Hi S2Ki,

I've been reading and reading all the great info here and I just can't make up my mind. Perhaps those of you more familiar with the car can help:

I am looking to buy a fun car since I've been driving company cars for 5 years.
I am looking for something economical, since well, the economy.
I have fallen in love with convertibles.

So, I was at Carmax just looking for something a little more practical when this gorgeous black on black 2003 s2000 caught my eye. I would be posting "Hi I'm a new 03 owner!" except I have the following reservations:

1. The cost. I'm not sure their asking price is fair. $15.5K
Info: The car has 48.5K miles, lived in FL all its life, looks babied and in perfect condition visually-inspected. Also, it passed Carmax's standards.

2. The fact that it is an AP1. Should I not even consider AP1s? AP2's would likely be out of my price range (less than $15K) if this one is 15,500.

3. Two-seater. Man if it had a small back seat my dog (Golden Retriever) would love to ride in the back while I took my girlfriend to the beach. Unfortunately I have to choose my g/f or the dog.

4. Practicality. I will have to use this as my daily driver until my personal finances stabilize and I can buy a daily driver. How many of you find this is an enjoyable daily driver?

Thanks in advance for the wisdom!

 

1. $15.5 sounds a bit high, but not unrealistic if the car is in perfect conditon. I would probabally pay no more than $14 for it given the mileage

2. You could likely pick up a higher mileage 04 for your price range, the economy sucks, so it is a buyers market

3. can't help you out to much with the 2 seater thing. There is a trunk, not sure how big your golden retriever is but.........

4. I think it would work perfectly fine as a DD in Florida. I live in Ohio so don't get to DD mine

If it were me though and I had your budget I would maybe look more at 00-01s with lower mileage, that is just me though.

Also once you do get the S2k, drive carefully for a bit, especially given that it is your second car and your 1st was AWD. These things are crashed all of the time by new owners, who don't know what they are all about.

 

$15.5 is way overpriced right now for these cars (unfortunately). A buddy just picked up an 02 w/55k miles...very cherry car (I've known it since it was new)...tastefully modded with volk wheels (one of the best and $2k used), Mugen exhaust & header (Mugen = $$$ and well made), Comptech intake. Got it from a Honda dealer. 2 owers ever...$13k.

You may be able to find an AP2 in your price range if you are willing to wait and look. But if you find a 20k mile 03 and an 80k mile 04...and both are $14k...I'd probably go with the 03.

I've had mine as a DD and only car for 8 yrs in Florida. It has more than enough room for a single guy to pack a week's groceries in the trunk. Or enough luggage for a weekend get away with the gf.

Good luck with your decision!

 

Thanks for all the good advice!

I will call Carmax and see if they will drop the price (doubtful, since everything they say is about no-haggle).

As far as the mileage question, do a lot of you have these with high miles on them? I don't see many people saying "Man I'm at 200K and still loving it!"

Also, thanks for the tip on the size of the car. =] That was perfect for my uses.

 

Update: Carmax will not come down from 15.5K. They say they will eventually sell it at that price.

I told them good luck!

 

Good idea...let them sit on the car for a while.

 

I purchased a BB 2002 with 26K miles two months ago from a local dealer. This car is as near perfect as you can find with a borla exhaust and AEM V2 intake. Also, only summer driven.

I met the previous owner who is quite wealthy and mature and a real car nut.

I paid $14500..............

 

Search in the s2000 Talk forum...there was a mileage thread not long ago. I know many with near 100k miles and a few with 150k miles. Several oweners who lost their cars in accidents have replaced with another s2k. Most owners love them and come back even years after selling.

 

There are better deals, just be patient, you may even want to check the For Sale forum or the Florida Forums for a current member selling his/her s2k. And the ones sold on these forums are owned and cared for by people who love the car.

By the way, I love my black on black 2003. 43k on the odometer, runs like the day I drove it home from the dealer...

Good Luck!!!

 

"good luck!"

hahaha nice 1!

and btw i dont think anyone answered your question on 200k mi's and still running strong. can someone who has over 150k mi's shed some light on us about how the car runs?