straight, it holds a confident line at speed, thanks to the front underbody spoiler and the rear wing spoiler, both of which keep the car planted nicely. The interior is comfortable yet purpose-built to help you drive this car…    quickly. The Honda S2000 CR is a serious sports car that can be driven to the limit out on the track. The beauty of the car however is that I can drive it TO the track…comfortably. Then when my day is done, I can drive it home. Sure the ride is far stiffer than I would want in a car if it were to be my daily driver. However I wouldn't buy this car as a daily driver. It would be for the weekends and any other random day when I felt like pretending I am a real racecar driver. If I were more of a hardcore enthusiast, I would opt for the bare bones trim level that has no A/C or radio system. Thankfully, Honda handed me the keys to a CR that had both features. Reflecting on my time in the Honda S2000 brings back good memories… At a price of $37,795, the 2008 Honda S2000 Crazy Rocket is not an inexpensive car. However, it IS an inexpensive racecar. I believe the type of person who buys this car has something else in their driveway to use more frequently. As my time with the car came to an end, I began to be a bit annoyed by the squeaky top and the stiffness of the vehicle, but as soon as the car was gone I missed it. Yes you have to keep it high-up in the rev range so that the VTEC kicks in and you get more power, and yes it has a harsh ride, and yes it stands out with its bright yellow paint job and rear spoiler, and yes…it was a blast to drive. For more information on 2009 Hondas , visit NADAguides.com, the vehicle pricing and information leader since 1933.

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Road Test Review: 2008 Honda S2000 CR