On my leisurely drive home for lunch (yes, home page staff likes to take a leisurely and long lunch once in a while), I saw a rare and beautiful gem, a white NSX. It nearly escaped my peripheral vision, but as soon as I caught a mere glimpse of it, I knew undoubtedly what it was. You see, I have a not-so-secret desire to someday possess one, preferably a 2002+ model in Silverstone with black interior to match my S2000. This desire results in frequent visits to the NSX forum.
After a few months of casually lurking their marketplace section, hoping for depreciation, I quickly came to realize that the current prices probably wouldn’t be decreasing significantly anytime soon. Being a rare limited-production, hand-built, exotic, mid-engine sports car, it’s very likely that they may even begin to increase!
Who knows, maybe our S2000s’ value will follow a similar trend. Aside from all the various factors (e.g. season, modifications, mileage, accidents), generally speaking, isn’t it realistic to think that could happen? Ok, maybe it’s not as rare or exotic as the NSX or mid-engine for that matter, but they too were hand-built and their production was somewhat limited.
What was it that Shigeru Uehara once said? “Please take care of your S2000; keep it by your side for long and enjoy it from the bottom of your heart and share the quality and legacy of the S2000 with many friends so that the legend of the S2000 will continue for long” and, might I add, so that someday maybe it’ll be “worth its weight in gold.”
How each of us cares for our S2000s now could very well determine its future image several years from now. The social structure that we as a community share must be maintained as it will lend to keeping the enthusiasm for the car going. Many of us like to mod, but we must ensure that any modification, whether cosmetic or performance-oriented, only adds value to the car. It would also help if we spent money on ensuring the car rides on proper tires at all times and that we drive it within our abilities. After all, how’s an S2000 supposed to hold its value when it’s wrapped around a telephone pole or rolled off a cliff?
Will the S2000 be a highly sought-after trophy like the NSX or just another clunker we point and laugh at as we drive (or hover/fly) past one down the road? Perhaps the answer to that question lies within us.
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on Jul 28th, 2011 at 5:30 am
wait wait wait, this is kinda off topic…. our cars are hand built? That is awesome if that’s true.
on Jul 28th, 2011 at 5:48 am
Yes, S2000 cars are hand built that is a fact. Search the forums for videos from Honda factory how S2000′s are being built.
on Jul 28th, 2011 at 5:55 am
Seems like this marketplace trend might already be emerging for the S2000, especially for clean and increasingly rare unmodified vehicles.
on Jul 28th, 2011 at 6:02 am
Technically the S2000 is a Front/Mid engine chassis layout, that is where the perfect weight distribution comes from. Stewie does share that aspect with its Brethren NSX
on Jul 28th, 2011 at 6:51 am
Yea i wanna see that Vid Really the S are hand Build.
on Jul 28th, 2011 at 7:15 am
@ Ap2 joe
Sorry, only AP1 are hand built…..LOL J/K
on Jul 28th, 2011 at 7:46 am
If you want the value to go up…in 15 or 20 years…there needs to be a lack of survivors. The more of them that are “wrapped around a telephone pole or rolled off a cliff”, the more likely demand is to outstrip supply. But don’t do that because all the S2K folks I’ve ever met have been pretty cool.
And I wouldn’t worry about the S2K becoming “just another clunker we point and laugh at as we drive (or hover/fly) past one down the road”. I still get a tiny twinge of envy when I see a 22 year old Miata…like the one my son parks in our yard. They may be slow and they may have a rep as a “girlie” car, but they are just so much fun to drive.
on Jul 28th, 2011 at 9:01 am
110,000 s2ks ( 65,000 US) built.
Comparable numbers for NSX?
Another factor to consider in this discussion.
on Jul 28th, 2011 at 9:12 am
50/50 is only a perfect weight distribution if the vehicle is static which is why many new sports cars are slightly front bias 52/48 so as you accelerate it shifts back and evens out works for cornering too.
The only thing about an eternal s2000 is the plastic bits headlights and tail lights especially makes me want to pick up 5 sets of each actually.
And who cares if people laugh either your love your car, you screwed it up with dumb mods or you bought the wrong car.
on Jul 28th, 2011 at 6:56 pm
There where less than 8,949 NSX sold in the U.S. between ’91 and ’05 and nearly 50% (4,434) where ’91-’92 model year. I’m planning on selling my S2000 once I pay it off ~mid-October in order to purchase an NSX. NSX selling prices haven’t much depreciated the last 8-10 years. I don’t see the S2000 reaching this point, the production numbers seem too high.
on Jul 28th, 2011 at 9:41 pm
The S2 is NOT hand built. I don’t know where the author obtained his information. The S2 will not appreciate in value like he suggests, either. It might not be numerous compared to civics and accords but it’s still not something super rare or exotic. It’s an excellent handling roadster built by Honda for its 50th anniversary and Honda lost money on each one they sold. But that’s not the point. Honda was capable of engineering and building a near perfect 50/50 weight distribution open top 2 seater and they showed it of with the creation of the S2.
on Jul 28th, 2011 at 9:44 pm
The S2000 is cousins to the NSX it will always be appreciated. I get looks, waves and compliments in the S2k all the time just in a stock ap1. Probably a young boy and aspiring car enthusiast saying “nice car!” like 2-3 times a month. Girls turning heads that many times a day (the odd wave and smile too), and I get stuck in S2000 conversations with strangers in parking lots several times a year probably aswell.
They both are Honda’s only true modern day sports cars and easily being the best 2 production cars Honda has ever made. Both were hand built and had over a decade long production run with very minor year to year updates. Both were the only rear wheel drive Hondas; the S being mid front, NSX mid rear. Both are icons of the 90′s through the 2000′s, they already are historic and classic automobiles.
The NSX had a much more limited production run but it was overpriced. Even when it came out it was priced pretty high but it had alot more value at launch. People were actually buying it over sticker in the first year. In ’91 it was on par or even quicker than rivaling Ferrari’s and Porsche’s, but since those companies focus on sports cars solely the substancial year to year changes and new models soon left the NSX in the dust. The 6 year later 20hp and extra gear update was too little too late. The price never went down either, it actually increased with inflation. If the price at least stayed the same since launch and countered inflation, they would of produced and got rid of much more I’m sure.
The S2000 was 2.5 or so time cheaper. In the early 2000′s when both were being produced you could probably buy 2 new S2000′s and a new Civic (good winter beater) at list price for the list price of an NSX. I bet most people that forked out all that money for the NSX in the later years of production were avid fans of Honda that maybe started out in a Civic, earned success and money and got there dream car. Thus I can see some of these buyers opting for an S2000 instead even if not nearly as exclusive. They both after all weren’t too far off in performance figures. Didn’t the S2k even beat the NSX’s Nurburgring time?
My point is I believe the S2000 was much more of a success for Honda. It did better market wise mainly for having more bang for your buck for a longer time frame than the NSX did. They too over extended the S2000′s production run and it started losing alot of value to its rivals over the later years. The NSX had this happen but much much sooner. We charish it than the S2k at the moment because it is much more rare. It was an exotic unlike the S2k which was just sports car/roadster.
Regardless these two cars are both amazing machines that should be charished forever. I got an S2k so far but I will own an NSX on top of that one day don’t know how soon but soon enough I hope. I want to own an ap1, ap2 and an 02-05 NSX as my dream garage. 1 down 2 to go.
on Jul 29th, 2011 at 12:01 am
To have a better view of how much hand built the S2000 is, I suggest viewing the following articles and their links. It is worth every moment reading those and there is plenty of valuable information explained.
1) http://www.s2ki.com/home/2009/08/10/ten-years-of-the-honda-s2000-production-and-a-farewell-to-the-last-s2000-produced/
2) http://www.s2ki.com/home/2010/09/23/the-honda-s2000-top-secret-manufacturing-process/
on Jul 29th, 2011 at 9:17 am
NSX=list price over 90 thousand.
S2000=list price 35 thousand
Being able to drive ANY one of those cars= PRICELESS.
That being said, the NSX was designed using a CRAY supercomputer and built extensively using aluminum, justifying its high price. 90 grand today will buy you a Nissan GT-R and the GT-R will destroy the NSX in all performance categories, but that’s not the point here. The NSX is a car to be appreciated in its exterior design, hand built, and very exclusive and super rare. The type-R (not sold in US) is the one very much coveted, especially in the 3.2 liter form.
The S2000 is also a timeless design, it’s over 12 years old now after its original release date but it’s still relevant today. The only flaw I can see is the outdated interior, which is lacking many of today’s more contemparary features. Even the interior of a much cheaper car can look better than the S2000′s cockpit. However, I’m still won over by the usefulness and the functionality of the S2000′s interior layout. No nonsense and all focus on the driving aspects.
on Jul 29th, 2011 at 10:35 am
yo! top secret…you must drive a frickn Miata…dont be a hater mofo…lol
on Jul 29th, 2011 at 10:50 am
Almost no cars truly appreciate in value.
Becuase of the s2k’s unique values and relatively low production numbers it will depreciate less than say a Miata or a Corvette.
It may be comparable to a Boxster in price depreciation but enjoys a great advantage in reliability and maintenance costs.
When I sell my old 911 the cost per mile will be about 80 cents, this is high compared to our 03 CRV but considering the thrills I’ve had a screaming bargain.
My s2k will come in less than that if I ever sell and will be the greatest grins/$
ever.
on Jul 29th, 2011 at 2:04 pm
The original NSX cars, with low mileage and little or no modifications really hold their value. It doesn’t matter what year of car the NSX is, they are all rare. Most parts of the world never had one delivered. US – <9000 cars; Canada, <700 cars, Japan <10000 cars. All of Europe – <2000 cars. The car has timeless style and is admired by all.
There are just too many S2000s for it to become a rare car, but if you leave it unmodified and keep it in show shape, it does a better job of keeping its value.
I have one of each. ;91 NSX with 38k miles and a 02 S2000 with 27k miles. ( you can only drive one at a time! )
on Jul 29th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
“Didn’t the S2k even beat the NSX’s Nurburgring time?” – No, a ’91 NSX 3.0 driven by Gan San ran an 8:16 around The Ring. The S2000 ran an identical time to the NSX-T 3.2. A vehicle nearly 200 lbs heavier and not nearly as rigid. Ask any owner of a T-top how noticeable the chassis flex is in comparison to the coupe. The NSX that should have been tested on The Ring was an NA2 coupe
“The price never went down either, it actually increased with inflation. If the price at least stayed the same since launch and countered inflation, they would of produced and got rid of much more I’m sure.” – The price of the car didn’t increase with inflation, it increased in strategic increments until topping out at just north of $89k. Still, Honda lost money with every NSX sold.
on Jul 31st, 2011 at 8:06 am
So many more S2ks built then NSX. I highly doubt an S2000 will be collectable like the NSX. I have choosen to enjoy my S2000. Its an 04 with 148k on it. I plan on buying an NSX very soon and that i will keep the miles off of and drive it on the weekends
on Aug 2nd, 2011 at 6:25 am
@Top Secret
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In my opion the S2K has the best interior period. The interior of the S2K can be inproved by removing the power lock and window.
on Aug 15th, 2011 at 12:00 am
I somehow feel like I know the owner of the white NSX in that picture.