A 498,000-Mile Honda S2000 Just Hit a Salvage Auction, and It Still Runs

Almost 500,000 miles and one slow-speed collision later, this 2003 Honda S2000 just refuses to die. It still runs and drives, and is waiting to hit the road again.

By Anosh Khumbatta
News Editor
Front three quarters shot of a red Honda S2000 convertible that was damaged in a minor frontal collision
IAA Inc
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Analog Appeal 

Revered for its high-revving naturally-aspirated engine and telepathic handling, the Honda S2000 is one of the Japanese marque’s last pure driver’s cars from a bygone era, and widely considered a future classic. The red car you see here is listed on an IAA salvage auction with a staggering 498,452 miles on the odometer, and looks like the perfect ride for an enthusiast with a taste for compact, fun-to-drive, rear-wheel-drive roadsters. The high miles combined with the fact that this car still runs and drives is testament to the fact that when maintained right, these old Hondas can last almost forever. 

Side shot of a red Honda S2000 convertible that was damaged in a minor frontal collision

IAA Inc

What We Know So Far

This S2000 was manufactured in 2003 and was equipped with an Amsoil dual remote bypass oil filtration system and a prelube pump by the owner to extend its oil change intervals and enhance engine longevity. This was done because the car was driven a lot, covering over 23,000 miles a year on average for the last two decades. The car has been dutifully maintained during this time, with the owner using either Amsoil 0W-30 or Pennzoil Platinum 0W-30 engine oil, and even going as far as to conduct routine lab analyses of the used oil to monitor the motor’s health over time. 

The Crash

The incident that knocked this S2000 out of action was an extremely slow-speed collision with a large truck. The truck’s bumper was high enough to completely miss the Honda’s bumper, instead making contact with the hood and folding it back as you can see in these images. There is also minor damage to the left fender, radiator, and radiator mount, although all structural components managed to escape unscathed. 

Front shot of a red Honda S2000 convertible that was damaged in a minor frontal collision

IAA Inc

Final Thoughts 

This Honda S2000 offers the unique opportunity to own a legendary high-revving convertible sportscar on a budget. These cars are getting increasingly rare these days, and this one could be the perfect resurrection project for an enthusiast who craves the pure driving experience that only a car from this era can provide. 

Interior shot of a red Honda S2000 convertible

IAA Inc

Interior of a red Honda S2000 convertible

IAA Inc

About the author

Anosh Khumbatta

News Editor

Anosh Khumbatta is an automotive journalist with over a decade of experience covering cars and motorcycles. A former Senior Correspondent and Road Tester, he's conducted extensive performance testing on road and track, restored classic vehicles, and raced at the national level. He's contributed to Car India, Bike India, and other publications.