The likelihood that Honda will redesign the S2000 is apparent.
This is expected to occur in 2024, to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the original S2000, according to insider reports.
The next-generation Honda Civic Type R’s engine will likely power the S2000, but Honda supposedly wants to make the new car seem remarkably identical to the original (to the extent this is possible with modern requirements around safety etc).
In the interim, the original S2000 is the only convertible Honda sports car worth considering.
For more details on this fantastic car, see our Honda S2000 buyer’s guide and model history.
Do you anticipate Honda bringing the S2000 back? What additional Honda models would you like to see updated? Please feel free to comment below to start the conversation.
In This Article...
What caused Honda to stop making the S2000?
The Honda S2000, a lightweight roadster that was first introduced in 1999, immediately established a reputation as a formidable rival to the venerable Mazda MX-5 Miata. However, the S2000 was terminated in 2009 due to sluggish sales, and plans for a replacement were shelved due to the financial crisis, whilst its Japanese rival is still being produced today. Since 2015, there have been rumors about a second-generation model, and it currently appears that Honda is getting closer to producing a replacement to reenter the market and compete with the Mazda Miata.
Honda 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. At the time of writing, Rahal’s CR had received bids as high as $111,111, and there were still three days left to place them.
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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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.
S2000: What does it mean?
Honda, a Japanese automaker, produced the Honda S2000, an open-top sports car, from 1999 until 2009. To commemorate the company’s 50th anniversary, the production version of the SSM concept car was unveiled on April 15, 1999, at the Tokyo Motor Show. In keeping with the S500, S600, and S800 roadsters of the 1960s, the S2000 is called after its two-liter engine displacement.
Over the course of the vehicle’s manufacturing, numerous modifications were made, including adjustments to the interior, bodywork, suspension, engine, and gearbox. The initial launch model was given the chassis code AP1, and the facelifted model, known as the AP2 in North America and Japan, included considerable improvements to the drivetrain and suspension despite sharing a similar exterior. On August 19, 2009, the S2000’s manufacturing halted.
The Honda S2000 stood out for having the highest mass-produced naturally aspirated engine specific power output at roughly 124 horsepower per liter, or about two horsepower per cubic inch.
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Since then, the price of valued models in good condition of the S2000 has significantly increased, making it a legitimate example of a modern vintage automobile. Special edition productions, like the CR (Club Racer) in the USA market, are the most sought-after models in the JDM community and the automotive industry as a whole. Standard AP1 and AP2 vehicles have also turned into collectibles.
The S2000 is quick.
What Speed Is an S2000? The S2000’s 1,997cc inline four cylinder DOHC-VTEC engine produces 237247hp (depending on the market), allowing it to reach 100 km/h in about 6 seconds and reach a top speed of little over 255 km/h (158 mph).
What kind of power can an S2000 produce?
Power and Acceleration The S2000 has a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 162 pound-feet of torque at 6,800 rpm and 237 horsepower at 7,800 rpm.
Is buying an S2000 worthwhile?
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.
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. It’s a similar tale for a 1000-mile New Formula Red S2000 from the first model year, which sold on Bring A Trailer for $48K (mileage is essential for these super-high-value automobiles).
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!
Can you commute on an S2000?
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.
How durable are S2000 engines?
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.”
What is a Honda S2000’s top speed?
That seems possible. The answer is a resounding “No” in the case of a factory Honda S2000, which has a 2.2-liter VTEC four-cylinder engine with a maximum output of 237 horsepower and a peak 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).