Not entirely true, as time passes and the numbers get lower, the value in a vehicle can go up. How much did an original vette go for new and what is it worth today?

 

the vette was THE car of its day. it wasn't produced in HUGE numbers.

the S appeals to a teeny, tiny segment of the population. READ: no mass appeal.

it's true that there won't be many pristine examples of the early S's in 20-30 years, but it won't matter. price inflation requires demand. as a comparison... there were 1,500 yellow miatas produced in 1992 (the only year for yellow during the 1st generation). they msrp'd for about $18K. EVERYONE loved the miata when they were introduced. they were unique and nothing else on the road was even in the same class. twelve years later, you can scoop up a perfect one for around $11K. the original $18K, compounded at a conservative (historically speaking) 5% would be $32K today. that's mean the miats is worth $21K less than a "real" investment. MASS PRODUCED CARS AREN'T INVESTMENTS, especially after only four years of production.

 

The S isn't mass-produced per se. It is still hand assembled, was the Miata? I never cared for the Miata, so when you say that EVERYONE loved the Miata doesn't hold true. Not every wants a yellow car either.

I never said that car was an investment, so show me where I said that.

 

collectibility and vehicle appreciation ($$) are two different things. sure, eventually the value of an S COULD level off and perhaps rise. but i have a difficult time trying to develop a likely scenario where that would WOULD happen. govt regulation and rising gas prices brought an end to the muscle car era. they became scarse. people raced them, crashed them, modified them, they rotted out and today there are relatively few of them. demand comes from baby boomers, low gas prices and sometimes wild speculation.

if there isn't demand for the S now, how does it suddenly develop down the road?

throwing the example of the 'vette into the discussion simply adds to the murkiness, just as the miata example does. i don't like most old vettes and you don't like miata. yet both were wildly popular and ground-breaking vehicles. yet one iwll continue to appreciate (most likely) and the other one won't. mass production is the difference. in my opinion the S is mass produced... there isn't a targeted end to the production and honda WOULD make more if they could sell them.

 

There is hardly a demand for any vehicle right now, which is why GM, Ford and Chrysler are having to resort to cutthroat pricing and low financing to create demand. When new vehicle prices drop, so do used vehicles. 12 to 24 months after the economy stabilizes, new vehicle prices will rise, that will bring some used cars as well. The reason why the S is not in high demand is that people are not looking for limited use vehicle, especially when you can get a three-year lease on a larger vehicle for 1/3 or less money. You seem to be stuck at just the here and now, which is the wrong view to take.

I don't even like the vette.

Honda isn't one just to produce more because the demand is there. If they are at capacity, they are at capacity. They wait and see if the demand is real, if it is, they will address it. Compare that to what the big three have done. If they needed to produce one more car and they were at capacity, it was time for a new plant. Now look at them, they have a serious glut of capacity. Honda does not want to get into that. They are more focused on quality then volume. The big three are focused on volume and not quality. If you don't believe me, look no further then the statements that GM has made about what they weren't their market share to be. Rather then address the real problem, they are trying to get market share. If they addressed their quality, attitude towards customers (which includes customer service) and their dealers they would get more market share down the road. They want the quick and easy method.

Look at the thunder chicken, the dealers were screwing customers left and right because they were in demand. After the first year, a lot less demand, now look at them, they practically have to give them away. Ever notice that the game shows mainly give American cars away?

I think we are on the same page now.

 

I think the more appropriate topic is "WILL" the S2000 become a collector's item. And to that I would respond with a resounding "YES." Wereas Miatas will be, IMO, similar to VW Bugs as far as vast prevalence, I'd rather consider the S2000 to position itself 20 or 30 years from now in the ranks of cars like the Aston Martins and Triumphs



Although today I'm enjoying modifying The Bruised Banana and experiencing every thrill it can give me. She's no garage queen...as the front bumper will attest . But I liken this car to that of a fine wine or a good stock investment...and it will only get better with age. I foresee my S2000 in a stock form some 30 years and hundreds of thousands of miles later enjoying the same roads at a, perhaps , more leisurely pace.



Ahhh...here's to the [future] memories

- Dave

 

Robots do most of the work, workers do the odd jobs; much like any other plant in the world from Kia to Chrysler. Where they differ is in their movable jig assembly as opposed to a line block assembly.

 

Actually the 53 Vette is not very collectible, at least not by any knowledgeable car guy. Even 50 years later, it's a questionable car. Other than being the first year, it has no other appeal; whereas, the Sting Rays, which came 10 years later, are much sought after. The Camaro came out in '67; and, the SS version is collectible but the standard model is another questionable car. First year Mustang's are another questionable car. Now, the first year XKE is definitely a collectible car because of it's clean lines, pre-pollution stuff, etc.; the car got worse - not better - as they hung heavy rubber bumpers, etc. on it. Finally, a Honda S500 I would suspect can be had for a small chunk of change by comparison to most other car's of that same period.

 

You want a car that I consider "collectible?" How about a low mileage 1992 Nissan Sentra SE-R. I've owned three and to date, it still ranks as one of the five best cars I've ever owned, bar none.
Finding one that hasn't been whored out to parts palaces is difficult but that's what makes it collectible. Now, ask me how long it would remain "low mileage" once I got my greedy hands behind the wheel. The ultimate second-car. Make mine white please.

 

Nissan's makes good products IMO. I bought a Maxima new in 1990 and I still have it, 13 years later, and it's still in like-new condition. It's unquestionably the best all-around car I've ever owned.