The Honda S2000 is a classic sports car known for its engaging drive and tuning potential, powered by a 2.2-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine. One standout example is an ultra-low-mileage Club Racer variant that was last sold for $200,000 in 2022. Now, this striking Rio Yellow roadster is being auctioned once again, having only accumulated seven additional miles since its last sale.
Currently listed without a reserve on Bring a Trailer, the S2000 has received bids exceeding $100,000 as of this writing. With nearly six days remaining in the auction, there is ample opportunity for bids to reach or surpass its previous price of $200,000. Even at the current bid, this price reflects a remarkable increase from the original MSRP of $38,465 when the car was new.
Aside from a few extra miles and a new location (from Indiana to Pennsylvania), this time capsule remains unchanged. That reality raises mixed emotions; while it’s awe-inspiring, it’s also somewhat disappointing. This specific car seems designed for the road, meant for memorable journeys.
In a review of the S2000 CR, Chris Rosales noted, “Sports cars need emotion.” But how much emotion can one derive from an idle car? Shigeru Uehara, a renowned Honda engineer credited with the car’s development, advised owners to cherish their S2000s and enjoy them fully. Does the current owner’s definition of enjoyment truly equate to merely driving the car for seven miles in two years? If the intention is to preserve this vehicle as a relic, then it should be displayed in a museum for all to appreciate what it represents.
On the other hand, private collections often diminish the joy of driving, undermining the thrill of engineering, and the simple pleasure of open-top driving. The current scenario feels more like a financial investment than a passionate collection, an attempt to profit from the vehicle.
The current owner, Nico2015, is an active participant in the Bring a Trailer community. In a 2021 interview, he mentioned that he does not consider himself a collector. “I attempted to collect in the conventional sense,” he shared. “However, if I didn’t drive a car regularly, I felt guilty and let it go for someone else to appreciate.”
He further stated, “I guess I’ve always collected in a way, having numerous cars simultaneously, but I never really kept any for long—just buying, enjoying, and selling. I loved trying different cars, but I never kept one for over a few years. It started with a dozen cars and eventually grew to two or three dozen, all driven a thousand miles or so each year. I’m not a great collector—I’m more of a driver.”
But with the exception of this pristine S2000, he seems to have no intention of either collecting or driving it. One can only hope that the next owner will invest as much passion into this S2000 as Honda did when creating it.
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