We Bought the UK’s Cheapest Honda S2000

UPDATE Part 2 – Chassis, Coilovers & Big Brake Upgrade

Welcome back to our mission to turn the UK’s cheapest Honda S2000 into a proper track weapon. In Part 1, we took a rough-around-the-edges AP1 and got it MOT’d, roadworthy, and ready for transformation. Now, in Part 2, it’s time to get serious.

This stage of the build is all about the foundations—handling, stopping, and stiffening things up. The S2000 is a legendary chassis straight out of the box, but ours is 25 years old. Bushings are tired, shocks are soft, and the brakes are well past their best. So we raided the parts bin, dialled up some of the best in the game, and got stuck in.

Suspension Overhaul: Bilstein B14 Coilovers Fitted

Let’s face it, the stock suspension was toast. So we binned it off and replaced it with a set of Bilstein B14 coilovers. These beauties bring height adjustability, improved damping, and track-focused performance—all while keeping things road-friendly. They went on smoothly (well, kind of), and instantly transformed the car’s stance and response.

Midge may have joked about the origins of the company but the result is no joke. Dialled-in stance, sharper handling, and a car that actually feels alive again.

Serious Stopping Power: EBC Big Brake Kit:

Next up—brakes. No point going fast if you can’t stop. So we slotted in a monster EBC 330mm big brake kit up front, paired with yellow calipers that don’t just look mint—they bite hard too.

They’re built in Britain and engineered to take abuse, whether it’s a fast road blast or a full-on track day. With these fitted, we can brake later, drive harder, and keep things safer when the limit gets pushed.

Whiteline Sway Bars & Adjustable Drop Links

To tighten up the chassis even more, we bolted in a Whiteline uprated sway bar and a fresh set of adjustable drop links. Stiffer, sharper, and far more predictable through corners—exactly what the S2K needed.

Yes, the sharper turn-in will mean it may oversteer more now. And, we’re fine with that. Probably.

Ultra Racing Chassis Bracing: Adding Much-Needed Stiffness

With the S2000’s soft-top structure, it’s no secret these cars can flex a bit when pushed hard. So we fitted Ultra Racing chassis bracing, including a six-point lower brace, to firm things up. The result? Better turn-in, more confidence under load, and a car that finally feels cohesive again.

As Midge said, “It’s like watching monkeys use tools for the first time”—but somehow, it all came together.

New Wheels to Clear the Brakes

Speaking of tools… Jules can’t use a tape measure (we’ll leave you to work out which one of those is the ‘tool’ we’re referring to!). So, when it came to putting the wheels back on, they didn’t fit over the new brakes. Oops. But don’t worry, it was soon rectified. Out went the old wheels, and on went a set of STROM DS-15s wrapped in Yokohama AD09s.

The look? Aggressive.
The fitment? Maybe a bit too aggressive. (That’s Jules and his tape measure again!)
The fix? Wider arches are on the way.

Coming Up in Part 3…

With the chassis sorted, the UK’s cheapest Honda S2000 is well on its way to becoming the ultimate budget track car. Next time, it’s all about the bodywork—arches, fitment, and finishing off the exterior to match the performance underneath.

Plus, we might borrow Midge’s polisher (if he’s not using it for his teeth!) and see if we can rejuvenate those faded headlights too.

So stay tuned for Part 3. It’s going to get wide!

In the meantime, recap the story so far below…

Big Thanks to Our Sponsors

Shout out to Machine Mart for supplying the tools and gear we needed to make this happen—from low-profile jacks to welders and spanners. If you’re kitting out your garage, check them out!

Part 1 – The Revival Begins

When it comes to legends of the JDM world, the Honda S2000 stands tall. But if you’ve ever dreamt of owning one but thought it was out of reach, think again. We’ve embarked on an ambitious project to breathe new life into what has to be the UK’s cheapest Honda S2000. We paid just £3,500 for this iconic roadster, but it’s far from it’s best. With the help from our friends at Machine Mart, our latest project is set to undergo a transformation that will reignite its former glory. In this first installment of our four-part series, we delve into the initial stages of this exciting journey.

Why the Honda S2000?

Launched in 1999 to celebrate Honda’s 50th anniversary, the S2000 quickly became a legend among enthusiasts. Its high-revving 2.0-litre VTEC engine, producing 237bhp, and a 9,000rpm redline made it a driver’s dream. The balanced rear-wheel-drive chassis and precise six-speed manual transmission offered an exhilarating driving experience. Despite its discontinuation in 2009, the S2000 remains a sought-after modern classic

The £3,500 Bargain: A Diamond in the Rough?

Finding an S2000 at this price point is rare. Our S2000 buyer’s guide told us what to look out for. But according to recent listings on AutoTrader and PistonHeads, most well-maintained AP1s fetch between £8,000 and £12,000 . Our project car, however, cost less than half that!

Yep, we found it—a neglected Honda S2000 AP1 with more quirks than a ‘90s rom-com character. The VTEC heart is still ticking, but it’s crying out for love. Here’s what we discovered in the first walkaround:

Knackered wheels and shot brakes – Definitely not road-ready.
Musty interior – Likely due to a leaking soft top.
Rusty rear arches and sill rot – Bodywork nightmares.
DIY paint job – Half-decent front end, tragic rear.
One of the worst exhaust blows ever – Think tractor, not tuner.

And the price? Just £3,500. No crashes, clean history, taxed and MOT’d at purchase (althought that’d since expired). A diamond in the seriously rough and without doubt, the UK’s cheapest Honda S2000.

Fixing the Failures: What We’ve Tackled So Far

We didn’t waste time. Here’s what went down in Episode 1:

Exhaust Blow? Sorted.

First mission: fix the horrific exhaust leak. Turns out, half the exhaust manifold nuts were missing. We tightened everything up and swapped out the old system for a slick Milltek cat-back, reducing weight and unlocking proper VTEC music.

Intake Upgrade

Next step: a performance air filter kit from K&N for smoother breathing. It looks the part and gives the S2000 that crisp, aggressive intake growl.

Oil & Fluids Refresh

Fluids? Check. Oil change with a Liqui Moly engine flush, plus a new filter. Coolant? Swapped out too—after the rad exploded during an MOT run. Not ideal.

Workshop Help

Massive shoutout to our mates at Machine Mart, supplying every tool under the sun—from low-profile jacks to full-on compressors. And yes, Midge’s workshop is once again the scene of the crime (and rebuild). The boy’s a legend.

MOT Madness

We tried to take the S2000 in for an MOT a few weeks back… and the radiator blew! Literally. And becuase our resident mechanic Midge seems to spend more time on a beach than he does his own workshop, he buggered off to Spain and didn’t return to the UK for a month! But that gave us time to think of a plan. Rather than just fit a direct replacement, we ordered a performance alloy upgrade from Tegiwa.

Of course, the new rad arrived well before Midge did. But that meant it was ready to fit upon his return. So the newly-tanned mini-mechanic got to work. The rad was installed, the entire system now fully bled and free from air locks, and it time to head teh MoT station… again. Only this time, it passed! Back on the road, we enjoyed our first drive in the cheapest Honda S2000 in the UK.

Watch the Build

What’s Next for the UK’s Cheapest Honda S2000?

To be fair, the S2000 behaved quite well on that test drive. But we do have a (long) list of things to sort. First up, we’ve got a set of Bilstein B14 coilovers en route. The S2000 is known for it’s handling, but ours has seen better days. So we kicking it up a gear with some of the best chassis tuning upgrades available.

After that, we’ve got to sort the brakes which old and worn. The interior smells and the hood leaks, so that needs fixing. And then we need to address the bodywork and rusty rear arch. Of coure, this is no factory original restoration, so expect wide wheels, even wider arches, a cabin overhaul, and a complete colour change too! We’ve got plenty to do before we unveil the finished car at Classic Japfest in October!

Stay tuned for more updates coming soon!