Honda S2000 CR - Modern Collectible
The Honda S2000 is rapidly becoming a modern collectible, especially ones with low mileage which are rare. However, the lower production CR – Club Racer – version of the S2000 that was offered starting with the 2008 model year has been making some big waves in the collector car market.
Earlier this year we witnessed a 2008 Honda S2000 CR, finished in black, cross the block at RM Sotheby’s Fort Lauderdale auction. That car showed fewer than 15,000 miles at the time of cataloguing and featured the black Alcantara sport seats with yellow inserts. Compared to the median price of a standard S2000 – $24,500 – the car in Fort Lauderdale did quite well, selling for $85,250.
The CR model of the Honda S2000 is a step up from the base trim level. It had a reduced weight compared to the non-CR version, as well as a stiffer suspension, a modified exhaust system, and lower ratio steering. In addition to the performance increases the CR included a revised front lip and a rear spoiler that was absent on the base trim level. The standard powered folding soft top was dropped with a black hard top in its place – of course the hard top was removable. The area in which the soft top would have resided was utilized for additional bracing for the car and closed off by a tonneau cover that was painted to match the rest of the car, aside from the hard top which was only produced in black.
Honda only produced 668 examples of the S2000 CR for the US market in the 2008 model year and with the cancelation of the S2000 entirely after the 2009 model year, owing somewhat to the financial crisis at the time, it’s estimated that only another 31 examples were built for the US market in the 2009 model year, causing the Honda S2000 CR to be a very rare car.
Earlier this month Graham Rahal offered his very low mileage 2009 Honda S2000 CR for sale on Bring a Trailer. We’ve seen a few examples of the S2000 CR sell this year such as the one in February 2022, also on Bring a Trailer, that went for $122,500 – more than the example from RM Sotheby’s and understandably so due to that car having roughly a third of the mileage of the one in Fort Lauderdale.
As impressive as it’s been to see a handful of Honda S2000 CRs changing hands for six-figures, the Rahal car was expected to outperform all the previous auction sales. Part of the reason we expected a higher price is that this 2009 Honda S2000 CR showed just 123 miles. Shockingly low mileage for a car that truly designed to be driven, and driven hard.
This 2009 Honda S2000 CR sold for an even $200,000 on April 23 following heated bidding that saw bids jump from $149,000 to the winning bid of $200,000 in about 13 minutes. The winning bidder appears to be a fan of Honda sports cars, having purchased a 1998 Acura NSX the day before buying this S2000 CR for $195,000. At the end of the day we have to say this car was very well sold, but a few years from now we just might be aching for the days when $200,000 was enough to buy such a special car. Also, check out the gallery above to see the window sticker and find out what it cost when it was new – we’ll give you a hint: a lot less than it costs now.
There’s been some speculation that the CR will just sit in a collection to appreciate in value, but based on the winning bidder’s own words we think it’ll at least see a bit of action on the road. We’re fairly confident that the new owner is the right custodian for this 2009 Honda S2000 CR until it’s time for the car to find another home.