This past October 2013 I had a motorcycle accident. Someone didn't see me and hit me. Common occurrence. I had been riding for five years after a 40 year hiatus. I had bought 11 bikes, including a Ducati Diavel, Triumph Speed Triple R, FZ-09, FZ-1, etc. I spend a bit in the hospital, got a bunch of injuries, some which may persist, but determined I was very fortunate and even though it was my life to quit riding.

My next door neighbors had a Miata. Never been in one. Drove it and enjoyed it. Thought I would get myself a superfluous fun car for a giving-up-the-bike present. Sold my other bike and trailer, gave away tons of helmets and clothes. Tried out a Mini Cooper for the first time, enjoyed it. Heard about the S2000. Had seen a couple ever. Did a bunch of research Of the people who currently or recently had the S2000, Mini AND the Miata, 100% recommended the Honda. With how contentious men are on the web, sniping at every little thing, I had never seen such unanimity. So I looked around and the first one I found locally was owned by a great young guy who has business that build cars from scratch, fabricate carbon fiber parts, and such. What fun. Took out the car. Never been in anything on four wheels so loud. Really liked the guy, wasn't sure about the car, bought it on the spot. However, with my recent injuries, it wasn't such a great idea as the normal discomfort of the car was much more so for me. Feeling silly, I reposted it for sale after just a few days, only have gone a couple of hundred miles in it. It's in the garage. The seller had done everything possible to put it in top running order so that if my injuries get better, I'll keep it. Meanwhile, it's up on autotrader and kbb where I found it.

i realize this is quite a different tale than most of y'all here who hankered after this puppy and went through all those changes. At the same time, I ran right out and got this one. The snow and ice is piled outside the garage and when it ever dissipates I will go for a spin. I have great equanimity either to keep the car or sell it.
Peculiar situation but it is safe and sound where it is.

I loved riding. Took courses from California Superbike School, no. 1 in the nation. Did tons of research, shopping, spending, like anyone here who was possessed or obsessed. It'll be an interesting shift not to ride anymore. I could get another bike in a heartbeat - it'd be another FZ-09, like the one I had for ten days when it got hit. But, I don't need to get hurt again if I can help it. The last time was zero in my control so there's nothing to be done to avoid something like it again.

Can't wait to see the sun some more. Have fun, gang...

 

Ah Gianna, how I love her. That sexy Spa ass that makes me smile each morning when I walk into the garage.

It all started in July of 2012. I had finally gotten into work after an unexpected extra month of unemployment. The past few years had been slightly rough and I had worked my way into a great job. I sacrificed the last 5 years for my country and lost a lot during it so I decided that I would reward myself. And thus the hunt began.

I was newly separated from the wife, had a good job and the 91 civic though awesome wasn't cutting it at the business meetings I had to go to. All the execs pulling up in there mercs, lexus, and bmws I just felt like I needed an upgrade. Also it wouldn't hurt the status and I needed some RWD in my life, and the R34 was still a bit of a stretch. I was hitting up all of the places forums, autotrader, craigs hunting and hunting.

I knew I wanted an ap1 and had my mind set on a white '03 with red interior there just weren't any popping up. There were multiple s2ks in the area and I began checking them out. My first test drive was at a small dealer that had 2. A blue ap2 and a black ap1. I went to look at the ap1. My buddy went with me and the car just was not happening. But it was worth a drive. Just from looking at it I knew there was no way I would get it unless they did some work and came down on the price, as there was a spa 03 for 2k less and only about 30 min south. This ap1 had spray painted (crappily) wheels, the soft top was a wreck and it just was not worth the tag.

We get in and start it up sounds fine. (Go ahead and laugh at this next part!) I had no idea how to deal with a 6 spd, and didn't think of pushing down like in the R32 I had driven before. So for about a minute my buddy is laughing as I put it in 6th and start to creep forward. Finally he makes me feel dumb and we are on are way. THere was a terrible rattle from the tunnel, and some grinding in the gears, other than that it drove fine. We get back to the dealer and when I park it and get out the liner/seal around the driver side door hits me in the face. Yeah no way I am paying almost 15,5 for this.

The guy comes out we talk and I tell him no way unless these are fixed. Gives me a card and tells me he will discuss it with the manager and call me. THe next week no call comes, but I wasn't that sad.

On the tuesday after the drive my buddy at work hits me up and tells me someone is selling an 01 spa on the trading thing for employees. So I have him give me the info and I contact the guy. The next day he picks me up at lunch and takes me for a ride and shows me the car. For an 01 she is pretty damn good looking. The clear could use some work, but she spent a lot of her life in a rich mans garage. The guy I was talking to had picked it up and told me the previous owner had like 8 bikes a GTR a GT3 and some other fun toys and just wanted to let the s2k go. Then this guy gets it and decides that the 2 seater isn't reasonable when he is trying to start his family and doesn't even own a house. I was already sold. Although it wasn't my 03 white s2k it was an 01 spa (that has grown on me) and priced too well to pass up. At 60k miles and only a 10k price tag I was sold.

That friday we were at the bank. I sat there for about an hour as the bank did their thing, though I didn't get the title that day as we had to wait for my bank to clear the check and the lean be removed I got the keys. I went out dropped the top and pulled out onto Ritchie Hwy. Then ripped through 5th as I got onto 695. I called my buddy that had went to the first test drive with me and he knew when I told him I had a surprise what it was. Seeing his face as I pulled up was priceless.

From August 2012 the good times were begun. It's been one hell of a ride since!

 

Ha ha that blasted parking brake! Oh so many times I have been caught by a rain storm. Solution push the right foot down further.

 

A normal weekend for me included playing Forza 4 on xBox live and chatting with my best friend Andrew. It was just such a day when the idea of my purchasing his daily-driver, began as relaxed conversation/blue-sky-thinking. After a few more days of crunching of numbers with various credit unions, and my insurance company, this idea evolved into a serious consideration, which then matured into a goal which demanded to be met. One day, Andrew made his serious sales pitch: "Because I want it to go to a good home, I'll sell it to you for only what I owe on it." Given his immense generosity I accepted his offer. In all honesty, it took me all of half a heartbeat before I was fairly screaming in agreement into the microphone.

With all of the trivial matters like, "Can I afford to buy it?", and "Can I really afford to keep it?" were solved, I faced a much greater concern: If East Coast roads have salt, how has my car fared? Faced with this question, copious pics were taken of the underside of the car proving it had no rust! After all other matters were settled, I tackled the problem of how best to get it to me? In the end, I chose to ship it, because, among other reasons, it seemed less risky from my perspective, to ship the car to work as I'd be there to sign for it, rather than drive it myself. Very early one morning about a week after Andrew and I had struck our deal, I joyfully awoke to a text message I had received from him with a picture of "my car" being expertly loaded into the back of a covered trailer, and the countdown to delivery was on! Feeling a sense of exhilarating expectancy, much the same way a soon-to-be-father might feel when thinking: "Any day soon!" and: "I can't wait!" Six years since I first really gave an S2000 more than a passing glance, six years since I first had ridden in one and felt the rush of the vaunted VTEC and instantly knew I was in love. Six years of wanting, wishing saving, working, and striving toward my first major goal in my life: To buy my first-ever dream car. A landmark moment in my life, and it all boiled down to the final six days.

A matter of moments after hopping onto what was left of rusted hulk of was once a mountain bike to work, just as I did every day for the past two months, taking the same route as always, dodging the same idiotic intersections and distracted drivers, my phone rang; it was the transport driver; he had arrived! Now, it takes me 14-16 minutes to ride this bike from my front door, to the shop where I worked. Completely out of breath and almost drunk on sheer exhaustion, I dropped my bike in front of the shop gate and yanked my phone from my pocket to call the truck driver. I looked at the time, I had made it in 9. I saw a truck parked just around the corner and still hyperventilating from the bike ride, immediately broke into a full sprint. Rounding the corner, along side the trailer, nearing the end I saw something that stopped me right where I stood, it was not just any S2000, but my S2000!

Sitting under the early winter morning sun a full two weeks early for my birthday, the most beautiful sight I've ever seen. My first, ever, serious, dream car...and it was less than 10 feet in front of me, with the key in my hand, trembling with excitement. (Or oxygen deprivation, but probably both.)

Needless to say I was a jumping basket case all morning, chomping at the bit to go for a drive. By all accounts I looked like the Cheshire cat grinning from ear to ear. Ever since that Thursday morning in October, the joy and exhilaration I felt after driving it for the first time still grabs me every time I slide into the seat and the driver's slams home with that reassuring thump. A sound that promises me from now on, my life's journey with this car, is only going to get better with every corner, shift, and ofcourse, every VTEC engagement.

 

So this is my journey on how I ended up with an S2000 … It was 15 years in the making

I always had a passion for cars and as a kid, I while my parents were driving around, I used to identify all the cars around. I could identify most cars on the road and I was always in awe whenever a “nice” car was around (ex; Corvettes, Porsche, etc). I knew I wanted one of these cars and wanted my dad to buy one – though could never convince him to. I had heard about the S2000 at the time, but it was something that never stood out to me ... I always thought of Honda’s as dull, practical, everyday cars.

Fast forward to when I started driving: I wanted a practical sports car (I was thinking E46 at the time), but my parents wouldn’t buy me one. They didn’t trust that I was mature enough to drive a sports car yet ... and I ended up getting a daily Volvo S40 instead. I promised myself that one day I would get a sports car that was built for one purpose – driving.

Fast forward to when I could afford another car: I was looking for a car that would handle well, have sufficient power, look good, be reliable and was a 2 seater. I asked a few knowledge friends on cars that met my criteria and I was recommended the 350Z/370Z, Miata, Boxster and the S2000. I eliminated the 350Z/370Z because it felt cramped – the visibility outward was poor. I eliminated the Miata because of the lack of power. I was then left with the Boxster and the S2000. I didn’t know much about the S2000 at the time, but had heard good things. I personally at the time preferred the Boxster, but I promised I would be objective and make a rational decision.

When I first drove the S2000, I wasn’t very impressed. I felt the gear box was good, but felt it was less powerful than the Miata and I didn’t like that you couldn’t adjust the steering position (I’m anal about my driving position). I then talked to my friend and told him my initial thoughts – I told him that the Boxster was the best car for me. He then asked why I felt the S2000 didn’t have enough power and if I had gotten the car into VTEC. I didn’t know what he was talking about and told him I had gotten it to 6000 RPM … He then gave me an overview of VTEC and to drive the S2000 again ….

Second time I drove the S2000 … I finally got the car into VTEC and you should have seen the smile on my face – it was like a kid opening presents. I loved the multiple personalities this car had – sounded harmless till 6000 rpm and then a monster. It took a few more test drives before I was comfortable with the car. The reliability of the S2000 helped further the case over the Boxster. So, I then decided I would look at only S2000’s.

It was then figuring out whether to look for an AP1 or AP2, and I choose AP2 because I wanted traction control. I wanted an S2000 that 1) had clean vehicle history reports, 2) was stock, 3) not been tracked or autocrossed or abused, 4) Non-salt states. I looked for 6 months in 4 different states, travelled nearly 1500 miles, and looked at 15 S2000s before deciding on the one.



The day I bought It, I felt a sense of relief and accomplishment. It was a goal of mine to buy a proper sports car since I was 8, and I had fulfilled it.

I have owned it for 1.5 years now and have absolutely loved my experience so far. The car has actually grown more on me during the time I’ve owned it. Why has it grown on me?

1) Styling is simple but timeless (how many cars that were being produced in 1999 still look good today?)
2) Very usable performance even with cars compared today (Miata NC, BRZ, etc.)
3) Best damn manual gear box I’ve driven
4) Reliable (I’ve replaced a clutch master cylinder and that’s it).
5) S2KI Community has been great – friendly and knowledgable

My only complaint is insurance rates, but we can start another thread to discuss that one

Look forward to many more years with the S.

 

I'm a new S2k owner but I've been in the car scene for awhile.

I got my first car when I was 16. It was a '98 Civic EX which totaled 3 months later as I was visiting my girlfriend at the time. Since then, I've had a base model Nissan 200sx, Integra GSR and a Corolla S. Of them all, I've had my Integra the longest. I was finally able to give it some boost about 3 years ago and didn't look back. It made 350whp/270tq on the STOCK motor. I tracked it frequently with the upgraded ITR brakes.




I LOVED the car. I swore I wouldn't get rid of it but as I graduated college and started my career - I wanted a little graduation present for myself (of course, it had to be a car). The S2k had been in my mind but it wasn't the first choice because I've had a taste of power and wanted something to compliment the Integra I already own. I also owned a Corolla as my DD at the time. So I started looking at E46 M3s, EVOs 8/9, 93+ Mr2 turbo and an Integra Type R (yep, another Integra).

Long story short, I found a near perfect black '02 AP1 that was stock. I was sold after I took it for a drive - it wasn't fast but the driving feel got me. Anyway, I then eventually sold the Corolla and the Integra just to pick up another Integra (stock-ish) as a DD for now. Parts are slowly coming in =D



*OEM hardtop, RSG lip and PSS9 coilovers installed

 

I had always wanted an S2000 from playing Gran Turismo as a kid to watching FF1 lol. Going through college I drove a bunch of random hondas I would put together with my friends but I always wanetd an S2000. Well I graduated last May with my teaching degree, moved to Texas on a whim with my fiance and ended up selling cars at Honda lol. Since then Ive been doing really well and kind of put teaching on the backburner. I bought a 2011 Civic Si at the dealership I work at drove it for a few months but never really fell in love with it. So I started looking for s2000s local to the Dallas area, found a BB 04 with CR lip red seats super nice but they dealership wanted crazy money for it. So that was strike one, I had my director hunt me down one in Charlotte at a sister store of ours a NFR 03 with 40k on it for a great deal around 14000. That one fell through as well I guess someone bought it the day we were going to buy it. So thats strike 2. Then out of the blue I see a GORGEOUS NFR AP2 in the trade line at work getting appraised. My managers knew I wanted one they came running over and were like THIS IS THE CAR FOR YOU LETS GET IT!. An older guy who bought it brand new traded it a couple days later and here I am with my 2005 NFR S2000 with 27xxx miles on it. All for around $15,000 needless to say the other wiffs at getting an s2000 were worth this beauty.

 

Well my love of the S2000 started with the car above. Not my style at all, but it's a toy I had when I was 10ish years old. I don't even really remember why I liked it at the time, I think it was just because my friend knew the name of it and I didn't, so it intrigued me. I never did forget the name.

The day I actually picked up my first S2000 was this last weekend. I had found out that a member of an S2000 group on facebook had a car that he was considering selling. After asking questions and running the VIN, I arranged to drive up to KC to look at the car. I had the cash ready to pay for the car, but I had loaned $4000 to my parents so they could buy a van, so I had to go take out a $3000 loan from the bank. I had never taken out a loan, always paid cash for anything I wanted.

I'll never forget the day, because I had started to feel ill. It was one of the longest 3 hour drives I've ever been on. The entire time I was feeling nauseous, and could barely even take a drink without feeling like I had to throw up.

For some reason, most of that went away when we got out of the van and started walking up to look at the car.. maybe the adrenaline settled that down. Looking at the car, it had problems, but we knew it wouldn't be perfect. The frame and motor were all sound, it was just some minor interior things and existing/poorly repaired hail damage. The exterior issues are fine though because my dad runs a body shop, so that could be repaired correctly.

I could continue going on with all the little details, but to make the story short, I ended up buying the car. I probably overpaid by $1000, now knowing that it might cost a little more to get it to the point I want it at. It's still a clean car though, and I know I'll enjoy it.

Also, sickness returned 10 minutes into the drive home Still getting over the sickness.

Pulling away after purchase:

 

Well....MY SSM 00 started roughly back last April, in 2013. I had zero intentions of picking up an S, considering I had a 91 GSR and a 96 Accord. But I knew Honda's were built to take a beating and I had just graduated college in Aug 12, and divorced Nov 11. In my car hunt, I was wanting to trade the graduation present I got which was a 03 Yukon. The car just sat there for a year so I figured I could make use of it and begin my hunt on cartrader.com I seen a portion of the page say, "Get a Quote for your car!" Hell yea I clicked on it just to see what I had as leverage for picking something new to me up with.

The three cars I was looking at: Golf R32, RX7, and any kind of BRZ/FR85/FRS. Well, a majority of everything I was looking for was either in New York or California. I wanted nothing to do with that so I went to youtube and started browsing exhaust mods for my v6 accord >< Yes, I have a can on the back and it sounds pretty damned awesome. Figured I'd just upgrade my Accord since I couldn't find what I wanted.....and then I came across that idiot over in Istanbul hauling ass weaving in and out of traffic like he was about to crap his pant three minutes ago.

Well the exhaust note caught my eye and I knew of the s2000 but it went to the back of my mind through many years of recreational drug use ><
So I started looking at more and more and more and more vids....about three weeks worth, it consumed the hell out of me and I figured....I'm 30, why the hell not, we'll call it a pre-mid-life crisis car.

Back to the Autotrader thing, they quoted me for 3500 for the Yukon and I thought holy hell, that's plenty to get me into the seat of a s2000 somewhere, but no where around here within 500 miles had one priced under 20k. I didn't let that stop me, found a few modded ones and wasn't impressed with the mileage/price, and then I got a call from Maxwell Ford down in Austin. I kid you not, I looked at their lot about four times in the prior two days and seen nothing of interest, but they said they had a S2000 just come in and they wanted me to look at it.

This was my hint, they didn't have the car before me, nor had any intention of getting it in the first place, but....had it and I knew it was MINE! lol Well, the family and I (Mother, Father, and my daughter) car pool down there and start to strike up a deal. My intentions were use only the Yukon as my downpayment and that was it. Well the salesman offered me a grand less for the Yukon and wanted 20400 for the S. I couldn't do it, and he asked if I had anymore money to put down. I said no and after a few hours of talking he asked the question again about more money and my dad got pissed and walked out.

I told him there was no one I could get it and there were two others in town that I could get for cheaper. Well, after some number crunching....He came back in and said he could give me 3500 for the Yukon and knock 7 grand off the S. I about shit myself right there and said deal.

Of course my daughter wanted to ride in Daddy's new toy, so I put the booster seat in (fits like a damned glove ) and we rode back Round Rock with the top up and stopped for something to eat. Of course we didn't eat in the brand new car, and once we were done...Natallie asked if we could ride with the top down. Being June in Texas, it didn't cross my mind, but of course I said sure. Once the top flipped back, I knew I had made the best decision in my life up to that point. Natallie was pretty F'in thrilled too!!!

Now a wee bit of bad news with the S:

Bought in June 2013 MY SSM 00 with 58k miles
July 7th, clutch threw a spring (had no clue until I was able to finally get into it which was December)
Jan 4th 2014, got the clutch in and loved the hell out of the car.
Jan 23, iced and slide off into a ditch and wrecked it =( =( =( =( =(
Feb 25, Got the car back from the repair shop......

.....and babying the hell out of her for right now because I don't want to lose her again

 

The day I bought my S was only a couple months ago, but the moment had been building since 2002.

I was in middle school, didn't have a whole lot to do, but loved cars. Enter: Gran Turismo 3. Played for hours, most days after school, weekends, etc. After a couple playthroughs, 1000hp supercars got boring to me, so I found myself starting new games over and over and trying to squeeze the best times out of early/cheap cars. Usually started by purchasing a Miata (that's right...), but quickly found the S2000 to be one of the most versatile cars. Relatively cheap, N/A, RWD, lightweight, and could be modded to keep up with most of the cars in the game. I spent days of playtime staring at the rear end of the S, listening to 6 speeds of 9k, and fell in love with how the car looked.

Fast forward to 2009, graduating High School and off to college. Got my first personal laptop (no longer limited to the shared computer at my parent's house) and wanted to make it mine. Desktop picture was some mountainous landscape, but the screensaver was a rotating slideshow of 4 cars: Ferrari 550 Maranello, Maserati Granturismo, Aston Martin DB9, and last but not least, The Honda S2000. And when it comes to price, one of those things is not like the others...

2013 brought my first real job and steady income, looked at a few new cars (the new Ford Fusions are beautiful IMO, I guess it's that Aston Martin front end), wasn't really considering the S until I saw one sitting next to another car I was interested in, then the hunt was on. Searched craigslist and autotrader daily for about 2 months for the right car, found a 2003 SSM on all-red (fairly rare apparently) and didn't look back.

2 months and 1k miles later, I still smile everytime I see it sitting out front, everytime I press the red start button, everytime I take a turn, press the brakes, put the top down, drive through a tunnel or underpass, and blip the throttle for a downshift.