Before You Buy a Honda S2000

Honda's anniversary roadster was built to be driven, and most were. What separates the right F20C or F22C1 car from the rest, and how to verify it.

Honda built the S2000 from 1999 to 2009 to mark its 50th anniversary, and roughly 113,889 were made.^[1] These cars were bought to be driven, and many were driven hard — which is exactly why a careful purchase matters more here than with most modern classics.

Which S2000

Every car is a front-mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive roadster with a six-speed manual and a Torsen limited-slip differential, making 237 to 250 hp depending on market, with 153 to 163 lb-ft of torque.^[1] The meaningful split is the engine: the original 2.0-liter F20C, or the larger 2.2-liter F22C1 that North American cars adopted from 2003.^[1] A detachable hardtop was available over the standard soft top.^[1]

Then there are the special versions: the track-oriented Club Racer, the Japanese-market Type S, and the Type V with its world-first variable gear-ratio steering.^[1] The CR in particular trades at a premium, so confirm authenticity down to the details before paying CR money.

What to check

• Engine health. This is a high-revving four that rewards correct maintenance. Ask for compression numbers, cold-start behavior, and a consistent oil-service record.
• Originality. A large share of surviving cars carry modifications. Unmodified examples, or cars returned to stock with receipts, are the ones the market rewards.
• Body and structure. Check for accident repair and corrosion carefully — these are twenty-plus-year-old convertibles, and the honest ones show their age in honest places.
• Top and hardtop. Inspect the soft top’s fabric and rear window, and confirm whether a factory hardtop is included — it affects value.

Before you commit

Commission a pre-purchase inspection from a specialist who knows these engines, and drive the car to redline territory where legal and safe — a healthy example should feel eager, not strained. Ground yourself in the numbers on the full Honda S2000 database page, then see what condition your budget buys in the current S2000 listings.