The last of the Mega s2000.

[Stu Faulkner]

I have just been looking on ebay and engine/gearboxes are averaging 3K

Does this mean the end of the line for this model?

Does that now mean that mine is a classic?

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

They were near that a year or so back. If anything, that sounds like the value has stalled somewhat. Given how quickly they were climbing.

I think it's too early to call last orders, that said, I can't see it selling in the numbers it used to, purely because of the Sport 250 option.

[6carjon]

Imagine the Tvr forum response when I put an ajp in my westie. I entered their forum with some trepidation given their passion for the engine being in the right car. They were pleasingly appreciative. They seem to not like taking the engine out and replacing it with an lsv8 but are ok as mine was from a total wreck.

If I were ever to sell my car it would make more as an seight rover as original and sell a very nice ajp back to a cerbera.  Suspect yours will be the same as it's a classic engine.

[Thrustyjust]

I paid £3500 for mine last year and I have seen them for up to 4.5k at times. I guess with the S2000 actually going up in value as a car , then the important bit follows suit. There was one on the ebay for a bargain £2.5k recently ! . As for last of the S2000 westies. The issue is that production stopped 8 years ago for the Honda and low mileage good engines are pretty rare now. If I was to build again, then I would look at the ST lump. Not that I dont love the engine in my car and suits the car really well, just you could get a full engine , nearly new for the ST for half the S2000 engine. Although it would be backward with a 5 speed box than the 6 on the Honda. 

[CraigHew]

The S2000 engine situation is simply a problem of (lack of) supply and (too much) demand here in UK. 

They are pleantiful in the USA where they have a strong following, and Japan.  Clearly it's not cheap / easy to import lumps that heavy tho.

The population of UK S2000 cars seems to have entered the point where they're all really high milers (as the car was last made in 2009, and in practice 2004 for an AP1 engine) and the ones left are really well looked after, although occasionally a car gets bent and the engine comes up for sale but examples with less than 60k on them are like hens teeth.

The other option is a brand spanking new one at £8845

https://www.nengun.com/spoon/honda-s2000-new-engine

That seems expensive although I'd possibly be tempted to splurge out rather than pay north of £3500 for a high miler used example if I ever needed to.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Side tracking slightly, and admittedly, academic to a certain extent! But..

A brand new engine isn't that "expensive" if the price above is correct. But comparing it to the cost of a bog standard Zetec or Duratec isn't comparing apples with apples. Price up one of the Fords with enough naturaly aspirated tuning mods to get it to the same power figures and purchase it from a respected engine builder and you'll soon find the difference aren't so great any more!

There will be some owners of Seven type cars who want higher power options, but just don't want forced induction, and prefer the high revving naturally aspirated character such an engine gives. Just like some owners love a V8, or a bike engine.

I do have a sneaking suspicion that those that have a thing for the buzzy high rev/power car engines may be a little bit of an, ahem, aging and dying breed.  Part of me suspects it's a bit of a call back to the cars of our youths and a kickback against painful memories or those seventies and eighties Turbo cars that first brought the technology to our attention and maybe gave us a bit of a bias.

Whereas those brought up on the turbo technology of the last decade or so have a completely different relationship to engines.

[Thrustyjust]

Torque = ditches on lightweight cars. At least with revs and none of that torque business I can keep it mostly in a straight line. If mine started to get a bit tired, it would be out and I would rebuild it. No way I would spend 8k on an engine when you could refresh it for a couple of grand............ and then you have the issue of new engine numbers and dvla .....

[Stu Faulkner]

3 hours ago, Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - WSCC AO Rep said:

There will be some owners of Seven type cars who want higher power options, but just don't want forced induction, and prefer the high revving naturally aspirated character such an engine gives. Just like some owners love a V8, or a bike engine.

I do have a sneaking suspicion that those that have a thing for the buzzy high rev/power car engines may be a little bit of an, ahem, aging and dying breed.  Part of me suspects it's a bit of a call back to the cars of our youths and a kickback against painful memories or those seventies and eighties Turbo cars that first brought the technology to our attention and maybe gave us a bit of a bias.

+1

I grew up with turbos but I'm not a fan.  

I like my power with lots of revs, it makes the car more alive and in keeping with the type of car.

In my own opinion of course.

[6carjon]

I have had turbos and rev monsters and for me it's the throttle response that makes it feel enjoyable.  Typically this only comes from responsive high revving engines . They don't need to be powerful. My 2cv race car had the same lovely revability enjoyed 7400rpm. My Fiat panda is also enjoyable. I just choke on the fumes of turbo diesel torque when they accelerate away from me.........

[Stu Faulkner]

I do get the feeling that people that like turbos is because they crave for a diesel...

 

Awaiting the hate mail as I type

[John K]

7 minutes ago, finkangel said:

I do get the feeling that people that like turbos is because they crave for a diesel...

Please Mr Chairman, I have lived at "Sporty Diesel House" for too long (even the village postie has asked me what's going on), it looks like somebody else deserves your DERV related abuse now..?

[KugaWestie]

The turbo engine these days is a viable option, and it is all in the mapping/tuning to turn that great big slab of torque that normally comes in around 3k into a more linear power delivery. It can be done, trust me 

Also choosing the right turbo to deliver power right up to the red line makes it very rewarding

[Stu Faulkner]

26 minutes ago, John K said:

Please Mr Chairman, I have lived at "Sporty Diesel House" for too long (even the village postie has asked me what's going on), it looks like somebody else deserves your DERV related abuse now..?

That's charming. 

I backed you up in the great diesel debate and this is how you repay me. 

[John K]

8 minutes ago, finkangel said:

I backed you up in the great diesel debate and this is how you repay me.

Nothing personal, it's just I am so desperate to shift the DERV stigma, I'll throw anybody under the bus...

Especially if it's a DERV engined one..!

[Steve (sdh2903)]

This is the exact dilemma I faced when I put my deposit on a mega s2000 kit. I foolishly didn't do my research properly before placing my order. When I was looking I found 100k engines with box already removed by a private seller so no proof of running condition for 2500. At the upper end of the spectrum at a specialist reputable breaker for a sub 30k engine and box I had quotes of £5500.

This is why I switched to the ecoboost. I got my sub 10k 1 year old engine for 1850 ish delivered with all ancillaries. Or another option was a brand new crate engine with everything to make it run from Powertorque was 4500 +vat. Sadly this is higher now due to the dollar exchange rate. Astonishing value really.

Just to add to Gary's point. These aren't the ditch finder turbo engines of the 80s either. They are producing boost at 1500 rpm and the power is pretty linear up from there. There's no eternity waiting for the kick up the A***. Just point and go. My ride In the demo car was just like a very high torque N/A engine apart from all the wooshy noises. 

Sadly in this day in age the screaming Na engine is a dying breed thanks to emissions laws. Just look at how many tin tops are small engine turbos.