First off just wanted to say Aloha to everyone! I've been lurking this forum for quite sometime but only joined now since i'm pretty serious about finally joining the s2k owners club. Before i take the plunge however, i need a few tips/advice from you guys. I'm planning on checking out a MY02 rio yellow s2k and just wanted to know if anyone here could give me some specific things to check in order to ensure i'm getting a pristine car. Any quirks specific to this model year? The car currently has about 5k miles on it. I have to fly to another island to check this car out so i need to make sure i check absolutely EVERYTHING on this visit. Any advice/tips/insights would be greatly appreciated! Also what are people's thoughts on the price: its rio yellow, 5k miles, one owner, no accidents, bone stock (no oem kit) going for $24,000. I'm only gonna go through the hassle of getting this car if its really a good deal. Sorry for the long post, I appreciate your time. Mahalo!

 

its not rio yellow unless it got a paint job. if its yellow and an 02, it should be spa yellow. Make sure you test drive it and i put it in every gear, i guess when you are decelerating listen to see if the differential makes a noise you dont want it to. I may just be an interior freak, but look at the wear on the seats and i dont know if flooding is a problem in hawaii, but make sure you turn on the A/C and take a big whiff.

 

Oops my bad on the color! Haven't had enough coffee yet... Thanks for the reply CyrusA! So is this differential noise like a buzzing? Oh and i'm deffinitely checking that A/C its gonna be hot as hell soon.

 

Buzzing - actually it is the clutch assembly, and it is most prominent between say 3500 down to 2000 rpms on decel. Doesn't bother anything except your ears, but I don't like the way mine does it either.......common.

Check to see 2nd gear doesn't grind when cold. Many of our cars will grind like a motha when the tranny is cold and you are horsing it at all. Feel the shifter for smoothness.

If it is a certified Honda, don't let them sell you an extended warranty. Hondacare has turned out to be the tightest wads in the world and will almost always blame the owner for any breakages. Not worth a penny IMHO. Mine was thrown in at the end of negotiations so I literally didn't pay $.01 for it.

Check that the defroster lines all work in the glass. Sometimes they get nicked while tinting and won't work.

 

When you say 2nd gear grinds when it's cold, how cold are you talking? Do you mean the car is cold as in it just started up, or freezing your ass off in the snow cold? Well regardless, I'll be listening for grinding very closely now. Sorry forgot to mention this is a private party purchase. But speaking of warranties, will the Honda warranty be transferrable? Never purchased a car this new so i have no idea how dealer warranties work.

 

It sounds like it is a pretty fair deal, there shouldn't be much if anything wrong with it with only 5k miles on it. Has it been garaged? Any scratches, or spots of rust. There is an endless list of stuff you could check for, just mainly look the car over and make sure you will be satisfied with it, also ask if it has been wrecked.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 808style
When you say 2nd gear grinds when it's cold, how cold are you talking?

 

Check for bits of rubber in the rear wheel wells!

Wouldn't want one that some one has been doing burnouts in!