S2000 Buying Guide: AP1 vs AP2, Prices and What to Check

By Michael, Hypercars co-founderPublished Updated

The short answer

An AP2 Honda S2000 (2004-2009) typically sells for $36K and an AP1 (2000-2003) $28K in our sales data, and mileage moves the price more than the generation. Buy the AP1 for the 9,000 rpm 2.0; buy the AP2 for more torque and, from 2006, stability control.

Find your starting point

You want the high-revving original

S2000 (AP1, 2000-2003)

The 240 hp 2.0 with a 9,000 rpm cutoff; 2002-on cars add a glass rear window.

Check first: Over-rev history, the oil level, and rust in the frame rails.

You want the easier car to live with

S2000 (AP2, 2004-2009)

More torque from the 2.2, 17-inch wheels, and stability control from 2006.

Check first: Gears that pop out under load, and the timing chain tensioner past 105,000 miles.

You want the collector car

S2000 CR (2008-2009)

699 sold in the US for 2008-2009, with an aluminum hardtop and firmer suspension.

Check first: That the hardtop comes with it, and whether it has the optional air conditioning and audio.

Get notified about new Honda S2000 (AP2) listings

Seen across 7 sites in the last 30 days.

Specs side by side

S2000 (AP2, 2004-2009)

Engine
2.2 four-cylinder (F22C1), fuel cutoff at 8,200 rpm
Power
240 hp (2004-2005), 237 hp under the newer SAE rating from 2006
Body and seats
Two-seat roadster with a soft top
Gearbox
6-speed manual
Drive
Rear-wheel drive

S2000 (AP1, 2000-2003)

Engine
2.0 four-cylinder (F20C), fuel cutoff at 9,000 rpm
Power
240 hp
Body and seats
Two-seat roadster with a soft top; a glass rear window from 2002
Gearbox
6-speed manual, revised for 2002 with a higher-capacity clutch
Drive
Rear-wheel drive

S2000 CR (2008-2009)

Engine
2.2 four-cylinder (F22C1)
Power
237 hp
Body and seats
Two-seat roadster with a removable aluminum hardtop in place of the soft top
Gearbox
6-speed manual
Drive
Rear-wheel drive

What separates a good one from a costly one

Prices and recent sales come from our completed-sale data.

AP2 S2000

S2000 (AP2, 2004-2009)

Built
2004-2009
Median sale
$36k
Typical
$29k–$41k
Sales
231

What moves the price

  • Mileage moves the price most: low-mileage cars sell for far more than high-mileage ones.
  • The 2006-2009 cars sell for clearly more than the 2004-2005 cars.

Known issues and what they cost

IssueTypical cost
AP2 gearboxes can jump out of 2nd, 4th or 6th gear, and hard track use wears the synchrosGearbox work; with stock power the gearbox and differential otherwise last
The soft top damages easilyExpensive to replace
The timing chain tensioner wants replacing past about 105,000 milesA wear part, on a specialist's advice; no recall
A healthy engine can use a quart of oil every 3,000 milesCheck the level often; specialists suggest full synthetic oil and a catch can
Rust in the wheel wells, front subframe, frame rails and quarter panelsStructural repair if it has spread; check before anything else
The dash can bubble or wrinkle on 2006-2009 carsCosmetic
Recalls: the brake booster may not hold vacuum (2006-2007), and the owner's manual lists the wrong NHTSA contact details (2006)Free at a dealer; confirm each was done

Walk away if

  • Low oil or no oil-change history.
  • Signs the engine has been opened.
  • A gear that pops out under load on the test drive.
  • Heavy modifications: unmodified cars are in the highest demand.

Recent sales

AP1 S2000

S2000 (AP1, 2000-2003)

Built
2000-2003
Median sale
$28k
Typical
$23k–$35k
Sales
230

What moves the price

  • Mileage moves the price most: low-mileage cars sell for far more than high-mileage ones.
  • The 2000-2001 and 2002-2003 cars sell for about the same.

Known issues and what they cost

IssueTypical cost
Valve retainers can crack after a mechanical over-rev (a missed shift)A rebuild runs about $8,000-$9,000, and the blocks can't be bored
The early cars' tendency to oversteerA bump-steer kit, about $150-$350, is the common fix
The soft top damages easily, and the 2000-2001 plastic rear window yellowsPricey to replace; the 2002-on top has a glass window with a defroster
The timing chain tensioner wants replacing past about 105,000 milesA wear part, on a specialist's advice; no recall
A healthy engine can use a quart of oil every 3,000 milesCheck the level often; specialists suggest full synthetic oil and a catch can
Rust in the wheel wells, front subframe, frame rails and quarter panelsStructural repair if it has spread; check before anything else
Recalls: seat belts may not retract or may lock up, and the tail-light lenses may be the wrong color (2000)Free at a dealer; confirm each was done

Walk away if

  • A seller who refuses a compression check.
  • Low oil or no oil-change history.
  • Signs the engine has been opened.
  • Heavy modifications: unmodified cars are in the highest demand.

Recent sales

AP2 S2000 CR

S2000 CR (2008-2009)

Built
2008-2009
Median sale
$58k
Typical
$52k–$72k
Sales
13

What moves the price

  • Mileage and the original hardtop; few sell, so each sale moves the median.

Known issues and what they cost

IssueTypical cost
Air conditioning and audio were options, so some cars have neitherCheck what the car has before comparing its price
AP2 gearboxes can jump out of 2nd, 4th or 6th gear, and hard track use wears the synchrosGearbox work; with stock power the gearbox and differential otherwise last
The timing chain tensioner wants replacing past about 105,000 milesA wear part, on a specialist's advice; no recall
A healthy engine can use a quart of oil every 3,000 milesCheck the level often; specialists suggest full synthetic oil and a catch can

Walk away if

  • A car sold without its aluminum hardtop.
  • Heavy modifications: unmodified cars are in the highest demand.

Recent sales

Make a better purchase

Before you buy

  1. Power: the AP1 makes 240 hp with a 9,000 rpm cutoff; the AP2 makes 240 hp (237 hp under the newer rating from 2006) with an 8,200 rpm cutoff and more torque.

  2. On an AP1, ask about over-revs: a missed shift can crack the valve retainers, and a rebuild runs about $8,000-$9,000.

  3. On an AP2, check every gear under load: they can jump out of 2nd, 4th or 6th.

  4. Check the oil level and look for rust in the wheel wells, front subframe, frame rails and quarter panels.

  5. Unmodified cars are in the highest demand, and an original color-matched hardtop can add thousands.

The full price ladder

Median completed auction price and the middle 50% of sales. Ranges share one scale; a wider bar means a wider spread of sale prices.

Swipe across for sale counts, trends and mileage →

The full price ladder: sold prices, sale counts and observed price changes
Model / versionMedian PriceMiddle 50%Sales12-mo TrendAvg Mileage
AP2 S2000$35,500$29,250 – $41,000231+8.2%45,206
AP1 S2000$28,025$22,600 – $35,150230+8.2%52,731
AP2 S2000 CR$57,500$52,000 – $72,00013—41,169

Questions, answered.

How much is a Honda S2000 worth?
In our data an AP2 typically sells for $36K, with the middle half of sales between $29K and $41K. An AP1 typically sells for $28K, with the middle half between $23K and $35K. Mileage moves the price most.
AP1 vs AP2: which is better?
Buy the AP1 for the 2.0 that revs to 9,000 rpm; buy the AP2 for more torque from the 2.2, 17-inch wheels and, from 2006, drive-by-wire and stability control. An AP2 typically sells for $36K in our data and an AP1 $28K.
What S2000 years should I avoid?
No year has an engine or gearbox recall. On 2000-2001 cars the plastic rear window yellows (2002 brought glass with a defroster); AP1s are the ones hurt by over-revs, and AP2 gearboxes can pop out of gear. Buy on condition and history more than year.
What is the S2000 CR?
The 2008-2009 Club Racer: an aluminum hardtop in place of the soft top, firmer springs and dampers, larger anti-roll bars and quicker steering. Honda sold 699 in the US, from $36,300 new in 2008. It typically sells for $58K in our data.
Is the S2000 reliable?
Largely, with stock power: specialists say the differential lasts, and the gearbox does too apart from AP2s that pop out of 2nd, 4th or 6th. The other watch items are oil use (a quart every 3,000 miles can be normal), the timing chain tensioner past about 105,000 miles, and over-rev damage on AP1s.

Methodology

Based on 474 completed North American auction sales from the last 2 years on the online auctions and auction houses we track, priced in US or Canadian dollars. Sales in other currencies are left out, since their prices carry other taxes and duties, and so are fixed-price listings, which record an asking price. Canadian prices are converted to USD. Each price is the median sale, the way our valuations work, and typical ranges show the middle half of sales (25th–75th percentile). The sample is refreshed regularly. A change in the cars sold can change the median without any individual car gaining or losing value.

Read our full methodology.

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