A Stock S2000 is the most reliable sports car you can possibly have. The only problems that people have with this car are pretty much the ones that they cause by modifying the car. Most of the S2000s that end up with blown engines are the result of (singularly or a combination of) abuse, ill-maintenance, and modification. The car was designed with the traditional reliability of Honda in mind, so you can rest easy. I, like a few others, am on my second S2000. I bought my first one used, and had it not been modified by its previous owner, I would still be driving it. The car gave me problems for such a long time, until I decided that I would be better off with a new and untouched car. Since I have had 10,000 worry free and problem free miles. In fact, I have only heard of one stock S2000 to ever be a lemon. One of the members here, who is actually on his third S, reported this. Brimstone hit it right on the head- our cars are not indestructible. But they sure are reliable.

Obviously, you can understand why I would advise you to stay away from used S2000s. The amount of problems and cash I laid out in repairs for a used car could have easily gotten me into a new one. A used car is a risky buy. A used Sports car is even riskier. A used Sports car that is a Honda is the riskiest buy, period. As the people at Honda pointed out to me: "everyone puts the 'go-fast gadgets' on these cars and end up ruining them". But back to the original point- these cars are rock solid.

 

I'm sorry you feel this way. Miatas are great cars and without them, we probably wouldn't have a lot of the other great roadsters available today, including the S2000.

Your comment is just immature! If Miatas don't have the characteristics you're looking for in a car, fine. But with a close-minded and ignorant attitude like that, you may be missing out on a great choice.

Where have you seen a lot of blown motors?

Most of the blown motors I've seen are from people that mis-shifted and caused motor damage. That's not a reliability problem, that's an operator problem.

I haven't seen too many tranny problems, other than it can be notchy when not yet warmed up.

 

Many of us forget that most people think our cars are MX-5's anyway. To the casual observer, our cars are "cute" toys that are not taken seriously. Not to mention that they are closer in dimension and appearance to the Miata then they are to a Corvette, or any other hyper-masculine sports car. I respect the MX-5, and gather that you don't know this was one of the groundbreaking inspirations for this class of car. In fact, I would say that this is one of the earliest modern examples of light weight, super-handling, enthusiast oriented, and reliable roadsters.

 

have you noticed the new Miatas looking more like S2000's more than ever?
my $.02--- get an 'o2 or later, small improvements, including glass in the top. do what i did and buy one from a friend who you know took care of it. if you compared this car with others in its class- the boxster, z, other z, etc., it's unreal how much money you will save on repairs and maintenance. those other cars suck life as much as they enhance life.

 

no, but I have found it kinda silly that S2000s have flared front fenders and not flared rear fenders...

But yeah, Miatas/MX-5s brought the roadster/sports car back to the spotlight. At the time the Miata first produced, there weren't any real light weight, fr convertibles availible on the market. Of course, we should all be thinking the british for cars like the MG, which really were the precident setters back in the 60s. Mazda only needs to be thanked for reviving the old trend, and doing it right. MG and the other old british companies actually started it though.

 

 

just for your info I had a 02 s2k which i bought with 55k on the clock and i did all the bolt ons minus the 4.77 gears. I never had the car serviced (fellow s2kers dont be mad im taking care of my new s) and i drove the shit out of it and it never once was in the shop for anything but oil changes and a blown window motor. I sold it for 15500 with 110,000 miles on the clock and it still was runing 13.9's all day. it was so reliable i bought another one

 

Yepper. Imo, peformance and reliabiity are concepts synonomous with an S2K. Aside from routine maintenance, the only relacements to my 04 S have been tires and a battery. Although German manufactured vehicles are superb, based on my experience as a former owner of both an M5 and a 911, they tend to be overengineered and are no where close to the reliability of Japanese engineered cars. Sure, there are trade offs, but if you want high perfromance handling and style but also require daily reliability, than the S represents a wiser choice than does the M.

 

What planet do some of you people come from???

It is common knowledge that Toyota and Honda are two of the most reliable car companies on the earth.

And as for the motor in the S, well just look at the materials they used to build that motor for God's sake!

 

this is a great place to hear S2000 info from real owners, so taken with a grain of salt you can see these are coveted cars that have great credentials in terms of reliability and performance.

i had two miatas, there was nothing gay about either except for the happy smile they put on my face. miata's and or S2000 cars are not gay, perhaps vw bugs are, but not miatas.

So...my S2000 is 3.5 years old, 26,000 miles...no oil use, no trips to the dealer for anything, i do my own maintenance, simple filter and fluid changes. i am neither hard or easy on my car. it is a remarkable car to have owned and there is nothing close to it in terms or performance unless you spend 10,000 more.

all you need be concerned with is the how the previous owner treated the used car you are looking at...it is after all a honda, albeit a lengendary one.