2004 Model Announcement
Registered User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 7,768
Likes: 2
From: Bellevue, WA
Honda typically uses the 1/2/4/8 schedule. Apply the following to virtually all of the previous model lines to get the big picture.
Every Year:
Offer different body/interior colors
Every 2nd Model Year:
Minor Cosmetic updates
Every 2nd and 6th Model Year:
New factory model options ABS, 4WS, Special Edition, etc are examples (to keep things interesting between updates and redesigns)
Every 4th Year:
Update drivetrain or other major items
Every 8th Year:
Model Redesign
Applying the above formula to the S2000
2000 - Model introduction
2001 - New color option (Spa Yellow right?)
2002 - New color option (Suzuka and Sebring)
- Cosmetic update (Glass rear window, trim accents)
2003 - New color option (Silverstone and White/Tan combo)
2004 - ??? Probably an iVTEC engine and optional automatic Trans (personal speculation)
- ??? minor updates to the exterior, probably including a different front facia etc.(personal speculation)
- New color option
2005 - New color option
2006 - etc...
Every Year:
Offer different body/interior colors
Every 2nd Model Year:
Minor Cosmetic updates
Every 2nd and 6th Model Year:
New factory model options ABS, 4WS, Special Edition, etc are examples (to keep things interesting between updates and redesigns)
Every 4th Year:
Update drivetrain or other major items
Every 8th Year:
Model Redesign
Applying the above formula to the S2000
2000 - Model introduction
2001 - New color option (Spa Yellow right?)
2002 - New color option (Suzuka and Sebring)
- Cosmetic update (Glass rear window, trim accents)
2003 - New color option (Silverstone and White/Tan combo)
2004 - ??? Probably an iVTEC engine and optional automatic Trans (personal speculation)
- ??? minor updates to the exterior, probably including a different front facia etc.(personal speculation)
- New color option
2005 - New color option
2006 - etc...
Former Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 52,827
Likes: 17
From: State of Confusion
jwfisher,
Good points. One of my favorite is parts availability. The vast majority of cost of ownership is not the initial purchase, but maintaining and upgrading our toys. For those of you out there that love to track your cars or drive them hard and don't want to mortgage your house or sell your children to repair/upgrade, you should all be thrilled that they keep making these cars.
For those considering the long-term viability of the S2000, think of this...
The harder you drive it...the more you use it in ANY respect...the less it will be worth. If you want a car that will minimize depreciation, find one that will last 1,000,000 miles with little or no major repairs needed. Investment=park it.
If that's why you bought the car, it better spend a lot of time in the garage, have few if any modifications from stock, and you better be prepared to wait until your kids are grown and several generations of cars have come and gone to see if you're lucky enough to own a car that achieves "classic" status...
As for me, if I can manage to get my hands on an S2000, I plan on driving it every day. If it becomes a classic...fantastic. If the sports car market goes through the floor and the industry dubs the S2000 no more notable than the Chevy Cavalier (not likely, but possible)...so what.
I'll climb off my soapbox now and go get some dinner...
Good points. One of my favorite is parts availability. The vast majority of cost of ownership is not the initial purchase, but maintaining and upgrading our toys. For those of you out there that love to track your cars or drive them hard and don't want to mortgage your house or sell your children to repair/upgrade, you should all be thrilled that they keep making these cars.
For those considering the long-term viability of the S2000, think of this...
The harder you drive it...the more you use it in ANY respect...the less it will be worth. If you want a car that will minimize depreciation, find one that will last 1,000,000 miles with little or no major repairs needed. Investment=park it.
If that's why you bought the car, it better spend a lot of time in the garage, have few if any modifications from stock, and you better be prepared to wait until your kids are grown and several generations of cars have come and gone to see if you're lucky enough to own a car that achieves "classic" status...
As for me, if I can manage to get my hands on an S2000, I plan on driving it every day. If it becomes a classic...fantastic. If the sports car market goes through the floor and the industry dubs the S2000 no more notable than the Chevy Cavalier (not likely, but possible)...so what.
I'll climb off my soapbox now and go get some dinner...
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 929
Likes: 0
From: Philadelphia
Originally posted by jwfisher
This thread is BS. I'm a registered member of the press, and I can say definitively that Honda has issued no such statement on any such "future" S2K. It's just posing on the part of the original poster.
As for some people's ideas that the car shouldn't be touched, or shouldn't be improved, in order to keep the car close to it's original value, that's ridiculous and flies in the face of business logic and reality.
... and effectively.
This thread is BS. I'm a registered member of the press, and I can say definitively that Honda has issued no such statement on any such "future" S2K. It's just posing on the part of the original poster.
As for some people's ideas that the car shouldn't be touched, or shouldn't be improved, in order to keep the car close to it's original value, that's ridiculous and flies in the face of business logic and reality.
... and effectively.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,133
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
[QUOTE]Originally posted by jwfisher
[B]This thread is BS. I'm a registered member of the press, and I can say definitively that Honda has issued no such statement on any such "future" S2K. It's just posing on the part of the original poster.
As for some people's ideas that the car shouldn't be touched, or shouldn't be improved, in order to keep the car close to it's original value, that's ridiculous and flies in the face of business logic and reality.
The S2K needs to be updated. While I do very much like mine, it is very clear that the S2KL is starting to get dated in the market. There is more competition coming along, and while most of it is at a higher price point, some of it is not. Indeed, some of it is more practical and is very well thought out, like the new Nissan Z.
And, the car is indeed depreciating. Even a clean example like my late 2000 model (with 16k miles) is only worth mid 20s. A considerable - but very typical - drop from it's full-list (and no markup) 32k (not counting all the Honda accessories I added). Anybody who thinks these things are somehow holding onto some superhuman $$$ value should check around... Honda doesn't pay as much for them used anymore, and many other brands see them as oddities. Try trading in one of these on a high-end premium (and no negotiation) car like an M3 in this current market! If you manage to get 28-30k, it'll only be because the dealer took it out of the price of the new car or otherwise juggled the books.
I want the car to stay in production; I firmly do not believe (and never did) that it would be suddenly cancelled after only a very few years. And, the longer it's in production the more aftermarket parts can and will be created for it. The only way the aftermarket can afford to produce significant parts is if more and more are built and sold... otherwise there is a very limited market and therefore profits - especially and particularly for parts which are expensive to tool up for (aka parts which require investment in castings and/or molds).
The one thing on the horizon that looks bad is that the market for moderately priced 2-seater sports cars is seen to be quickly shrinking (re recent industry analyst reports I follow). The mid-priced new Z may help us, the high-priced market (new Z4, freshened Boxster, upcoming CLK refresh)
[B]This thread is BS. I'm a registered member of the press, and I can say definitively that Honda has issued no such statement on any such "future" S2K. It's just posing on the part of the original poster.
As for some people's ideas that the car shouldn't be touched, or shouldn't be improved, in order to keep the car close to it's original value, that's ridiculous and flies in the face of business logic and reality.
The S2K needs to be updated. While I do very much like mine, it is very clear that the S2KL is starting to get dated in the market. There is more competition coming along, and while most of it is at a higher price point, some of it is not. Indeed, some of it is more practical and is very well thought out, like the new Nissan Z.
And, the car is indeed depreciating. Even a clean example like my late 2000 model (with 16k miles) is only worth mid 20s. A considerable - but very typical - drop from it's full-list (and no markup) 32k (not counting all the Honda accessories I added). Anybody who thinks these things are somehow holding onto some superhuman $$$ value should check around... Honda doesn't pay as much for them used anymore, and many other brands see them as oddities. Try trading in one of these on a high-end premium (and no negotiation) car like an M3 in this current market! If you manage to get 28-30k, it'll only be because the dealer took it out of the price of the new car or otherwise juggled the books.
I want the car to stay in production; I firmly do not believe (and never did) that it would be suddenly cancelled after only a very few years. And, the longer it's in production the more aftermarket parts can and will be created for it. The only way the aftermarket can afford to produce significant parts is if more and more are built and sold... otherwise there is a very limited market and therefore profits - especially and particularly for parts which are expensive to tool up for (aka parts which require investment in castings and/or molds).
The one thing on the horizon that looks bad is that the market for moderately priced 2-seater sports cars is seen to be quickly shrinking (re recent industry analyst reports I follow). The mid-priced new Z may help us, the high-priced market (new Z4, freshened Boxster, upcoming CLK refresh)
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: San Juan
I don't believe Honda will Drop the S2K, being such a good profit maker for them.
The obvious choice for me would be to do the following changes to 2004.
1) 2.2 Liter I-Vtec Power Plant 270 HP, 178 lb/ft Torque.
2) Hard Top Included as it is in the Miata, to Add Value.
3) Upgraded Sound System.
4) 17" Wheels
Honda has to make the model handle and perform better than the upcoming RSX Type-R.
Also, BMW is launching the new Z4 Platform which will outperform the S2K. Also, Porsche will do it's thing also.
Just, a thought, but a real thought!!
Everett
The obvious choice for me would be to do the following changes to 2004.
1) 2.2 Liter I-Vtec Power Plant 270 HP, 178 lb/ft Torque.
2) Hard Top Included as it is in the Miata, to Add Value.
3) Upgraded Sound System.
4) 17" Wheels
Honda has to make the model handle and perform better than the upcoming RSX Type-R.
Also, BMW is launching the new Z4 Platform which will outperform the S2K. Also, Porsche will do it's thing also.
Just, a thought, but a real thought!!
Everett
Oooops, so sorry. Back to the Corner 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 37,475
Likes: 6,331
From: bolton
If honda is listening ( hello are you out there The only change I can see as really valuable woud be a true sequential six speed and no I'm not talking about some psuedo automatic slush box concoction but a real bang shifter with manual clutch. Yeah paddle shifters would be OK if it was really a direct link clutched system but I tend to think it would drive the price up into the 45K range and that would kill it.