Eddie’s 2006 Honda S2000

What’s your name and what do you do for a living?

Eddie Borges - I’m a union laborer and a real estate agent.

When did you realize you were a car person? Was there a moment or a car that did it for you?

When I was a kid, my dad and his friends would go to the track together, and I loved tagging along to watch the races.

Tell us about your S2000—what year is it, and how did it end up with you?

It’s a 2006 and actually my second S2000.
Back in 2018, I was searching for another one after my first was totaled in a rainstorm. I spent a few months looking online and eventually found a listing on the S2Ki forum for the exact spec I wanted—located all the way in Oklahoma. I booked a one-way flight and took the 22-hour drive back home. The bond started instantly. I made it home with the car on February 9th, 2019.

Why the S2000? What made this the one for you?

To me, the S2000 was Honda’s answer to the legendary JDM cars of the late ’90s. Nissan had the Skyline, Mazda had the RX-7, Toyota had the Supra- and Honda had the NSX and Type R. But when the S2000 came out, it instantly stood out to me as a fan of Honda. Seeing it in movies and anime like Initial D, and watching touge and track videos online- especially builds from J’s Racing, Spoon, and AS- made me fall in love with the platform and its capabilities.

You’ve done a few things to the exterior- it’s clean but stands out. What were you going for with the look?

Thank you! I was aiming for a subtle yet aggressive look. Everything I added serves a purpose- it’s all functional. The more you look at the car, the more details you’ll notice.

What’s one detail most people miss, but you really love?

Definitely the way my vented hood reveals the carbon fiber intake. It’s a subtle touch that’s easy to miss but really satisfying to see.

Do you track it or mostly keep it on the street? If you’ve tracked it, where do you go?

I’ve tracked it a few times and absolutely love taking it to the mountains for the scenery and winding roads. So far, I’ve taken it to New York Safety Track (NYST) and Raceway Park. Work keeps me busy, but I’d love to hit as many tracks as possible in the future.

What’s it like driving it when the road opens up and you’re fully in it?

It’s a feeling I never get tired of- the exhaust note at high RPMs, the way it grips the road, and how the bucket seats hold you in place. It’s my favorite place to be.

Tell us a bit about the S2000 scene in NYC- do you feel part of a crew or is it more solo for you?

I love the S2000 scene. I actually started a group chat for all the S2000 owners I meet around the tri-state area. We organize meetups and drives together. Everyone’s super supportive and brings great energy. We are currently at 113 S2000s in the chat.

If you could add one more Japanese car to the garage, what would it be—and why?

Definitely an FD RX-7. The first car I ever fell in love with was a first-gen RX-7 my dad owned. The idle, the way it screamed on the road- it was everything to me. The FD was my dream car for years, until I drove an S2000 and didn’t want the rotary headaches. But if reliability wasn’t a factor, I’d absolutely love to have both in the garage.

Do you have a go-to mechanic or tuner you trust with the car? Someone you’d recommend?

I have a good friend who helps me with anything I can’t handle myself, but I enjoy doing most of the work on my own. One of my best friends handles all the bodywork and paint. Since I drive the car a lot and have the rock chips and stress cracks to prove it, he refreshes it often.

As for S2000-specific recommendations: Brad from S2KTakeover. He’s super knowledgeable and does great work from what I’ve seen firsthand.