Hey everyone, this is my first post here, but I have been looking around quite a bit, and have been looking at S2000s for quite awhile as well. I currently drive a 2002 VW GTI, and I want something more fun with a bit of reliability as well, and I have decided the S2000 is for me, I have test driven them multiple times, for about half an hour each in a bunch of driving situations, twisty roads, 2 or 3 lane 35-45 mph roads, residential roads, over speed bumps, through cities, and so on, and I have decided this is definitely a car I can live with one a daily basis (it will be a daily driver, however, if the need arises I have a GMC Suburban to drive)

So, while I'm getting the GTI ready to sell I have been looking at S2000s for sale, and I may have found the one a want, its the right price, but I have a couple worries, which could be fine, and I'm just thinking too hard, but I wanted to ask in here first.
A little background on the car, its a 2000 in Berlina Black with a black interior, it has 82k miles, which may be a bit high, I know Honda is really reliable, but how reliable are their 9k redline engines at that high mileage?

That being said, it has a clean title, no accidents, clean exterior and interior, regular maintenance and scheduled service with Honda. It also has a few upgrades, like 02 seats, 02 door panels, 02 shift knob, 04 radio door, 04 center console, 04 rear bumper, 04 taillights, Eyelids, Amuse style front lip spoiler (needs to be painted), Mastergrade carbon fiber upper door panels, and Tanabe GF210 lowering springs. Which could be a plus, or it could mean that the interior was broken into and the seats and so on were stolen... which doesn't really reflect on the cars current state I suppose. Also would these lowering springs wear out the struts? or are they designed to work with the OEM struts without damaging them?

A couple other things are that it has 3 small tears in the top, 2 are where the top folds, and he said its common on S2000s. He said I can get a new top for like $400 and have it installed in a weekend, or I could patch the holes, so I'm not too worried about that. A few other things are that the rear differential has been replaced, and there is a clunking noise coming from the rear of that car that comes and goes randomly, he says its most likely a hub and bearing, and that he has a new one that will be included with the car, and I have replaced those on my VW so I'm also not too worried about this as well.

He is asking $12k for it, which seems like a good price for it, but you all would know better than I would. Another thing is that the car is located in New York, whereas I'm in Maryland, so I don't really think I would be able to check it out before I buy it...

Do you all think this is a decent car? Or should I try and find another one that costs a bit more with less miles?

Thanks.

 

If I was in your situation, I would try to find an S2000 as close to stock as possible. The engine can definitely run for a while, alot of people are over 150k. Modifry (a site sponsor) recently hit 200k on his s2000. Who knows what other mods/abuse this car has seen?

Lowering springs do cause excess wear on the shocks over time.

New tops generally range from 500-600 in price, and costs even more to get it installed. Unless you and your buddies are willing to spend 8+ hours to install it yourselves.

The clunking noise from the rear could be a number of things. If it is the hub, it will only do this in first and in reverse. If it occurs in all gears, it could be the differential.

 

I remember the car which you are describing. However, didn't the owner already sell?

 

thanks for the advise tekstar. thats very reassuring about the mileage, and i just wanted to check about the springs, because I know some (very few but some) lowering springs are designed to work with stock struts using a higher spring rate. But the top and the differential are areas of concern. I'll look around before I get this car, I'll probably be able to find something for a bit more thats in a bit better condition.
And yes, Jamie, it was on here not too long ago, and the guy that bought it needs a different car because he can't drive it, it doesn't make it into his garage, too steep or something, he said he needs something else for a daily, and the S was more of an impulse buy. And so I found it on the VWVortex.

 

To be honest man I don't know. Sounds kinda fishy.

I just went to the for sale of that car.

I came close to buying that exact car a couple weeks ago, except I almost bought it for 11,000...I know thats the price he bought it for.

And now he is selling it because he can't get into his appt complex because its steep, and yet his corvette could?

I wouldn't mention anything however I don't want you to get ripped off. Either by 2k or by the car being messed up.

 

Wow, thats a lot sketchier than I thought it was, thanks for the heads up, I think I'll look elsewhere thanks a lot. I thought I was getting a good deal too, he listed it on the Vortex for $14,000 and when I said I was interested he said that he could give it to me for $12,000. I'll keep looking, thanks guys.