Is A Honda S2000 A Good First Car?

The S2k is not a very good vehicle for novice drivers. Danger: RWD + Immaturity. A 16-year-old might want to push the car down every on-ramp and off-ramp, I suppose. gradually approaching the limit until one day the automobile begins to bite back.

Are S2000s suitable for daily driving?

Absolutely, yes! Drive an S2000 or any other sports automobile that suits your needs if you wish to! There is nothing better than approaching every corner and motorway onramp like Ayrton Senna, aside from normal commuting. After all, life is too short to spend every day in a Honda Element.

Is an S2000 worth purchasing?

A fantastic high-performance roadster that is practical for regular driving is the Honda S2000.

For aficionados of sports cars and roadsters, the late 1990s and early 2000s were a brilliant time, as numerous fantastic models, including the Nissan 350z, Mazda MX-5, and of course the Honda S2000, were debuted. The Honda S2000 is still extremely desirable because it is still one of the best sports cars you can buy.

It’s a fantastic alternative for anyone seeking for a used roadster because to its renowned VTEC engine and classic design. There are a few drawbacks to purchasing an automobile that is 22 years old, though, because of its age. Before purchasing a Honda S2000, consider the ten items listed below.

Can you trust a Honda S2000?

The S2000 continues Honda’s tradition of building some of the world’s most dependable automobiles. The S2000 has shown to be a dependable mode of transportation, whether you use it daily or as a weekend warrior, despite its high-revving engine and aggressive suspension. Even better, because the S2000 is still a Honda, replacement parts are still widely accessible and reasonably priced.

On its reliability assessment, Repair Pal even gave the Honda S2000 four out of five stars. The only maintenance required, according to CarZing, is an oil change around every 6,000 miles, which serves as additional support. Of course, once the automobile has accumulated 150,000 miles, other maintenance tasks like clutch replacement, brake work, and perhaps strut replacement may be required. However, there have been numerous accounts of S2000 owners logging 300,000 or more miles on their vehicles without any significant problems.

In fact, a Road and Track editor just bought a Honda S2000 with more than 300,000 miles on it. He claimed that the vehicle runs “amazingly” and that no significant repairs are required because everything is “tight and calibrated.”

When should S2000 be purchased?

What years are ideal for purchasing? Truth be said, there is no undisputed “best year S2000. On paper, the 2002 and later versions should be chosen because they have updated suspension and glass back windows.

Are S2000s uncommon?

Honda sold only 700 S2000 CR models, making them exceedingly rare. Due to their scarcity and assortment of track-focused improvements, they have increased in value over the past five years from being $30,000 cars to six-figure collectors. In addition to having unique wheels, a quicker steering rack, stiffer suspension, revised aero, extra chassis bracing, and a one-piece detachable hardtop roof, CR models also received these upgrades.

This one, which has 123 kilometers on the odometer and is finished in yellow over black Alcantara and cloth, looks the part. The interior is in excellent condition, and the body panels and roof piece appear to be in flawless condition. The car’s engine compartment and underside appear to have never been touched by the outside world, which is not unexpected given that it has only traveled an average of 8.7 miles annually since it was first delivered in 2008.

Currently, a similarly equipped CR that sold for $122,500 on Bring a Trailer back in February 2022 has the distinction of most valued S2000 in the world. However, the mileage on that vehicle was 5500 when it was sold. Rahal’s CR, has already been bid up to $111,111 at the time of this writing, with three days remaining to bid.

Rahal has relocated an S2000 using the Bring a Trailer platform before. The six-time IndyCar race winner paid $48,000 back in 2018 for a pristine 2000 S2000 painted in red with 1000 kilometers on the odometer. The next year, he earned $70,000 by auctioning off a 91-mile example.

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An S2000 can go how fast?

That seems possible. The answer is a resounding “No” for a factory-built Honda S2000. An S2000’s 2.2-liter VTEC four-cylinder engine produces a maximum output of 237 horsepower, allowing it to go from 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds and reach a top speed of about 149 mph.

Stuart Leiby of T1 Racing Development participated in the Indianapolis Airstrip Attack competition, which was run by Shift S3ctor, as shown in a video uploaded to YouTube by 1320video. Leiby had been running at speeds in excess of 190 mph. He was actually able to reach a speed of 199.6 mph on one run (based on his Dragy meter).

Why is S2000 such a hit?

First of all, that engine contributed to the mythology of the S2000. When you first start the car, this might not seem to be the case because it doesn’t seem to show anything exceptional as you wait for it to reach idle. You continue to apply some revs while pondering the fuss. However, the S2000 really starts to become truly unique until you find that redline and begin to drive it seriously. The S2000 had a normally aspirated production automobile engine with the highest specific output ever recorded. Remember that the engine produces 124 horsepower per liter—without a turbocharger or supercharging.

The engine is connected to the absolutely stunning manual transmission. For years, people have waxed poetic about this gearbox, but the truth is that it is just that amazing. According to publications like Top Gear, the mechanical connection you feel between the engine and the gears may perhaps be the greatest available right now. In the S2000, changing gear is an event rather than just a procedure. At high rpm, you can shift into the next gear quickly, or when softly cruising, you can shift into the next gear gradually. Honda did a fantastic job pairing the engine and transmission.

Honda S2000: Is it a collectible?

Due to their high level of intelligence, today’s drivers view their vehicles as more than just means of transportation. Many people are searching the area to determine which vehicle will become the next collectible in the future. The worth of so many vehicles has recently taken us by surprise; these are vehicles that were taken for granted when they were new but are now fetching millions at auction. Here are some reasons why the S2000 is a sure thing to become valuable in the future.

Which AP1 or AP2 S2000 is superior?

The AP1 is distinguished from the AP2 by its smaller weight and stiffer spring rates. By remaining as true to the race car design as feasible, weight was reduced. To reduce weight, items like a plastic back window were employed in place of a glass windowpane.

Will the S2000 gain in worth?

The Hagerty Valuation team has learned a lot about the most recent Honda S2000 transaction prices, so please check here for the most recent values. The most recent data update shows no significant price increases. Cars that would be classified as #1 (Concours, or “best-in-the-world examples”) and #2 (Excellent) have remained unchanged over the past four months, but #3 (Good) and #4 (Fair) have increased by 2%.

S2000 levels, however, have dramatically increased over a longer time period. In 2013, when we first formally began keeping track of S2000 values, cars in #2 (Excellent) condition were typically valued at $24,000. The average price of an S2000 is $29,500 as of February 2021, a 23 percent increase. If that seems excessive, it’s because the majority of the gain is the result of soaring prices for cars in condition #1 (Concours) and #2 (Excellent).

The value of AP1 cars is often a little higher than that of AP2 cars. A 2003 S2000 with 855 miles was sold by Mecum in 2018 for $71,500. (Mileage is important for these really expensive autos.) A 1000-mile New Formula Red S2000 from the first model year that sold on Bring A Trailer for $48K has a similar backstory.

Over the past three years, AP1 vehicle insurance quotes have increased by 103%, and over the past five years, they have increased by 257%. Additionally, agreed values have increased by 15% over the past five years and 17% over the past three years.

The demographics of S2000 ownership should reveal a lot if you’re curious in how young people feel about vehicles today. Baby boomers possess 40% of the market for vintage cars overall, but 35% of the S2000s insured with Hagerty. Although millennials only account for 18% of the vintage automobile market, our data reveals that 31% of S2000 owners fall into that age group.

Only 66,860 of these vehicles were ever imported into the country, and many of them suffered damage over the years. The newest and oldest of these vehicles are each twelve years old. Spend some time finding an excellent one that you’ll like to drive. There aren’t many vehicles available at this price bracket that provide this level of driving enjoyment. Find the S2000 in the greatest condition you can afford, and you should have years of enjoyment from your investment!

How durable are S2000 engines?

The now-famous Honda F20C is the engine found beneath the hood of the AP1 Honda S2000. The F20C’s 9,000 rpm RPM limiter is likely its most illustrious feature. As a result, the F20C is one of the most powerful production engines ever installed in a vehicle. This preserves the legacy of its forebears as well, since the S600 tops the list of production engines with the greatest maximum revs thanks to its 9,500 rpm restriction. Let’s look at the renowned F20C’s specifications.

The F20C engine is lightweight because its cylinder head and engine block were both manufactured from an aluminum alloy. It has four valves per cylinder and is an inline four-cylinder engine. It has a dual overhead camshaft design and includes multi-port electronic fuel injection as standard. It also includes VTEC, Honda’s renowned variable valve timing technology.

The 240 horsepower and 153 lb.-ft. of torque of the F20C delivered in the US. It features an 11 to 1 compression ratio. The F20C model sold in Japan’s domestic market (JDM) had a little higher compression ratio of 11.7 to 1, which gave it a little bit more power.

250 horsepower and 161 lb.-ft. of torque are available in the JDM version. The F20C had the highest power per liter of any engine ever developed at the time of its debut.

Honda engines are known for being incredibly dependable, and the F20C is no exception. A Honda S2000 engine may operate for well over 200,000 miles if properly maintained. A few S2000s have accumulated more than 300,000 kilometers, as well.

What number of S2000s exist?

Honda’s S2000 sports car, introduced for the 2000 model year, gained popular right away for these and many other factors. Before discontinuing the model at the end of 2009, Honda sold more than 66,000 of the roughly 111,000 units produced globally in the United States.

The S2000 does not feature Bluetooth.

Bluetooth Car Interface Built-In Honda S2000 2000 upgrades the factory-installed car radio by adding Hands Free Calling and Wireless Audio. The device has a microphone and Bluetooth built in.