BaT files wheels, seats, engines and memorabilia under the same model page as
the cars. 23 such listings were
removed before any figure below was computed — e.g. No Reserve: Honda S2000 Removable Hardtop; No Reserve: Honda S2000 Removable Hardtop; No Reserve: Honda S2000 Removable Hardtop.
AP1 prices have flattened into a two-tier market: ordinary 50k-plus-mile drivers trade around $20-27k while documented sub-20k-mile, original-paint cars — especially Grand Prix White or Spa Yellow with factory aero or a hardtop — now clear $40-55k.
$18,000 ·
$50,000 ·
$55,000 ·
$45,000 ·
$37,000 ·
$7,869 ·
Live now (5)
Auctions running in this category right now, appraised against the comparables below.
BaT bidding is back-loaded — most money lands in the final minutes — so a low current bid with time
left is weak evidence about where a car finishes. 1 more is past the end time on file and
marked awaiting result — BaT extends an auction on a late bid, so these stay listed
until the sale is confirmed instead of vanishing from the page.
Current bid $6,800 ·
ends in 1d 20h () ·
appraised
Estimated hammer
$27,500
$23,000 – $32,500 75% below estimateMedium — the mileage band and ownership story are well covered by the supplied sales, but the 2021 rear-corner damage, the missing quarter-panel VIN sticker and the aftermarket soft top introduce real spread between a $23k 'flawed driver' outcome and a $32k 'one-owner, honest, documented' outcome
A genuinely-used, single-owner-since-2001 AP1 in Silverstone with 65k miles, full transparency about a repaired rear-corner hit and a replacement glass-window top — a mid-market driver that should hammer in the high twenties.
Bidding: The current $6,800 is far below where this finishes — expect the great majority of the money in the last ten minutes. I would be comfortable bidding to $27,000 unseen on the strength of the 25-year ownership, the records and the seller's candour, and to $30,000 if he posts paint-meter readings across all panels plus a valve-adjustment receipt and recent tire date codes. Stop at $32,500: above that you are within reach of clean, undamaged 30–45k-mile cars such as 30k-Mile 2003 Honda S2000 at $37,250 and No Reserve: 46k-Mile 2003 Honda S2000 at $30,300, and a Carfax damage entry with a missing panel sticker will follow this car to its next sale. If bidding stalls under $22,000 with an unmet reserve, the post-auction number is likely $24–26k and worth pursuing.
25 years / single ownership since 2001 with service records +$4,000 · 65k miles — genuinely used, mid-band -$5,000 vs 2026 median · 2021 rear-corner damage, repainted quarter, replaced bumper and taillight -10% · Missing right-rear VIN sticker (seller concedes) -$1,500 · Aftermarket soft top with glass rear window -$1,000 / neutral-to-slightly-negative
Current bid $8,000 ·
ends in 1d 23h () ·
appraised
Estimated hammer
$18,000
$12,500 – $25,000 56% below estimatelow — no-reserve, heavily modified Fast & Furious tribute car in Canada with an 'unfit' registration notation; the supplied comparables contain no close analogue, and modified S2000 outcomes on BaT scatter from $20,250 to $36,000 depending entirely on who shows up in the last minute
A VeilSide-kitted, repainted, supercharged 40k-mile AP1 done up as Johnny Tran's Fast & Furious car, offered at no reserve in Ontario — a novelty build that should land well under stock-car money, most likely in the high teens.
Bidding: The current $8,000 is well below where this ends; expect the real bidding in the final two minutes. My working number is $18,000, with a legitimate range of $12,500 to $25,000 — the width reflects that a no-reserve themed build is decided by whether two F&F buyers turn up, not by the model's fundamentals. If you actually want this car as a finished toy and are comfortable importing from Ontario and sorting a safety certificate, bidding to $16,000-18,000 is defensible; the build cost far more than that and the mechanicals appear sorted. Stop at $20,000 unless the seller posts an OBD-II scan and clarifies the 'UNF' registration status, and do not go past $25,000 under any circumstances — at that level a stock, original-paint, documented 40k-mile AP1 is within reach and will hold value where this one will not. If you are buying to convert it back to stock, walk away entirely: the OEM panels are gone and the arithmetic never works.
VeilSide body kit, respray from Silverstone to black, F&F graphics -35% · ScienceofSpeed Paxton supercharger, no dyno sheet -12% · ~40k miles (65k km), running and driven long distance +$4k · Ontario location, 'PAS – UNF' unplated registration, no title document -15% · July 2017 Carfax front-damage entry, explained only second-hand -8%
Current bid $19,500 ·
ends in 2d 20h () ·
appraised
Estimated hammer
$26,500
$22,500 – $31,000 26% below estimateMedium — the mid-mileage, damage-history segment is well populated in the supplied sales and clusters tightly at $26-30k, but the 2017 damage is undocumented (no pre-repair photos, no body-shop invoice) and the soft-top video was still owed at the time of reading, which widens the downside; long single ownership and a genuine maintenance record widen the upside.
A cared-for, 20-years-owned Berlina Black AP1 with 56k miles whose disclosed 2017 damage, missing bumper VIN stickers and 15-year-old tires cap it in the mid-$20s to high-$20s rather than the $33k+ that clean low-mile cars command.
Bidding: The $19,500 standing bid is below where this should finish; expect the real money in the last ten minutes. Fair value is $25,000-28,000 for a buyer who accepts the undocumented 2017 repair on the seller's word and budgets $1,200 for tires straight away. Bid with confidence to $26,500. Between $27,000 and $29,000 you are paying clean-history money for a car with two missing VIN stickers, so only go there if the seller posts the repair order, paint-meter readings across all panels and a clean soft-top video before the close. Stop at $30,000 under any circumstances — at that number No Reserve: 46k-Mile 2003 Honda S2000 and the 39k-mile cars are better buys. If the reserve turns out to be north of $30k, let it pass and watch for the post-auction offer.
56k miles on a 20-year ownership -15% · Carfax damage 2017, missing front and rear bumper VIN stickers -$4,000 · Twenty years in one household, seller answering every question +$3,000 · Berlina Black paint +$1,500 · Documented clutch (2021) and valve adjustment (2022) +$1,500
Current bid $23,500 ·
ends in 3d 22h () ·
appraised
Estimated hammer
$46,000
$40,000 – $54,000 49% below estimateMedium — the hardtop-plus-14k-mile-plus-original-owner combination has only two close analogues in the supplied sales (the $45,000 9k-mile Silverstone and the $52,380 GPW 43k-mile original-owner car), and both bracket rather than pin this car; the no-reserve format removes the risk of a non-sale but the ceiling depends on how many hardtop-hunters show up on the night.
A one-owner-from-new, 14k-mile AP1 with the factory removable hardtop, window sticker and complete paperwork, catalogued at no reserve by a presentation-conscious consignor — it should finish in the mid-$40s, roughly double the current bid.
Bidding: The $23,500 standing bid is far below where this finishes — expect the last ten minutes to roughly double it. No reserve means it sells; the only question is the level. If you want the car, plan to be live at the close with $45,000 in hand and be willing to stretch to $48,000-50,000 if a second hardtop hunter is in the room. Below $40,000 this is a clear buy — the hardtop alone is worth most of the gap to the $36,250 non-hardtop 14k-mile comp. Above $50,000 you are paying Grand Prix White money for a Silverstone car with nine disclosed chips and no aero, and the $55,000 20k-Mile 2003 Honda S2000 is the better car at that number. Whatever you pay, budget $2,500-4,000 for a full recommissioning service after a decade in storage, and make the sale contingent on the recall being closed.
OEM removable hardtop +$9,000 · 14,000 indicated miles +$8,000 vs median · Single owner from new with window sticker and complete paperwork +$3,000 · No reserve with a responsive, disclosure-forward consignor +$2,000 · Fresh tires fitted for the sale +$1,000
Current bid $1,000 ·
ends in 4d 20h () ·
appraised
Estimated hammer
$31,500
$27,000 – $37,000 97% below estimateMedium — there is one almost-perfect comparable (a Suzuka Blue supercharged 25k-mile 2002 at $32,750) but forced-induction AP1s scatter widely, the supercharger's provenance is unanswered, and a dealer reserve could easily sit above the market.
A tidy 31k-mile AP1 in the market's least-loved colour, wearing a Paxton blower and AP2 wheels — a $27k–$37k car that should hammer around $31k, with real reserve risk if the dealer wants mid-thirties.
Bidding: The $1,000 standing bid is far below where this finishes — expect the money in the last five minutes, landing most likely in the $29,000–$33,000 corridor. As a buyer, $28k–$30k is fair for an undocumented blown AP1 in the weakest colour with dead tyres; $33k is full retail and assumes the seller produces supercharger receipts, a clutch record and a valve-adjustment date before the clock runs out. Do not chase past $35k — a stock 30k-mile car in a better colour is available at that number, and the supercharger is a permanent, non-reversible hit to resale. If the questions stay unanswered, cap yourself at $29k and budget $1,200 for tyres and a compression check on arrival. From the seller's side, a reserve at or below $30k should trip; anything at $35k-plus and this almost certainly goes RNM.
Paxton NOVI 1220 supercharger, provenance undocumented -20% · 31k indicated miles +$5k vs median · Suzuka Blue Metallic over blue -$3k · Non-original AP2 17in wheels with oddball 225/255 sizing -$1.5k · Tyres dated 2014 and 2016 -$1k
Current bid $12,500 ·
awaiting result since ·
appraised
Estimated hammer
$27,000
$23,000 – $32,000 54% below estimateMedium — the high-mileage AP1 band is well populated in the supplied sales ($18k–$29.25k), but this car sits at the top of that band on provenance (single owner from new, 22 years, full records) and the rare Silverstone/all-red combination, and BaT crowds reliably pay a premium for exactly that story; reserve level is unknown, which is the main source of spread.
A genuinely driven, original-owner 2003 AP1 in the rare Silverstone-over-all-red combination with 107k miles and honest wear — a $25k–30k driver whose ownership story should push it to the top of the high-mileage band.
Bidding: The current $12,500 is roughly half of where this should finish; expect the bulk of the money in the last ten minutes. Fair value is $25,000–28,000, so a buyer can sit at $24k comfortably and stretch to $28,500 for the one-owner provenance and the Silverstone/all-red combination. Above $30,000 you are paying 30k-mile prices for a 107k-mile car with tires, headlights, wheels and an unknown valve service in front of you — let it go there. If the seller's reserve is at or under about $26k it clears; if he has anchored on the $40k+ low-mileage cars he will be looking at a reserve-not-met and a post-auction offer in the mid-twenties.
107,000 miles -$8k vs model median · One owner from new, 22 years, purchase order and service records +$3k · Silverstone Metallic over all-red leather (claimed ~205 built) +$2k · 2003 model year +$1k · Exceptional seller responsiveness and thread goodwill +$2k
Median sold
$27,750
483 sales
Typical range
$23,104–$33,625
middle 50%
Last 12 months
$30,450
+5.0% year over year
Sell-through
87%
71 reserve not met
All-time high
$81,000
The market
Across 554 completed BaT auctions the AP1 sells 87.2% of the time at a median of $27,750 (25th percentile $23,104, 75th $33,625, range $7,869-$81,000). The appreciation curve is real but has gone sideways since the 2022 peak: median by year runs $24,000 (2020), $28,500 (2021), $31,500 (2022), then $29,000, $28,425, $29,000 for 2023-2025 before firming to $32,875 so far in 2026. The trailing-twelve-month median of $30,450 against $29,000 the year before is +5.0% — inflation, roughly, not a boom. VTys2k put it plainly on 27k-Mile 2003 Honda S2000: the seller likely 'bought this around the S2000 market peak in '23 and then prices were soft in '24-25.'
Colour separates otherwise similar cars. Grand Prix White medians $41,250 (n=7) and Spa Yellow Pearl $35,000 (n=9) against Silverstone Metallic $29,250 (n=35) and Suzuka Blue Metallic $24,000 (n=9). Some of that is selection — GPW cars tend to be low-mile survivors — but the pattern recurs in the threads, where CaptainCP noted only 'about 11% of the whole production run were blue, with only yellow and GPW being more rare.'
The other consistent lever is presentation. Reserve misses cluster around bad listings rather than bad cars. 9k-Mile 2000 Honda S2000 stalled at $42,000 and sold post-auction at $45,000, with se-riously diagnosing it: 'Just 81 photos total is unacceptable… how many photos with the top down are included in the listing? Absolutely zero.' 15k-Mile 2001 Honda S2000 failed at $36,000 with zeyangster saying the seller 'could've done a better job marketing the car,' and 42k-Mile 2002 Honda S2000 failed at $23,000 with jkramer65 concluding 'it might have been met if all the questions were answered.' Conversely 10k-Mile 2003 Honda S2000 jumped to $37,000 after commenter scottcournoyer physically inspected it and vouched for the 2004 rear-pillar repair being 'virtually undetectable.'
Every completed auction. Filled = sold, hollow = reserve not met. Line = median sold price per year.Median sold price per year; the vertical line spans that year’s low to high.
What moves the price
Sub-20k indicated miles premium +50-170% over the $27,750 median
20k-Mile 2003 Honda S2000 (GPW with matching hardtop, one owner) made $55,000 and No Reserve: Original-Owner 2000 Honda S2000 made $52,380 at 43,000 miles — far more than mileage alone supports. ICE_in_my_veins asked 'How many had a hardtop? 5-10%?' and LuckyX2 argued hardtop plus aero 'add like $15k to the value.' Treat that as an enthusiast estimate, not a measured figure.
27k-Mile 2001 Honda S2000 carried all four factory aero options plus black chrome emblems and titanium knob and made $50,000 — roughly $8-13k above comparable 26-29k-mile cars such as No Reserve: 26k-Mile 2001 Honda S2000 at $33,000. Vandabs, a former David Hobbs Honda employee, explained dealers ordered them fully equipped or not at all, supporting the rarity claim.
All ten body-panel VIN stickers present, no panel paintwork premium +10-20% vs a car with one resprayed panel
Sellers lead with it because buyers check it: Original-Owner, 5k-Mile 2002 Honda S2000 advertised 'All 10 VIN stickers documented and present'; 26k-Mile 2002 Honda S2000 used the same claim to argue a 2008 Carfax hit 'must have been an error' and still made $37,000. Where stickers were missing — No Reserve: 2001 Honda S2000 (86k, missing rear bumper sticker, period-incorrect trim) at $29,250 and No Reserve: 2000 Honda S2000 (missing hood, bumper and fender stickers after a 2025 front hit) at $17,750 — bidding suffered.
Listing quality and seller responsiveness premium +$3-8k, or the difference between selling and not
9k-Mile 2000 Honda S2000 missed reserve at $42,000 on 81 photos and no top-down shots, then sold post-auction at $45,000; 15k-Mile 2001 Honda S2000 failed at $36,000 with commenters calling the photos 'subpar'; 42k-Mile 2002 Honda S2000 failed at $23,000 after the seller left lien, VIN and soft-top questions unanswered. By contrast No Reserve: 39k-Mile 2002 Honda S2000 — cold-start, operations and driving videos, prompt seller — made $36,000 at 39k miles.
A rough model of this market, not a valuation of a specific car. Each factor says
whether it was measured from the sales on file or judged from what
the listings and comment threads say — the judged ones carry no sample behind them and should be
read as an opinion with a number attached. Everything is read against one specific car, named under
the figure, and each control says what changing that one thing is worth. The band is the middle half
of the cars behind the figure showing, so a real car lands outside it about as often as a coin comes
up heads twice.
Mileagemeasured105 sold cars, −250 per 1,000 miles (r -0.66)
—
Model yearmeasured103 sold cars, against 2000 within each variant
—
OEM removable hardtopjudgedCars carrying the factory hardtop (20k-Mile 2003 Honda S2000, No Reserve: Original-Owner 2000 Honda S2000, 9k-Mile 2000 Honda S2000) cleared $45-55k; ICE_in_my_veins and LuckyX2 both argued in-thread that it is worth five figures.
—
Factory aero packagejudged27k-Mile 2001 Honda S2000 with front lip, side strakes and decklid spoiler made $50,000; Vandabs explained dealers ordered cars fully aero-equipped or not at all, and se-riously cited the aero as part of why 9k-Mile 2000 Honda S2000 was worth more than it bid.
—
Grand Prix White / Spa Yellow paintjudgedGrand Prix White medians $41,250 (n=7) and Spa Yellow Pearl $35,000 (n=9) versus Silverstone $29,250 (n=35) and Suzuka Blue $24,000 (n=9); CaptainCP notes yellow and GPW were the rarest colours of the run.
—
All 10 VIN stickers, no paintworkjudgedRepeatedly the decisive thread argument — se-riously, deeyee08 and sphipps hunt missing stickers; 11k-Mile 2003 Honda S2000 missed reserve over a scratched-off fascia sticker while 26k-Mile 2002 Honda S2000 used an intact set to survive a Carfax accident entry at $37,000.
—
Retainers / banjo bolts / TCT donejudged47k-Mile 2003 Honda S2000 fitted AP2 retainers pre-emptively and No Reserve: 2002 Honda S2000 documented revised banjo bolts and a Billman inspection; on 16k-Mile 2001 Honda S2000 the seller's non-answer to the retainer question was flagged as conspicuous.
—
Engine mods / forced inductionjudgedModified 2002 Honda S2000 at 30k miles made $27,500 against $37,250 for a stock 30k-mile car; the supercharged 25k-mile car failed reserve at $25,750 then made $32,750, versus $37,000 for a stock 25k-mile example.
—
———
expected hammer · model year 2000 · 35 such cars sold, median $30,002
the whole model's median sold price is $27,750
Mileage against sold price across the 105 deep-analysed cars.
Median by exterior colour
Colour
Median
Cars
Grand Prix White
$41,250
7
Spa Yellow Pearl
$35,000
9
Formula Red
$33,625
8
Berlina Black
$30,378
16
New Formula Red
$29,500
5
Silverstone Metallic
$29,250
35
Sebring Silver Metallic
$28,750
12
Suzuka Blue Metallic
$24,000
9
Cuts with fewer than 5 cars are left out of the two tables above:
Nurburgring Blue Metallic (exterior colour, 1 car), Red (exterior colour, 1 car), Yellow (exterior colour, 1 car), Silver (exterior colour, 1 car), Multiple (exterior colour, 1 car). A median of two or three cars is not an
estimate of anything, and sorted beside a real one it reads as a price difference that the record does
not actually support.
Known issues
majorUndisclosed bodywork betrayed by missing or painted-over panel VIN stickers
raised on roughly 15 of the 100 listings reviewed
On 2003 Honda S2000 (66k, Suzuka Blue) deeyee08 asked 'it looks like there are multiple vin stickers either missing or painted over. Could you please explain what kind of paintwork was done' and the seller never answered — it made $18,000. On 11k-Mile 2003 Honda S2000, RaiRei found the front-fascia sticker scratched off and se-riously found the right fender badge misaligned despite an intact sticker; reserve was not met at $28,250. On No Reserve: 2000 Honda S2000 the hood, front bumper and both front fender stickers were gone and SimplyAnEnthusiast99 concluded the collision was severe enough 'to have completely crunched the original pair' of headlights.
Check: Photograph and account for all ten factory VIN stickers (both fenders, both doors, hood, trunk, both bumper covers, roll-bar area, firewall stamp). A gap means the panel was replaced, resprayed or shaved. Demand paint-meter readings on every panel, not just a sample.
moderateSoft top failure: tears behind the roll bars, stretched retraction straps and clouded plastic rear window
raised on at least 12 of 100 listings, including on cars with under 30k miles
pussle_gut on 2002 Honda S2000 (79k, Suzuka Blue): 'small tears in both sides of the top just behind the roll bars… a common area where tears tend to occur in early S2000s due to burrs/rough edges on the metal bits that rub against the top.' pennilesspole flagged worn-out elastic straps on 27k-Mile 2003 Honda S2000 and noted the same fault was unaddressed at its prior BaT sale. fwallen on No Reserve: 29k-Mile 2000 Honda S2000: 'After 50,000 miles and lots of ups and downs mine had terrible wear points on both sides.'
Check: Cycle the top several times. Look at the fabric where it passes the roll-hoop metalwork, check whether the stack sits flush when stowed (pennilesspole: 'If the car looks like it has horns from the back it's not down all the way'), and inspect the plastic rear window for haze and creasing. Budget under $1,000 fitted per Timmy54.
13k-Mile 2001 Honda S2000 wore tires date-coded NNW2103 — 22 years old — which deeyee08 flagged; 20k-Mile 2003 Honda S2000 still had its original 2003 Bridgestones, with bornonjuly4 warning 'it is not a great idea to be driving a 15+ year-old tire in a sports car'; garretturbo on No Reserve: 46k-Mile 2003 Honda S2000 read 20-year-old Potenzas and 15-year-old Continentals on the same car.
Check: Read the DOT date code on all four yourself from photos before bidding; assume $900-1,400 to re-shoe with the staggered 205/55-16 and 225/50-16 sizes. Treat 'plenty of tread' as irrelevant.
moderateGarage-queen deterioration: dried seals, stale fluids, seized hydraulics after years of storage
raised on 9 of 100 listings, concentrated on the sub-15k-mile cars
ApriliaBob on 745-Mile 2002 Honda S2000: 'Not sure what seals may have dried out and have cracked with such low mileage, so I expect this car will remain a trailer queen,' and again on 958-Mile 2001 Honda S2000: 'dried seals, gaskets, bearings, coagulated oil.' 11k-Mile 2003 Honda S2000 had its clutch master and slave replaced at 11,000 miles purely because the fluid had degraded with age. On 20k-Mile 2000 Honda S2000 the seller admitted 'No Coolant or Belts changed' on a 24-year-old car.
Check: Ask for dated receipts for coolant, brake, clutch, transmission and differential fluid regardless of mileage. Check the clutch master/slave, radiator hoses and shocks. Jettedlag's estimate on 24k-Mile 2002 Honda S2000 was '10-15k to restore this completely… Add another 5-10k if there is a valve problem.'
moderateF20C valve-spring retainers, oil-jet (banjo) bolts and timing chain tensioner
asked about on at least 10 of 100 listings by marque-literate bidders
VanillaThunder0210 on 16k-Mile 2001 Honda S2000 asked 'Have the intake valve retainers been replaced or recently inspected?' and got a deflection about low mileage. On 47k-Mile 2003 Honda S2000 the seller fitted AP2 retainers pre-emptively: 'the AP1 valve retainers are known as a weakness and subject to failure.' No Reserve: 2002 Honda S2000 documented the revised banjo bolts by engine serial and a Billman retainer inspection. Counterpoint: s2kenjoyer argued on 24k-Mile 2002 Honda S2000 that 'the oil jet bolt issue is blown way out of proportion' and the TSB never applied to US cars — treat the panic as forum opinion, the documentation as value.
Check: For 2000-2002 cars ask whether AP2-spec retainers are fitted and whether the four-hole banjo bolt (15290-PCX-000) update was done; 2003 cars left the factory with the revised parts. Listen for ticking at idle and ask for a receipt for the TCT. Cars that have had this work name the shop.
moderateValve clearance adjustment ignored on low-mileage cars
raised on 5 of 100 listings; absent from the records of many more
DsizzleTX on No Reserve: 38k-Mile 2000 Honda S2000: 'the valve train on the s2000 is supposed to be serviced every 35k miles at the maximum. If you're running the AP1s up to redline frequently… then it should be done every 15-20k miles' — the seller replied 'low miles it needs nothing at this time.' On One-Family-Owned, 32k-Mile 2002 Honda S2000 the seller conceded 'While I have service records I do not have anything specifically stating that a valve service was done.' 36k-Mile 2000 Honda S2000 by contrast documented a specialist valve adjustment within a ~$4,000 service and Jettedlag valued that at '3-4k value add.'
Check: Ask for a dated valve-adjustment receipt. Sellers of 30-45k-mile cars routinely have none because they assume low miles means no service due.
minorWheel clearcoat failure and underbody / fender-liner corrosion
raised on 8 of 100 listings
se-riously on No Reserve: 26k-Mile 2001 Honda S2000: 'On photos 44, 47, and 48, you can see corrosion on the wheel spokes. This is a common issue on AP1 wheels, where the clearcoat has failed.' On 21k-Mile 2001 Honda S2000 NSXphil wrote 'Too much surface rust. Looks like it's experienced some winter road salt, or sat near the ocean' and Nothams_Inc twice asked about structural rust on the front subframe without a clear answer. hwy68 on No Reserve: 2001 Honda S2000 confirmed the fender-liner corrosion is normal and repairable.
Check: Look for bubbling on the 16in five-spoke faces; the fix is strip, refinish and re-clear. Pull the front fender liners — the 'cancer strip' where grime traps against the fender — and inspect the front subframe and brake lines on any car that lived near salt or ocean.
minorCold-weather stiff/binding power steering and early-AP1 oil consumption
each raised on 2-3 of 100 listings
On 2003 Honda S2000 (92k, Berlina Black) the seller disclosed 'the all too common stiff power steering,' and Ultimate_Combination confirmed from his own AP1 and gave the exact part number. On 2000 Honda S2000 (73k, Silverstone) the owner documented 0.4-0.6 quarts between 67,055 and 69,110 miles and noted 'many AP1 owners see similar consumption without issues.'
Check: Drive from cold and feel for heavy, notchy assist at low speed — the fix is the steering sensor assembly, OEM 53101-S2A-A03. Separately, ask the owner for a measured oil-consumption figure; a quart per 3,000 miles is reported as normal on early cars.
Account for all ten panel VIN stickers from the photos before you bid, and get paint-meter readings on every panel — a missing sticker plus a 'clean Carfax' is the single most common concealed-repair pattern in this market.
Read every tire DOT code yourself; assume any low-mileage car needs four new tires on day one.
Demand dated receipts for valve clearance adjustment, coolant, brake, clutch, transmission and differential fluid — mileage is not a substitute, and cars that sat since 2015 need all of it.
On 2000-2002 cars, establish whether the AP2-spec valve spring retainers and the four-hole oil-jet banjo bolts have been fitted, and get a TCT receipt or listen hard for ticking at idle.
Cycle the soft top four or five times: check for tears where the fabric passes the roll hoops, whether the stack sits flush when stowed, and the clarity of the plastic rear window on pre-2002 cars.
Get the car on a lift: front subframe, brake lines, fender-liner 'cancer strip', control arms. Photos of a shiny engine bay tell you nothing about a coastal or salt-belt life.
Check the wheel faces for clearcoat lift; a proper refinish of all four is a real four-figure bill on a car you're paying a premium for because it's original.
Verify the seller's ownership story against the Carfax transfer dates line by line — several sellers here claimed a decade of ownership on cars they bought months earlier.
For California buyers, confirm the intake, PCV, SAI pump and cat are all stock and the car has a current smog pass; several modified cars in this set cannot be registered in-state.
Ask for a compression test result if the car has sat for years; 220-228 psi across the four is the expected range per 20k-Mile 2003 Honda S2000.
Ask the seller
Can you post close-ups of all ten VIN stickers and the paint-meter reading for each panel?
When was the valve clearance last adjusted, by whom, and do you have the invoice?
Have the AP2-spec valve retainers, the four-hole banjo bolts and the timing chain tensioner been addressed, or is the car on original parts?
What are the DOT date codes on the four tires currently fitted?
How many quarts of oil does it use per 1,000 miles, measured rather than estimated?
Is the removable OEM hardtop, its stand and the tonneau/boot cover included — and were the front lip, side strakes and decklid spoiler factory-ordered or added later?
Exactly how long has it sat between drives in the last five years, and what fluids were changed when it came back out?
Can you show the top fully stowed from directly behind, and confirm the retraction straps are intact?
What does the Carfax entry for [date] actually refer to, and do you have the body shop invoice?
If there's a lien or a duplicate/replacement title, can you show the release and explain the reissue?
Walk away when
'Clean Carfax' paired with a missing or painted-over panel VIN sticker, a replaced headlight or a misaligned badge — the repair happened, it just never got reported.
Sellers who answer a direct technical question with enthusiasm instead of information ('absolutely zero issues – this car is stellar'), or who go silent in the final hours.
Ultra-low-mileage cars with heavy driver's seat bolster wear, a worn key fob or a beaten door sill — 11k-Mile 2003 Honda S2000 missed reserve precisely because Tiger66 judged 'the various areas of wear seemed at odds with the low mileage indicated.'
Cars that have cycled through BaT or dealer consignment repeatedly: 16k-Mile 2003 Honda S2000 was on its 'fourth appearance in five years,' and Mustang15 calculated the owners lost money net of fees.
Recent acquisitions being flipped within three months with a fresh paint correction and a single oil change as the entire service history.
A sudden pre-sale flurry — new tires, all fluids, brake overhaul — on a car that has just come out of five years of storage; it usually means deferred maintenance, not diligence.
Modified cars in emissions states with deleted SAI, catch cans or test pipes: 'Modified 2002 Honda S2000' could not be sold to an in-state California private party.
Total-loss Carfax history behind a clean title, as on No Reserve: Modified 2001 Honda S2000 — legal in some states, but it capped that car at $20,250 despite a documented $25k paint job.
Budget
Driver-grade — 60k to 110k miles, honest wear, maybe a disclosed bumper respray, soft top and tires due: $17,000-24,000. Recent examples at that level include 2003 Honda S2000 (66k) at $18,000, No Reserve: 2001 Honda S2000 (126k, fully serviced) at $23,500 and 2001 Honda S2000 (55k) at $21,250. Strong, usable example — 25k-50k miles, stock, clean Carfax, ten VIN stickers, records: $28,000-38,000, which is where the bulk of the market lives (No Reserve: 46k-Mile 2003 at $30,300, No Reserve: 39k-Mile 2002 at $36,000, 37k-Mile 2003 at $36,700). Best-in-class — sub-20k miles with original paint, full documentation, and ideally GPW or Spa Yellow with aero or a hardtop: $42,000-55,000 (Original-Owner, 19k-Mile 2003 at $42,503, 19k-Mile 2001 at $44,000, 20k-Mile 2003 at $55,000). Museum pieces under 6,000 miles are their own market at $55,000-75,000, and you should assume five figures of recommissioning on top. Below about $17,000 you are buying damage history, rust or a fight with the paperwork.
Effectively a delivery-mileage time capsule and the highest recent result in the data set — 2.7x the median. Reserve was not met at $62,500; the $75,000 came through post-auction negotiation, and commenters still flagged unknown seal condition and zero maintenance records.
Grand Prix White with the matching OEM hardtop, one owner, all ten VIN stickers, a volunteered compression test and dry-ice-cleaned underbody. s2kx2 predicted 'near $50,000' pre-sale; the hardtop and colour are doing roughly $15-20k of work here.
43,000 miles — nearly double the mileage of cars selling in the low $30ks — yet it cleared $52k on GPW-over-red, OEM hardtop, full factory aero, titanium knob, original owner and a plausible claim to being the US public debut car.
Spa Yellow Pearl with all four factory aero options, sold by a specialist with compression figures and fresh fluid flushes. Comparable 26-29k-mile Silverstone cars sold $33-41k; colour plus aero plus presentation added roughly $10-15k.
Overshot its own comps. It wore aftermarket ROH wheels with non-standard tire sizes, the original wheels were gone and there were undisclosed micro-dents in the trunk lid. longled pre-called 'the bright side of $35K' and rsousa called $46k 'very unusual' — a two-bidder run, not a market level.
A meticulously documented 16-year build with a ~$25k repaint, J's Racing widebody and receipts for everything — destroyed on value by a 2008 insurance total-loss entry plus a 2009 guardrail hit. Damage history and a narrow widebody buyer pool cost more than the build added.
The lowest result in the entire record. A UK right-hand-drive car with visible overspray, a colour-mismatched rust repair, underside corrosion and zero invoices for any of it. exbikeracer: 'Wow…stolen' — but undocumented rust work on a 23-year-old roadster is exactly what the bottom of this market looks like.
Sold roughly $10k under what a 12k-mile early-VIN Silverstone/red car should bring because the seller never answered a single question across 45 bids, and Rodeo produced evidence it had sold at Mecum for $53,900 in 2022, contradicting the stated ownership history.
Verdict
The AP1 suits a buyer who wants a genuinely analogue, cheap-to-run roadster and is willing to pay for documentation rather than a low number on the odometer — the $28,000-34,000 band buys a 25-45k-mile stock car you can drive without guilt, and that is the smart money. Pay above $45,000 only for an original-paint, ten-VIN-sticker car with a hardtop, factory aero or a rare colour, because the ultra-low-mileage cars above that are storage risks that need four tires and every fluid before they are worth driving.
Three caveats. First, the detailed spec and comment data covers the 100 most recent sales plus a 105-car mileage subset; the 554-auction price statistics are broader but carry no condition detail, so any cross-reference between them is approximate. Second, the colour medians rest on thin samples — Grand Prix White n=7, Spa Yellow n=9, Suzuka Blue n=9 — and colour is confounded with mileage and options, so treat the paint factor as a judgement rather than a measured premium; colours with fewer than five sales were withheld entirely and nothing should be inferred about them. Third, the transmission breakdown is meaningless here since every AP1 is a six-speed manual. Finally, almost everything in the known-issues section originates in comment threads: se-riously, VTys2k, twohoos, pennilesspole and onlyhonda4me are consistently well-informed and often corroborated by sellers, but they are strangers on the internet, not inspectors — weight them by how often the same fault recurs across separate cars, which is the standard I used in ranking them.
Bidding patterns
These are patterns, not findings. A public auction
record cannot show intent, and everything below has ordinary explanations — specialists and
dealers bid on many cars of one model, enthusiasts run up cars they end up losing, and new
accounts are usually just new. Read them as places to look closely, not as accusations.
Screened 100 bid ladders
· 27 with something to note · 2 repeat-bidder patterns · thresholds set against this model's own auctions (typical closing window is 67% low-history bidders)
· usernames masked for public viewing
l••••••s bid on 4 of C••••••s's cars, winning none
Common for a dealer or marque specialist who follows one seller's inventory.
It is also the shape worth checking, so here are the listings:
27 bids from 13 accounts ·
sold $50,000 ·
winner W••••••n · underbidder t••••••y
watchClosing bids came almost entirely from accounts with no posting history — 10 of 10 bids in the final 15 minutes (100%) came from accounts with under 25 lifetime likes (turkmenboy, Wthavidon). The typical auction for this model runs 67%, so this one is an outlier. Note the measure is weak — likes come from commenting, so a long-time bidder who never posts also scores zero.
27 bids from 13 accounts ·
no sale, bid to $40,000 ·
winner g•••••i · underbidder s•••••s
watchUnderbidder placed much of the ladder — sphipps placed 11 of 27 bids (41%) and did not win. Enthusiastic losing bidders are common; a very high share is still worth reading the thread for.
45 bids from 16 accounts ·
sold $23,500 ·
winner j••••1 · underbidder k••••a
watchClosing bids came almost entirely from accounts with no posting history — 10 of 10 bids in the final 15 minutes (100%) came from accounts with under 25 lifetime likes (Hanover_Fiste, jvlad1, kevsea). The typical auction for this model runs 67%, so this one is an outlier. Note the measure is weak — likes come from commenting, so a long-time bidder who never posts also scores zero.
12 bids from 6 accounts ·
sold $29,750 ·
winner J••••••a · underbidder d••••••s
noticePrice set by two accounts trading bids — 60% of the ladder is the same two accounts alternating. This is what a genuine duel looks like too — it only matters alongside another signal.
20 bids from 8 accounts ·
no sale, bid to $28,250 ·
winner d••••••s · underbidder g••••••g
noticePrice set by two accounts trading bids — 61% of the ladder is the same two accounts alternating. This is what a genuine duel looks like too — it only matters alongside another signal.
23 bids from 8 accounts ·
sold $42,503 ·
winner M••••••o · underbidder 1••••••r
watchClosing bids came almost entirely from accounts with no posting history — 9 of 9 bids in the final 15 minutes (100%) came from accounts with under 25 lifetime likes (JRVend, 108Vesper, sphipps, MadModjo). The typical auction for this model runs 67%, so this one is an outlier. Note the measure is weak — likes come from commenting, so a long-time bidder who never posts also scores zero.
39 bids from 12 accounts ·
sold $41,750 ·
winner P••••1 · underbidder E••••••0
watchClosing bids came almost entirely from accounts with no posting history — 17 of 17 bids in the final 15 minutes (100%) came from accounts with under 25 lifetime likes (Moazam01, Plane1, Engarcia1010). The typical auction for this model runs 67%, so this one is an outlier. Note the measure is weak — likes come from commenting, so a long-time bidder who never posts also scores zero.
24 bids from 8 accounts ·
sold $37,250 ·
winner t••••••8 · underbidder r••••n
noticePrice set by two accounts trading bids — 68% of the ladder is the same two accounts alternating. This is what a genuine duel looks like too — it only matters alongside another signal.
Exceptionally low-mileage, desirable AP1 with correct color combination and clean history, but marred by undisclosed ownership timeline discrepancy, bumper repaint without documentation, and poor auction presentation that likely contributed to missing reserve despite being worth considerably more.
front bumper cover repainted · tire date discrepancy · front bumper repainted without documentation or photos of pre-repair condition · ownership history initially misrepresented (claimed 2015 acquisition when actually purchased June 2025)
A well-sorted, genuinely driven AP1 with modest mileage, desirable color combo, and recent maintenance marred by unexplained VIN sticker discrepancies, prior headlight/bumper work, soft-top degradation, and a cryptic 2005 flood-zone registration that warrant pre-purchase investigation despite the seller's assurances.
Soft top condition · Missing or painted over VIN stickers · Multiple VIN stickers appear missing or painted over—seller did not adequately address deeyee08's direct question about paintwork history · 2005 Carfax entry notes vehicle was in FEMA-declared flood disaster area; unclear what damage occurred or remediation performed
A museum-quality, two-owner AP1 in an extraordinarily rare color with all factory aero options intact, comprehensively serviced, and showing 27k genuine miles, commanding a Spa Yellow Pearl record price despite minor cosmetic wear and an unresolved service notation about an alleged oil weep that the seller firmly disputes.
An exceptionally rare 2002 S2000 in the most desirable color combination (Berlina Black over full red leather, ~275 produced) with original ownership, 5,309 miles, complete documentation, and factory originality, sold at market value to an enthusiast willing to pay $55,000 for a true low-mileage collectible.
A genuinely low-mileage, clean AP1 S2000 with matching hardtop and OEM aero that failed to meet reserve due to lazy seller presentation (minimal photos, zero video, no service records, no detailing) but ultimately sold at market-correct price ($45k) once interest was sufficiently warmed.
Minimal documentation and service records · Minimal photography and presentation · Reserve not met at $42,000 final bid; sold post-auction via offer at $45,000, suggesting initial pricing or presentation issues · No cold-start, driving, or top-up/down videos provided despite listing a convertible
A pristine, ultra-low-mileage AP1 S2000 with all matching VIN tags and immaculate condition undermined by a 2008 Carfax accident the seller dismisses as possible error, unconfirmed mechanical concerns, and an aggressive dealer-led sales pitch that reached $37k—among the highest ever for the model and color on BaT.
Carfax accident in July 2008 · Carfax shows 2008 accident with seller claiming it may be an error; all VIN tags present but unclear if damage was cosmetic-only or structural · Seller's dismissal of startup clicking noise ('not sure – absolutely zero issues') may indicate unwillingness to investigate potential mechanical concerns
Well-presented AP1 S2000 with desirable color and comprehensive hardtop package undermined by undisclosed respray and rust repairs without supporting documentation, ultimately selling for what commenters regarded as an implausibly low hammer price.
Possible respray or overspray in area of photo 69 · Rust repair with color mismatch in area of photo 115 · No invoicing for bodywork, paint, or rust repairs despite visible evidence of work · Undisclosed respray or overspray in photo 69
A genuinely low-mileage, stock, well-maintained 2001 S2000 with excellent pedigree but incomplete brake system diagnostics and an underperforming auction that failed to meet reserve despite dealer praise and peer validation—classic reserve-set-too-high scenario with latent concern about whether the brake warning light really signals just a sensor or a deeper master cylinder issue.
brake warning light illuminated · Brake warning light diagnosis is incomplete — seller was not given full brake system diagnostic, only multipoint inspection. Functional safety of braking system itself was not independently confirmed beyond visual inspection. · Car sat parked for approximately five years before recent service; unknown how rubber seals, gaskets, and elastomers aged during dormancy.
A legitimate 745-mile time capsule that commanded $75k (reserve missed, settled via offer) as a near-showroom-condition driver experience, though questions linger about seal integrity after 24 years of minimal use and whether the premium justified the storage-related risks.
Potential seal degradation from non-use · No documented maintenance records · Extreme low mileage (745 miles over nearly 24 years) raises questions about preservation methods and potential seal/fluid degradation · No maintenance records provided despite nearly quarter-century of storage
A meticulously maintained, low-mileage AP1 S2000 with quality performance modifications hamstrung by non-CARB-compliant emissions parts and a seller under divorce-driven time pressure, resolvable only by reverting to stock for California registration or relocating out-of-state.
Non-CARB-compliant emissions modifications · Cannot be registered/driven on California streets in current configuration · Non-CARB-compliant modifications preclude in-state California registration without costly reversal to stock · seller is divorcing and liquidating hastily under time pressure, per own admission
A notably low-mileage AP1 with strong bones and documented service, but missing badging, aged tires, wheel corrosion, and evasive seller responses create moderate doubt about claimed originality despite a clean Carfax and no-reserve sale at $33k.
Wheel spoke corrosion · Missing OEM badges (Honda and S2000) raises questions about undisclosed work despite seller's denial and clean Carfax · Tires are 2018 date code (8 years old), well beyond typical recommendations even with low miles
A low-mileage, single-family-use AP1 in the most desirable color combination, meticulously documented by a professional dealer and sold cleanly at market value with no red flags beyond minor cosmetic wear.
A pristine first-year S2000 with impeccable provenance and museum-quality condition, but reserve unmet at $40k and market skepticism suggests the seller's $50k+ expectations exceed what buyers will pay for a never-driven 26-year-old sports car with questionable mechanical readiness after extended dormancy.
Tire age uncertainty · Extended storage without regular use · Extremely low mileage (5k in 26 years) raises questions about mechanical reliability after long dormancy · Vague service history - seller claims oil changes but provides only one dated reference (2026, likely a typo for 2016 or earlier)
A well-maintained, stock 2001 AP1 with 126k miles, transparent seller, minor cosmetic wear, and clean history that achieved strong market validation at $23.5k no-reserve.
CARFAX odometer status marked 'Exempt' rather than actual mileage verification · CARFAX reportedly shows one owner despite seller stating car had prior owner in CA from ~2015-2020; seller disputes CARFAX accuracy
A well-preserved, stock, low-mileage AP1 that commanded strong market competition ($33.4k) despite needing new tires, driven primarily by its extreme rarity in the low-mileage segment and clean provenance.
A very low-mileage, well-documented AP1 with factory records and solid provenance, but the soft-top elastic straps are visibly worn and not fully retracting—a known recurring issue on this car that the seller inherited and chose not to address, making it a fair-priced cosmetic and mechanical 'as-is' example for a patient enthusiast buyer.
soft top straps worn/not retracting fully · No paint meter readings provided; seller declined to provide them · Seller unwilling to provide detailed paint verification despite being asked twice about original panels
A genuinely low-mileage AP1 with single-owner provenance and excellent climate control history, marred by aged tires, undocumented service gaps, and a seller who treated it like a reliable daily rather than a performance machine, ultimately achieving strong market price reflective of its rarity and condition.
Tires very old · No documented service history · Initial listing claimed 'all 46k miles were added under current ownership' but Carfax showed first owner added 22k miles; seller clarified he was actually first owner but Carfax misrecorded him as second · No documented service history despite 22 years of ownership; reliance on untracked independent shops
Well-preserved, single-family-owned AP1 with exceptionally low mileage and rare all-red interior, but gaps in documented service history (especially valve adjustments and fluid changes 2013–present) and lack of physical receipts created friction that may have suppressed final bidding below intrinsic market value.
No documented valve adjustment service · No documented coolant/brake/transmission/differential service history prior to ~10k miles ago · Lack of documented valve adjustment service for AP1 (known interval item) · No physical service receipts to verify claimed maintenance
An exceptionally preserved single-owner 2001 AP1 S2000 with 26k miles, clean history, and pristine condition sold for $33k—market consensus suggested the buyer acquired a legitimate bargain.
A beautifully executed, meticulously documented 16-year build with legitimate insurance total-loss history and replacement title that generated persistent buyer skepticism, ultimately selling well below invested cost to an anonymous bidder, suggesting market wariness of the title status despite impeccable repair quality.
Title clarity and total-loss history · Total-loss history in 2008 with title discrepancy that required multiple seller clarifications and generated substantial comment-thread skepticism · Replacement title issued in 2023 raises questions about title continuity and why original was not recoverable earlier
A museum-quality 958-mile AP1 with undisclosed modifications and minor cosmetic issues that climbed to a record $56k but failed to meet a higher reserve, exposing a fundamental disconnect between preservation-driven valuation and the market's willingness to pay for an essentially undriven 25-year-old sports car.
Potential seized seals and gaskets from prolonged storage · Aftermarket modifications on collector-spec low-mileage car · Car modified with aftermarket parts despite ultra-low mileage and apparent collector intent · Multiple ownership turnovers (5 owners in 25 years) despite preservation narrative
A genuinely low-mileage, single-owner AP1 S2000 with a clean title and excellent documentation, but age-related concerns (26 years old, original tires from 2018) and a single open recall likely suppressed bidding despite strong fundamentals.
tires are 7 years old (DOT code 3518 = week 35, 2018) despite low mileage and indoor storage · one open recall listed on Carfax, details not disclosed
A cosmetically clean, documentation-rich AP1 S2000 with museum-like mileage and desirable original colors that sold at a $5-7k discount to recent comparable examples, hinting at market saturation or buyer fatigue despite the spec's inherent collectibility.
Tires age 2014-2015 date codes · Potential convertible top wear concerns · Previously sold on BaT in April 2023, now re-listed in 2026 with only 29k miles suggesting minimal use between sales · Montana title (out of state) despite California location raises potential title/registration questions
A visually striking Silverstone-over-red AP1 with clean history and low mileage, but harboring period-incorrect interior trim pieces and missing details that undermine claims of originality, sold in a heated bidding finale to an enthusiast buyer at $29,250.
Non-original interior trim components · AP2 wheels on AP1 model suggest period-incorrect modifications and possible earlier interior work · Leather shift knob and vinyl console on 2001 model are anachronistic—these components debuted in 2002, raising questions about interior authenticity
Cosmetically refreshed AP1 with multiple body repairs, reupholstered seats, and suspicious wear patterns that contradict the 11k-mile claim, ultimately failing to meet reserve as bidders recognized the mileage credibility problem.
Left fender and front bumper repainted · VIN sticker missing on front fascia · Seller lack of engagement in final auction hours noted by VTys2k · Multiple body panel repairs (left fender, front bumper) at low mileage suggests potential accident history despite clean Carfax
A textbook original-owner, low-mileage 2003 AP1 in genuine collector condition, sold by a widow under emotionally difficult circumstances, that achieved strong market pricing ($42.5k) reflecting both rarity and preserved provenance.
An exceptionally rare original-owner 2000 S2000 with the factory hardtop and aero package in Grand Prix White over red leather, sold for $52,380 to a knowledgeable buyer who recognized the configuration's rarity and pristine condition as justifying market-competitive pricing despite 43k miles.
A single-owner, 19k-mile 2001 AP1 S2000 in the iconic launch-spec Silverstone/Red finished at $44k—a textbook example of a properly maintained, unmodified Japanese roadster that commanded market-leading value.
An exceptionally rare and well-preserved 20k-mile 2003 Grand Prix White AP1 S2000 with matching hardtop and documented single-owner history that commanded $55k at auction, though compression readings trailing factory spec and 22-year-old original tires warrant immediate attention from the new owner.
original tires aged 22+ years · hardtop claimed never removed but acquired from estate of deceased original owner—family history unverified · compression test results delivered only after specific request, all cylinders slightly below factory spec
Exceptionally preserved 14k-mile AP1 with two meticulous owners and zero-incident history commands premium pricing justified by demonstrable condition, though the center console discoloration is a minor cosmetic quirk inherent to the generation.
Well-maintained, garaged 106k-mile AP1 with documented service history and clean Carfax, but front-end repair history, undisclosed paint crazing, and seller's evasiveness on compression/long-distance comfort suggest mechanical unknowns worth investigating pre-delivery.
front bumper repair in 2007 and paint crazing suggest impact history, though seller characterizes as minor curb kiss · no compression check documented despite 106k miles and VTEC engine concerns
A rare, low-mileage AP1 S2000 in desirable yellow with documented 2004 rear pillar damage that was professionally repaired and verified clean by an in-person specialist inspection, though original wheels discarded and emission history gaps warrant scrutiny.
Left rear pillar damage and paint repair · Tires 13 years old · Carfax shows 2 owners but seller claims single ownership since new; explanation about dealership counting as owner is questionable · Original OEM wheels discarded 15 years ago; no documentation of HRE wheel purchase or installation
Genuine single-owner 2002 AP1 with documented reliability and minimal abuse, hampered only by originality-compromised soft top and fresh cosmetic paint repairs, that sold fairly to an informed AP1 enthusiast at $25,750.
Soft top patched and not water-tight · Soft top requires patched repairs and is not fully water-tight; buyer should budget for replacement · Fresh paint repairs on front end are newly cured and may require professional blending/finishing
Ultra-low-mileage original-owner AP1 S2000 with solid provenance marred by undisclosed September 2019 damage history, professional repaint, and missing VIN documentation on the repaired fender—solid buy at $30.3k if the repair quality holds up to inspection.
front bumper and right fender repainted · unclear damage history · Carfax shows 'minor damage' in September 2019 but seller unable or unwilling to provide details about the incident · missing passenger-side VIN sticker raises questions about whether repair involved panel replacement or VIN sticker loss during work
Factory-rare all-red 2003 AP1 with 37k miles and immaculate history sold strongly at $36.7k despite late-stage VIN documentation gaps and minor cosmetic blemish that drew scrutiny but did not derail bidding.
Incomplete VIN documentation at sale close · Incomplete VIN documentation at sale close—not all 10 stickers photographed despite buyer requests and multiple exchanges · Car off insurance during listing, limiting ability to fully document condition
Single-owner 42k-mile AP1 with documented history and meticulous care, though early minor parking lot damage and oversprayed VIN sticker suggest body shop work quality concerns that didn't materially affect final sale price of $27,350.
air-conditioning compressor failure · duplicate notation on New York title (standard for replacement title but warrants verification) · VIN sticker overspray during body shop work suggests bodywork may not have been done to highest standard
A genuinely low-mileage AP1 S2000 with clean history marred by seller transparency issues—rapid flip, paint correction timing, vague responses on transmission work, and rust denial despite photographic evidence—all compressed into a 3-month ownership window that warrants pre-purchase inspection scrutiny despite market enthusiasm.
Paint correction performed immediately before photography and listing · Rapid flip: car acquired ~3 months prior to sale via family friend's passing
An exceptionally clean, low-mileage 2003 AP1 with strong provenance and desirable specifications, though the seller's one-month ownership and rapid flip warrant scrutiny regarding motivation and any undisclosed condition concerns.
seller acquired car one month prior to listing and selling after only 300 miles driven; stated reason evolved from 'opportunity for another car came up' to acquiring a lotus elise · very low mileage (30k) for a 2003 model year suggests limited real-world use or long storage periods
A comprehensively documented but previously reserve-not-met supercharged S2000 flipped by dealer weeks later with vague emissions compliance, unverified dyno claims, and a timing-chain ticking noise that seller deflected rather than explained—strong on paperwork, risky on mechanical confidence.
Engine ticking noise audible in video · Timing chain concern on supercharged application · Car was previously listed on BaT in April 2026 and did not meet reserve (RNM); reappeared weeks later with same basic car but added documentation—suggests dealer purchased at low reserve-not-met price and is flipping · Dealer acquired car in 2026 and added ~50 miles of the 25k total, meaning prior history and mileage accumulation cannot be verified by current owner
An exceptionally low-mileage AP1 with recent comprehensive service marred by late-disclosed trunk dents and non-OEM wheels, yet it sold at $46k—well above market—suggesting bidder enthusiasm overcame fundamental value constraints.
aftermarket wheels instead of OEM · micro dents in trunk only disclosed mid-auction after initial inspection; cause remains unexplained · original wheels and tires not retained despite 10k-mile history
A spectacularly low-mileage original-owner AP1 with plausible but slightly murky ownership history that sold at a brisk $29,255 to a dealer, well short of its $32,440 original retail but in a market where even pristine early S2000s struggle to maintain classic-car premiums.
Carfax shows 4 owners despite seller claiming original ownership · Carfax shows 4 owners despite seller claiming original ownership from new—state registration transfers vs. actual title transfers is ambiguous · Front bumper refinished (cosmetic work history not explained)
Exceptionally low-mileage AP1 with meticulous recent service and stellar provenance, but visual evidence of brake-line corrosion contradicts seller's sworn claim of zero undercarriage decay—a discrepancy serious enough to demand independent inspection before closing.
Brake line corrosion visibility · Brake line corrosion visible in photos (image 112) despite seller's blanket denial of any undercarriage corrosion; this inconsistency warrants pre-purchase inspection · Carfax reports 'minor damage' in December 2018, shortly after seller's November 2018 acquisition, suggesting damage discovered immediately upon receipt
Exceptionally low-mileage AP1 with legendary color combination and clean history, but pre-2015 service unknown, undercarriage untreated, and missing rear VIN sticker warrant mechanical inspection before use.
only ~1k miles added in 11 years of ownership · very low annual mileage (approximately 91 miles per year) suggests prolonged storage or garage sitting · missing rear bumper VIN sticker is unusual and could indicate past damage/repair
A clean, low-mileage AP1 in an attractive color with comprehensive documentation and service records, undermined by unresolved soft-top tears, a non-original trunk floor modification, and a duplicate title lacking clear provenance explanation — suitable for an enthusiast buyer willing to address cosmetic issues at modest cost.
Trunk floor hole · Soft top tears · Duplicate title issued in 2012 — seller states original was lost and he obtained a replacement to remove lien holders after paying off car loan; explanation provided but documentation gap of 4 years from purchase (2008) to title reissuance (2012) is not explained · Mystery wires by pedals with unknown purpose, though seller claims all electronics functional
A comprehensively built and low-mileage supercharged S2000 with quality internals that failed to find a buyer because the seller provided no dyno sheet, avoided committing to clutch status, never discussed how the boost was calibrated, and left critical performance and reliability unknowns unresolved.
Rear wing attached with double-sided tape · No dyno sheet or horsepower specification provided · No dyno sheet or horsepower figures despite $40k+ build investment and supercharger installation · Clutch status never disclosed despite high boost application
Well-documented, low-mileage AP1 with fresh critical service and pristine provenance, but emergency brake light and vague engine-mount inquiry warrant pre-purchase inspection despite Carfax clean and strong condition narrative.
Emergency brake light remaining illuminated without documented fix · Ambiguous response to engine mount inquiry from commenter
Meticulously maintained low-mileage AP1 with quality mods and clean history, but left-door respray origin and ancient tires hint at longer storage than mileage suggests, and the seller's unfamiliarity with modifications raises questions about pre-sale diligence.
Left door paintwork · Old tires · Left door repaint not explained—reason for damage unknown · Soft top tear patched rather than replaced
A purpose-built Tokyo Auto Salon showcase S2000 with tasteful supercharger modifications and professional widebody execution, but one that demands thorough mechanical inspection of the import/tuning work and verification of claimed power figures before committing to $36k.
Airbag warning light illuminated · Recent import with very low miles in US (fewer than 100 miles claimed) · No dyno sheet or power verification provided despite seller claiming 330–350 whp
Exceptionally low-mileage AP1 with comprehensive recent service but compromised by visible surface rust and multiple minor cosmetic repairs that suggest less-than-ideal storage conditions despite seller claims of careful garage keeping.
Surface rust and undercarriage condition · Structural rust on front subframe questioned · VIN tag on front bumper cover potentially painted over or missing per commenter inquiry · Unusually high surface rust for claimed garage storage and no winter driving; only 1,450 miles in 18 years raises storage/environmental concerns
A flawless ultra-low-mileage AP1 that cannot find a permanent home despite pristine condition, selling for exactly window-sticker price with zero inflation-adjusted appreciation and four BaT auctions in five years—a collector-grade example undermined by its own serial-reseller stigma.
Frequent resales on BaT platform · Fourth BaT sale in five years suggests it has not found a permanent owner despite ultra-low mileage and clean condition · rapid turnover pattern raises questions about perceived value retention or hidden issues despite clean Carfax
A single-owner AP1 with predictable coastal rust and an undocumented timing chain tensioner concern sold for fair-to-slightly-low money after spending five years in storage, reflecting both its usable condition and the skipped pre-sale inspection that would have commanded premium pricing.
Timing chain tensioner noise · Superficial undercarriage rust · Repaint performed to address corrosion rather than as standard refresh · Undercarriage shows overspray with paint applied over rust, risking moisture entrapment
A meticulously maintained, low-mileage AP1 in factory stock form with documented specialist inspection and proactive preventive maintenance by a known S2000 guru, presenting minimal risk and strong value at $27.5k.
Service records not in Carfax (seller performed own maintenance); while explained, adds slight verification gap · No pre-purchase inspection explicitly mentioned by buyer
A beautifully preserved, garage-kept 20k-mile 2000 S2000 with desirable NRF paint held back by accident history, critically aged tires, and deferred fluid service, ultimately sold at $30k—fair market given the combined risk factors.
Accident history · Tire age · Accident history reduces value despite seller's reassurance it was minor · Tire age (21 years) despite low mileage raises questions about safe drivability; tires should be replaced before driving
A showroom-condition, highly desirable first-year S2000 in top-spec white/red that commanded premium pricing ($43k) despite seven prior owners and a fragmented ownership history suggesting speculative trading rather than enthusiast use.
Oil jet bolt (banjo bolt) upgrade status unknown · Seven owners in approximately 26 years with only 26k miles suggests lack of engagement or serial flipping · First owner drove 6k+ miles in less than 2 weeks, then 18k in less than a year, then minimal driving—suggests possible warranty claim or early ownership issues
Meticulously maintained AP1 S2000 with comprehensive service records and endorsement from a knowledgeable former owner, minor cosmetic wear and normal oil consumption offset by low miles and disciplined ownership.
A low-mileage AP1 S2000 with clean Carfax and desirable colors, but undisclosed interior modifications, missing VIN stickers, and signs of curb and underside wear suggest past damage or poor storage that was cosmetically remedied rather than properly documented.
Fenders repainted · Missing VIN stickers · Center console and seats reupholstered, suggesting potential water damage, wear, or accident damage not disclosed in Carfax · Missing VIN stickers on trunk and rear bumper despite clean Carfax—unusual for a 26-year-old car
Mechanically updated AP1 with desirable color and spec, but Carfax damage history across multiple panels and evasive seller responses on door repairs raise questions about accident scope that demand independent PPI and paint-meter verification before commitment.
Carfax damage history - rear, right side, right corners · Repainting on front bodywork · Multiple Carfax damage entries within 8 months (June and November 2014) on same side of vehicle raises questions about whether seller's 'hit-and-run' explanation is complete or accurate · Seller's characterization of moderate damage as minor collisions lacks independent verification; no paint-meter readings or detailed body shop report provided
A rare bulk collection of S2000 CR parts with strong individual component value assembled by enthusiast over 15 years, complicated by uncertain provenance, salvage-sourced trunk lid, and incomplete seller technical knowledge, yet driven to $22.8k by legitimate parts demand and legitimate parting-out economics.
Wiring harness type unclear · Seller's spouse assembled collection over 15 years; source/provenance of parts not fully explained—speculation in comments about warehouse stock or bulk acquisition · Trunk lid sourced from salvage/wreck vehicle (CR #559)
A genuine low-mileage AP1 with clean provenance but multiple deferred-maintenance red flags, aged rubber and fluids, and a seller constrained by estate rules from proving mechanical fitness—making it a speculative bet at $27.7k for a buyer prepared to invest $10–25k more.
Hole in soft top · Cracked windshield · Extended storage period with gaps in service documentation between 2021 and present (seller took custody 'last year') · No independent mechanic PPI documented; seller's assessment relies on basic start/drive/stop confirmation only
A genuine ultra-low-mileage AP1 with impressive originality sold under reserve below market rate, yet muddled ownership history, mileage inconsistencies across Carfax records, and seller evasiveness about cosmetic paint concerns and aftermarket alarm create legitimate buyer's remorse risk that disciplined bidders likely priced in.
mileage inconsistency · Vague ownership history: seller claims 'same family for some time' then 'owner passed away leaving to kids' but provides no documentation or detailed Carfax ownership chain · Minimal service records despite 25+ year age and claimed weekend-only use
A well-maintained, low-mileage Suzuka Blue AP1 with documented service work, but shadowed by a retracted differential claim and a radar detector suggesting the prior owner drove it hard and fast with intent to evade law enforcement.
Differential housing claim retracted · Police scanner/radar detector with jammer functionality · Retracted claim about differential housing work without explanation or correction · Radar detector with alleged jammer capability suggests prior aggressive/possibly illegal driving
A beautifully maintained, low-mileage AP1 with dealer service history and desirable Spa Yellow finish that sold below its apparent quality due to either conservative reserve or limited bidder appetite, though the F20C intake valve retainer question was conspicuously dodged.
F20C intake valve retainer concern not directly addressed · F20C intake valve retainer status not explicitly confirmed despite being a known early model issue · rear spoiler added post-delivery, not original build
A genuinely low-mileage, stock AP1 S2000 with solid provenance that was hastily refreshed (soft-top repair, dent removal, PDR) after a failed first sale, now sold to an enthusiast who will cherish it—but the cosmetic work and previous buyer's sudden retreat warrant a thorough PPI and top inspection before title transfer.
Previous winning bidder backed out after winning in December 2025, now restricted from BaT · Seller's explanation that buyer was approved for $75k but then shopped other vehicles raises questions about buyer vetting or car condition doubts
A genuinely low-mileage, well-preserved AP1 in the most desirable color, marred by questions about tire age and K&N intake installation competence that bidders either ignored or accepted as cosmetic versus structural.
Tires dated 2011 · 28k-mile car with 2011-dated original tires suggests prolonged storage or garage keeping · seller did not upload running video when requested by cahn10
A post-accident 2000 S2000 in a rare color combination that has been cosmetically refreshed with misaligned badges, aftermarket headlights, and a reupholstered interior to obscure the extent of front-end collision damage, sold primarily on rarity and warranty rather than transparency.
Front-end collision damage and repairs · Misaligned and backwards S2000 fender badges · VIN stickers missing from hood, front bumper cover, and front fenders — the three most critical identification points · March 2025 accident damage disclosed only in Carfax, not prominently in seller description
A meticulously documented, low-mileage AP1 in the most collectible color combination, backed by an honest seller and recent professional service, with only minor cosmetic wear and a known-but-minor strut seepage that does not materially compromise value.
Incomplete service records from original owner; seller notes original owner had 'maintenance records for the most part non-existent' and provided only two receipts from Hilton Head Honda despite claiming regular service · Original owner's poor record-keeping raises questions about actual maintenance history prior to 2022
Exceptionally low-mileage AP1 S2000 with thorough documentation and clean history that fell just short of reserve on weak holiday timing, though archaic tire inventory and a model year naming inconsistency warrant pre-purchase verification.
Tire age and mixed brands · Title year discrepancy · Seller introduced car as 2003 model year in first comment despite listing as 2000 · Extremely old tires (2005-2007 date codes) still on vehicle despite 20+ year age
Desirable Silverstone/red AP1 with a documented 2006 accident, no service history to 99k miles, deferred maintenance on top/tires/valves, and recent rapid flip from Canada to Texas, sold below market for a reason despite strong cosmetic presentation and color appeal.
Accident history · Soft top elastic straps worn/top fold issues · imported from Canada to US very recently (2025); recent acquisition by current owner (2025) suggests rapid flip · May 2006 accident on Carfax suggests prior significant damage
A genuinely low-mileage AP1 with solid provenance that was nonetheless in a 2018 accident and received substandard repair work, reflected in visible paint overspray that the dealer minimizes—still a solid buy at $24,250 for S2K hunters willing to accept the cosmetic compromise.
Minor accident damage in 2018 with repairs rather than OEM replacement parts · Paint overspray/mismatch on front bumper after repair
A genuinely sorted, one-owner California survivor with honest cosmetic history and recent comprehensive service that rewards a buyer willing to overlook sparse documentation and minor battle scars in exchange for undeniable originality and enthusiast provenance.
Only two service records on Carfax across 25 years despite owner claiming routine maintenance—most work appears to be owner-performed without documentation · Minor accident history in 2008 with damage that was never repaired, only cosmetically present
A genuinely low-mileage, unmodified, well-documented AP1 owned continuously by a mature gentleman for 23 years, with original paint and service history, but deferred tire replacement and minor cosmetic wear that do not materially detract from a strong buy-and-drive example.
A low-mileage AP1 with strong service history undermined by seller evasion over passenger-side fender damage and apparent unfamiliarity with the 35k-mile valve train service interval that may now be overdue.
Lower passenger fender dent/damage · Valve train service status unclear at listing mileage · Seller deflected repeated requests for close-up photos of apparent passenger fender damage instead of providing documentation · Seller appeared unfamiliar with critical AP1 S2000 valve train maintenance schedule despite claiming 27 service records
A cleanly maintained 55k-mile AP1 with sound condition and no disclosed history marred only by DIY timing chain tensioner work of questionable provenance and a transient owner with an exit timeline.
Seller is international student leaving US in a few months—rapid ownership cycle may indicate lack of long-term commitment to proper maintenance or may signal urgency to liquidate; however, seller has been transparent about this · Timing chain tensioner replacement performed DIY by seller—no record of professional inspection or confirmation that work was done correctly; TCT is a critical engine component on F20C engines
A genuinely low-mileage AP1 S2000 with honest maintenance records and no accident history, but unusual ownership churn and minimal driving across seven stewards suggests this has been a collector's piece rather than a regularly enjoyed sports car.
Seven owners in 23 years with only 16k miles suggests car was not regularly driven; commenter ApriliaBob noted 'Kinda freaks me out that this had six owners and only amassed 16k' · 18-month ownership gap before current auction (purchased April 2024, sold November 2025) with only 2k miles added, though seller explained due to wife's medical condition
A cosmetically preserved but mechanically mysterious low-mileage AP1 with 22-year-old tires, zero maintenance records, and 17 years of garage storage that demands a full mechanical audit before any street use.
tires extremely old · no service records from original owner · 17-year ownership with only 13k miles indicates extensive storage; risk of fluid degradation, seal drying, and mechanical issues from sitting · no service records from first owner (2001-2006) or second owner (2006-2024)
A well-driven, unmolested AP1 with desirable color and single-owner pedigree clouded by an August 2020 front-end accident and cosmetic wear that sold at fair market for its use profile.
Front-end damage · Front-end accident in August 2020 with minimal Carfax detail—nature of damage and repair quality unknown · Seller deflected video criticism ('rough road that many semi trucks use') without addressing underlying concern
A fundamentally sound, low-mileage AP1 with strong documentation undermined by unexplained cosmetic damage, evasive seller answers, and a final sale price inflated by what appears to be simultaneous duplicate bidding across multiple auctions.
Multiple cosmetic imperfections visible in photos despite claimed 10/10 condition · Seller evasive on reserve price and specific damage details
A well-documented AP1 S2000 with two accident incidents on Carfax and recent valve-seal-induced oil-burn diagnosis, sold by a self-described serial car-buyer who conducted limited re-verification testing and refused pre-auction viewings, at a price commenters deemed fair despite clear title complexity.
oil burning · Carfax shows July 2004 'minor to moderate damage' to front and August 2020 'minor damage' to rear and right rear side — two separate incidents · Front bumper cover refinished, VIN sticker paint removed — indicates repair work
A well-driven, low-mileage final-year AP1 with disclosure of known steering sensor issues and cosmetic wear, honestly presented by a high-volume dealer and snapped up at market-fair pricing by a patient buyer who had been hunting for two years.
Stiff power steering when cold or after sitting · Clutch service history unknown · No documented clutch service history despite 92k miles and previous owner modifications · Exhaust modification (muffler-bypass pipe) CA emissions compliance not verified or confirmed
A stunning first-year S2000 unicorn with a fatal ownership-history problem: it was verifiably sold at Mecum in 2022 for $53,900, yet the seller claims continuous ownership since 2000, and the seller offered zero responses to direct questions, making this a textbook lemon despite its mechanical and aesthetic merit.
Ownership history mismatch · Seller non-responsiveness · Ownership history appears falsified or misrepresented—car sold at Mecum in 2022, yet seller claims current owner has owned it since 2000 · Zero seller participation in 45-bid auction despite multiple questions and direct requests for clarification
A genuinely low-mileage, well-kept AP1 with documented care that achieved fair market value for the condition, though brake and clutch fluid history remains unresolved.
A scrupulously low-mileage 2000 S2000 with questionable pre-auction dealer shuffle, minimal service documentation, and defensive seller communication that nonetheless fetched strong money because collectors prize first-year AP1s regardless of provenance gaps.
No major maintenance records provided · Failed dealer consignment listings prior to current sale · Multiple Carfax listings at different dealerships in Feb/May 2025 before private sale raises questions about failed flip attempts and why car kept cycling through dealers · Seller unfamiliar with BaT process ('I'm new to this') and initially defensive about dealer history
Low-mileage, single-owner AP1 with clean history was undermined by seller's poor communication and delayed transparency on lien, soft-top repair, and inspection requests, causing reserve miss despite strong market interest.
Seller non-responsiveness in comment thread · Lien on Carfax · Seller took hours/days to respond to critical due-diligence questions despite auction in progress · Carfax lien not proactively disclosed; required bidder pressure to confirm payoff
A genuinely low-mileage, well-maintained AP1 S2000 with honest cosmetic flaws and good recent service, but missing VIN stickers on rear bumper and trunk hint at prior impact history not fully documented, and key preventive items (timing chain tensioner, valve retainers) were only visually inspected rather than proactively serviced.
Missing VIN stickers on rear bumper and trunk lid · Rear bumper and trunk lid possibly replaced · Missing VIN stickers on rear bumper and trunk lid warrant further inspection to confirm parts are original · Rear bumper and trunk lid replacement history relies on seller's recollection of prior owner's second-hand account ('she recalled her brother getting it dinged'), with no documentary evidence despite missing VINs
A rare white-and-tan AP1 with low mileage and clean history that sold briskly to an eager buyer, but the seller's evasion on compression testing, short ownership window, flood-zone registration, and post-sale insider skepticism warrant independent PPI before purchase confirmation.
Suspension corrosion · Seller purchased in May 2025 and listing posted ~3 months later; comment luigit asks why selling after only 3 months. Seller's explanation (change of mindset, wants it to go to appreciative owner) plausible but unverified. · Seller declined to perform compression test despite request, citing last-minute flight. Claimed car is 'healthy' without supporting data.
A well-maintained, low-mileage AP1 with proactive service (including preventative valve retainer upgrade) and strong provenance, sold at $27,750 to a local buyer—solid execution that avoided shipping costs but may have left money on the table given post-sale commentary on strong S2000 market demand.
A well-driven 100k-mile S2000 with a heavy hand applied to cosmetics and recent major service, but critical gaps in compression testing, VIN documentation, undercarriage assessment, and valve-adjustment history—plus fresh Carfax damage—created buyer hesitation that the no-reserve format resolved downward to $17.75k, leaving seller regretful about BaT's strategy.
Damage history on Carfax · Paint quality concerns · Recent December 2024 damage coinciding with clutch failure and impulsive Tesla purchase decision—rushed decision to liquidate suggests possible undisclosed issues · Carfax shows August 2007 accident (pre-ownership) and December 2024 incident; seller downplayed impact of accidents until CARFAX became public
A genuinely low-mileage, unmodified AP1 in museum condition backed by a credentialed previous owner; clean history and iconic spec justify strong auction price despite five-year-old tires and unspecified open recall.
tires aged · open recall present · tires are 5 years old (2020 date codes) despite low 29k miles, suggesting possible storage or age-related degradation risk · one commenter questioned missing side rocker details, seller clarified it was just camera angle but no wider photo provided
Exceptionally low-mileage original-owner AP1 with an ideal color pairing severely compromised by unrevealed pre-delivery damage and a subsequent rear fender repair, yet market demand and rarity overcame both accident history and relist circumstances to achieve a respectable final price.
Pre-delivery front-end damage · Open recall · Pre-delivery damage not disclosed to original owner, suggesting dealer transparency issues · Relist after winning bidder backed out in July 2025 with no clear reason stated
Clean-title, low-mileage AP1 with respectable service history and honest documentation of age-appropriate corrosion, but mysterious 14-year storage gap and headlight degradation merit pre-purchase inspection despite dealer clearance.
Only ~3k miles driven in the last 14 years raises questions about storage conditions and potential deferred maintenance despite dealer inspection · Seller's assertion the car was never stored outside contradicted by presence of headlight gasket deterioration and fender liner corrosion typical of weather exposure
A creampuff 15k-mile AP1 with meticulous indoor storage provenance, minor cosmetic blemishes, and a resolved alignment issue—sold at fair market to a delighted buyer.
Title was replaced as duplicate in 2018 with no documentation of original—requires verification that duplicate title is clean and legitimate · Seller replaced original tires before sale, masking potential dry-rot or age-related issues from 25-year storage
An early and desirable 1999 RHD AP1 S2000 with solid mechanicals and clean import provenance marred by the seller's careless inclusion of AI-generated fake photos, faded right-fender paint, and questions about incomplete documentation of pre-import history.
AI-generated photos in listing · Inclusion of AI-generated fake photos raises trust concerns about listing authenticity and seller intent · Right-hand drive configuration limits practical usability in US market despite seller's downplaying of RHD challenges
A well-intentioned original-owner driver showing honest mileage and full service records, but two paint-damage events (2008 keying, 2019 hit-and-run) plus visible overspray from the repaint mean this trades at a genuine discount to clean examples, appropriate for an enthusiast buyer willing to enjoy it rather than flip it.
Complete repaint due to vandalism keying · Parking lot hit-and-run with repair · Complete repaint in 2008 due to vandalism keying covers the entire vehicle, affecting originality and collectibility · Additional paint damage and repair in 2019 compounds history concerns
Meticulously preserved 16k-mile AP1 with solid documentation and transparent seller, though six prior owners, original tires at purchase, and undiscovered indentations warrant pre-delivery inspection.
Six previous owners despite only 16k miles on the clock—commenter ApriliaBob flagged this pattern as unusual, seller acknowledged the garage-queen preservation cycle creates ownership churn without mileage accumulation · Original tires still on car at time of seller's purchase (despite 16k miles and approximately 22 years of age)—replaced immediately by seller
A genuinely low-mileage, single-owner-from-auction AP1 with intelligent suspension and wheel upgrades, clean history, and no signs of abuse—sold as a competent enthusiast package rather than a pristine collector car, and priced accordingly in a competitive market for modified examples.
Seller relocated from California to Colorado and cites lack of time to enjoy car as reason for sale—typical flip profile · Previous ownership history not fully detailed; seller notes prior owner claimed no track use but this is unverified
A beautifully preserved, original-owner low-mileage AP1 with factory-correct show-intro colors undermined by pre-delivery front-end damage (missing VIN tags), a 2021 rear-fender incident, and post-sale corrosion observations near the shock tower that warrant further inspection before committing to long-term ownership.
Pre-delivery damage to front bumper and front passenger fender · June 2021 accident damage to left rear fender and rear bumper · Pre-delivery damage to front-end with missing VIN tags on replacement/repainted panels raises questions about documentation and part provenance · Two separate incidents on Carfax (2000 and 2021) despite claimed 20-year problem-free ownership between incidents
A meticulously maintained 11k-mile first-year S2000 that sold below market expectations, likely due to rapid ownership turnover and low annual mileage suggesting investment-grade handling rather than enthusiast use.
rapid ownership turnover: Georgia owner to BaT October 2022, then to current seller April 2024, resold July 2025 · only 2k miles added over 15 months of ownership suggesting storage rather than use
A genuinely low-mileage, single-owner AP1 with clean history and desirable spec, but hamstrung by absent service records, undisclosed interior wear, poor listing presentation, and evasive seller communication—sold at fair-to-slightly-low market value after failing to clear a likely-inflated reserve.
Lack of service documentation · Driver seat wear and interior scuffing inconsistent with 13k mileage · No service records provided despite car being 24 years old; owner 'never occurred to her the car would be collectable' · Seller evasive on maintenance history; claims 'well maintained' without receipts or documented work
A genuinely low-mileage, meticulously garage-kept AP1 with complete service history and zero accident record that commanded $31k on enthusiast strength and scarcity, marred only by minor surface rust disclosed late and some unconfirmed tire age markings.
Genuinely low-mileage, stock AP1 S2000 with solid recent service and clean provenance, but undocumented long-term maintenance history and dealer cosmetic work following 2007 damage entry warrant independent pre-purchase inspection to verify structural integrity claims before $26k commitment.
rear bumper and taillight damage October 2007 · 10/2007 Carfax entry for rear bumper, quarter panel, and taillight repair followed by mirror cap repainting and touch-up work by dealer before sale—timing and extent of cosmetic work raises questions about damage scope · maintenance records gap: while seller claims small file of records will accompany car, no specific documented maintenance history provided for 24-year ownership
Compiled by Porsche P.I.
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