Getting in and adjusting the seat. At about 177cm tall, I could get a proper driving position with no discomfort. The seat height can’t be adjusted, but it was just right for my eye level.
The clutch is light and shallow, and shifts are crisp. Starting the engine, it makes a typical kei car buzzing sound, but with the engine right behind you, the raw engine sound is quite nice.
Engaging the clutch and starting off, the clutch feels supple, not abrupt, seamlessly connecting from slipping to fully engaged. Shifting through 2nd and 3rd gears, we flowed through the Royu Hoden S Curves. This section is a good test of a car’s character by how rhythmically and comfortably you can drive it.
The initial turn-in felt a bit mild, but once in the corner, the midship layout really shows. The car pivots around its center point, rotating smoothly through the corner. This feeling is really close to the Boxster. The engine position truly defines the car’s character.
Unlike the Roadster, which leans outward under load, here the initial corner entry has a slight floaty roll, but then it stays almost flat and powers through. This cornering posture is unique to mid-engine cars.
The tires are Yokohama ADVAN NEOVA AD08R stock, with plenty of grip. The car is very light, so I expected it might feel twitchy in a bad way, but it didn’t. Rather, the body feels solid and stiff, with excellent tire contact and confident cornering. The light body lets you flow rhythmically through consecutive corners.
In that sense, it feels like you’re gliding through corners.
The 660cc turbo engine isn’t fast in absolute terms, but if you keep it revving in a lower gear, it’s quite lively. Still, I wish it had a bit more power. I’d love to see a sibling model like an S1000.
The engine sound isn’t loud, but with the engine right behind, you hear mechanical and exhaust notes that are rhythmically pleasant. I later learned you can lower the rear window, which apparently makes the sound even better.
Shifting is very smooth. It’s not as crisp as the S2000, but shifts are quick and precise. Even if you miss a bit on rev matching during downshifts, it snaps in cleanly with minimal shock. The Boxster requires more precise rev matching to avoid shift shock, so this is very easy to drive.
Overall, it’s small and easy to handle. On relatively narrow winding roads like the Royu Esses, you don’t have to worry about crossing the center line or hitting cat’s eyes, so you can drive with peace of mind. It’s mentally much less stressful.
What impressed me most about the S660 was the brakes. They are very effective and controllable. Among all Japanese cars I’ve driven, these are by far my favorite. There’s no mushiness or excessive play, just a crisp feel. I later found out it has 260mm disc brakes front and rear, which explains the solid feedback.
The brake modulation is done by pedal force, not stroke length. I’m not exaggerating when I say the feel is very close to Porsche brakes. Lightly resting your foot and gradually pressing gives smooth braking, making speed control before corners very easy and reassuring.
I used to own a Kawasaki KLX125 motorcycle, which I really liked among my bike collection. It had a reliable but slightly underpowered engine that you could rev hard, and a light frame that was fun to throw around in any situation.
The S660 shares that spirit.
If you try to use this car for everything, you might struggle with cargo space, and long highway grand touring might be tiring due to the small engine.
But if you have local winding roads or mountain passes nearby and can afford a second car, I highly recommend the S660.
The first car I ever drove was a Honda, and I used to have a lot of fun driving my friends’ Civics and CR-Xs. I’ve always liked the brand. Recently, with the focus on kei and eco cars, and regular cars becoming more Americanized, some longtime Honda fans might lament the lack of appealing cars to buy.
I’m one of those people.
However, driving the S660 confirmed that the classic Honda spirit still lives on. Honda, please keep making cars that touch the hearts of longtime fans like me, without stopping or canceling them due to short-term business ups and downs. I look forward to what’s next.