Thursday 29th October 2015

Honda S2000: Catch it While You Can

One of the most undervalued used sports cars is finally being appreciated, it seems...

---

OK, the Mazda MX-5 is the most obvious choice if you're after a two-seater sports car. Nothing approaches it for value, but the MX-5 does lack ultimate pace and excitement.

240hp, 9,000rpm and reliable? Yes!

Luckily there's another Japanese roadster that solves the MX-5's lack of spine-tingliness, and in spectacular style. How else could you describe the Honda S2000, a car with one of the all-time great naturally aspirated four-cylinder engines?

The stats speak for themselves. 240hp from 2.0 litres (the highest power-per-litre NA engine on sale at the time), an ability to rev beyond 9,000rpm and 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds. Another stat: the S2000 regularly tops customer satisfaction and reliability tables in surveys. It is a Honda, after all.

Rare - and usually unmolested
Some 7,898 cars were imported to the UK between 1999 and 2009. Most of these are still on the road, although a certain proportion have spat themselves definitively off the road: early examples do have a reputation for, ah, twitchy handling. Some rear-drive fans actually like this trait, but if you prefer lane-keeping over lairiness, post-2004 cars have bigger 17in wheels, slower steering and suspension tweaks to ease this, while stability control became optional in 2006.

Steering slowed in 2004 facelift

Like so many Japanese performance cars these days, originality is prized and mods are frowned upon. Luckily, most S2000s have remained standard - and these days, buyers are seeking well-kept, OE cars with a full service history.

Depreciation-proof?
Prices have definitely firmed up of late. In fact they're very much on the increase, not just for good 'uns but even not-so-good ones, of which there seem to be fewer these days. Another candidate for depreciation-proof motoring, then.

Not so long ago you could find S2000s for as little as £4,000 (and there were lots around at the £6K mark), but today the very cheapest S2000 in the classifieds is £5,600, and that's for a 128,000-mile car with a number of mods and scuffed bodywork. The minimum sensible price entry point for S2000 ownership today is more like £8K-£9K, where quite a few cars are priced.

The GT model is desirable with its removable hardtop (make sure yours has the stand and bag that goes with it), but you shouldn't pay significantly extra for one. A one-owner 84K-mile GT with a striking red leather interior looks good value to me at £8,350.

More sombre colours less desirable

Go up a bit and you're into 'keeper' territory. £11,993 gets you a 50K-mile, two-owner, full history car. It's 2004 (and therefore pre-VED increase - which is significant as CO2 emissions of 236g/km push it into a painful tax band). It's also in the unloved shade of Moonrock grey metallic.

Unloved shade? Maybe - S2000s really look best in bold colours like blue, orange and - as with this example - yellow. £13,993 may seem a bit strong for a 2006 but the Indy Yellow Pearl paint with black leather trim looks superb, and the car seems to be in fantastic condition, with a full history.

Quite a few S2000s are now creeping up to the £15K mark, with the top price in the classifieds currently no less than £19,950 for an ultra-low mileage (4,700-mile) car with a full Honda history.

Is this over-the-top for a nine-year old car with a design dating from the 20th century? I'd argue not: if you pay £10K-£15K for a low-mileage S2000 with history and look after it, it's hard to see how you can go wrong.

 

[Boulders]

I still miss mine dreadfully, even six years later!! I don't think we shall see their like again 😞
GY03 YHC Where are you now??

[Boulders]

MIP1983 said:

Boulders said:

I still miss mine dreadfully, even six years later!! I don't think we shall see their like again ?? http://thumbsnap.com/5KFupHz4
GY03 YHC Where are you now??

Looks like you had the roof elastic issue that stops the soft top folding down all the way. Easily fixed though.


I miss mine, enjoyed 6+ years of ownership and then like the absent minded fool I am, backed it though a hedge into a field on a wet n orrible day.

I've gone over to a Z4 3.0si now (can this one appreciate in value too plz?). The extra torque is welcome, and it feels like a more expensive car, but I'll always have a soft spot for the s2k.

The S2000 'UK exhaust mod' is essential, so much lovely character and sound (without drone) to unleash with a small section of pipe.

Edited by MIP1983 on Thursday 29th October 11:29

Actually I think it was just the sub zero temperature that day that stopped it folding all the way down! (See the frost in the background!