This Worn 500,000-Mile S2000 May Be The Most Tenacious Honda Ever Made | Carscoops

      The S2000 set for auction could be one of the highest-mileage examples ever and might be worth saving.

      6 hours ago

      by Stephen Rivers

      This nearly 500,000-mile S2000 starts and runs despite having crash damage.

      The engine has never been rebuilt; only valve adjustments and a tensioner have been replaced.

      The auction presents a rare opportunity to restore a record-setting Honda roadster.

      The Honda S2000 stands as the last truly unrestrained performance car to surface from the brand’s golden era. Few vehicles have captured such raw precision in such a compact, high-strung package. Owners recognize this, which is why these rear-wheel-drive roadsters are treasured like heirlooms, their fervent four-cylinder engines revving up to 9,000 rpm as if embodying the spirit of a superbike.

      Additionally,: Honda is keen on making a new S2000, but it’s not straightforward.

      Evidence of this is found in an individual who drove his S2000 to an impressive 498,452 miles, or 802,181 kilometers, before a low-speed, 5 mph accident with a truck rendered it inoperable.

      For a naturally aspirated engine that thrived on the edge of engineering capability, this is a remarkable demonstration of Honda’s commitment to reliability and the S2000’s durability.

      Although the original owner has moved on, there’s hope that someone will continue to push this Honda past the 500,000-mile milestone. Honestly, it's tempting to consider that myself.

      This specific AP1 model of the S2000 is headed to a salvage auction in Detroit. The front may be a bit crumpled, but the story behind this sports car and the accident is truly remarkable.

      It all began in 2004 when the owner installed an Amsoil BMK-13 Dual Remote Bypass oil filter and a prelube pump on the vehicle. At that time, the S2000 had only 5,997 miles on the odometer.

      This setup allowed the owner to extend the time between oil changes, which was important since they accumulated many highway miles on the car. On average, they drove over 23,700 miles each year since its purchase, equating to 1,976 miles a month or 65 miles a day, every day, for 21 years.

      In a Reddit discussion about the IAAI salvage auction, the owner stated that they used Amsoil 0W-30 from the beginning and switched to Pennzoil Platinum 0W-30 when the engine started consuming more oil around 400,000 miles.

      Despite this, they managed to go about 40,000 miles between oil changes, and they verified the effectiveness of that interval through routine used-oil lab analysis.

      The accident that took this S2000 out of service wasn't particularly severe given the outcome. According to the owner, it occurred at just 5 mph, and the other vehicle was a truck with a bumper so high that instead of hitting the S2000’s bumper, it lifted the hood.

      Damage was also sustained by the radiator support, radiator, and left fender. Fortunately, the frame rails remain intact, and the car still starts and drives. We hope whoever purchases it next can take it well beyond 500k.

      Photos IAAI