We Bought the UK’s Cheapest Honda S2000

Part 1 – The Revival Begins

When it comes to legends of the JDM world, the Honda S2000 stands tall. But if you’ve ever dreamt of owning one but thought it was out of reach, think again. We’ve embarked on an ambitious project to breathe new life into what has to be the UK’s cheapest Honda S2000. We paid just £3,500 for this iconic roadster, but it’s far from it’s best. With the help from our friends at Machine Mart, our latest project is set to undergo a transformation that will reignite its former glory. In this first installment of our four-part series, we delve into the initial stages of this exciting journey.

Why the Honda S2000?

Launched in 1999 to celebrate Honda’s 50th anniversary, the S2000 quickly became a legend among enthusiasts. Its high-revving 2.0-litre VTEC engine, producing 237bhp, and a 9,000rpm redline made it a driver’s dream. The balanced rear-wheel-drive chassis and precise six-speed manual transmission offered an exhilarating driving experience. Despite its discontinuation in 2009, the S2000 remains a sought-after modern classic

The £3,500 Bargain: A Diamond in the Rough?

Finding an S2000 at this price point is rare. Our S2000 buyer’s guide told us what to look out for. But according to recent listings on AutoTrader and PistonHeads, most well-maintained AP1s fetch between £8,000 and £12,000 . Our project car, however, cost less than half that!

Yep, we found it—a neglected Honda S2000 AP1 with more quirks than a ‘90s rom-com character. The VTEC heart is still ticking, but it’s crying out for love. Here’s what we discovered in the first walkaround:

Knackered wheels and shot brakes – Definitely not road-ready.
Musty interior – Likely due to a leaking soft top.
Rusty rear arches and sill rot – Bodywork nightmares.
DIY paint job – Half-decent front end, tragic rear.
One of the worst exhaust blows ever – Think tractor, not tuner.

And the price? Just £3,500. No crashes, clean history, taxed and MOT’d at purchase (althought that’d since expired). A diamond in the seriously rough and without doubt, the UK’s cheapest Honda S2000.

Fixing the Failures: What We’ve Tackled So Far

We didn’t waste time. Here’s what went down in Episode 1:

Exhaust Blow? Sorted.

First mission: fix the horrific exhaust leak. Turns out, half the exhaust manifold nuts were missing. We tightened everything up and swapped out the old system for a slick Milltek cat-back, reducing weight and unlocking proper VTEC music.

Intake Upgrade

Next step: a performance air filter kit from K&N for smoother breathing. It looks the part and gives the S2000 that crisp, aggressive intake growl.

Oil & Fluids Refresh

Fluids? Check. Oil change with a Liqui Moly engine flush, plus a new filter. Coolant? Swapped out too—after the rad exploded during an MOT run. Not ideal.

Workshop Help

Massive shoutout to our mates at Machine Mart, supplying every tool under the sun—from low-profile jacks to full-on compressors. And yes, Midge’s workshop is once again the scene of the crime (and rebuild). The boy’s a legend.

MOT Madness

We tried to take the S2000 in for an MOT a few weeks back… and the radiator blew! Literally. And becuase our resident mechanic Midge seems to spend more time on a beach than he does his own workshop, he buggered off to Spain and didn’t return to the UK for a month! But that gave us time to think of a plan. Rather than just fit a direct replacement, we ordered a performance alloy upgrade from Tegiwa.

Of course, the new rad arrived well before Midge did. But that meant it was ready to fit upon his return. So the newly-tanned mini-mechanic got to work. The rad was installed, the entire system now fully bled and free from air locks, and it time to head teh MoT station… again. Only this time, it passed! Back on the road, we enjoyed our first drive in the cheapest Honda S2000 in the UK.

Watch the Build

What’s Next for the UK’s Cheapest Honda S2000?

To be fair, the S2000 behaved quite well on that test drive. But we do have a (long) list of things to sort. First up, we’ve got a set of Bilstein B14 coilovers en route. The S2000 is known for it’s handling, but ours has seen better days. So we kicking it up a gear with some of the best chassis tuning upgrades available.

After that, we’ve got to sort the brakes which old and worn. The interior smells and the hood leaks, so that needs fixing. And then we need to address the bodywork and rusty rear arch. Of coure, this is no factory original restoration, so expect wide wheels, even wider arches, a cabin overhaul, and a complete colour change too! We’ve got plenty to do before we unveil the finished car at Classic Japfest in October!

Stay tuned for more updates coming soon!