Cars are depreciating assets. However, some discontinued models, such as Honda S2000, increase in value. This Honda sports car has seen its average used price rise since its retirement in 2009. And one low-mileage S2000 recently sold for a mind-blowing $200,000.

This Honda sports car has become a collector’s favorite

Honda S2000s are renowned for their open-top driving experience at a fraction of the cost of a supercar. This Honda model was a competitor of the Mazda MX-5 Miata, which had dominated the sports car market in the 1990s and 2000s. Though the Honda S2000 is sometimes forgotten because it’s no longer in production, it’s a popular sports car among enthusiasts. Owners rave about its design and performance, praising the S2000’s shifter and the digital dashboard, a rare feature for a vehicle of its age. 

Honda made S2000s with a four-cylinder engine in two variations — AP1 and AP2. While both engines were reliable, drivers have complained about wheel-bearing issues that required at least $2,000 to fix.

Since its discontinuation in 2009, the price of Honda S2000 models has surged. According to Bring a Trailer, buyers have scooped up S2000 with less than 60,000 miles for $30,000 to $35,000. However, the purchase price of an S2000 CR (Club Trailer) model can easily double because of its lower production numbers.

1 Honda S2000 CR recently sold for $200,000

Bring a Trailer shows that one 2009 Honda S2000 CR sold for $200,000 on Apr. 23, 2023. It was one of the approximately 700 Club Racer models Honda produced for the U.S. market. According to the auction site, the vehicle had spent time in Florida and had only 123 miles on the odometer. It also had Rio Yellow Pearl exterior paint and black Alcantara and cloth upholstery.

Bring a Trailer shows the car had CR-specific bodywork, including a rear wing, revised front spoiler, extra chassis bracing, and a removable black hardtop. This Honda S2000 also had a 2.2-liter VTEC inline-four engine, a six-speed manual transmission, and a limited-slip differential. Unlike the standard AP2 S2000, this model featured high-rate springs, stiffer anti-roll bars, and a quicker steering ratio.

The CR (Club Racer) is more valuable than other S2000 trims because of its low production. Honda introduced the CR in 2008 and discontinued it in 2009. Only 699 models made it to U.S. soil. The CR has unique features, such as a rear spoiler, an exclusive hardtop, and a lighter body — 51 pounds less than the standard S2000, TFL Car reports. This model also has stiffer sway bars, dampers, a revised exhaust, and special bucket seats.

Other notable S2000 sales

Besides the $200,000 CR, Bring a Trailer also shows a 2008 Honda S2000 with 9,000 miles sold for $49,250 on April 24. This model had a New Formula Red exterior and a black leather interior. Other features were xenon headlights, black windshield trim, roll hoops, and overtipped exhaust outlets.

The auction site also shows an 8,000-mile 2008 Honda S2000 CR sold for $131,000 on Oct. 13, 2022. It had all the features of a CR but an area of paint protection film on the right rear bumper and a section of the underside of the hood that was welded and repainted.

And on Feb. 17, 2021, a 2009 Honda S2000 CR sold for $111,111. Featuring a Berlina Black exterior and a black and yellow Alcantara interior, this vehicle had only 985 miles on it.

The Honda S2000 has become a collector’s favorite. Its value continues to rise as this discontinued car becomes harder to find. Unlike most vehicles that depreciate with time, used Honda S2000s continue to appreciate because of their increasing rarity.