I'm in the market for a certified used s2000. So far I've found a great 02 with very low mileage. I've been reading on different problems on this forum and ran across the soft top ripping issue. It seems more of a problem on 00-01s, but some 02 owners also have top problems. From what I've read 02-03s are the same car, nothing was changed...so each will have an equal chance of soft top issues. Correct me if I'm wrong. I've also read that later models have this issue corrected. I don't want to purchase a car and have soft top problems a couple years down the road when I could have bought a newer model with no problems. Soft top replacement isn't cheap. I'll be happy with either an ap1 or ap2, coming from an auto 4cyl accord. Any input? Thanks.

 

02 ap1 made to look like ap2. sweetness.

 

'03 > '02 > '04

but I'd probably take the '04 for myself

 

I had a tear in my 02 softtop after three years, scorchza. It happens.

Softtops are an (eventually) replaceable item. At some point during the life of the car, it'll have to be done. The S2000 does have kind of a weak spot where rubbing against the rear cross bar does tend to wear through the top.

I wouldn't let that stop you.