2002 Honda S2000 Roadster-SOLD

2002 Honda S2000

JHMAP11472T000293

128,700km

Sebring Silver Metallic (NH-552M) on Black Leather.

The Honda S2000 was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Honda Motor Company. It carried on the tradition of a small displacement, high revving open sports car started with the S600 and S800 of the early 1960’s. The S2000 was built in the Takanezawa plant in Tochigi, Japan, from 1999 to 2009, alongside the NSX and the first generation Honda Insight. The project was led by Shigeru Uehara who was also the father of the NSX.

The S2000 was based on the SSM (Sports Study Model) show car which was shown at the Tokyo Motor show in 1995 and featured an in-line 5 cylinder engine. The production S2000 which began in the fall of 1999 as a 2000MY, featured a 2.0L 4 cylinder engine with VTEC variable valve timing and was noteworthy for producing up to 124Hp/L - the highest specific output for any normally aspirated production car engine at that time. North American versions had 240hp or 120hp/L. This was achieved with a stratospheric engine revolutions - the S2000 could safely be shifted at 9,000rpm which was unheard of at the time.

The steel bodywork and alloy hood were tightly wrapped around the mechanical components which featured double wishbone suspension, a Torsen limited Slip differential, close ratio 6 speed gearbox and the 2.0L 4 cyl engine situated well back from the centreline of the front axle. The S2000 could accelerate from 0-100km/hr in around 6 seconds and go on to a top speed of more than 250kph. Weight distribution was an even 50%/50% across both axles.

Initial versions of the S2000 were known internally as the ‘AP1’, and were produced from inception to end of the MY2003 model year. For MY2004 the car was substantially revised to make the engine more torquey at lower rpm and to make the handling slightly more benign. ‘AP1’s’ were sensitive to tire wear and choice, and could be unforgiving at the limit of adhesion. The ‘AP2’ had a 2.2L engine that developed the same power as the 2.0L, but with more torque and a lower 8,200 rpm red line.

Honda made approximately 113,000 S2000’s with the highest sales coming in the earlier part of the vehicle’s production run. ‘AP1’s’ accounted for about 2/3 of total production, and ‘AP2’s 1/3. Approximately 66,500 were sold in the US, and 2,500 in Canada. Europe and Japan absorbed about 20,000 units each. The 2008 financial crisis was tough on the sales of sports cars and Honda only sold 2,538 units in that year, down 74% from the 2002 peak. Production ceased in June 2009, and plans for a successor were scrapped.

There were several special edition S2000’s sold in Japan, but North America only received the ‘CR’ or Club Racer which was sold with different wheels and tires, a large rear spoiler and other aerodynamic enhancements, stiffer suspension and the deletion of the soft top. A hard top was included as well as a hard tonneau cover. 699 S2000 CR’s were produced in the 2008 and 2009 production years.

About this Honda S2000

This S2000 was originally a US car that was imported to Canada in 2011 and lived in Lethbridge AB. About a year later the car sold to the neighbour of the person who imported it, and it has been in his possession until recently when it was purchased by Lugnutz. The owner, a retired pilot, purchased the factory service manual and did his own maintenance on the car (as well as many jobs on his single engine Beachcraft including replacing the wings).

During the last decade this S2000 has been treated to a new canvas top and new headlights, in addition to regular oil and fluid changes. The previous owner was mechanically sympathetic and the S2000 was never raced, abused, or run low on oil. The syncros show no signs of wear. The previous owner said he had never red-lined the car.

An hour-long narrated video documents the condition of the exterior paint and trim, interior and undercarriage. The car has a listing of a collision in 2005 on the CARFAX, but with no damage total. Each panel still has the matching VIN sticker apart from the rear bumper, which has been replaced. Paint meter readings show that the bonnet was likely repainted, and that the trunk lid and tops of the fenders have likely have some blending as they show slightly more paint depth than the sides of the car.

As part of the reconditioning process, this car was thoroughly detailed including cryo-blasting the undercarriage and cleaning the backs of the wheels. It is completely rust free and un-damaged underneath and shows better than most cars with half the mileage. It has never been winter driven.

This S2000 has travelled a little bit more than 128,000km or a bit less than 80,000miles. S2000 have been consistently rated as ‘best picks’ for sports cars by Consumer Reports and other magazines which report typical Honda reliability. This car has had recent fluid changes, including the gearbox and rear differential. Fresh Bridgestone RE 71RS tires* were chosen to replace the pedestrian Coopers that were on the car, as the Bridgestones were the closest to the look and feel of the OEM Bridgestone S02s that are no longer in production.

This S2000 presents extremely well with excellent paint, upholstery and trim. There are some touched up stone chips on the leading edge of the front fenders, bumper cover and hood. There are a couple of scuffs on the rear bumper cover. There are no door dings or other noticeably imperfections. For the car’s year and mileage its condition can not be reasonably faulted in our opinion. This Honda will be auctioned on-line in April 2024.

*[The RE 17 RS is an extreme performance summer radial and is suitable for autocross and endurance style competition. It is not a cold weather tire and should not be driven, flexed or stored in temperatures below freezing. When it is warm and dry, there are few cars that will out-corner an S2000 on these tires.]