Just as likley the AP2 was produced in an effort to save the model from extinction (which I don't believe either). The car was a limited edition from it's inception IMO

 

It wasn't the redline it's that our market likes heavy v8 cars that corner poorly or are vettes.

 

I think it's pretty simple really...

The S2000 is a car that does not have all the frills...bluetooth...built in nav...yadda...yadda...yadda. It also is a manual transmission only. This is a car that plain does not appeal to the masses. It's a narrow focused performance car that appeals to a small segment of people.

I am one of those people, and I think the S2000 had a good run. It was never meant to have the sales volume of a civic or accord. I think they kept it in production as long as they feasibly could.

In my opinion, it's one of the best cars ever made. They may not be in production anymore, but I'll have mine for a very long time to come.

 

Nothing killed the S. It had an amazingly long production run.

 

All great things must come to an end!! Our dearly beloved big brother the NSX experienced it and now our s2000. Do I think dropping the redline hurt sales? Probably not. 9k redline diffently raised the bar but 8k redline is still pretty badass. Especially considering that other competition redline at 7-7.5k! I do however keep my fingers crossed that one day Honda makes an affordable roadster again. But for the mean time lets enjoy the fact that we are fortunate enough to drive these machines!

 

I don't want to discuss sales in here:

About 8k or 9k is cooler, also is subjective.


I'll just post one question and opinion:

Opinion:
I had 2007 AP2 and now a Euro version 2004 AP1
it's nice to have an AP2 updates with AP1 engine and tranny by the way
- I love the way 9k sounds and screams. That's why I like 9k more
- I also love the fact that I have longer gear ratios in my current AP1. Yes much longer. On autocross, I always have advantages due to that.

Question:
There is no AP1 better or AP2. otherwise, why did they kept AP1 all years in Europe and yet, they provided a Limited edition in 2009.
I would love to know the answer on that.
I thought they made AP2 to please US market, torque lovers. But did it make that much difference?

 

Many Americans don't know this. Main reason why European S2000 stayed 2 liters whereas US and Japan versions got updated to 2.2 liters: Ridiculous taxes based on displacement. In some European countries 350Z cost twice as an S2000, whereas they were about the same in the US. Not because Europeans are given a better S because they demand it.

 

Again as alot of things in this thread are, this is just my personal opinion, but i think the 350z had alot to do with sales going down as well because alot of the average "go out and buy a sports car car on a whim" guys probably went like this. "OOOOhhhhhh a 3.5 liter v6 with torque" and then saw the S and went, "oh it's just another honda with a no torque 4 banger." Which of course anyone who truly loves this car knows how great it is, but the general public doesn't understand the things that truly make this car special.

 

One has to drive to appreciate the S. I drove the Z and the Corvette, and told my self "I'll never be able to live with these transmissions after the S."

350Z did not feel faster either, all the extra power gets wasted hauling the extra large ass.

 

How did the 350z comparison took place in here !!!

Anyway,

Why didn't they make 2.2 9k ?!
bore it instead of stroke it