They never sold in huge numbers, not the least of the reasons why was because of their option complement (namely virtually none) and they were manual transmission only.

It's actually kind of an interesting dichotomy as Honda didn't make many and sales were low but at the time if you wanted to buy a new one, at many Honda dealers they were treated as premiums and first dibs were given to people who had already purchased other Hondas from the dealership, much like the way Ferrari dealers work.

Towards the very end of production, most dealers were allocated one per month if that, and then only very high sales volume dealerships.

But when you combine the dealership desire to extract a premium with the financial crash that occurred in 2008 (and the fact that a two seater convertible sports car is definitely a toy for most people) and the fact that the S2000 was due for a refresh, it just didn't make sense for Honda financially to make a third generation.

That doesn't have any bearing on whether it was a good car or not; it seems many Japanese cars get cancelled for poor sales and then immediately stop depreciating (the FJ Cruiser is another prime example; FJs stopped depreciating not long after Toyota killed them.)

With the S2000 you already had one of the best driver's cars around, it's mythos has only grown, and now there is a bit of a price bubble because they have become the hot Internet vehicle the way WRXs and EVOs were around 2000. (Also not a knock on the S2000.)

 

Current reality check
got a move out notice from landlord who is selling house I rent, bidding war started on house we wanted and needed cash quick
Dealer who for years always asked to buy my car when in for parts was contacted
2004 108,000 miles, extra clean with 2 OEM hardtops, stock and CCW wheels, stock shocks and Koni Ground Control coil overs,

they offered 13,500. Carvana offered 17,800

declined both and probably going with a loan shark for 10K on bad terms....

 

Though remember any dealer will ask at least $7K above whatever local market rate is because they are a dealer, and to many that alone is worth the premium.

I also notice said S2000 is now long gone, so they must have gotten it or something close.

 

Why, that makes no sense.

Both the dealer and Carvana would hand you a check instantly, it's not a commission sale where you don't get paid until they sell it.

 

2 OEM hard tops? those alone are worth $10k.

 

Selling a niche car to a dealer (especially under duress, wow) is like trying to sell sushi at McDonald's.

 

It depends; dealers like Carvana and Carmax basically pay whatever auction values are, high or low.

It's not like they're trying to lowball you when you're trading it in on another vehicle, they just pay cash today.

For years, conventional wisdom has been if you want to find out how much your car is really worth as a trade, swing by your local Carmax and see what they give you as an all cash offer. Even several of the auto bloggers do the same.

 

Here would be a good example:

I fit in an S2000, perfectly.
In any Miata, I end up looking over the top of the windshield no matter how I adjust the driver's seat.
6'1, long torso.

 

Cool

 

You'll fit even better in a larger brz/86. And it also handles/corners much flatter and sharper than a floppy, sway-ey ND2. And the 2022 is also gonna be faster than an ND2 (so therefore, an S2k too).

The only con I see in the 2022 brz/86 (besides an uninspiring truck-like boxer engine) is the cheap stamped-steel suspension components (arms, links, etc.) and also possibly its' non-adjustability (camber) like the previous gen.
I hope they fixed that in the 2022 models (anyone know if it'll still be nonadjustable in the 2022?).