| The 30-mile stretch from Willits to Ft.
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| | small, rigid steering wheel and short-
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| Bragg along Highway 20 in
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| | throw gearbox afford plenty of
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| Northern California is an ideal place to
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| | excitement. The vehicle maneuvers well
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| drive a sports car. The two-lane
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| | through traffic and despite its small
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| road offers tight switchbacks, extended
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| | size, has great balance and little
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| flat stretches and plenty of
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| | body lean or wavering in the proximity
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| climbs and descents.On a warm, spring
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| | of 18-wheelers.The convertible top works
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| day and with a convertible top down,
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| | easily. The routine includes unhooking or
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| anyone who
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| |
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| enjoys the combination of shifting
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| | hooking two side top latches and
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| gears, fresh air and the open road will
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| | engaging one electric console switch.
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| thrive on the route. It's a drivers'
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| | The top seals tightly and folds well.The
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| nirvana tucked among forests of
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| | S2000's standard interior and exterior
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| Redwood trees and rolling hills.And so
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| | features include: leather-
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| it was recently when my wife and I spent
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| | trimmed seats, AM/FM/CD stereo system,
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| a getaway weekend.
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| | air-conditioning, cruise
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| We drove the segment twice en route and
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| | control, power window and door locks,
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| returning from the Mendocino/
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| | remote mounted audio controls,
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| Ft. Bragg coastline to Sacramento in a
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| | aluminum pedals, dual exhaust and Xenon
|
| 2005 Honda S2000.The two-seat
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| | HID headlights.The console is nicely
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| convertible, unchanged from its 2004
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| | appointed. It's tight on space, but
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| debut, is Honda's
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| | there's a small,
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| only sports car, and it adds a pure-fun
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| | lockable vertical glove box between the
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| component to the popular
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| | seat backs and another push-
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| manufacturers' line of efficient,
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| | button storage area between the front
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| well-designed sedans, SUVs, vans and
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| | seats.The trunk will hold two medium,
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| hybrid vehicles.For my weekly drive, I
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| | soft-side duffel bags and a few other
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| had 4-cyclinder, 240-horsepower,
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| | small items like a purse and small
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| 2.2-liter, 16-
| |
| | backpack. But the trunk won't hold
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| valve, six-speed model that includes a
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| | much of anything unless the trunk cover
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| power soft top and 17-inch alloy
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| | is left behind.Just like the 2004 model,
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| wheels. With its bright (Rio Yellow
| |
| | the current S2000 has a few overt
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| Pearl) paint, black top, black interior
| |
| | drawbacks.
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| and sleekly contoured exterior, the
| |
| | There's very little interior room, the
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| vehicle immediately attracted
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| | seating material is less than
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| attention.Two fellow gas station patrons
| |
| | comfortable and the car's quietness or
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| offered compliments. The driver of the
| |
| | lack of quietness is perplexing.The S2000
|
| identical car and his passenger offered
| |
| | is considerably more noisy with the top
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| an enthusiastic wave when I
| |
| | up than it is with the
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| passed them on one afternoon's solo
| |
| | top down. And with the top up, there are
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| oceanfront drive. And several
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| | driver's corner blind spots.
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| other pedestrians and drivers offered
| |
| | Further, the car's suspension absorbs
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| praises.Yet the S2000, while offering a
| |
| | little; every road bump and can be
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| wonderful appearance, also presents a
| |
| | felt by driver and passenger. Entering
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| varying mix of sports-car niceties and
| |
| | and exiting the S2000 defines
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| disappointments as a practical
| |
| | well the "crouch-and-crawl"
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| vehicle.The positives are numerous: The
| |
| | method.Still, the S2000 is a formidable
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| six-speed transmission shifts nicely
| |
| | offering. Its good looks are
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| through gears. Acceleration tests for
| |
| | eye-catching,
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| this year weren't available, but the
| |
| | and its shortcomings can be overlooked
|
| 2.0-liter model from 2004 was given a
| |
| | if their buyer's desire is sports-
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| 6.7-second mark in its 0-60 mph
| |
| | car fun, not vehicle practicality.
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| test. The tight, conforming seats,
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| |
|
