Honda S2000 2000 vs German Roadsters: The Iconic 1999 Comparison

In October 1999, Car and Driver orchestrated a legendary comparison at Grattan Raceway Park: the brand-new Honda S2000 facing off against Germany's benchmark roadsters. The BMW M Roadster, Mercedes SLK, and Porsche Boxster went head-to-head with the Japanese challenger across 2 miles of twists and elevation changes. A technical duel where prices ranged from $32,000 to over $50,000.

"A sports car is an open two-seater that, in a pinch, can be raced" — British definition of roadster according to Car and Driver

The Japanese Challenge Against German Establishment

The Honda S2000 arrived in 2000 with a radical conviction: an atmospheric 2.0-liter engine producing 240 horsepower, or 120 hp per liter. A record for its time. Against it stood three distinct German approaches: the raw aggression of the BMW M Roadster with its 3.2-liter six-cylinder delivering 240 horsepower, the high-tech elegance of the Mercedes SLK with its electrically retractable roof, and the surgical precision of the Porsche Boxster.

The choice of Grattan Raceway Park was hardly arbitrary. This 2-mile circuit near Grand Rapids offered the perfect mix of tight corners and quick stretches, with elevation changes that reveal the true dynamic qualities of a chassis.

Opposing Philosophies on the Track

Price-wise, the gap was considerable. The S2000 came in at $32,000 according to Honda's estimate, while the Boxster topped out at over $50,000 in fully loaded form. Between the two, the Mercedes SLK sat at $47,422 and the BMW M Roadster at $43,918.

The Japanese contender bet everything on lightness and perfect 50/50 weight balance. Its aluminum and high-strength steel chassis weighed less than its German rivals. The VTEC engine could rev to 9,000 rpm, delivering its horsepower in the upper registers.

Which Technical Approach Prevailed?

The BMW M Roadster favored raw power with its inline six-cylinder derived from the M3 E36. Generous torque from low revs, but the added weight made itself felt through fast corner sequences. The Mercedes SLK impressed with its retractable roof operating in 25 seconds, yet this complex system added heft to the package.

The Porsche Boxster stayed true to the 911 formula with its mid-mounted engine. An architecture ideal for balance, but with power more measured than its competitors. Its 2.5-liter flat-six delivered 201 horsepower, compensated by a chassis of devastating precision.

The Stopwatch Delivered the Verdict

On pure lap times, it was difficult to separate these four philosophies. Each excelled in its domain: brisk acceleration for the BMW, remarkable agility for the Honda, millimetric precision for the Porsche, technological refinement for the Mercedes.

The S2000 distinguished this era through its purist approach. No electronic aids, just the essentials: a rigid chassis, an atmospheric engine that screams, and a six-speed gearbox of watchmaking precision. Against the heavier but more versatile Germans, it defended the Japanese school of the raw, uncompromising roadster.

This Car and Driver comparison remains a reference point. It documented Honda's rising dominance in the sports car segment, three decades after the first NSX. The S2000 proved you could challenge BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche with a different, more radical approach—one centered on pure sensation rather than brand prestige.