Honda S2000 prices remain ridiculous

"LJ909" (lj909)
05/26/2020 at 10:04 • Filed to: Honda S2000, Honda

At least here in Southern California, which seems to be unique in having prices on vehicles higher than everywhere else. JDM’s popularity has ensured that both owners and dealers aren’ t budging from their prices. To top it all off, its getting harder to find ones that either don’ t have shitty mods, have been in accidents (out of 19 total local listings, 4 had accidents and 1 had a salvage history, I didn’ t include them here because their prices are cheaper for obvious reasons), or both.

Lets start off with this insane example (there’ s always one right?). For sale at an actual Honda dealer in Indio, they have a 2000 S2000 with just under 10k miles which is pretty low for a car that is over 20 years old now. Asking price? $69,895. Whats even more hilarious is that they have taken $5 bucks off the price. But its CP as evidenced by it having a listing that’ s been up for 1627 days, which for those of you not good with math, amounts to this thing being for sale for a record 4 and a half years.

Other than that, there are only 17 S2000’s for sales in Southern California with an average price of just under 22 grand with mileage average just over 93k. You pretty much can’t find an S2000 under 12 grand here.

The rest of the country looks like there’ s hope, which I think has more to do with people not being interested in a small convertible in less than stellar climates. Examples can be found for more palatable prices of $9-12 k, but of course prices raise fast with the highest prices being on the rare CR models (of which I only found 4: 2 in the $50s and 2 in the high $30s).

So its looking like if you want a cheap Japanese convertible sports car the answer still is going to be Miata.

DISCUSSION (54)

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 10:40

I’ve seen higher mileage but unmodded ones get into the high 7ks here but the ads are usually taken down the same day.

MarquetteLa > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 10:41

Are there smog considerations if you buy a car out of state and bring it back to California? If not, that’s what I’d do.

LJ909 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/26/2020 at 10:43

They get bought up fast. I’ve never seen an S2000 under 15k though here. If it was something was most likely very wrong with it (i.e. it was a shell or missing an engine or something.)

LJ909 > MarquetteLa
05/26/2020 at 10:44

I was thinking that. But like you mentioned, I’ m sure there are smog considerations or something dealing with registering the car here that would most likely turn into a hassle.

Just Jeepin' > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 10:44

I’ve been keeping an eye out for a local one, not that I can afford what they’re going for, but there’s only been one on CL for weeks now. 20k, don’t know nearly enough about them to assess it on the NPoCP scale. Looks pretty from the front, fucked up from the back.

https://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/d/noblesville-2001-honda-s2000-ap1/7121400714.html

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 10:48

No, it had exactly the sort of ad you would want to see for a cheap S2k. There is an engineless she’ll with only minor mods for 3k near me.

In Europe, the road tax and enormous expense of keeping a car drives used car prices way down because there are so many other hidden costs to deal with. Why isn't that the case in California where smog and the like make it more expensive to live and drive?

LJ909 > Just Jeepin'
05/26/2020 at 10:50

I took a look at the ad. While it does have low miles for it being an ‘01, I’d vote CP based on the price and all the mods/ the owner wanting it to be a street legal JDM racer. From the stripped interior to the stupid trend of either having a front fascia that’ s gone to show how big your intercooler is (there’ s a couple cars near me that do this, namely a loud ass B5 S4) to removing the rear for wings that are so big they are pointless on something street legal as seen here, this thing has a lot of stuff no one besides the owner asked for.

Future next gen S2000 owner > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 10:51

S2000's have bottomed out in price. They are steady with inflation now or slightly appreciating. A cult following will do that to a car with no real competitor or successor.

LJ909 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/26/2020 at 10:56

Oh no wonder. But prices here don’ t budge because of the popularity of cars here, namely popular Japanese models. But its mostly anything performance oriented is either over priced, or you wont find one for sale because owners don’ t get rid of them. Everything from the lowliest Miata to high mileage mid ‘00's Subarus, Evo’s, AMG’s etc are all priced thousands more than comparable cars in other regions of the country with high miles . Combine that with a climate where you can pretty much drive in good weather year around along with every owner thinking they have something special, its annoying as hell situation for buyers

dogisbadob > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 10:58

there are other states that follow California emissions, so all you have to do is carfax the VIN and if it was originally sold in a California emissions state, there will be no problem :o)

PS9 > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 10:59

$69k for a low mileage cup racer version would be...still CP but not impossible to get given the market for those right now. But for a regular one? Naw, fam.

EDIT: also I’ll just call it right now and say the S2k is headed for the same fate that befell the Supra; After numbers dwindle past a certain point, this will be a six figure car. Honda might not make the same mistake Toyota did and just rebadge something as the next S convertible, but they might also not make another one at all given the state of the global economy. TL:DR -> If you want one, get it soon before you can’t anymore.

LJ909 > Future next gen S2000 owner
05/26/2020 at 10:59

I’ m sure its going to get worse as well as the years go on. With production numbers here in the US from ‘ 99 till its demise in 2011, just under 67k were made. That doesn’ t bode well for prices coming down. The only hope is that Honda introduces a successor, which doesn’ t seem likely .

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 10:59

I wish I’d defied the parents and bought a used AP1 in 2009. Large regrets.

LJ909 > PS9
05/26/2020 at 11:01

Right. Its not even a CR. Better money would be spent tracking down a MazdaSpeed Miata or a Solstice GXP/Sky Redline and spending money on mods.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 11:03

Aww that sucks. I’m surprised anyone can buy a car at all given the cost of living out there.

Here’s just a few eye wateringly low prices from my local listings to prove your point.

good ghia - $4,900

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/cto/d/hiram-volkswagen-karmann-ghia/7126091600.html

great corvair - $6,500

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/452154555638448/

WRXs are still overpriced

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/d/atlanta-2006-subaru-wrx-impreza/7127854675.html

Engineless S2k - $3,500

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/d/roswell-2002-honda-s2000/7127221757.html

Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 11:11

I would have bought one if I had fit in it. There is NO steering wheel adjustment and I could drive a car with the wheel a mile away and pointed at my belt buckle. :/

LJ909 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/26/2020 at 11:13

We make due. Its not as bad as some people think unless you live in LA itself.

Those prices make me think I’m going to have to start looking elsewhere in the country for cheap cars. You’d never see those prices here. Case in point, the WRX you listed for $6950? You cant find that here because there are almost no 06 WRX’s for sale. I found 2: one with 140k on it, same white color has the buyer asking 10k for it, the other, an STi wants 16,5k for his and is claiming its putting down 500 horses. Doesn’t state the mileage but it looks like from the bury pic of the dash that it has 136k on it. Low supply of all these cars and high prices. It sucks.

LJ909 > Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast
05/26/2020 at 11:15

I sat in one once years ago. I had heard that its can be a weird tight fit. Some have even described it as an un- comfortableness that you deal with to drive it. I dont know if I could.

Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 11:30

Yeah mean to say I could NOT drive a call with those ergonomics. I liked pretty much everything else about it. I was looking at a Suzuka blue with blue interior that I really liked, but had to back out as soon as I sat it in. :/

Picked up a Miata instead, which offered way more seat/wheel/comfort adjustment.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 11:41

Does this just apply to cars with a cult following or all cars? Two years ago I bought my 100k Cruze in nearly perfect condition for $4,900 which was an absolute steal for a car with bluetooth, but I am beginning to see deals like that albeit with higher mileage on lots of cars from 2012 now. Just look at this Fusion.

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/d/atlanta-2011-ford-fusion-6-speed-manual/7129037809.html

Even Si’s seem to have come down in price.

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/d/atlanta-2008-honda-civic-si-clean/7122056484.html

gokstate > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 11:50

At 6'2" it was 2-3 inches too small for me. My 5'6" wife loved it and felt like it was designed for her.

LJ909 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/26/2020 at 11:55

I would wager its cars in general. Our car centric culture here has everyone trying to get the most they can from buyers. For example, I’ m currently in the market for a new car, namely the Kia Stinger. Locally, I can find GT’s 5-7k off sticker. And many of those prices you see online aren’ t the case at dealers, as they usually end up being a combination of rebates no one ever uses or qualifies for.

Other parts of the country? I’ ve seen Stingers 10-12k off sticker. Its to the point that I would probably recommend that buyers in buy cars from other parts of the country.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 12:04

Here there is a pretty large enthusiast population but so many highway miles and urban spraw l means everyone has a car that just racks up the miles and doesn't need too much attention. It is just less feasible to drive something more interesting all the time, especially if it doesn't have aircon. I guess living in an enthusiasts meca means prices are always through the roof.

DipodomysDeserti > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 12:07

$13,500, clean title, two owners, unmolested. Just East of Southern California.

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/cto/d/phoenix-2003-honda-s2000-clean-title/7124975427.html

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Just Jeepin'
05/26/2020 at 12:07

ex-owner. That thing is such a crack pipe, you have no idea what you’re getting yourself in to with those mods. For $20k you can easily find a nice clean S2000...maybe a few more miles, but it’s a pretty bullet proof Honda so that shouldn’t scare you.

I have periods where I really really kick myself for not having that car anymore - sold it for $12k with 50k miles on it in 2011 (it was a 2003 in white with tan interior, pretty rare and pretty combo). I don’t have the budget for anything that nice or well kept anymore - but do see reasonable ones for around $12k pop up every now and then with higher miles, some use, but looking honest. Which is fine for an S2000 if you want it to be a driver and not a garage queen.

LJ909 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/26/2020 at 12:09

Its kind of the same here. Many cars are actually driven here so some models that you would think don’ t have high mileage do because of all our freeways. The cons of that are, like you mentioned, high miles and also high prices. But the pros are a market where you will see in person or for sale cars (models, trims, colors, mods) that you only read about or never would have thought existed. My neighbors daughter for example has daily driven a Roush tuned first gen Focus hatch for the last 10+years, something I never knew existed.

LJ909 > DipodomysDeserti
05/26/2020 at 12:11

That’ s pretty damn clean. The poster being the second owner tells me that both him and the first are most likely older and maintained the car as it should have been maintained . Its beautiful seeing one that’ s not modded.

Just Jeepin' > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
05/26/2020 at 12:15

Yeah, trust me, it’s only on my radar because it’s the only one around. I wouldn’t touch it with a 10’ pole.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 12:17

If there is one thing I’ve learned about California, it’s that people actually drive their cool cars. I have talked to a few “ air” heads who daily their classic VWs but there’s not a chance that most people would ever attempt such a thing, especially with the wildly varying climate and deva stating humidity/heat combo. At least our salt free interstates are in pretty decent shape all around.

You have to go to certain parts of town to see the really crazy stuff. Atlanta has a ton of big music and movie money floating around but almost no one lives here.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 12:20

I love these. I was looking in 2014/2015 before getting the SC, but all the examples were either weekend/ summer car with 1-2k a year and wanting full value, or modded/ flogged to death, and wanting 20k. There was one that popped up and I drove an hour to dealer to look at on a sunday. 125 k miles, with paint chips near the fenders with visible rust b ub bling and they were still asking 18.

LJ909 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/26/2020 at 12:24

Yea we really do. You see things running around that will make you say “I’cant believe someone actually drives that” (like the rare L Tuned 2nd gen Lexus GS I saw the other day) or cars that have mods that you would never think would be modded but it works. Hopefully Atl, with the growth its seen these last few years, will get like it is here one day.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 12:31

The city has always been about entrepreneurship and people are still running around with stupid amounts of money, but I’m not sure it will ever be that car centric. Lack of rigorous inspections and mild climate do mean cars can stay on the road a long time. You just have to look at my DOTS to see some of the crazy stuff. Just the other day I saw the most camber I’ve ever seen. . . ever. . . on a previous gen Accord sedan. There’s sinks and lowriders and that JDM import shop and tons of classic American cars just lying around , so we’ve got it better than anything in the rust belt. And with Porsche North American headquarters in t own I’ve seen a lot of those lately. Atlanta is like the Hollywood of the east in more ways than movie production. It's a town where you hit it big and live big but no one is from here. The cars reflect that.

LJ909 > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
05/26/2020 at 12:32

but all the examples were either weekend/summer car with 1-2k a year and wanting full value, or modded/flogged to death, and wanting 20k.

Thats the problem with this and these other popular Japanese tuner models. It almost ensures that I most likely wont ever get one.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 12:36

Yeah... when these were new, I think most didn’t expect them to turn out to be decent investments as well as being interesting cars.

The S2000 definitely has ‘future classic’ written all over it and I suspect the prices for these will, at worst, stay more or less flat in the near term .

12and35 > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 13:35

I sold my MY 2000 S2000 like 10 years ago for 9,000 bucks with 68,000 on the clock.... and I regret that every single day of my life.

LJ909 > 12and35
05/26/2020 at 14:33

Damn. You could’ve gotten almost 30k now.

reddude7 > 12and35
05/26/2020 at 17:52

Fr the price? Or because you miss the car? The common thread with S2k owners is that they always seem to say they regret selling it because nothing since has compared. Which is why I love mine. It has shortcomings and I catch myself taking it for granted occasionally, but I know there's just nothing else that will feel the same.

reddude7 > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 17:53

Kee p your eyes peeled. I bought a 2007 (least desirable year but not for reasons important to me), 60k, essentially flawless except for tiny paint chips , for $20k out the door.

reddude7 > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 17:57

I’m a 5'9 dude with reasonably stocky build and it fits like a glove. Several seat clicks left over behind my seating position . Not claustrophobic or anything but definitely not a ton of space spared. I find it quite comfortable for what it is, seats are nicely bolstered and it takes small road bumps reasonably well. Worth trying out.

anyunusedusername > Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast
05/26/2020 at 20:46

Ditto. It is an extremely fun car. I was about an inch or off for the thing and had to realistic with myself. No matter how much I liked it, it just wasn’t the right car for me.

Picking up my 15 GT miata on Saturday with most of the suspension stuff already done.

anyunusedusername > MarquetteLa
05/26/2020 at 20:49

On these, it’d be all the same issues unless you’re military.

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > LJ909
05/26/2020 at 20:56

T he introduction of the new NSX didn’t do jack squat to original NSX prices. I doubt that an S2000 successor would have any of the traits that make people appreciate it so much, either .

Nauraushaun > LJ909
05/27/2020 at 01:49

WELL DON’T RUB IT IN!

scoobaruuuu > Just Jeepin'
05/27/2020 at 05:51

I had MY05 for sale for a couple months @ $ 17,500 with 80k on it. I kept getting low balled so I just decided to keep it. It also doesnt help that I'm trying to sell a convertible in IN in the middle of a pandemic.

Ch0taku > Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast
05/27/2020 at 12:52

F or taller folks like us (~6'+ ), a bucket seat is a must. I knew about this prior to purchasing my s2000. So right when I did pick mine up, that was the first ‘mod’ I did. Basically lowering your seating position by a few inches. Fixed all the ergonomic problems. It also looked super badass to have a bucket seat in the car with the top down. haha.

Ch0taku > LJ909
05/27/2020 at 13:24

The deals are out there. Just need to be patient, do your research, and broaden your search radius. Also look on craigslist instead of those dealerships..

Here in SoCal, I w as specifically looking for an 06-07 because of the traction control feature and potential tune-ability of the DBW cars. Would’ve also considered the 04-05, depending on price, but wasn’t really interested in that generation . I wasn’t too worried about 100k+ mileage cars either , since I knew of friends that bought and aggressively tracked their 200k+ mileage s2000. Just as long as the compression test was good.

After passing on a couple, clean title, s2000 in my area (one with missing front vin numbers at 96k miles selling for 15.5k , and another with bad compression with 126k miles selling for 16.5 k ), I e nded up finding an 06 suzuka blue with 112k miles, clean title, all vin numbers intact, even 220psi compression numbers listed at $15.9 k about 100 miles away from my house. When I checked out the car, it was immaculate, with maybe small negatives here and there (a few door dings, and the soft top had a tiny qtr inch rip). But those things didnt sway me away since I really wanted it after passing on a few s2000 already.. So with all that I was able to haggle the price down to $14k. I probably would have gotten away with 13k , since the owner was elderly in his 70s and was only interested in motorcycles. But still, I think it was a fair price for a ap2v2 purchased in fall of 2018.

12and35 > reddude7
05/27/2020 at 14:14

Not the price but because I REALLY miss that car. I have had a lot of sports cars in my time (RX7s, GTIs, etc) but the S2000 just... it has,,,like the term in wine “Terroir” in just everything comes together just right.

Boostedbrick3 > LJ909
05/27/2020 at 14:50

Just look around, there is a wide range of prices depending on where you are and who’s selling. If you look you can still find a deal. I bought my one owner ‘02 with 81k miles and no mods for $11 two years ago. Guy on the local S2000 FB group just sold an ‘02 with 118k miles, hard top and $7000 of mostly tasteful cosmetic and suspension mods for $12800.

Check this out, decent amount of fairly priced S2000's

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/kansascity/search/?query=S2000

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > LJ909
05/27/2020 at 17:40

Yeah my friend has a blue CR, he has a lot of money in it, probably went up in value quite a bit.

Steve in Manhattan > 12and35
05/27/2020 at 18:06

Sold my ‘91 CRX Si in 1993 in preparation for heading to law school. Around 14 grand on the clock, and I think I got near sticker (maybe 12K?) because it was so perfect. Regrets here as well ...

SudS2k > Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast
05/27/2020 at 23:47

164k miles elder maintained... Mine has 86k on it and its been trouble free. Never leaked a drop of anything, only needed a clutch, oil, and spark plugs. Plus I’m the fourth owner. So maybe 164k elder maintained makes sense at this price.

reddude7 > 12and35
05/29/2020 at 00:35

Well hopefully you can find the opportunity to get another one!

rearwheelhorse > LJ909
05/30/2020 at 00:31

No, you couldn’t have. I recently bought a clean title S2000 for $10k w/90k miles.

If you’re patient and not just loading up car gurus once a week, deals can be had

LJ909 > rearwheelhorse
05/30/2020 at 01:30

And where is it that you live if you don’t mind me asking.