Just curious how they compare with a 5 (Any 5 really I guess but mostly NC/ND)
Owned one, twice! So good I bought it back after making a mistake by selling it for a BMW Z4M, then begged the buyer to sell it back 2.5 years later.
Only had my NC2 for 6 months and bought it to be my winter fun weekend car. I would have bought a S2000 but I’m simply priced out the S2000 market as a third car.
Needless to say the S2000 engine has a lot more character and gear change is even better. Loved the high revs and retro digital dash. I’d say the handling is very similar, but the MX-5 has much better steering and feel. Otherwise they’re very similar, even have the same quirks such a high seating position, susceptible to seized bushes, calipers etc. S2000 is quicker, but doesn’t feel 80bhp quicker due to the lack of torque. S2000 has less (no) rattles. MX-5 parts are much cheaper and easier to source with so many UK specialists and of course great forum.
I’ve had 29 cars and the S2000 and E36 M3 Evo are the two I deeply regret selling.
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And of course the road tax on the MX-5 is way cheaper. (And likely gets better MPG)
Not sure I understand how the whole road tax think makes any sense - I figured in such a high road tax bracket presumably the s2000 wont can drive in a ulez zone - but apparently they can. which makes little sense (Well to me anyway).
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Very much depends on the age, I had a 2005 car so very similar to the MX-5. But yeah 2006 onwards are £740 a year which is mad. Doesn’t seem to have impacted prices which remain strong compared to the MX-5. MPG yeah MX-5 is better, 32 vs around 26 from memory. Servicing is similar except for the major service where the S2000 needs valve clearance done.
I think a BBR 200 would be very close to a S2000, more revs and stronger top end.
We all know ULEZ has nothing to so with emissions, my 5.0 Supercharged V8 F-Type is ULEZ compatible.
Agree with comments above. If money were no object, I’d have another in a heartbeat. But £750 VED 
Sold my June 2009 s2k about 10yrs ago and still have pangs of deep regret.
They’re only going one way, rarity and price wise so scratch that itch now! 
Well this was another part of my logic. Much as I enjoy my MX-5 its slowly depreciating.
An S2000 will surely be doing the opposite. (Though I guess if I kept the 5 long enough it would start going the other way - but its a 68 plate so that’s going to be a while)
Hated it, unlike some of the comments here, which are fair enough.
I drove one for a 120 mile journey, and ended up with a splitting headache. All heard from the engine was bzz bzz bzz! It drove me to distraction and stopped me from wanting it.
As a comparison my recently departed ND was far superior in every way.
I can understand your comments for sure. Depends what you’re after. I certainly wouldn’t want to daily my old S2000 and never did. It’s a special weekend car which feels raw, the engine needs worked hard which is a joy in the right environment, but definitely not for commuting. Given the ND is a 15 year newer design, it’s always going to be more refined and competent, just lacks that sparkle and special feeling.
Well I dont use it daily daily - I commute 3 days a week generally. But then a while back I was using my Starion to commute - which wasnt ideal - but I didnt have any choice. (Now its the opposite and I dont use it nearly as often as I should - most because the MX-5 is parked in front of it and it would mean moving that first..)
My old NC was pretty noisy too though.
Whats the wind noise like with the roof down in a 2000. My ND seemed a little louder than than my NC - but both not too bad. Not bad enough to stop me putting the roof down unless its raining anyway 
Difficult to remember as I sold my S2000 6 years ago, but don’t recall either being bad. Both my NC & S2000 have\had the extended perspex wind deflector which helps.
S2000 heating was amazing, but MX-5 has heated seats. Although I did retrofit heated seats in my S2000.
Is the “tail happy” thing a myth and more down to it being a high revver?
My nephew had two, an early one not long after launch and yes, he reported it had a tail like a demented puppy sausage dog whern the Vtec kicked in, However, that ( seemingly) was dialled out later on, and he kept it for 6 years. Huge improvement but I cannot recall which production run now.
Never had an issue with mine, but it was a facelift car (2004 onwards). Good alignment and sticky tyres and it’ll be fine. The don’t have much power or torque to light up the rear wheels so you have to be doing something pretty silly to overpower things. No traction\stability control in the S2000, but not required as long as you have some experience of RWD cars.
Correct.
Absolutely any rear-wheel drive car can be forced into being tail-happy!
I proved this by wearing out the back tyres in only 600 miles on my Mum’s already ancient and utterly worn-out RWD 1951 Morris Minor. After that I was more circumspect, trying not to be seen misbehaving.
And later on, drifting the back around all the roundabouts (long gone) on the old A40 out of London in 1969-71 (in my old Mk2 Farnham Estate Zodiac and then Humber Hawk IV) allowed much quicker progress because braking was often unnecessary. Both those ancient RWD heaps were heavy and underpowered compared with a modern car, let alone a gloriously excitable S2000.
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I have a Starion - doesnt take much provking to get the tail out on that (which pleases me - though can be a little scary in the wet if you get overconfident)
What ive read about the S2000 is that the later AP 2 models are for more managable to drive though.
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I bought one back in March after selling a Lotus Elise and before that an NA MX-5.
Its a 2005 model so misses the high tax bracket but gets the facelift and nicer wheels in my opinion.
I fancied an NC but knew I would want a little more performance so chose the S2000.
Its not as nimble as the NA but still a very similar experience, it feels like a car that wants to have its neck wrung at every opportunity.
I must admit to being slightly underwhelmed at the engine, sure its an iconic unit and really does sing when its at 9000 Rpm but that does become a bit tiring.
I have recently installed an Intake to try and liven it up a bit drama wise as its very subdued as standard.
Still a great fun car to drive and the gearbox is superb.
Does suffer with similar rust issues to an MX-5 so you need to take care if your spending big on one.
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The later models benefitted from chassis/suspension improvements and the addition of VSA helped with traction control in dicey scenarios.
But yes, a proper geo setup and quality tyres will make the most difference - second only perhaps to driver competence.
Test drove a couple years ago,it felt like a shopping car until you hit 5,800 revs then it just took off like a scalded cat.Which is why I think so many get bent, in slippy conditions it a bit lethal when that VTEC suddenly kicks in.
How does the gearbox compare to the NCs?
S2000 wins, but not much in it to be fair, both right up there. One thing to note is the S2000 ratios are taller, in addition to the extended rev range means with the MX-5 you can enjoy changing gear more often.