Can the s2k take a beating?
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 11
From: SW Florida
low mileage ap2 here so I can't speak, but my friend has an ap1 with 143,000 beats on that thing every day and as long as you keep the fluids fresh, do the recommended maintenance then it's solid as a rock.
Like everyone else said the differential is the weak point if you plan to launch it, however it's easily remedied - look up puddy differentials on here, for a reasonable price you can have an outstanding differential that you can launch and have fun in (not that you can't have fun in the stock form, just no repeated hard launches)
Like everyone else said the differential is the weak point if you plan to launch it, however it's easily remedied - look up puddy differentials on here, for a reasonable price you can have an outstanding differential that you can launch and have fun in (not that you can't have fun in the stock form, just no repeated hard launches)
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,818
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From: Chicago / ATL / Tallassee, TN
110k on my 05 here, stock clutch and diff. Haven't replaced anything but a battery, pads, rotors, and tires. It gets tracked once- twice a month and when I lived in Atlanta, it was at the Dragon at least once a month. Never had an issue.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 28,698
Likes: 38
From: Mooresville, NC
144k here and been boosted for about 20k miles over the last 15 months. Had the car for 3.5 years and runs perfect. Drive it hard every day as I daily it. Right now at 406whp and runs perfect. Just upgraded clutch(oem clutch held fine however but was upping boost) stock engine and diff.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 57
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A lot of the s2000's here are driven pretty hard and taken to a track often. I say they can take quite a bit of abuse if maintained and everything. They tend to burn oil (mostly ap1's) so that is a major thing to watch especially when driving it hard. If you find a 00-01 make sure you upgrade the oil banjo bolts, earlier model 02's also have the old style bolts that would be best to replace if you are going to be driving it like you plan. There are a ton of guys with over 100k and still drive their S like they stole it, and some of them are even turbo or supercharged and still running strong. Also most guys don't daily their S so have yet to reach the 200k mark, but there are a few guys here with over 200k and still run great. So if it's taken care of properly, you don't have anything to worry about.
Can't really find anything with a description on these "Banjo Bolts" any info would be helpful!
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 101
Likes: 10
Thanks for all of the responses! It sounds like with the proper maintenance the s2k suits all of my needs perfectly, and will take the beating it's about to get (live in socal on a canyon road 
). I can't wait to get back in a nimble rwd car!
I'll look into the oil jet bolts and diff, as I was thinking about a higher final drive to make the most of the 6 speed and powerband.
). I can't wait to get back in a nimble rwd car!I'll look into the oil jet bolts and diff, as I was thinking about a higher final drive to make the most of the 6 speed and powerband.
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 437
Likes: 3
Thanks for all of the responses! It sounds like with the proper maintenance the s2k suits all of my needs perfectly, and will take the beating it's about to get (live in socal on a canyon road ). I can't wait to get back in a nimble rwd car!
I'll look into the oil jet bolts and diff, as I was thinking about a higher final drive to make the most of the 6 speed and powerband.
). I can't wait to get back in a nimble rwd car!I'll look into the oil jet bolts and diff, as I was thinking about a higher final drive to make the most of the 6 speed and powerband.
Also check out retainers upgrade for the ap1, ap2's had beefier retainers installed.
Just a precaution to prevent valve/retainer walk since, I remember Billman posting that you actually only have to upgrade the exhaust or intake side I don't really remember, unless you want to do both.
Look up some threads, theres plenty of talk on it.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 108
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The s2000 is a very reliable sports car, but driving it hard everyday and getting 200k out of it... I just don't know. If anyone has those kind of miles and can attest to the fact that they drive hard everyday, please speak up. I just don't see that happening, despite the fact that the s2000 is a very reliable car... I think that's asking too much. If you baby it, could you get 200k? Probably.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 600
Likes: 0
From: Amesbury, MA
ive heard plenty of talk about the bad ap1 banjo bolts, even read through the entire how-to-fix thread for them, but i still dont get what goes wrong with them, and when etc. what exactly do they do? is there any way to tell if they need to be replaced?