New to the forum. Been browsing for a while. Drove a friend's S2000 recently and it reignited the bug. I have wanted one since they came out. Been a Honda guy in a Honda family for years - something like 18 of them all told. Learned to drive on a CRX Si manual (sweet car). The wife rocks an Odyssey and I have an 09 Acura TL SH-AWD. Just looking for a fun convertible weekender - doubt I will drive it more than 5k per year.

The wife recently said, "you have been wanting an S2000 for a long time so maybe now is the time...". Get me to the classifieds!

So I have been reading and searching. Pretty set on an AP2. Really love the yellow but it's harder to find.

Great advice and topics on this forum. One question that I haven't seen asked... "Is 100,000 miles too many?". Obviously, people run these cars over 200k. But am I better off looking for 50-70k and paying a premium or can I trust a 105k option and use the difference on repairs and mods?

 

Welcome.

Check out the link in my signature.

 

Thanks - I was actually just reading that. Very helpful as is the post on what to check for in buying an S2000. I have been using that to query sellers before I waste time going to see in person.

 

Looking as asking prices this summer the under 40K cars are more expensive but relatively not that much.

I found my '06 AP2 last summer at a very big Honda dealer. It was so clean it was on the showroom floor. I'm sure 100K miles are OK but here on the North Coast that would mean either winter driving or really beating on the car!

I highly recommend an '06 (DBW) or later. I'm "tuning mine" almost as I type this. Interim tune with a 3800 rpm VTEC piles on on the mid-range power.

-- Chuck

 

saw an AP1 speedo with 350k on it on instagram. i believe rock star garage posted it up. original block and transmission. its a honda after all.

 

A lot would depend on how well the car was maintained [documented maintenance records] and how you plan to drive the car. If you are going to track/auto cross/mod the car then it wouldn't make a lot of sense to pay a premium price for a low mileage/stock S2K. Furthermore, I would go with the 100K well maintained/cared for S2K, before a lower mileage S2K where there are signs that it wasn't given much love. Just my .02.

 

If you're purchasing any used car over 8 years old and/or 70,000 miles, I would aggressively try to request being able to see under the valve cover to see if its mostly silver or if you see sludge or what can soon become sludge. When just window shopping/purchasing at a dealership, you can unscrew the oil filler cap and look inside with a decent light to confirm if there is a lot of silver content or if its mostly black and on it's way to sludge. I do this ONTOP of all the other standard procedures to check if a used car is "safe" to purchase. I've passed on a couple "great deals" on s2000 when all I see in the motor is pitch black (with a light of course silly). Hope that helps!

 

I think it depends on your wrench turning skill.

if your not so savy, spend the extra money for the lower mileage. if you don't mind the blood sweat and tears along with wrench turning. save the couple bucks for over 100k mileage.