IF the S2000 is discontinued ...
10-06-2004 | 06:19 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 18,456
Likes: 5
From: Glasgow, Scotland
IF the S2000 is discontinued ...
Whether or not you believe the rumours that Honda may have ditched plans for a new S (or indeed may be planning to discontinue it), hypothetically, what impact would a discontinuation have on resale values?
On the one hand, they would become even more rare ...
On the other hand, some prospective purchasers may not fancy the idea of owning a discontinued model (dealer support etc.)
Thoughts?
On the one hand, they would become even more rare ...
On the other hand, some prospective purchasers may not fancy the idea of owning a discontinued model (dealer support etc.)
Thoughts?
10-06-2004 | 06:23 AM
#3
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,275
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From: Leafy surrey
I think initially residuals will go down but as the years go by (particularly the winters) the residuals will climb as the amount of cars on the road becomes less.
Remember, it is not a "normal" sports car. Highest output per litre for a naturally aspirated full production car and the rare 9k rev limit.
It will surely be a future classic and I would welcome it if Honda discontinues the s2000.
Remember, it is not a "normal" sports car. Highest output per litre for a naturally aspirated full production car and the rare 9k rev limit.
It will surely be a future classic and I would welcome it if Honda discontinues the s2000.
10-06-2004 | 07:01 AM
#6
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,446
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From: West Mids.
As reported on page 33 of the November issue of Car:
"Honda has quietly shelved plans for a second generation NSX, Car has learned. The HSC concept- with its classic supercar shape, mid-mounted 345bhp V6 and rear wheel drive- was set to replacethe existing NSX in two years, but now that's on ice.
It gets worse. Plans for UK imports of the stripped out NSX Type-R have also been ditched. Honda cannot justify the investment necessary to train all its dealers to service such a niche model.
Long-term the news is grimmer still. Honda has no replacement S2000 in the works, either. The current Integra Type-R (not sold in the UK) is also to be axed. Even the blistering Civic Type-R is by no means certain to be reprised.
The quick and easy explanation behind this bewildering sports car about-turn at Honda is money. The bottom line is that the company anticipates greater returns by concentarting on other models, especially MPVs and SUVs in America and China, than by pumping time and cash into low volume techy sportsters.
This is just the opening bell on Honda's decision to abandon its sportscar heritage. Honda has no shortage of commited, talented engineers who would kill to do a new NSX. But too few senior people feel strongly enough to push to do another one.
Their decision has been prompted by several factors: the NSX has never been a banker; the HSC show car didn't cut it on the design front; and while factions from American Honda were reportedly pushing for 'a $40,000 Boxster rival', the counter proposal from Japan was for a balls out $100,000 super coupe. Honda is the one company in Japan that could do both cars and make a great fist of it. But in the end, it decided on neither. It is however, mulling over a rival for the Lexus SC coupe.
Central to the whole decision making process is the fact that Honda has grown hugely since th e'80s, when the NSX was planned. In the 21st century, Honda has different priorities. Its interests are diverse- motorcycles, robots, generators, fuel cells, hybrids, aircraft, marine engines- and it sees new tech and worldwide production as essential to its profitability and independence.
Then there's the pressure to keep up with Toyota, from F1 downwards, right across the board. It's a rivalry as intense as that between Mercedes and BMW in Germany. Honda recentlly posted another round of record profits- just over $5 billion this time- which creates an additional kind of pressure: to keep making big money.
And yet things can, and do, change fast inside Honda. When necessary, projects get started, stopped, or rejigged in rapid order. There's still a faint chance Honda may sign up for another top tier flagship sports coupe.
After all, we are talking about the NSX here, the car that had its chassis tuned by Ayrton Senna, traumatised Ferrari and sparked an engineering revolution at Maranello. But right now, the bell is tolling for Japan's first and only true supercar."
Additionally from Car November 2004:
"So What's Honda doing instead?
Hybrids
The IMA system from Honda's first hybrid, the funky Insight coupe, has since been reworked to power both Civic and Accord. Honda is pulling back from niche hybrids like the IMAS, a proposed Insight II, in favour of hybrid versions of the US Odyssey MPV and perhaps a petrol electric sport ute based on the Acura MDX.
Fuel Cells
When it comes to fuel cells, Honda's in a league of its own. It has developed its own improved stack to power the FCX, the fuel cell prototype that's on limited lease in Japan and the US and getting ever smarter. The latest FCX generates 109bhp, can hit 93mph and has a range of 245 miles.
China
Honda is now into China in a big way. Building on a run of 30,000 Accords in 1999, it's planning to hit an annual production rate of 360,000 cars by the end of 2004. Honda has just begun building the Jazz in China for export to Europe. The current CR-V is so hot, it's being shamelessly copied."
"Honda has quietly shelved plans for a second generation NSX, Car has learned. The HSC concept- with its classic supercar shape, mid-mounted 345bhp V6 and rear wheel drive- was set to replacethe existing NSX in two years, but now that's on ice.
It gets worse. Plans for UK imports of the stripped out NSX Type-R have also been ditched. Honda cannot justify the investment necessary to train all its dealers to service such a niche model.
Long-term the news is grimmer still. Honda has no replacement S2000 in the works, either. The current Integra Type-R (not sold in the UK) is also to be axed. Even the blistering Civic Type-R is by no means certain to be reprised.
The quick and easy explanation behind this bewildering sports car about-turn at Honda is money. The bottom line is that the company anticipates greater returns by concentarting on other models, especially MPVs and SUVs in America and China, than by pumping time and cash into low volume techy sportsters.
This is just the opening bell on Honda's decision to abandon its sportscar heritage. Honda has no shortage of commited, talented engineers who would kill to do a new NSX. But too few senior people feel strongly enough to push to do another one.
Their decision has been prompted by several factors: the NSX has never been a banker; the HSC show car didn't cut it on the design front; and while factions from American Honda were reportedly pushing for 'a $40,000 Boxster rival', the counter proposal from Japan was for a balls out $100,000 super coupe. Honda is the one company in Japan that could do both cars and make a great fist of it. But in the end, it decided on neither. It is however, mulling over a rival for the Lexus SC coupe.
Central to the whole decision making process is the fact that Honda has grown hugely since th e'80s, when the NSX was planned. In the 21st century, Honda has different priorities. Its interests are diverse- motorcycles, robots, generators, fuel cells, hybrids, aircraft, marine engines- and it sees new tech and worldwide production as essential to its profitability and independence.
Then there's the pressure to keep up with Toyota, from F1 downwards, right across the board. It's a rivalry as intense as that between Mercedes and BMW in Germany. Honda recentlly posted another round of record profits- just over $5 billion this time- which creates an additional kind of pressure: to keep making big money.
And yet things can, and do, change fast inside Honda. When necessary, projects get started, stopped, or rejigged in rapid order. There's still a faint chance Honda may sign up for another top tier flagship sports coupe.
After all, we are talking about the NSX here, the car that had its chassis tuned by Ayrton Senna, traumatised Ferrari and sparked an engineering revolution at Maranello. But right now, the bell is tolling for Japan's first and only true supercar."
Additionally from Car November 2004:
"So What's Honda doing instead?
Hybrids
The IMA system from Honda's first hybrid, the funky Insight coupe, has since been reworked to power both Civic and Accord. Honda is pulling back from niche hybrids like the IMAS, a proposed Insight II, in favour of hybrid versions of the US Odyssey MPV and perhaps a petrol electric sport ute based on the Acura MDX.
Fuel Cells
When it comes to fuel cells, Honda's in a league of its own. It has developed its own improved stack to power the FCX, the fuel cell prototype that's on limited lease in Japan and the US and getting ever smarter. The latest FCX generates 109bhp, can hit 93mph and has a range of 245 miles.
China
Honda is now into China in a big way. Building on a run of 30,000 Accords in 1999, it's planning to hit an annual production rate of 360,000 cars by the end of 2004. Honda has just begun building the Jazz in China for export to Europe. The current CR-V is so hot, it's being shamelessly copied."
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10-06-2004 | 01:11 PM
#9
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 10,138
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From: Lothians
Things in the car world seem to change quite frequently.
I don't think this would mean an end to S2000 replacements ever, but if there is nothing in the pipeline, it will take huge one-off investment and 3 years or more to start from scratch with a new S 5 years from now. Doesn't look good for new buyers, but residuals will improve IMHO.
I don't think this would mean an end to S2000 replacements ever, but if there is nothing in the pipeline, it will take huge one-off investment and 3 years or more to start from scratch with a new S 5 years from now. Doesn't look good for new buyers, but residuals will improve IMHO.
