Just inside the main entrance to Pebble Beach, Calif., the road makes a sweeping, downhill, left-hand turn. It's the beginning of a 3 1/2-mile stretch along the 17-Mile Drive and it's an ideal place to test drive a car.

Abrupt turns and steep, short ascents and descents dominate the route as it progresses past high-profile, oceanfront homes. I've driven the route more than 100 times, but it's never been more enjoyable than during the several recent journeys I made on the circuit en route to Pebble Beach Golf Links. My weekly drive was the 2006 Honda S2000.

Introduced in late 1999 as a 2000 model, the two-seat convertible is now in its seventh edition and it's third year as a convertible. Honda hasn't changed the vehicle much since 2004. But there aren't many reasons to alter a car that offers exactly what sports car enthusiasts like — a quick, tight-cornering, pure-fun ride.

For 2006, the main addition to the S2000 is an anti-skid system that's engaged by the driver. The console and seats have also been improved.

I've driven the past three editions of Honda's only sports car, and the vehicle just keeps getting more enjoyable. It's not perfect, but what sports car fancier would want that? The S2000, like other vehicles in the same category, is short on cargo room, it has a rough ride and it's noisy.

Then again, the S2000 is a sheer joy to drive. Since its 2004 major upgrades that included 16 to 17-inch wheels, a 2.0 to 2.4-liter engine boost and an upgraded suspension, the S2000 offers fine acceleration and near perfect steering and handling. And that's exactly what sports car fanatics are seeking.

Honda keeps the S2000 offering simple: The only powertrain is the 237-horsepower, engine with a six-speed manual transmission. The car has a 0-60 mph rating of 6.7 seconds. Add the tight, conforming leather seats, a small, rigid steering wheel and a short-throw gearbox, and the cars affords plenty of excitement. The vehicle maneuvers well through traffic and despite its small size, it has great balance and little body lean or wavering in the proximity of 18-wheelers.

The S2000 also has a nicely contoured body design. Its front and rear bumpers and lights were restyled in 2003. The interior is a combination of efficiency of space and homage to racing vehicles.

The S2000's RRM
and gas tank volume graphic bars are the type used in Formula 1 racing cars. In fact, combined with the large digital MPH readout, the instrumentation is void of traditional needle-style readings. Similar to other racing cars, the S2000 also has a push-button ignition that's engaged when the key is in the start position.

The leather-trimmed upholstery, high-intensity headlamps, AM/FM/CD stereo system, air-conditioning, cruise control, power window and door locks, remote mounted audio controls, aluminum pedals, dual exhaust and Xenon HID headlights are standard. A removable aluminum hardtop is optional, but side airbags are not available.

Overall space is at a premium, but that's good and bad. The shifting box, audio system, small vertical, locked console storage compartment and all other instrumentation is in close proximity.

But as a 6-foot, 185-pound driver, the comfort level waned after a few hours on the road. Likewise, entering and exiting the vehicle is best accomplished with the "crouch-and-crawl" method. Surprisingly, while the trunk compartment is hardly spacious, but it offers enough room for two soft-sided weekend luggage bags

One oddity: Since the convertible top is not insulated, the car drives with less bothersome noise with the top down than it does with the top up.

The convertible top works easily. The routine includes unhooking or hooking two side top latches and engaging one electric console switch. The top seals tightly and folds well. The rear windshield is sturdy glass with both defrost and heat functions.

Like its predecessors and other two-seat sports cars, practicality is nonexistent with the S2000. Driving fun is what the vehicle is all about, particularly when the top's down on a sunny, fall day and with the  Pacific Ocean and Pebble Beach just around the bend.

Safety Features — Driver and passenger front-seat airbags; Antilock brakes.

Fuel Mileage (estimates) — 20 (city), 26 (highway).  Premium-grade fuel required.

Warranty — Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Powertrain, 5 years/60,000 miles; Corrosion, 5 years/unlimited miles.

Base Price — $34,050.00.