Weekend Racer: 2000 Honda S2000 – Sold?

December 17, 2021 Update – We just confirmed the listing for this “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found we’re assuming this ride “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

The Honda S2000 is one of the better-used sports car values out there today, despite the uptick in prices for the best examples. There’s no denying the appeal of a sweet-handling sports car designed to rev to the heavens and all backed by the reliability a Honda is known for. This 2000 S2000 was originally listed in November 2021 on Craigslist in Silver Spring, Maryland by its original owner who has modified it for occasional track day use and is asking $23,000.  Comparing this price against the Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool confirms this private seller has his S2000 priced just below the “Good” valuation of $24,000, and above the “Fair” price of $17,300.

The S2000 was an instant hit when it was introduced, combining sharp looks with an instantly-classic driver-focused cockpit. The magazine reviewers raved about the car’s incredibly high redline and the engine’s addictive personality of coming alive right when most cars were running out of gas. To drive an S2000 is to live on the proverbial razor’s edge, as it’s almost hard to believe you’re actively encouraged to keep it in the upper reaches of the digital tachometer. In addition to its many appealing features, all of the traditional Honda staples were there, from the buttery shifter to the perfectly placed steering wheel, along with the simple yet durable switchgear and generously-bolstered bucket seats. And of course, that famous Honda reliability made all the more useful in a car designed to withstand copious amounts of abuse.

The Hagerty Insurance YouTube Channel provides this Buyer’s Guide when considering the purchase of an S2000:

The seller’s car is an interesting one, as it violates one of the primary rules of collector vehicles which is that thou shalt not modify. But when it comes to original owner cars, some of these sins can be forgiven as they may reflect the nature of any long-term relationship where you have to occasionally mix things up to keep it spicey. The S2000 is becoming a collector car but it also remains accessible if you’re not exclusively shopping for delivery-miles-only examples that you can’t even use the way Honda intended for fear of incurring rock chip damage when screaming down the left lane at slightly illegal speeds. The modifications made by the seller are detailed below and all seem designed to improve performance in some capacity, but there are also some desirable cosmetic upgrades buried in the exhaustive list of upgrades, like a carbon fiber two-layer top. The price seems high to me for a modified example, but how many one-owner S2000s are left? Good luck with the purchase if you take this well-loved S2000 home.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“1 owner car, purchased in September 2000. Some autocross and a dozen or so track days. No accidents, original paint, and garage kept.

Moton Clubsport coil overs w/ remote reservoir ( I think they’re 3 way adjustable) and springs that are a bit too stiff for the street. Multiple spare springs in different weights. Aluminum top hats w/ bearings, all 4 corners. Small Fortune Racing front sway bar, multiple center sections, with their roller bearing mounts and the updated arms to minimize steering boot rubbing. Upper control arm, rear mounts re-welded in place. With big sway bars and sticky tires the spot welds would start to pull away from the frame.
Small Fortune Racing rear sway bar, same web page as front bar. Evasive motorsports adjustable front upper ball joints
Poly bushings on all control arms and other suspension locations that were originally rubber.  4 new hubs and bearings with long ARP studs, not installed on car.

Berk hi flow cat. Cannot remember who’s exhaust but it’s a single. Spare single exhaust, factory front half with resonator adapted to single output. eManage Piggy back ECU, installed and dyno tuned by Brian Karwan. Dyno profile I have looks very similar to the one Brian has on his site. I think I’m @ ~ 207 rwhp. I have the original results. Braille 11 pound racing battery and battery tender connection.
Extra new valeo clutch pressure plate and disc

Carbon fiber, 2 layer hard top with quick release mounts. Needs rear window installed. Original top does have tears and needs to be replaced but can be driven with the top up. I almost never drive with the soft top up.

I have tons of original parts, probably everything except the original dual exhaust. Original 16” wheels (4). OEM front and rear sway bars with factory mounts. AP2 17” OEM wheels, 2 front, 2 rear, with tires. AP2 17” OEM rear wheels, no tires. 4 949 Racing 9” wheels in tungsten. 2 JDM rear 6 spoke 16” OEM rims, no fronts. OEM driver seat lowering mod. I have the OEM windscreen that goes between the roll hoops with different height screens. Currently there is an adjustable camera mount installed there. Fiberglass race seat with custom welded brackets so the driver’s seat is as low and as far back as it will get. Aftermarket radio with rear speakers installed behind the driver’s seats. OEM radio does not have rear channel. Replacement OEM plastic panels for the 2 pieces I cut to put speakers in behind the seats. 2 OEM Honda S2000 car covers Original tonneau cover, driver seat brackets. intake/filter box, catalytic converter, header, flywheel, shocks, springs, and top hats, tool kit and spare tire, radio.

Do you have a Honda S2000 story you’d like to share?  Comment below and let us know!