Talk to my dealer Thursday. He has a Yellow on the way and wanted to know if I wanted it. I told him "no" because I wanted the Type V steering. Why buy a new one when I've already got the same thing??

Anyway, I had mentioned to him that the boys who just returned from Japan had said it could be a run for 10 years. He said that the word is a 5 year run; MY2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. He said that they were going to shut it down on the 2002 cars but sales have been well so they decided to do a 5 year plan like most of the other cars.

By the way --- anyone near Fairfield County CT want a Yellow one? email me!

 

"...like most other cars" ? not sure what this means. maybe he/you were referring to bodystyles before major changes? but you forget, its built with the NSX, another hand built car and the NSX has not undergone any *MAJOR* changes (besides the 3.2 6spd) in the last 10 years.

2 years? 5 years? 10 years? is that why you bought the car?

sorry, what dealers say means very little except to the person who is there to listen in and get pressured into buying an upgraded 2001 and blow a couple of grand to get that clock.

 

Del Sol '93-'97
Accord Wagon '92-'96

 

let's see...

who do i believe? the Honda mgmt in Japan or a US Honda car salesman?

 

First, it's "whom"; second, you don't know me from Adam; but I can tell you, Trust me! My man ordered the "S" for me in July '98. He ordered my Del Sol in Dec. '91. TRUST ME! if you don't trust him.

 

Yes, that's the 64,000 dollar question.

Quite frankly, I would sooner trust a swamp lizard than a Honda dealer. But that's just me...I'm kind of a prick that way.

We had confirmation from the following people about at least a 10 year run...or at least one that will go for many many years:

1. Two of the leading Honda S2000 engineers: a.) Masashito Nakano and b.) Hiroshi Suzuki. Didn't give us a number, but indicated that the car will made for many, many years to come.

2. Two the the S2000 project engineers at Mugen: a.) Takashi Uno and b.) Akihiro Kojima.

We had this in person and I have it on film.

Tha fact of the matter is that the S2000 will be produced for MANY years past this, our Mugen conference revealed that Honda's plans are for a 10+ year run...even though Honda was less willing to pin a number on it.

C3, whatever happened to that Rumor Forum idea?!

No offense, but if you choose to believe your dealer, who probably couldn't tell you how to open the gas tank door, over these people...well, I'm speechless.

All this continues to point at fabrications by dealers to sell a car based on its limited year production. The car will NEVER be a mass produced car...the factory is so small (you would be amazed at the size) that its production just isn't capable of high volume.

My inflation adjusted 6,000,000 Japanese Yen...(I still have some, btw... )

 

Sure they may have said that it will be around for many years, but they might not have meant it the way you guys might think so. They could be saying that it will be around, but maybe not as an S2000. It could be a new coupe or the new Prelude (if it comes out again). Get what I'm saying? Ahh... Maybe I'm just talking to much.

 

Let me try and put another rumor to rest after our conferences in Tokyo.

There are NO plans to use the F20c in another model of car and there are NO plans to base a sedan (or any other type of car) off the S2000 (AP1) chassis.

The S2000 will always be the S2000, just like the NSX has been the NSX. Of course, there may be small modifications to its design along the way, but there are simply NO major plans to change it, to morph it into another car, etc...

Once my video camera gets out of the shop, I'll watch the videos again and I'll quote you exact phrases...but for now, you are going to have to trust me, or at least the Honda and Mugen engineers...

 

Of course the engineers who designed the car don't always know what management has in store. Odds are as long as the car is selling they are going to make it. It all can change if it stops selling.

I think Honda was surprised by how big a hit the S2000 was. It is possible they thought it was going to be a halo car that would not be a hit but would bring prestige to the brand like the NSX. Maybe they had intentions of a limited run in case it didn't go over big. It was a gamble for them being so narrowly focused. Well it brought prestige to the brand AND was a hit so why not continue it?

But if sales drop dead don't expect to see a 10 year run despite the hopes and dreams of the engineers. Had you guys talked to the people who actually make the descisions on these things it would have meant more.

 

S2000 Owner, I hope that you didn't interpret me as being prickish about the things that you brought up here.

I spoke directly, but on good authority. I would love to see some of these rumors put to sleep.

We met with the brains behind the S2000 over there, they were extremely cordial and gave us some brilliant information. Once I go through the tapes (when the digicam gets out of the shop) I'll post another round of stuff, with more detail, etc...

VTEC Racer, you're not talking too much. Keep you opinions coming, thanks for posting. If you have any other questions, just post them and one of the whackjobs who went to Tokyo for this whole crazy adventure will be sure to help you out...