One of the Few
You can count with your hands the number of times Honda made something with rear-wheel drive. There’s the T360, the automaker’s first four-wheeled production vehicle, along with the S500, S600, and S800 roadsters and coupes. Of course, there’s the NSX, the Beat kei roadster, and the S2000, and its most recent rear-drive model was the S660.
But one could say that it was the S2000 that was most accessible to a wider audience. It cost about $32,000 back when it was new, and while it was considerably expensive in those days, it was far more reachable than an NSX. Contemporary reviews were sprinkled with praise, so while Honda rarely made rear-drive cars, all have deservedly gained iconic status, this roadster included.
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The Backstory
Classic.com currently values the standard AP2 S2000 at $34,755, which is exactly the model we found for sale over at Bring a Trailer. The more original it is, the better, and finding one that hasn’t been festooned with overnight parts from Japan is a tough ask to begin with, let alone one that hasn’t seen a knock or two.
The particular example for sale was actually a lease from 2006, but was purchased by the lessee’s friend in 2008. It’s been with the same owner since then, and by the looks of things, it’s been in good hands for the last 20 years. Finished in Berlina Black, it currently has about 28,000 miles on the clock, and its condition can be best described as honest.
There are visible scrapes on the nose, and some touch-up paint has been applied to the hood to patch up the stone chip. Nonetheless, it’s been cared for, backed up by complete service records. The bid currently stands at $15,500 with six days left.
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The Offer
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Make | Honda |
| Model | S2000 (AP2) |
| Year | 2006 |
| Mileage | 27,566 miles shown |
| Engine | 2.2-liter F22C1 VTEC |
| Power | 237 horsepower |
| Transmission | Six-speed manual |
| Drive type | Rear-wheel drive with limited-slip differential |
| Exterior color | Berlina Black |
| Interior color | Black leather |
| Wheels | 17-inch 10-spoke |
| Suspension | Double wishbone front and rear |
| Brakes | Four-wheel vented disc |
| Steering | Electric power steering |
| Current bid | $15,500 |
Interested in this car? View the listing here.
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Why it’s Special
The Honda S2000 isn’t the rarest of cars, as over 110,000 were built from 1999 to 2009. About 66,500 made it to North America, but the number of well-cared-for and bone-stock examples is few and far between. The AP2, like the one for sale, was for the 2006 to 2009 model years, having a shorter run than the pre-facelift AP1. The AP2 update saw exterior and interior tweaks, a retuned suspension to lessen the snappiness seen in its predecessor, an upgrade to 17-inch wheels, and the engine size growing from 2.0 liters to 2.2 liters for more torque and greater elasticity.
The S2000 was a continuation of sorts of the original S500/S600/S800 from the ’60s. It was made to commemorate Honda’s 50th corporate anniversary, so it was essentially a birthday gift to itself. Still, what a present, packing a high-revving motor that had the highest horsepower per liter among naturally aspirated engines, along with a playful (though sometimes too playful) chassis and an immensely satisfying manual gearbox. With the way the automotive industry is now, there will never be another one like it.
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About the author
Anton Andres
News Editor