Drive it like you hate it. Critics agree that, traditionally, that’s the best way to wring every ounce of performance out of the Honda S2000. And while the modifications for the 2004 model year make it easier to access the S2000’s power and handling, this is still a raw machine that performs best when flogged to within an inch of its life.

Despite suspension modifications designed to make it easier on the backside, the S2000 produces a rough ride, and though docile enough thanks to its lower power peak, is tiring when driven in city traffic. Get the car off the urban grid and into the countryside, and the fun-to-drive factor improves exponentially. Above 6,500 rpm, the Honda S2000 is a rocket, a mechanical symphony accompanying every run to the red. The clutch is easy to operate, heel-and-toe downshifting is simple, and the gearbox is tight and fluid with ultra-short throws, making the S2000 a delight to run hard. It possesses exceptional brake pedal feel, balance, and stamina. The steering is quick with excellent heft, and the suspension communicates every nuance of the road surface through the pedals and the seats. Indeed, the Honda S2000 feels hard-wired to your nervous system, responding instantly to inputs – sometimes almost too quickly.

As much fun as the S2000 is, it’s got a few flaws. The quick steering can make the car feel almost darty with even the slightest lapse in concentration, and because it’s a drive-by-wire system there’s no real road feel coming up through the steering column. Everything the driver learns about the road surface comes through his feet and butt. We also noticed that the current S2000 exhibits more body lean and understeer than we recall from the original recipe car, and that the Bridgestones feel a little greasy at the limit. Maybe these traits make the Average Joe more comfortable with the S2000’s performance envelope, but honestly, our favorable memories of the admittedly more unpredictable 2000-2003 model recall a sharper handling automobile.