Heg guys, I am new to this forum (been lurking for a while), and looking for a new to me S2k. Just wondering where you guys are finding the best deals on used S2Ks (02-03)? Was thinking about inporting one from the states, but hopefully can trade my Mazda3 locally. Any suggestions are welcome, TIA.

 

I'm importing one from the US currently, and i think if you're willing to go through the extra headaches you can get a much better deal from down there than from a Canadian car. That's not to say that you will never find a good deal on a Canadian car, but there's alot more selection in the US and the market is cold down there so there are alot of good deals to be had right now. Just be sure to get Carfax and run it on any car you look at; i was very surprised at the number of cars being sold in Canada (mostly from dealerships) that came from the US through auctions and have salvage/rebuilt/flood titles. If you have questions on what is needed to import one, feel free to contact me or ask here.

 

how new is your mazda 3? if you are planning to trade it in... you will get very little... might be easier to sell your 3 first and then go shiopping
just a suggestion

u will love the s2000 when u get one?
where u located?

 

Most def get one from the states. I have been scoping out the prices in the Canadian market VS US market and the difference is astronomical.

The US seems to have more selection of years, lower km's, and just lower prices (Canada you mostly find early years with sky high km's). I recommend Seattle, good market there and a plane ticket one way is only 130 bucks, make sure you do all your research prior to flying down there (procedures for exporting a car from the states into Canada).

Your year is good, avoid 00-01 in my opinion and if you can afford it go for the 04 with the 2.2l, no replacement for displacement

 

I was thinking about a newer one, but I think I would prefer the 9K redline over the extra torque, I have a Jeep if I want torque.
Also my Mazda was bought new in August of 05, and I don't drive it in the winter, so the KM's are reasonable.
Thanks for the help fellas, I used to have a friend who frequented the prairie redliners, so I knew you would be helpful.
Cheers.

 

Expand your search to AP2's... lots of nice ones out there.

I've owned an '01 and now an '04 and there is no way I'd ever consider going back to the AP1.

 

Really? For what reasons? I have had a small amount of time in an AP1, but not an AP2, so am very curios to hear why.

 

Seems to me to be a pretty personal thing, the choice between AP1 and AP2. There are plenty of supporters on both sides. I guess it more depends on what you like and what you wanna do with the car. The AP1's have the higher redline, less torque, and not as nice an interior, but more razorsharp handling. Whereas the AP2's seem to have a bit less problems with the transmission and with oil consumption, and do have nicer amenities.

Personally i think if you want a car to drive on the track alot or autocross the AP1 would be my choice, but for a mostly street driven car i would choose an AP2 if my budget allowed it. You can't really go wrong with either though, in my mind; as long as you buy one that was well maintained and cared for.

 

The debate has probably been beaten to death here, but basically once I was able to get rid of the mental aspect of it (oh no, I'm going to have a lower redline there for I'm less of a man), I realized the AP2 just has a more useable power band... 3,500 to redline instead of 5,500 to redline... don't always need to go into vtec to be making decent power.

And then there is all the cosmetic stuff, which is subjective, but I like every change they've made.