Hi everyone. New here to the board. I am planning on purchasing an '01 Black S2k with 39k miles on it this weekend for $18k. I have heard that with the 00-01 models, there have been a few quirks, ie, 2nd gear syncho problem and problems with the No.4 cylinder that was fixed with the 02 models. I am going to have a mechanic take a look at it of course. Does anyone else have any suggestions on things to take a close look at when examining this car or problems they have had with theirs? any input would be much appreciated, thanks!

 

Buy an '06.!!!

 

lol! I've never driven an 00-01, but the first thing I would check is the plastic rear window. Make sure it isn't scratched up, and you can still see clearly through it.

 

I have a '00 Black S2K with red interior, and with 45,000 miles. So far, my problems are the clutch buzz and sometimes its hard to shift into reverse when the car is cold. Also, it seems my car sometimes sounds like its about to die when in idle. But yet it hasnt died on me yet. I heard these can be common, but how do I get these problems fixed?

 

I first bought an '00 that came with several of the known issues (clutch buzz is most annoying, then the plastic window). I traded it for an '02 after 6 months; definitely worth it. But I lost a grand or two in exchange. But definitely worth. Save yourself some trouble and try hard to look for an '02 to get a few good benefits.

 

'06 is the way to go

 

bshezee,

I would recommend a cylinder compression test to tell whether the engine's been abused. It's not foolproof, but definitely don't buy a car with poor compression.

The other thing is to find out if the spark plugs were replaced during the 02 recall. As a matter of fact, if you're serious about the car, just get a new set of plugs from the dealer, and have the mechanic install them as he does the compression test. Make sure they're torqued to 18lb-ft (at least, that's the number I remember).

Clutch buzz is a common issue with the 00-01 cars, but I don't think it's a big deal mechanically. Just drive the thing and see if it seems bad to you.

General condition and service records (assuming this is a private sale) should be studied carefully -- this would be true for any used car purchase, not just an S. You'd like to see that oil / fluids were changed on their suggested intervals.

Yes, an MY01 has the plastic rear window (unless the owner upgraded it), so check the condition of the top and look for wear. I'd also look for even wear on the tires, which could tell you about any alignment / balancing problems.

Best of luck! Just remember, an S is a damn fine car to begin with. 40K miles is nothing for an S, provided it's been taken care of.