Hello all, I'm new here but I've been reading for a couple weeks now.
I'm currently driving a 2002 Passat 1.8 Turbo, but lately I've had a lot of problems and am concerned about long term reliability. The car just ticked over 50,000 miles and I've already replaced the fuel pump, the oil pump, oil pick-up lines, 2 breather hoses, cv boots, and a few other things. Also, the fit and finish isn't up to par as interior plastic pieces are coming off, the rubber grip finish on the inside handles are flaking, and the grill was replaced due to the chrome flaking off. VW service is pretty terrible too. I don't trust my car anymore because of all the problems I've had lately.

Which brings me to this forum. I was looking at something more sporty and the S2000 intrigues me.
BUT would you guys recommend it for my first car with a manual transmission and also RWD? I like the legendary Honda reliability also but reading the "under the Hood" section sorta scares me a bit. Comments?

Also as far as used cars go, it seems that I can get a 2000 or 2001 with around 20000 miles for the same price as I can a 2002/2003 with about 50000 miles.
I know that the 00/01 have the plastic window and TSBs, so is the general consensus to go with the 02 or newer even if it has double the miles?

Sorry for the length and any advice you have would be appreciated.

Chris

 

Priority for me would be milage and a well maintained car. Since all S2000 are essentially the same an 00-01' might be your best choice. The glass rear is a nice option but shouldn't be the deal breaker. After all ,if you saved $700-$800 you could purchase a new top with glass if it seems really important to you..
Unlike most used cars, there's plenty of low milage S2000 around.

 

I have owned many VW's and they are definitely not known for their reliability.
Their wiring sucks and there are always electrical issues, check engine lights, etc.
You can't go wrong with a S2K. It's a honda and as long as it has been kept up well it should run many years.

 

Will this be you're only car? Lack of space can be an issue and the car is anything but practical. Ground clearance is a concern. Steep attack angles and tall speed bumps will make you sweat/groan with good reason. Off road is out of the question. Security is another concern (depending where you live and the exposure). Insurance sucks. Having said that - it's one of the best cars I've ever owned.

I wouldn't recomend learning/teaching anyone manual shifting with the S. Not because it's that difficult - I just could't stand listening to the inevitable gear grinding that's sure to happen. The tranny is a work of art and I'm an art lover.
I recommend learning on a midsized 2wd pickup if you've got a buddy that'll help you out. Bonus points if you do it on gravel roads.

The car's reliable all the way around IMO. There have been some issues with possible weak links in the pre 04 diffs but unless you're planning to brutalize the drive train with succesive launches I wouldn't worry - even then, some here claim many hundreds of launches without problems so who knows.

There's not to many changes up to the 04 model. The 04's don't rev as high (more torque though) and the suspension was softened up slightly.

Maintance is more important than mileage/year (within reason). You don't want a car that has any issues with gears grinding (after the tranny's warm) or clicking noises from the rear end.

 

My very first stick shift was an 00' S2000, took forever to learn but it was worth all the stalling/misshifts in the world!

 

Well, if you're planning on learning to drive stick (especially in the winter) on an S, I'd definitely recommend an 04+ to take advantage of the traction control. This car can definitely be a handful in the wet or snow (provided you live in an area that gets snow).

Like was already mentioned, if you don't need storage and transport space, then it's a great car in almost every respect.

I have a strong leaning towards the glass rear window because in my opinion it looks 1000 times better than the plastic. You probably already know, you can only get that on an 02+, or retrofit an 00-01 with a glass roof - albeit with a smaller glass window.

 

VSA wasn't added until the 06 model year (in the US anyway)

"My car ran fine and did not break today" how many times do you see that post in UTH? Never? that's why the forums will make it seem as though problems are more common than they really are.

 

In my humble opinion, you might as well as learn the art of stick shifting and double clutching, if necessary, on on of the finest driving sports cars existing today for the money. These cars handle better than most other sports cars and can be modified to win against cars that cost 2-3 times the price. Naturallly, the costs of improving the performance of a s2k is quite expensive as well. As such, I recommend you make your determination based on the excitement related to driving a crisp and high performing s2k vs. other vehicles that are not as viable in terms of reliabilbity or road peformance. The s2000 is not a drag racer but still very competative. They hold their secondary market value better than most other vehicles too. However, it is a driver's car period. Very little room to store anything other than ice chest full of cold drinks. Good luck wth your decision. I sold a 911 and still own a Acura TL type S. The overall performance and driving experiences associated wtihe my s2kk is far superior to the former mentioned vehicles. Good luck

 

All quality answers IMO.

 

in my opinion year is not as big of a deal as how well it has been maintained and how many miles are on the vehicle. I am sure you would be happy with either a 2000-2001 or 2002-2003 or 2004-2005 or 2006-2007. I personally have driven an 03 and then the 05 I currently own and both have points i like better than the other, but both are great cars. I am sure you will be happy if you get one.

-Ian