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.
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What is the price of an S2000?
Pricing for a Used 2008 Honda S2000 According to the Fair Purchase Price price report, the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2008 Honda S2000 starts at roughly $35,000. This is virtually exactly what customers are paying the dealers.
What should I expect to pay for S2000?
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 much is a brand-new Honda S2000?
When the Honda S2000 first came out, we all knew it was a fun-handling, two-seater sports car, but many of us had no idea how much we would miss it once it was discontinued in 2009. You don’t think so? Look at any auction or car-purchasing website. S2000s are currently selling for significantly more than their initial $34,995 asking price.
Why is the Honda S2000 so expensive?
From 2000 through 2009, Honda produced the sports automobile known as the S2000. This car’s initial introduction was in 2000, and it was afterwards discontinued in 2009. On the used automobile market, the 2004 model is still accessible, although it costs a lot.
The 2004 Honda S2000’s high price is a result of its cult status as a legendary sports car. It looks amazing, provides excellent performance for a 2-seater roadster, and is currently hard to find. The used Honda S2000 is quite pricey because of its high demand and limited supply.
The Honda S2000 is renowned for its high-caliber performance in addition to its rarity. It’s a well-liked option for racing enthusiasts and thrill seekers searching for an economical sports car with excellent features. The engine’s output, which may exceed 240 horsepower, is much higher than that of a Mazda Miata.
What makes the S2000 unique?
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 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.
Will the Honda S2000 return?
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.
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.
Is an S2000 a reliable first vehicle?
The S2k is not a very good vehicle for novice drivers. Danger: RWD + Immaturity. A 16-year-old could want to push the car down every on-ramp and off-ramp, I can just picture that. gradually approaching the limit until one day the automobile begins to bite back.
What is a Honda S2000’s top speed?
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).
What distinguishes the AP1 from the AP2 S2000?
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.
Why was S2000 withdrawn from use?
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.