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 S2000 so unique?

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 good investment?

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.

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.

Is the S2000 a classic vehicle?

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.

Why is the S2000 so adored by people?

The first and most important justification is the engine. Actually, there are 9,000 reasons why you should buy an S2000. The F20C engine’s four-cylinder, 16-valve VTEC configuration can reach 9,000 rpm, giving the modest roadster access to a select club that is primarily made up of supercars.

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.

Will S2000 continue to appreciate?

It’s difficult to believe that the value of a well-loved S2000 won’t keep increasing as long as it keeps up its good condition, even though not every ancient Honda is destined to have an appreciating path that drives its price to the moon. It’s not just your typical economy Honda, after all.

The Honda S2000, which debuted for the 1999 model year, is the company’s sports roadster from the 1960s, the S600.

According to Motor Trend, several Honda divisions collaborated on the development of the S2000, from motorcycle engineers who built the four-cylinder engine to racing team engineers who designed the chassis, which accounts for the redline of 9,000 RPM. Honda created the S2000 as a competitive alternative to vehicles like the Porsche Boxster and the BMW Z4. According to Motor Trend’s research, it not only holds its own in real-world testing but also outperforms both German rivals.

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 S2000 color is the rarest?

Right now, there is a great deal of uncertainty in the world. We’ve briefly discussed the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the world auto market, but for many auction organizations, it’s either sink or swim. Live auctions that were scheduled for the spring or summer have been pushed back until the fall or switched to being conducted only online, as will be the case with RM’s upcoming Essen sale in June and its next Palm Beach auction in late March.

Little seems to have changed at Bring a Trailer in the meanwhile. A 2008 Honda S2000 CR sold last week for $80,325 with buyer’s premium. By surpassing a never-driven, never-registered AP1 that sold for more than $70,000 the previous year, that vehicle set a record. Why did this S2000 sell for more than double its $37,000 MSRP and 34% more than the typical #1-condition (Concours) value?

The listing made it obvious that this car was unique. One was that this CR had barely covered 1300 kilometers. In addition, the vehicle was first owned by Honda’s American division before being sold to a worker.

Between the 2008 and 2009 model years, fewer than 700 S2000 CRs were built. The S2000 CR only offered air conditioning and radio as options, doing away with the standard car’s spare tire to cut weight and lower the center of gravity. These options make this CR less uncommon but more bearable. Less than ten percent of CRs had the dual delete option. The rarest color of the automobile, with just 90 produced, is Grand Prix White, not this one. It has an interior that is two-toned yellow and black with Alcantara trim, much like all CRs.

This S2000 is immaculate. The plastic air dam under the front fenders has several toothpick-sized scratches on it, which is the only imperfection that can be seen in the images. Not even 13 miles or 1300 miles seem to have been driven in the car.

Many viewers of the auction who left comments on Bring a Trailer expressed disappointment that this car wasn’t driven. I disagree with that viewpoint. As the engineers expected, the majority of S2000 CRs were driven hard. This vehicle, at a specific point in its past, was one of the few CRs of museum-caliber. It would have been inappropriate to remove it from the wrapping at that time. It belongs in a museum, and I’m going to agree with Indiana Jones on this.

If this sale is proof of anything, it’s that desirable cars in excellent condition still fetch high prices. That isn’t only accurate for Bring a Trailer. A 1950 Jaguar XK120 offered in RM’s online-only Palm Beach auction sold for $143,000, four grand more than the $139,000 industry average for Concours-quality vehicles. Many consumers are naturally hesitant to enter the market at the moment, but some are still eager to spend money when the right vehicle comes along.

Honda S2000s are 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).

Why did Honda discontinue 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.