This story really touched me. Thank you for your service!

 

I suppose my story starts in '99. I remember going to a friends house and him showing me video of this new car honda was about to release. I remember watching and thinking to myself "what's so special about this thing?" Not knowing anything about the specs, i walked away unimpressed. About 2 years later while in college, i meet someone in one of my Econ classes that just happened to have one. He offered to take me for a spin and seeing how i've never been in one before I decided it was time to see what all the hype was about. The man drove it like a maniac and damn near killed me twice it in. And since that moment, i've wanted one ever since. Unfortunately i was still a broke college kid and there was no realistic way, outside a life of crime, that i could afford one.

Fast forward to the end of '05 and i notice my local honda dealership had two BB'05 on the lot. I was still broke as ever but decided i should stop by and see how much they're asking for. As i enter the lot i'm instantly approached by a salesman. He asked if i wanted to come inside and to talk about pricing so as i step into his office he proceeds to tell me "ok, i can reserve this car for you right now if you write me a check for $500." I'm in shock, all i initially wanted to know was what the asking price was and this guy is already starting using his shady salesmen tactics on me. Disappointed and not wanting fall victim to this douchebag, i decided to just leave.

A couple months later, March 3, 2006 to be exact, me a a few buddies are out having a drink. I decided for some odd reason that on this particular night i would take the longer way home which happened to take me passed the honda dealership with the two s2000's. They've been sitting on the lot for quite sometime and i'd come accustomed to driving passed the lot just to see them. Well it just so happens that one of them was gone. Nooooo ...... someone bought one of my potential S2000's! I realized that the one remaining could have been my last chance to get a brand new '05 off the lot. I had my mind set on an '05 b/c i didnt want to deal with the whole dbw models and something i my head convinced me that i didnt want all those electronic nanny's the +06 models were equipped with. No, it had to be an '05. At this point in my life I wasnt what you would call financially stable. I recently started a new job and although i was making decent income, i still had student loans to pay off. There was only one option i had at my disposal and it was my parents. I'm thinking there's no way in hell they'll ever agree to co-sign for an impractical two seater roaster that i didnt need but i'm desperate and had nothing to lose. The answer is always no unless you ask right?? So I had to swallow my pride.

The following morning i approached my dad and asked if he'd like to come shopping with me. He ask "Shopping for what?" to which i reply "a car". I guess it amused him b/c i saw a smile on his face and surprisingly he and my mom agreed . We get to the dealership and started talking with the sales rep about numbers. I had already done plenty of research, about four years worth, so i knew what a fair price was for a overstock '05. I dont know where it came from from but it seemed that morning that the dealer took delivery of a 06 silverstone. My mother tried convincing me to buy that one b/c she liked the color more but i wasnt gonna pay the msrp on that when i could get a better price on the year model and color i wanted right next to it. The salesman asked if i wanted to go for a test drive which i declined b/c there's nothing you're gonna do that i haven't seen done in this car but feel free to take my dad for a spin. So they both go for a top down cruise around the block and when they returned my dad step out the vehicle with the biggest grin on his face! At that point i knew the car was mine. Then out of the blue my mom says ok, if you like it lets get it . I honestly had no intention of driving off the lot with it right then and there. I was just using this opportunity to show them what the car was all about and try to gradually convince them to co-sign for it during the week. I drove home that day [March 4, 2006 my S2000 anniversary day, yes i'm a car nerd] in my brand new 2005 BB S2000 in disbelief. After years of lurking the forums and envy i finally had one i could call my own. I remember the first night i must have sat in the garage for over an hour just starring at it; sitting in the driver's seat hoping that this moment wasnt a dream. Seven years and 30k+ in mods later i'm happy to report that she still puts a smile on my face every time i hit the the start button. I think back to '99 when my friend showed me that video and wonder how was i so blind to not see the awesomeness from the start. I'll never sell my S, it's what make's me.... me.

Khang Diep

 

Great story guys, for those who took the time to share their treasured moment(s).

Free bump

Let's keep this alive, folks!

 

I had fallen in love with the S2000 in high school (2 years ago) when one of my class mates brought his NFR AP2 to school. I completely forgot Honda made a sports car such as the S2K. I was in high school and worked part time at Best Buy... I had a mint low mileage 2001 Honda Prelude and before that I had a 2005 Honda Civic coupe. Both were 5 speed manual so I had the manual transmission down. I slowly started looking more and more into the S2000 but the prices were very high and financing wasn't an option.

Eventually after leaving best buy, starting full time college, and becoming a part time sales consultant at carmax I was able to make and save enough money to afford a decent S2000. The night I sold my prelude I thought I was screwed since I didn't have a replacement for it, I looked EVERYwhere for an S2000. Cars.com, craigslist, you name it. After almost giving up, I did what I should have done in the first place and googled "S2000 for sale" and found a vehix.com ad for a NFR S2000 with only 50k miles on it. I took my chances and called the gentlemen, he was an older guy and the only reason he was selling it is because he had Parkinson's. It was his extra car and he didn't drive it anymore.

I took my chances and drove 2 and a half hours to him with cash in hand ready to buy, with my dad. I still remember the first time I saw it sitting top down in the sellers driveway, with the sun gleaming off of the NFR paint. My dad and I just looked at each other and I couldn't help but have a huge smile on my face. This was the first S2000 that I was looking at to purchase and the first time I drove one on an open road. The first time I hit 9k RPM I knew this car is completely different then anything I've driven or owned before. Long story short, we reached an agreement and I drove her home 2.5 hours with the top down. It was probably one of the best feelings in the world.

Since then she's gotten royal treatment with maint. and mods. I've bought and sold a couple other newer S2000's but I cant seem to let this one go.

 

I had always loved the s2000. I've never seen a more intriguing, beautiful vehicle. It had always been a dream of mine to own one someday.

One day in November 2007 I saw one at a lot and figured I had some free time, I might as well test drive one to make sure that I like it so I can either focus on getting one someday or give up the dream and think of something different. It was an 04 Suzuka blue. After a freezing cold top down test drive I knew that despite the blind spots with the top up (I'm short), I just had to have one someday. Then it was just a question of MY and color....I decided I wanted a Rio Yellow ap2.

Two years later

July 31st 2009 - my friend called me up out of the blue and said "There's an s2000 for sale across the street from my house." I really wasn't in the market for a car right then but I decided to check it out either way.
It was a 2001 Spa yellow with a newer glass top. I test drove it that afternoon and fell in LOVE. I sent my husband back the next day and told him to test drive it, he liked it too. I went to the bank Monday to see about a loan and talked some with the dealership. They wanted a little more than I had to spend so I was greatly disappointed and decided to look around.

August 8, 2009 - I took a road trip to NJ with an envelope full of cash to look at two more s2000s in my price range. (I HAD to have one!)They were the most disappointingly beat, sad looking cars I'd ever seen. On the way back I talked with my husband and decided that Spa was the nicest one I'd seen, the color I wanted, and the one I reallllly wanted. So in the car on the way back from NJ I made a phone call to the dealership, made a cash offer, waited on hold, got the news that it was accepted, and we drove straight there to pick her up.

Here's a pic of me with my s2k, just before driving off the lot:


Driving down the highway I noticed there was a CD in the player that had not been there during the test drive - it was Frank Sinatra LIVE and the song that came on pretty much summed it up for me: "I've Got the World on a String". It was amazing. I was so happy I couldn't get the grin off my face for days, I'd look at it in wonder that I actually OWNED this car.

After 3 years with the s2k and some minor mods I decided it was time to move on and sold the s2k



Two hours after I sold the s2000 I came home with my next love, a 2004 WRX

 

My S2000 story starts when I first saw one at the NY Auto Show back in 1999. In silverstone. At the time I had an Integra GS-R, so I had my Honda 'revver' at the time, but I really liked the look and color.

In 2004 when I needed a larger car, I went to the Honda dealer and there was another silverstone w/ red interior on the floor. I almost bought it. Instead I bought my Accord 6MT coupe, and had it fitted with the HFP deal.

The S never really left my mind, when I saw them on the road, I still had that want.

Fast forward to last fall, I was looking at cars to buy, fix up and sell. And I saw this silverstone S, 2003, on CL. Price was good, although it was 120 miles away. I hemmed and hawed over it, as the car "spoke" to me in the pictures. I waited a few weeks, saw the seller was still listing it. I inquired about it, and went to look. Money in hand, and ready to buy. It was in need of some care, but otherwise a very honest, daily driven in nice weather car. I bought it, drove to the next town over, titled, registered and drove it home.

Driving it home brought back memories of the GS-R, my favorite car. Small, light, fun. But LOUD. Even louder than the GSR on the highway. It's got the same angry hornets in the dashboard when moving that fast (over 70). But that's not what it's for, I'm going to be using it in the warm weather months back and forth to work on twisty back roads. The Accord is the highway runner.

Oh, and btw, I don't plan on selling it either. I'll do what I have to do to keep it.

This was ONE day before Hurricane Sandy hit, the area of NJ it was in was completely under 4 feet of water that day.

 

1. I'll try to be brief, not one of my gifts,ha!
2. Instead of buying my 20ish something MC, and b/c I had a bad wreck with my last one, I decided to go for a Miata, that I had wanted ever since I rented one 20 yrs. ago, since my wife was willing for me to spend more to get rid of riding MCs.
3. I love convertibles, my very first car being a 1964 Triumph Herald, back in 1971. Having everything from a Jeep, 1979 MG, and two del sols (one a Vtec), I had to have a Miata that I had been wanting for 20 yrs., and now that the kids were out of college (and the house), I could afford to go a little crazy and spend more on a combined work car and MC replacement.
4. Spring Break, April 2010, I researched Miatas, and had about 15 lined up, even I new one left over from the last year, and I thought I had it overnight, but someone from another dealership had an offer on it and beat me to it, price: $19k. When I found out Miata had a retractable hardtop, I had to have one, but the ones I found were over $20k, and I wasn't and had never spent that kind of money on a car, so I decided not to get a Miata. This is after being refused offers I'd made at dealerships, but unfortunately, I never pay retail, and for some reason, that is how dealerships sell cars, ha! I did find an 06 Miata retractable hardtop with only 6k miles on it from an individual, and I negotiated for 3 days over the phone with him, but he wanted $19,5k, and I was only willing to go $18K, plus I had questions about his story since he said he drove it to work every day, and it was 4 yrs. old with only 6k miles on it, and he couldn't drive it now b/c of DWI. Didn't add up.
5. Someone put me on to the S, which I hadn't considered b/c they cost so much. Someone who I had called about their S (already sold) told me after talking with me for an hour, and he had owned everything I could dream of, that I needed to get an S instead of the Miata; I would never regret it.
6. I found a couple of Ss with 90k miles for $10k, but they always sold 30 minutes after being posted.
7. Using my lamented Internet skills, I got online to dealerships and found an 02 with 39k miles on it for $13,500 (silver w/red interior); I said I would buy it when I came and it checked out, and the salesman said he had to go but he'd call right back, and we would begin to make arrangements for me to pick it up.
8. Four hours later he never got back to me, even though I called back twice, the second time to tell him I'd found another car while waiting for him.
9. Meanwhile, I was still online looking, and found an 04 with 8745 miles on it (Suzuka blue), for $22,500, if I remember correctly.
10. I told them how I had another lined up for $13,5k, so give me their lowest. I was willing to pay an extra thousand for every year newer ($2K), and for every 10k miles less in mileage ($3K), so anything $18kish would be acceptable. (my own personal formula when comparing cars)
11. They knew I was serious, and they called back with $18,455, and I went and picked up the car the next day, 3.5 hours away in northern IN.
12. The car, 3 yrs. in my possession now, has about 42k miles on it; it is my "work" car throughout the winter also.
13. I bought a hardtop, actually two, a black one from Jeff, the hardtopguy, and later another, a Suzuka blue one that I was alerted to from someone on this site who let me know on the site I most frequent. Jeff handled buying my black one back, and refurbishing the Suzuka blue one that I bought used, and I came out saving a few bucks and got the coupe look I wanted with the matching hardtop color. The first time I saw a red S with a matching hardtop it nearly knocked my socks off!
14. So, I ended up paying as much for the S with the hardtop, than I would have for the Miata retractable hardtop (Carmax had one with only 3k miles on it, but for $22k). I have never regretted paying more to get the low miles; it was like getting a new car for 1/2 the price, a real rush for a guy driving a del sol, ha!
15. I went back a year later and drove a Miata, just to compare, and after having the S, I am glad that I ended up with the S.

 

The day I brought her home?

That was nearly eight years ago. I barely remember it. I know that I kept taking quick peeks into the garage to look at it that night, but that is really all I remember.

 

I bought my 03 in Oct of ’03.A guy had bought it new,drove it less than 3k miles and his son lost his schlorship in college,so dad had to sell.

I made him an offer,he turned it down so I went to my dealer and ordered a new 04 S.5 Days before the 04 comes in,the 03 guy made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.Bought it,cancelled my 04 order and 86K miles later,still happy with the car.

I’d buy a new one ( NOT sell the 03) if they still made them.

\rlr
Carolina

 

I've had mine (1st S ever) for 8 months. Honestly it was never a dream for me to keep one, but now you'd have to pry it from my cold dead hands.

Though I was always interested in mechanical things, I only got into cars in 2006 while in college, long after the S had been out there. At that time, the only affordable options for me were early 90s cars, so I settled on an S13 240sx. I still miss it a lot; such a dependable all-round sporty RWD. I went through 3 more 240's until last year, when I suddenly noticed the S14 was no longer fun. After so much sweat and blood put into it, I could never get rid of the 240's econobox roots in terms of handling. I wanted one designed to be a sports car from the start. And RWD was a must.

In all these years, I always respected the s2000, from watching all sorts of car videos, notably Best Motoring. When I lost interest in the 240, and my financial situation stable, it was maniacal search time. Only the 300zx TT, FD RX7 and s2000 were in consideration for my 15k budget (and no, I never buy anything on credit). I remember driving an NA 300zx a few years back, which felt like a pig. Then a test drive in an RX7 R1 was memorable and incredible, but the 240s' reliability record had raised my standards. I was left with the s2000.

One Thursday evening during my search I found a Suzuka Blue in south NJ with 51k, new soft top, good tires, all stock. Called the guy Friday morning, and 2pm I left work in Long Island for a 4hr drive. I met this young guy waiting there in the car, top down. To my surprise, he was such a mature owner who truly loves, knows, and takes care of the S (it was his 2nd). He drove me around the neighborhood once, then we swapped, I drove once, then a 2nd time, then 3rd. Holy smurf!! Everything in this car was right. Switching from my autocross-built S14, this thing was a pussycat yet so responsive and balanced. 10 min after meeting the owner and driving the s2k for the first time, I pulled money out of my pocket. Not willing to wait till Monday to register in NY, Saturday morning I got on the train at 5am to NYC, onto Greyhound at 7, and arrived at 11 to get NJ temporary tag and drive back. Hearing how sad the owner was as I left, I felt much better about the purchase and promised I'd treat it well.

The S has never ceased to amaze me since. As with everybody here, every drive is an ear-to-ear grin experience. I love rob-2's description