In a now annual feature, the journalists at Car and Driver have been putting together a list of the best cars they’ve driven that are less than $20,000, and used Honda S2000s in New York come out near the top of the list.

Since they consider themselves enthusiasts, they have stuck with used cars since they are more affordable, and one that struck them as epitomizing affordable performance was the 2000-2006 model Honda S2000.

“In 1999, the S2000 screamed onto the scene and instantly elevated our sports-car expectations,” they noted. “The high-revving four-cylinder engine developed more power per liter than any naturally aspirated powerplant had ever achieved.”

Buyers could consider a 2006 model, which included a more refined engine and “agile” chassis that combined to offer a “high level of performance for the price” of a used Honda S2000 in New York, according to Edmunds.com editors.

“After driving it back-to-back against the best roadsters in its class, our editors couldn’t help but fall in love with [it],” they wrote.