Honda S2000 Buying Guide: History

It’s not often a car manufacturer gifts itself an entirely clean-sheet design – let alone one as a birthday present. Most milestones disappear in a flurry of special editions and marketing press releases, but for its 50th anniversary in 1999, that's exactly what Honda did.

The S2000 was first mooted in 1995 in concept form at the Tokyo Motor Show as the striking SSM – Sports Study Model. Styled by Pininfarina, the concept featured an in-line five-cylinder VTEC engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission.

By the time the car made it into production – minus a cylinder – the spec sheet remained the stuff of dreams – over 240bhp from two naturally aspirated VTEC-equipped litres, drive to the rear axle via a six-speed manual transmission, a locking differential, compact dimensions, perfect 50:50 weight distribution and a sub-1,300kg kerb weight.

Given the last time Honda took on the supercar establishment they produced the paradigm shift that was the NSX, expectations were high for the marque's first dedicated sports car since the S800 of the 1970s. Over 100,000 examples were manufactured between 1999 and 2009 – as far as birthday party's go, that's a good one.

Technical Highlights & Evolution

Honda employs some of the most inspired engineers in the automotive industry – and they were let fully off the leash for the S2000. They cranked up the company's signature VTEC engine to 11, resulting in a world-beating 124bhp/litre output and a stratospheric 9,000rpm redline, which wouldn’t be eclipsed until the arrival of the Ferrari 458 Italia 11 years later.

The engine might be the star of the show, but there is more to the S2000 than VTEC. Being a clean sheet design, engineers had a carte blanche to build a the perfect sports car chassis, placing the F20C motor behind the front axle, making the S2000 a front-mid-engined car and lowering the rotational inertia. Best of all however, was the adoption of fully independent, double-wishbone suspension all-round, mated to bespoke Bridgestone Potenza S-02 tyres on 16” alloys.

One blight on the copybook was the early adoption of electric power assistance for the steering, which became a factor in the S2000’s quickly garnered reputation for spiky lift-off oversteer. Over the life of the car, Honda would take three bites of the apple trying to rectify the trait, and the first attempt came in 2002 with stiffer springs, softer anti-roll bars and recalibrated dampers. At the same time, a higher-specification GT model was introduced and the plastic rear window morphed into a glass item.

By 2004 the car warranted a facelift and further improvements were drafted in. Cosmetic changes were restricted to new bumpers, larger 17” alloys wrapped in a new compound of Bridgestone, updated head and tail lights, and oval tips for the exhausts. Under the skin, however, was where the real work took place – the subframe now featured additional bracing, whilst even firmer springs appeared, a softer rear anti-roll bar, further damping revisions and tweaked geometry that reduced toe-in under cornering loads.

Facelift cars are often mistakenly referred to as the AP2, but this designation only applies to the US market, which received a special 2.2-litre engine. Japan, the UK and Australia all continued with the 2.0 displacement. Curiously, despite Honda never admitting to any engine changes, facelift cars consistently produce stronger numbers on dyno days.

Finally, in 2006 Honda introduced an optional drive-by-wire throttle with stability control, which was later made standard in 2008. A final run-out model of 100 was created in 2009 to celebrate the end of production. The obviously titled Edition 100 featured cosmetic changes which included never-before-available Grand Prix White paint, anthracite alloy wheels with black bolts, an aluminium gear lever with red stitching, black badges and a commemorative plaque.

What to Look For

Honda’s reputation for engineering durability holds true here, but that doesn’t mean the S2000 is fault-free. There are a number of things any serious buyer should check.

The F20C engine is famously tough, but it does use oil – up to a litre every 1,000 miles isn’t unusual – so be sure to ask the seller about their maintenance habits. Neglect in this area can lead to premature bearing wear. The six-speed gearbox is one of the best in the business and generally trouble-free, but by now, many UK cars are starting to show clutch master and slave cylinder fatigue. A soft or inconsistent pedal is your giveaway.

Suspension wear is another common issue. Lower front arms can develop play, and the bushes tend to need replacement around the 80,000–100,000 mile mark. Geometry is crucial too. Many S2000s have been lowered or fitted with aftermarket suspension, but few have been properly set up afterwards. If the seller can’t produce recent alignment specs – or worse, doesn’t know what you’re talking about – be wary. A recent fast-road alignment is a sign the car’s been looked after properly.

It's worth getting the car on a ramp to inspect the underside. Honda applied minimal underseal from factory to save weight, and that’s catching up with UK cars now. The body itself holds up well, but rear arches are increasingly prone to rust, often starting behind the liners where moisture collects. Subframe surface corrosion is also common, especially around rear trailing arm mounts. If the car’s been treated with something like Dinitrol or Waxoyl, take that as a good sign.

Soft top condition is another area to inspect. Early cars had plastic rear screens which fog or split with age, while the fabric itself can stretch or tear at the seams. Roof seals around the pillars can let water in too – lift the carpets and check for damp footwells. A new hood isn’t cheap, so recent replacement adds value.

The original exhaust system is stainless steel but now showing its age. Most problems centre around the flange welds, where corrosion can creep in and cause leaks. It’s worth getting under the car for a proper look, or listening for any puffing under load. Headlight lenses are also starting to haze or mist internally – it’s cosmetic, but replacements aren’t cheap.

Lastly, don’t forget to check the insurance. The S2000 is treated like a hot potato and premiums can be surprisingly steep. Consumables such as tyres and brake pads are also on the performance end of the scale. None of this should scare you off – but it does mean a cheap car can become an expensive one quickly, so condition and history count for more than mileage alone.

Modifications

Despite the focus of the S2000, there are notable weak spots should you wish to attend track days on a consistent basis. The ABS calibration is very well judged – however, the rear discs are solid and therefore prone to overheating due to being only 282mm × 12mm thick. This then transfers more bias to the front, which – at only 300mm × 25mm (although at least vented) – thermally overload, leading to cracking. Fitting ventilated rear discs or a big brake kit are the best solutions. Another pre-emptive strike would be fitting a baffle to the sump to avoid oil starvation due to the high cornering speeds the car can achieve.

A square set-up is proven to hugely aid turn-in. The tyres are staggered from the factory – pre-facelift cars are 205/55R16 on 6.5J ET55 front and 225R16 on 7.5J ET65 rear, with the facelift cars running 215/45R17 on 7J ET55 front and 245/40R17 on 8.5J ET65 rear. However, the centre bores are different (the rear is smaller than the front) – meaning you’d have to machine the bore out on the wider wheels to fit. The geometry is fully adjustable – facelift settings can be applied to earlier cars.

Engine-wise the F20C responds well to having the VTEC crossover point lowered from 6,000rpm to 3,800 – although as a consequence you’ll have to sacrifice the famous VTEC ramp up. Another 20–30bhp in the mid-range – however – should make the trade-off a worthy one. Any re-map will also only provide marginal, single-digit gains in BHP at the top end, but teaming it with a decat can unleash 8bhp at the wheels. The S2000 is also one of the few cars that genuinely responds to an induction kit, despite the factory airbox already being very efficient.

A popular modification to release the car's voice is known as the “UK exhaust mod” – which involves welding a link pipe to allow some flow to bypass the rear silencers. The benefit is a deeper tone at wide-open throttle without any extra drone at motorway speeds.

Owners POV by Mike Rainbird

"A good many people seem surprised there’s an S2000 in my garage considering my past history of cars, with many deeming it nothing more than a hairdresser's car. To answer that question, I would first suggest you go on YouTube and search for ‘Best Motoring Amuse S2000’ where you’ll witness a relatively mildly modified S2000 monster everything on the twisty mountain Touge course in the hands of the Drift King Keiichi Tsuchiya.

"The reason the car is so good is that like most race cars (and over two decades before Porsche added it to their road-going GT3) it has double A-arm suspension front & rear, providing perfect geometry control as well as allowing increased negative camber. This means there is no bump steer throughout the suspension travel, making the car predictable at the limit. When you combine that with one of the greatest engines of all time and match it to a gearbox that receives even greater plaudits, it's no surprise that I hold the car in such high regard.

"Sure, by today's standards it's no longer fast, but a consequence of that lack of straight-line performance is that it can be rung out through all the lower gears without fear of going to prison, which is hugely entertaining. And then on a nice sunny day, the added element of being able to drop the roof and enjoy the additional sights, sounds and smells just adds to the experience and puts the icing on an already very high-calorie cake.

"Those that also know me will know mine obviously isn't standard, featuring Ohlins suspension, Recaro Pole Positions, Spoon subframe collars, a J’s Racing strut brace, RS29’s SRF and a square set up with 245/40 tyres all around. But these are the only mods required to tame the standard car and turn it into a Touge challenger."

Honda S2000 Buying Guide: Market Assessment – June 2025

You’ll still need a pound for every one of the F20C’s 9,000rpm if you want even a leg-in to the S2000 market – and these days, you might need to throw in a few more. The bottom rung now starts around £10,000–£12,000 for high-mileage cars, often with 120,000 miles or more on the clock. They’re rarely pretty, but their survival is a testament to the S2000’s build quality and mechanical durability.

Prices have firmed across the board over the past 18 months, and the market remains thin. At the time of writing, there are fewer than 20 examples listed on Autotrader, with only a handful on PistonHeads. Demand continues to outpace supply, especially for clean AP2 facelift cars.

The top end of the market now comfortably sits at £38,000–£40,000 for a late car with under 30,000 miles, and there’s increasing interest from collectors pushing well-preserved AP1s towards the £30,000 mark. That gap is narrowing as the earlier cars gain more recognition for their purer chassis and revvier nature.

While prices are no longer climbing quite as sharply as they did in 2023–24, they’ve not dropped either – and with Honda’s reliability, mechanical honesty and that unique drivetrain experience, the S2000 still feels like guilt-free performance motoring. If values keep trending the way they have, even the 100k-mile cars could soon be knocking on the same door as today’s low-mileage examples.

With thanks to Opposite Stock for the car

www.oppositestock.co.uk

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Honda S2000: Specs & Performance

Engine

1,997cc naturally aspirated inline-four cylinder

DOHC-VTEC, 16v, Max 9,000rpm

Output

227bhp @ 8,300rpm

153lb-ft @ 7,500rpm

Layout & Transmission

Front engine, RWD

Double wishbones all round

6sp manual, Limited slip differential

Weight

1,320kg

bhp/tonne – 172

lb-ft/tonne - 116

Performance

0-60mph – 6.2s

1/4 mile – 14.5s

Top speed 150mph

Pricing Guide

from £10,000-£30,000 (June ‘25)