Now that Honda has discontinued making the S2000 how difficult will it be to find parts in the future? If I were to buy a used S2000 in the next year or so what could I expect in terms of finding replacement parts.

 

Good question.

It is my understanding that by law a manufacturer has a legal obligation to supply parts for seven years from the date that the last unit of a model was sold. So in the case of the AP1 that could start getting a bit "iffy" right about now.

As I plan on keeping mine until I am no longer able to drive it, I would hope that Honda continues to furnish parts well into the future as this was one of their "Heritage" models.

 

The good news is Ray, these cars never need parts, so you should be all set.

 

[quote name='boltonblue' timestamp='1334224830' post='21600399']
The good news is Ray, these cars never need parts, so you should be all set.
[yeah, right. How about after market parts. Seems like you can get parts for most older cars through this market. I drove my brother-in-laws 2011 Miata hardtop convertible this week and although it is much improved I still think it's a"chick car". It is 4" shorter than the S which means it fits in my tight garage and parts are available since it is still being made but I can't bring myself to consider one after owning 2 S2000's.

 

Hmmm...I'm wondering if a business opportunity may be afoot.

 

You know, I've thought about this my self. There are adds in the magazine Hagerty sends me for older Ford parts. It looks like some company bought the old OEM Ford molds for specific vehicles/parts and produces these items.

I can't imagine how much it would cost to get your hands on the OEM molds though.

 

Especially when one considers that the S2000 was never produced in BIG NUMBERS like Camaros, Firebirds, Corvettes, etc. On top of that, it makes one wonder how many AP1's for example are still on the road? Having been active here since the spring of 2003 I have seen how many have been written off in various ways .

On a different note even here in the Washington DC Metro area where S2000's are fairly common, I am constantly amazed how many people have NO IDEA that Honda ever made a rear wheel drive roadster. On my 5150 mile road trip to last years S2K Days at Mount Rushmore, short of the S's that were at the meet in all that driving over two weeks I saw two other S's, one in Colorado and one in the St. Louis area.

 

Same thing on my drive in '08 when I left SF in Pgh and drove to SW Montana and back. On the entire ~6,000 mi. trip, I saw one S on the road and that was in metro Chicago area. The really funny thing is that what I did see in West Yellowstone on the return trip was a white Lotus...the model similar to the S in size....Exige? Driven by a woman....I honked and we exchanged "old west roadster" solidarity waves.

 

If you consider how hard it is to find a hardtop now, then yes some parts are hard to find. Some accessories such as Ap2 front spoilers and side strakes are only available in certain colors. Will Honda make more tops, spoilers and strakes? Who knows, but I've started acquiring some inventory of parts/maintenance items for the CR's.

 

Perhaps we should get Hard Top Guy to weigh in on the long term availability of oil filters? With the high pressure of the VTEC system I don't trust aftermarket filters that have the correct fitment. that may not withstand the high volume.