A 1000-Mile Honda S2000 Just Sold For Over $50,000
If money suddenly became no object you’d end up buying the cars you wanted most. Cars that simply light your candle, whether it’s a Ferrari Pista for sheer thrills or a musty Rover 75 Connoisseur because that’s the first car you can remember your dad shuttling you around in. Hell, it could even be a $50,000 Honda Civic Si. Nostalgia is a powerful driving force behind outwardly odd-looking buying decisions.
On that note, someone just paid $50,500 for a 2007 Honda S2000. The average schmoe would think the winner of this Bring A Trailer auction was wearing their brain upside down, but bidder Caryluskin clearly has the raging hots for an ultra-clean S2000. As a former owner of an early model, I can’t say I object.
Although it was hardly limited-edition exotica and the ‘no torque’ argument never went away, the S2000 was all the same special. Honda produced so many unique parts for that car alone and it was, in many eyes, a legend long before its inevitable demise. Chief among the S2000-specific elements was, of course, the engine. The 9000rpm F20C four-pot was electrifying long before the hybrid era kicked off properly.
For the 2004 model year North American cars were stroked up to 2.2 litres, fattening the torque curve slightly and pulling the 237bhp peak power down from 8300rpm (originally universal across all markets) to 7800rpm. The rev limiter dropped to 8200rpm. America wanted the highly-strung Honda to be a bit more accessible. The F22C1 was given a gold trim insert in the red rocker cover.
This particular car is in arguably the most common – but classic – colour combo. Silverstone paint wraps elegantly around black seats, a black roof and pristine 17-inch wheels. There’s a fundamental and ageless rightness in an S2000’s lines that, for this misty-eyed writer, makes it one of the finest and most underappreciated pieces of automotive design ever.
It seems to have been bought specifically to flip for profit; the seller having only acquired it in January from the original Texas-based owner. It comes with all of its original documents, though, and is as close to a brand new one as you’re likely to get. If I’d just won the lottery, I’d have paid whatever it took.
Comments
The world is mad.
S2000s are amazing cars, basically the handling of a Miata but an engine that actually makes decent power. 50k is a lot of money for an S2k now, but no doubt they will become even more valuable in the future. At least you won’t get gapped by a base model Honda Accord, unlike the people who spend that much money on an E30 325i.
If people are willing to pay that much for a mass produced JDM car, then I would definitely buy something like a Subaru STI RA or S209. Is it overpriced for what you get? Imo, definitely, especially since your stuck with that ancient fossil called the EJ. However, 10 years down the line you could probably sell it for more than you bought it.
What has jdm got to do with this?
It’s probably gonna be garage queen..
Meh, even if it reaches 500000, who cares?
It’s a case of “This pristine model sold for 100k, so I can sell my 200k km, beated, rusty and abused one for 15k”
The time from about 1995 - 2005 will always be the last golden car era. Modern enough to be reliable, well engineered and efficient. They still had the focus on giving the driver a great time driving it. I feel like the recent cars are just rolling computers with touchscreen desert and mandatory software updates. With all that driving assists that have the higher priority in many situations i just feel like an annoying factor and should be better off conecting my car to instagram and spotify.
And that kids, is why cars like the s2000 will always be popular
I don’t see how that is connected to anything. You can switch all of those systems in the new Mx-5, Golf GTi, Focus ST, Toyota Supra or the Mustang. The car doesn’t force you to use them.