s2000owner

I wouldn't expect to see the S2000 here, but the Thunderbird? Where do those guys live because they aren't in Texas.
And the Convertable PT Cruiser, AHH! The Horror! THE HORROR!

Elistan

7,780 S2000s sold in the US in 2005. 16th perhaps?

http://www.hondanews.com/CatID1007?mid=200...454040&mime=asc

Amit

The s2000 doesn't cut it for the average joe/jane. It's too performance oriented for joe schmo. They preffer the "boat feeling" rather than being connected to the road. Thus, they drive "mustangs" and "350Z's".

vinsanity

my only guess is that Polk's data somehow separates 325, 330, and M3 models on the list. combined, I would suspect the 3-series vert to fall between the PT and the Mini

I'm sensing a bit of angst against the 350Z and Mustang in these posts. I know you don't care (or at least claim not to), but they sell well because they're new (well, newer than the s2k, at least). not because people prefer the "boat" feeling

rai

not at all. I like the 350Z coupe a lot, but the 350Z vert (IMO) is a pig and looks aweful as well as being hella heavy. I think it's a major chick car. I don't think I ever saw a dude driving one.

The Mustang and the Mustang vert are probably great cars for the way people drive. 90% of people in this country drive like grannys so it don't matter how good or bad a car behaves. 90% probably buy for looks or price. Also the Mustang is sold on price BIG TIME. I know many many people who are middle income who I tell they can get a used S2000 for ~$20K or new $32-34K (ish) and they have never spend $33K on a car in their life. So they can get a Mustang vert (brand new) for $23K they won't even think about it. I was showing my S2000 to a new friend and he asked me what I thought of the new mustang b/c he knows 3 ppl that have just bought one.

I think the Mustang vert make a good 2+2 vert. I have wife and 2 kids it'd be nice to take a drive in a vert with the family. But (IMO) I don't thing they are drivers cars, more of a weekend family sunny day cruise car.

I think (by and large) maybe I'm wrong that people that seek out the S2000 (which ONLY comes with a MT) are more interested in a performance car where as people that buy Z roadster or Mustang vert probably are more interested in a vert and could care less if it's a good or bad performance car.

Nothing against them, but (IMO) the S2000 is a more focused car not so much as an Elise but closer to it than most of these cars listed which (I bet) are sold with 70% to 100% AT.

marthafokker

It is not on the list because the majority on Americans don't know how to drive manual. That is at least 3/4 of potential buyers lost.

But still... good for us... less pretenders.

Lice Locket

If 80% of S2000s were automatics, then I'm sure it would sell just as well as the Z roadster.

NATURAL JOCK

NB: Best Selling Convertibles, NOT Best Performance Covertibles...big difference

I'd rather STAND OUT from the crowd, than BLEND in.

PilotKD

Oh no. 15 mass produced convertibles beat out the S? The humanity! It's not even a fair comparison. Honda doesn't even send enough S2000's to the US to make it on the list. 44,000+ Mustangs?? I bet there are not even 44,000 S2000's on US roads after 6 years of sales.

jimbogxp

I think Miata sales were hurt by 2 things. Many people were waiting for the 3rd version 2006 model car and there was a fire at the Miata plant that interrupted production.

As much as it warms my heart to see the Solstices selling very well (since I will be buying a GXP as soon as I can), the new MX-5 is selling almost as well as the Solstice - the only caveat being that the Solstice is selling every unit as fast as they can build them, so demand is really MUCH higher than the rate they are selling at, while the MX-5 is selling at a lower rate than they are building them, so yes demand for Solstices is MUCH higher than demand for Miatas.)

Here are US sales numbers for June 2006...

Car...............Current yr........Prev yr.....Change

Solstice ........... 1,846 .......... N/A .......... N/A
MX-5 Miata ....... 1,584 .......... 553 ........ 186%
Z4 .................. 1,541 ......... 1,090 ........ 41%
Sky ................. 1,054 ......... N/A .......... N/A
S2000 ............... 717 ........... 972 ......... -26%
Crossfire ........... 364 .......... 1,526 ........ -76%

Notice that the Z4 has jumped way up this year. Why, because it is a better car? NO. Because of association with the new Z4 M and M coupe. It is funny how picky convertible buyers are that the mere association of a car with something better or new can stimulate sales. As if a new NSX would create added interest in say the S2000.

I am a bit baffled by the low volume of S2000 sales. If the Solstice GXP and Sky Redline didn't exist, I would be driving an S2000 right now. I guess I am the type who just owns what I want to own, getting the best tool I need for the job, while I guess far too many sports car driver buy whatever is "hot" right now or whatever is new or high profile.

I don't know if the S2000 needs a body restyle, or more horsepower or more advertising or what. I still think it is a great sports car and again, I would be driving one if I were not in the market for a Solstice GXP (reasons being I love the looks of it, I think it will be a better touring sports car than the S2000, I do prefer domestic cars, and the extra 92 lb-ft of torque doesn't hurt my feelings either! )

But I really don't understand the market dynamics behind the plunge in S2000 sales, when it still is a very good sports car. Despite bad rumors annually of killing the S2000, with sales this low I don't see how Honda can continue to produce it. They have to be losing $money on every unit they build.

That said, I think the S2000 will be eventually killed and only afterward will the market realize what they could have had and some will be wishing they had a chance to buy a new one. Who knows, maybe Honda will redesign the car and it will get back on sports car buyers's radar. But if Honda continues to do nothing, it seems logical that sales will continue to tank.

I think the S2000 is a sexy, good looking car and it wouldn't hurt my feelings any to see a lot less Miatas and a lot more S2000s out there beautifying the streets.