When Honda announced that S2000 production was coming to an end, the reactions were wide and varied. You had people giving in and buying the car anticipating that the car’s value would only increase. You also had a huge group of proud owners determined to hold on to their cars and at the same time another group saddened that an era had come to an end. Make no mistake, by cancelling the NSX and stopping production on the S2000, Honda signaled that times have indeed changed.
While the debate on Honda’s new direction will be unending, the question that comes to our mind is to what extent one would go to find and source a part for their S2000. As days go by, it will be a matter of time before supplies dwindle. OEM hardtops are increasingly hard to come by and, when available, command a premium price.
It is likely that other parts will also become more difficult to source in the decades to come. In that situation, would you still be inclined to keep your S2000 running?
A time will come when new parts won’t be available, even if one is willing to pay a premium. The only option would be to purchase used parts or alternative parts that one may have to jerry-rig to keep their S2000 going, but even the used parts market may dry up eventually. What then?
Mercedes and Ferrari owners have it easy as they will always have factory support for any restoration or parts they need for their cars. We don’t foresee Honda getting into setting up a factory restoration service for older Honda models, primarily because the market for restoring older Hondas is not big enough. Forget Honda factory support, most dealerships have no clue how to handle an S2000 with care. Stories abound in the Tell Honda forum of nightmarish experiences at dealerships.
Ask any Honda owner (except S2000 owners) and nine times out of ten, we are sure they will consider their cars expendable. Who could fault them? It’s not like the Accord Crosstour or Jazz/Fit are classic designs that inspire owner pride. It will be partly Honda’s fault if someday its 50th anniversary gift to the world decomposes and rusts. That is because, although reliability has been the focus, Honda simply lacked the vision of building and maintaining heritage beyond the lip service they provide today.
There is a sliver of hope though. Older British sports cars like the Triumphs, MGs and Jaguars continue to run to this day owing to the dedication and stubbornness of their owners. If all of us, the S2000 owners of the world stuck together and remained united in our determination to keep the car running, our clout and market size could be large enough for a parts supplier to consider making parts for our car.
We suggest that you hold Shigeru Uehara-san’s words close to your heart and always keep the S2000 by your side, safe from harm. Don’t let the fact that a part is missing bother you. As long as the S2KI community holds together, we have no doubt that our cars will keep running. So now tell us, to what extent would you go to find a part to keep the S2000 running?
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on Apr 20th, 2011 at 10:24 am
Try owning a 1988 mazda 323 GTX, of which only 1200 or so were sold in north america…then you’ll know what “no parts available” means. We can still source OEM/NOS parts from mazda…at a premium. I expect Honda will still have a stock of NOS parts for the AP1/AP2.
on Apr 20th, 2011 at 10:35 am
there were 112,000 s2000s produced, parts will continue to be made for quite awhile. as long as there’s money to be made i doubt anyone will have a problem.
on Apr 20th, 2011 at 10:38 am
The only thing you really have to worry about is plastic parts like the head and taillights everything else can be fabbed or fixed and with the newer generations of 3d printers it’s only a matter of time until those can be recreated with ease.
Personally I’ve already started breaking the car down into it’s simplest form by removing parts I don’t need like the AC system. And when the engine finally goes it will be time to build a k swap.
on Apr 20th, 2011 at 10:48 am
This article is BS to stir hype and hysteria into helping board scalpers dump used parts well above what a buyer could get for new at any honda. S2000 parts are no where near scarce or limited. Hardtops are easy to come by and are only pulling the prices because most buyers are nieve and dont do any research before shelling out.
We have acouple jack asses on the forums that try to milk every red cent out of parts but hey, maybe they need every penny they can scrape.
on Apr 20th, 2011 at 10:49 am
Hey watch it with the Fit/Jass dissing there mister
You don’t know what unobtainable is until you’ve searched for Honda S600 parts… I doubt things will ever be that difficult for the S2000 – in my lifetime anyway
Like S600 parts, the S2000 parts will be more accessible in Japan for many years to come… however, if I win the lottery, one of the top things on my list to do, will be a huge garage and to start buying up as many replacement parts as I can get my hands on LOL!
on Apr 20th, 2011 at 10:52 am
My first car was a 1991 Toyota MR2 Turbo. Parts were pretty darn hard to come by and man did it need a lot of parts. Least reliable Toyota ever lol, but i loved it.
on Apr 20th, 2011 at 11:41 am
I’d get in touch with a Pirate of the Mediterranean. Those guys are resourceful
on Apr 20th, 2011 at 12:16 pm
Before the days of the internet I used to own a Triumph TR7 a notoriously unreliable but sporty britsh car. When Triumph went out of business there was a little factory support from British Leyland the parent company as they emptied out their remaining stock. It seemed every week the car would need a part and I’d have to call dealers and junk yards and sometimes travel to nearby states to get a part. I even stripped parts off a crashed abandoned car on the side of the road. In the days before the internet the search for parts would sometimes keep my car off the road for weeks. Now there are several companies that rebuild old parts and manufacture replica parts. There is a large community of guys and a couple of tight forums where you can get information and DIY advice. Hopefully this is where we are headed.
on Apr 21st, 2011 at 4:11 am
My first car was an 87 Mitsubishi Starion, which I thought I would own and drive forever. That car has become all but forgettable. Ultimately I was forced to sell it because it was a reliability nightmare since the day is was made, and became more of one, as the car became very old. I couldn’t find any shops that would touch that car, so I finally sold it. I bought my 06 S2000 to replace my Starion, and get the reliability, more fun, and not have to worry about finding a shop who will repair my car as it ages. I still believe that will happen, as I’m nor a “do it your selfer.” I’m not believing this article, and I don’t forsee myself being forced into the same situation as I was with my Starion, many years down the road.
on Apr 21st, 2011 at 4:12 am
The difference between the MG and the S2000 is the technology that is available to produce parts, distribute parts, and find parts (internet). No one here can anticipate the future, what if there is a S3000 with 300WHP stock? What if 20 years from now there is flying cars? What if gasoline is banned?
To answer your question how far would I go to find parts for my S? Right now I would go far; 20 years from now could be an entirely different story.
on Apr 21st, 2011 at 4:12 am
In my opinion, the s2000 is once of “those” cars, and just like the CRX, it will never die. Any car that is coveted as much as an s2000, i have a friend with a supra that wants to buy a boosted s2000 instead after riding in mine once, will always have some form of part available. And as a previous poster said, if it comes down to it, im sure fabricated or aftermarket parts will be availible somewhere for atleast my lifetime. If not, theres always swaps to keep her rolling!
on Apr 21st, 2011 at 4:58 am
@A2 – Totally agree. :d
on Apr 21st, 2011 at 5:17 am
buy 2 s2000′s and then you will have atleast enough parts to keep one running forever lol
on Apr 22nd, 2011 at 5:03 am
+1 On Above Post (#13) Guess it is time for me to start saving again!!!
on Apr 22nd, 2011 at 8:21 am
Id do anything to keep my show stopping skirt popin fad floppin super samuri special alive! Hell id re~invent the wheel and rebuild the twin towers with my bare hands and use nothing but the tools that come with the S to change a tire just to show those nasty board scalpers that we dont need there garbage. Hahaha ohhhh s2ki dont go changing much more or ill really begin to despise you! Lol much love fellow s2k brothers and top down lovers. Enjoy the weekend.
on Apr 22nd, 2011 at 12:12 pm
This is a joke right? S2k parts are not scarce. Won’t be hard to find parts at any junkyard. And the aftermarket can fill in whatever oem you can’t find. I wish Honda would support older Honda cars. Toyota can source parts for your Sports800, 2000GT, Publica, etc… No luck with Honda for your S cars or T trucks
on Apr 25th, 2011 at 11:02 pm
Not OEM but restored
Better than new?
http://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/837738-robs-monster-s2k-build/
on Apr 26th, 2011 at 10:41 am
@Kyushin
You are actually completely wrong and ignornant. The article is not full of bs and hysteria. Maybe you can explain to me, or better yet, tell me where to get an OEM berlina black hardtop? Oh yeah that’s right, they don’t exist new anymore. TRUST ME, I’ve searched.
on Apr 26th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
I have a 1992 Mitsubishi 3000GT. The last production model was in 1999, and not all the parts are the same from the 99 to the 92. Still, I have no issue finding parts for my 92 even though it’s almost two decades old. I don’t think s2000 parts being in a shortage any time soon will be a problem.
on Apr 30th, 2011 at 4:05 pm
Enter the “Extreme Knock Off” Era…..
There is no doubt that the S2k is destined to be a classic and highly sought after ride in the near future because of the precision, quality and aesthetics
it possesses (not to mention being an absolute blast to drive). If history can lend any predictability we can be sure that it will join the ranks of the many beloved vehicles that are now almost complete refabs of the original; i.e.,VW Beetle, SC Cobra, etc. This can do two things; make them plentiful on one hand and on the other hand the originals will become expensive collectors items. Either way, the S2k will always be something to behold.
ps. Some folks still look at MY03 BB like some kind of exotic sports car; I’m sure you can relate….
on May 2nd, 2011 at 11:31 am
Try finding some parts for a Mitsubishi Galant VR4. The fact that this sedan shared its engine and much of its drivetrain with the turbo versions of the Eclipse/Talon/Laser DSM cars helps. And it was a Galant. But the floorpan was unique to accomodate the drive shaft. Many suspension bits and most of the interior were also unique. There were only 3000 imported into the US over two years and they never achieved the cult status that attracted a restoration industry.
I don’t think you have to worry about finding servicable parts for an S2000 for many years to come. You may not be able to buy a NEW hardtop, for example, but you can buy a hardtop that can be restored to new condition.
on May 7th, 2011 at 10:33 am
My current daily is a ’91 CRX which I’m thinking of retiring in favor of an S2000, and I can tell you that even twenty years down the road, it’s not hard to find replacement parts for the ‘rex. Granted, it benefits tremendously from parts commonality with the Civic (of which there were approximately a zillion made), but even so CRX-specific parts can still sometimes be found in dealer inventories and as recent at five years ago, it wasn’t too hard to find whatever you needed at the parts counter. Even now you can still get nearly any mechanical or suspension component you need from NOS, and the junkyard can fill whatever gaps are left. I had to replace a side window last year (specific to only 2.5 years of CRX production) and found a used replacement five miles from my house.
By comparison the S2000 is certainly a lower-production model, but I’d guess that it’ll be many years yet before the parts market starts drying up.