they need to stop making the s2000

 

I heard the Miata/Mx5 is coming out with a turbo model (in Australia anyway), after this production will on the mx5 will cease.

Maybe the 2.2L engine is one step towards the grave?

Given how long Honda has been flogging the NSX, do you think the s2000 will also cease shortly?

Personally I think the NSX is outdated and should have been killed off a while ago (or at least seriously updated). If the s2000 is made at the same factory as the NSX, maybe the idea will be to cease production of both cars at the same time when they have developed something else to build at the plant (ie one major plant re-fit).

 

well i was talking to a honda rep at the motor show about the MY05 and she said they just changed the S2K for 2004 if there is a "next" S2000 it won't be till 2007...IMO i love the s2000 now (MY04) and hope not much of the look changes kind like the NSX....but more power would be good too.

 

Let's look at it like businessmen - the total unit sales of S2000's are low. Sales are down 12% from the previous reporting period for the 2004, and sales of most sports cars, including the 350Z, are also down. The RX-8 has no baseline, but is is arguably a sport sedan.

Miata sales are up, and the turbo will bring more people to that car's demographic target, which is lower than the other sports cars.

And Chrysler is going to introduce a convetible Crossfire with 300 HP and torque.

NSX sales are at half what they were a year ago. It is longer in the tooth than the S2000.

Honda made its point with the S2000, and has had a good run.

So, as I like to say to my staff, "what problem are we trying to solve here?". Honda needs a Halo Car - it is arguably the Accord or Pilot now, or a truck at some point in the future.

World car sales are difficult in all markets - the Europeans are losing their "hold the price line" mentality, as marques like Mazda have made tremendous encroachments. The domestic mfr's raise prices and then offer discount pricing, low interest rate subsisdies, and sweetheart leases.

So Honda is going to invest 100's of millions to develop a new car in a dwindling market? The Baby Boomers with the money like the Lexus SC430 type of car, or the Crossfire, or their Hummers. Young people without advancerd degrees are opting for Civics, and spending more on the sound systems than the performance mods.

If you were Honda, what would you do?

 

"If you were Honda, what would you do?"

Honda needs an updated RL and an updated NSX long before they update the S2000 again.

And if we're talking power, the Civic needs more power (across ALL its trim lines, on EVERY continent) far more than the S2000 does.

And lastly, Honda needs a truck. Bad. Their fortunes are going to take a downward spiral soon if they don't enter a new market; in terms of market share the Accord and Civic have peaked and aren't likely to do much better than they are doing now. This is a huge issue for the company.

Honda's priced the S2000 smartly: at $33k it can sit for a few years and remain competitive. The $20s roadsters aren't going to reach the S2000's power levels in the immediate future, and the Z4/SLK/Boxster/etc can exceed its power levels without hurting the S's positioning. This is a good thing because Honda has bigger problems to worry about right now.

 

Fire Tom Elliott , his group of with their heads in the sand and put me in charge

 

Honda needs to make a RWD luxury sedan and stopping make 270+HP fwd cars. That could be a halo car for them. The S2000 is not a a halo car. I personally hope honda keeps making more and they keep selling. The 2004 model is down compared to the 2003 model in sales. My car (if I keep it) will end up being a track whore and I can use more parts for cheaper.

 

Well, I doubt I am the only one to realize the following pattern but SOME makes and models of cars seem to be redesigned at specific time increments.
For example, the Acura Integra worked on a 4 year increment where it was redesigned every 4 years
1986-->1989 1990-->1993 1994-->1997 1998-->2001
Like the Integra, the S seems to share this redesign time increment
2000-->2003 2004-->2007? (I know the S was offered in 1999 overseas but I am talking about the states here)

So chances are you won't see any "BIG" changes to the S 'til 2008 if it even lasts that long (I obviously hope that it does).

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by s2kpdx01
Honda needs to make a RWD luxury sedan and stopping make 270+HP fwd cars.

 

I agree, and it looks like Honda has been thinking this way as well. But instead of going for RWD, they're going to skip straight to 4WD. They call it " SH-AWD". Check out the latest news on temple of vtec.

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=217602