I think it definitely looks more expensive than it is. I get people and old friends I haven't seen in a while commenting that I must be doin REALLY well in business to have a car like this. My brother bought a Mazda3 Wagon and paid about the same as did for my S, and he doesn't get any comments like that from people.

On a sidenote, the funny thing is that I get more excited when I see other peoples' S2Ks than when I see my own. I guess it's lost some of it's exotic visual appeal to me cause it's mine I still love it to death though

 

I think it looks more expensive than it is simply for the fact that it looks sexy... really sexy, people never know what it is and therefore think it's expensive cause they never see them around, and you always get the looks.

Actually, yesterday at work was a perfect example. I pull up to a job site for work (re-constructing the interior of the building) and when I pulled up, one of the electricians saw me and goes... "Damn, when you pulled up, I thought it was the owner of Time Inc. that came to see the progress." Now this company Time Inc. is huge... example... they own sports illustrated magazine. So when he said that, it made me feel really good.

Andre

 

Yah, it definitly looks more expensive then it is, no question about it. yestarday my boss saw my desktop on my computer, a nice pic of an s2000, and he was like damn thats a nice car, something to aspire to owning one day, im like its just a honda, hes like REALLY! i thought it was a porshe or something, it looks like its worth 80-90k.

plus i get the comments from people at home all the time, when they first see my car, they say i must be doing well to afford such a car. (in reality i make crap!)

I think the fact that it is just so damn sexy, and people dont see them too often gives the impression that its worth alot more then it costs.

I LOVE MY HONDA!

 

In 100% stock form... definitely not IMO. It looks like it costs what it does.

 

Yeah - people are surprised to find out that it's right around $30K new. They are also surprised to find out how serious a driving machine it is.

The perception thing is key - a few years back we bought a like new Boxster for @32K and got the "wow - look who's making the bucks" comments. When they found out it cost about the same or less than their Yukons and Land Rovers (and in some cases, pickups). they were floored.

 

from a guy that does not own a s yet.......i think it extremely looks more expensive than it is......a miata small and chick looking(and because freaking everyone has one) does not look like the pricey car, but the s.....its a bigger size convertable(in comparison to the miata) aggressive looks(sharp nose and with the rear raised higher then the nose) and you only see it driving by everyone once and a while.....
(not like a miata where even you see a white trash driving one.) but then again these cars are expensive!!!!

 

[QUOTE=XclusiveAutosports,Aug 18 2006, 09:41 AM]In 100% stock form... definitely not IMO.

 

it looks expensive and in my case it is expensive (i'm no baller)!!! but it's worth every damn dollar i spend on it!

 

It performs over its price. There's a handfull of 2 seat convertables in 2006 that sell in the 20s. The S definatelty looks better than the competition, but 10K better? It's really the performance that puts it over the top.

 

When I first saw an S2000 in the showroom (2001) I was surprised that the car cost as much as it did. I thought it looked CHEAPER than it cost. Reason for this is that I was coming from new-ish BMW 3 series, which cost about the same (for basic models) and felt more solid in terms of road noise, doorslamming, interior look, etc. Call me shallow but I loved the feel/sound of the hood on the BMWs. The gas shocks to lift the hood/keep it open, and weatherstripping all round the hood itself lent to the solid feel and cleanliness in general. This was true of the doors also.

In terms of performance (which I did not experience till years later) the S2000 shows where the cost comes from. But it's certainly not from appearance and luxury items such as insulation and interior materials, etc. I know most S2000 owners care more about the performance aspect than simple stuff like insulation--but it's relevant since this discussion is about price vs. appearance.