I have just over 20k miles on my Scarlet and several thousand of those miles are track miles. I estimate that about 3000 miles are actually on the track. I have not had a single problem, but I did get "the" grind MAYBE twice, it's hard to tell, actually.

But my car has been driven...and none of the problems you are concerned with have arisen. I'm 100% confident in my car...it's one terrific machine. Right now, I'm getting ready to meet some folks to head 500 miles to the Dragon...see www.tailofthedragon.com ...

Get the car, stop worrying...you'll be fine.

 

Not only does Consumer Reports rate the S2000 as the top sports car it received perfect scores in all areas of reliability. Not many cars achieve this.

 

I'm so disappointed in my s2000. Not.

 

It's very easy to get misled by the disproportionatly high number of issues reported about the car. Remember the medium. The average S2000 owner is not a member of this board (regretably). Problem tend to get analized to death and thus appear more serious than they are. The ones you mention have all been taken care of by Honda so it's not like they will haunt you. Also remember that two #4 cylinder scuffs is a very small number. These engines likely came from the factory with the problem, perhaps a casting issue.

I use mine as a daily driver, 14K miles and 1 year later I couldn't be happier with it. I've owned other first year cars and the number of issues I've experienced with this one is near nill.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Clovis:
[B]I have 7,500 miles, with no clutch drops, 1-2 grind, #4 cyl., or diff problems.

 

15k miles and Zero problems. eh.

Scot

 

MX5dude,
Not much to add to what has been said, except for:
1. WARNING: Watch Out - this car is ADDICTIVE, if you like driving fast, snake through traffic, zipped the highway curves as if you are in a roller coaster - you will get hooked!
2. Testimony to the quality engineering and built of the car is the fact that very little after market improvements are feasible or substential. And that is apparently the challenge for a group of Stook owner/active members of this forum and subject of many topics.

ps. I hate giving Honda any (free) promotion, I only wish they also build a V6 version of this car, and soon.

 

Hey MX-5, just wanted to let you know that I traded my 97' Miata on my stook. I was always impressed with the little champ, it remains the "funnest" car I've ever owned. But it is not bulletproof, not nearly. Out of a bazillion Miatas made there are far more of them with problems, it just doesn't seem so. Trust me on this one, I used to work for Wieser Honda/Mazda. Also, no one will dispute the superiority of Honda over Mazda in build quality, it just so happens that the Miata is an EXCEPTIONAL Mazda. All said and done, my car payment is $300 a month more, my insurance double, and my gas bill way out of whack...this thing positively drink the stuff in great gulps! But you know what? I could not be happier! Gone are the titles "cutsie", and "sporty little thing isn't she", and in are the OMGs...is that a Honda S2000? I have an EVENTFUL drive to the stratosphere every morning, lunch, and trip home from work... You don't know what you're missing.


PS, I have a Silver (which everyone knows is the fastest...hehe) 01' and have had NO problems to speak of. And I'm not crossing my fingers or knocking on wood, I am placing my faith in the quite capable hands of the Honda engineers. With all due respect fellas, I do belive the stook has not had its finest hour.
Andrew

 

Miata, trouble free?
Not!

I owned a 93 and a 94 before trading for the stook. Both Miatas suffered head cover gasket failure in less than a year. The top seals failed on the 94 and required replacement of the entire soft top. The 94 was delivered with a defective master cylinder that was replaced three times. The clutch cylinder failed in less than 12,000 miles. Approaching 80,000 miles the enging began burning oil. The dealer had several in for the same problem (described as chronic for Mazda 4's). The clear coat on both cars was non-existant and difficult to maintain. The driver side window crank failed twice. The plastic front end paint was a different color than the body and faded quickly.
Both were second vehicles, not daily drivers. Neither of these cars were driven especially hard or raced.
Consider yourself lucky with your Miata. I traded for the S2K at 80K miles with no regrets. My Honda experience has been better than my Mazda days. Need any used Miata goodies?

 

Not that this horse needs any more beating, but the '99 Miata's had a major defect affecting many cars that required complete short-block replacement! Whats worse, the defect might not show up for some time, and heaven help the poor sod who decides to put a turbo on his Miata and then has the bearing failure. Far more prevalent than the 2 reported incidences of cyl. 4 failure, and far more catasrophic than requiring the replacement of second gear syncro's...