Hello folks,

I'm a 35yr old that has been out of the "car scene" for almost 9 years. My last sports car was a 2004 Subaru STi, I've had the itch to get back into another sports car but with a convertible top. I wasn't looking to spend and the s2000 seemed like a good choice.

My question to those of you on the forum, What did you wish you knew about these cars before buying one?(AP1 vs AP2)

I'm currently looking at a 2000 model, the stereo was replaced and now the dash controls for the stereo won't work. Thoughts? Also the right rear strut(area?) is making some noise, not like clunking, not sure how to describe other like a low pitched squeaking maybe and it does seem to rotational with the tire. Has aftermarket springs, Mugens is what I'm told. The car has also been sitting for awhile, owner has put maybe 15k on the car over the last 10yrs.

 

Don't buy a car with modifications, unless you get all the OEM parts and you know that the person who did the modifications knew what the they were doing. Buy a car with a clean title. Buy a car that looks well looked after- I wouldn't buy a car with trashed seats or interior (unless race car)- its just one of those things that shows me they don't have the budget to care for a car beyond just maintenance. That's just me.

don't buy someone else's problems. What did I wish I knew? Nothing. I knew what I was getting into by researching on s2ki for nearly a year. Anything that may have been an issue, i just addressed it.
What is your budget? Buy the lowest mileage s2000 you can afford but don't quibble over 20K miles.

good luck.

darcy

 

02-03 if you desire the best of the AP1 version, 04-05 cars are really solid and the 06+DBW have been refined for the general public but have the ability to be tuned with a Flashpro. There is so much information on this Forum, search and you will find. Good luck.

 

I've been a Forum member on the Subaru board since 2005. I've been learking around looking at stuff, but like any other forum that has cars 17years of age information is abundant. So I thought I'd make an introductory post with a few questions, it's always easier to pick a knowledgeable brain, than trying to navigate a forum search feature.

The car I was looking at had 81k and seat bolsters where in good shape as were the top & latches. I was impressed with the condition of the 17yr old car, I had looked at a few other local cars that were not in as good of shape.

Budget is also more dependent on what the bank is willing to finance, but would like to stay under 16k for my garage queen lol

 

Look at the CarFax report first. Then look at the vin numbers on all the panels. That will tell you a lot about the history. Put the car on a lift and inspect closely. If you don't really know what to look for, find a buddy who does.

 

I've watched a couple vids on Youtube, regarding pre-inspection of the car. I also purchased the Autocheck(like carfax) access so I can verify title status. Apparently a lot of people have washed titles bring cars into Nebraska in the past, so it's definitely on my radar.

 

The days of good $15,000 S2000 cars ended a couple of years ago. I really think your budget is too low. At that price expect high mileage and indifferent maintenance. Maybe a torn roof.

For me the last generation cars, 2006+, are the cars of choice. Still available with under 50K miles but run about $22K. These are drive by wire cars and can be tuned for significant more mid range power (and driving enjoyment). For long term ownership and no intent to turn the car into race car look for all 10 VIN tags on the body panels. I prefer OEM wheels.

Make a priority list. It will create a short list of cars. In my case a very short list. Top items are mandatory, lower items are nice to have. 2006+ and under 40K miles headed mine. Color was not even on the list but heads some. Wanting a 2006+ car in white, for example, will create a very limited list.

-- Chuck

 

Chuck, thanks for the response. However, I'm not looking to purchase a car that is in immaculate shape(although I certainly wouldn't turn one away lol ) but rather a well-kept car with a fair price tag. If I was living in a nicer climate and had the intention of putting more miles on the car, I'd probably raise the budget. The other reason for the price of around 16k is it will not affect the way I currently spend/save money.

 

Your budget is more than enough. I paid $11K for mine a year ago...was it perfect? No. It had 2 repainted panels, a K&N intake, and ripped seats. It was bought from Tennessee and looks like it never saw a winter... I bought it to drive on weekends and track a couple times a year and it's exceeded expectations. Consider your goals, risk tolerance, communicate a lot with a seller, and don't rush into any decision.