Mark,

This ones for you: How much do you love your S2000?

 

Say Mark:

I can understand your trepidation. $32,000 (+) is a lot of coin for us working-class folks, and we want value. Like you, I've been a Honda loyalist for over 20 years, too. I've had my S for almost a year and I've put almost 15,000 miles on it because it is my daily driver. I purchased the extended warranty for peace of mind.

I've had zero problems. Nada. Ziltch.

In my view Mark, you could buy a new S2000 with confidence. I'm sure you're aware of HondaCare and the extended warranty will take care of the major stuff if anything goes wrong. I had the same issues you had when I was going to buy my S. Once you make your purchase, you'll be glad you did. The absolute joy this car brings far exceeds any kind of anxiety I would have. Take the plunge, Mark. Take the test drive with the top down. Life is short. You won't regret it!

 

48k+ miles on a 2000 S2000. I've had it for 3 years, 2 months - NO major problems.

 

- #4 Cylinder Failure: A very small percentage of all S2000's sold experience this.
- 1st - 2nd gear grind: Only occurs on the earlier 00-01 models. Fixed by a TSB.
- Premature Clutch Failure: Owner/Driver dependent. If you plan on dropping your clutch at 6000RPM's regularly, expect the clutch to go.
- Oil Consumption: In its early life during breakin, it will drink oil like water. I don't really see it as a problem, I mean it is a sports car afterall. Just check your oil regularly, like when you put gas.
- Premature Tire Wear: Its a sports car.
- Premature Leather Wear: Never heard this problem. Like everything else, take care of it and it will last.
- Driver's Side Power Mirror Motor: In my 01, it broke around 5K miles. In my 02, it hasn't happened, knock on wood. Its common problem, but minor. Window switch still works, just the auto down and the auto down when you press the roof switch will not. More of an annoyance issue.
- Windshield Cracking: Stay away from big semi's.
- Paint Problems: I had paint peeling issues on both bumpers on my 02 (one was my fault, my headlight was rubbing against the bumper after we put it back on to do the light clearing thing). My dealer repainted both under the warranty. Problems have not occurred again. The paint on the body is good to me.
- Low Speed Handling Problems: ??? Need more details.
- Service Departments: Like with all car dealerships, there are bad ones and there are good ones. Unfortunately, you will never hear the good ones, just bad. My service experience at Braman Honda in Miami has been nothing short of excellent. Even before my car arrived, they ordered the new plugs for the spark plug update. They called me when they got them in. They repainted both bumpers under warranty for minor paint peeling. Last time I went in, they gave me a free oil change. They also know me by first name basis. Very friendly, very professional and all the work performed thus far has been excellent. You just need to find the good ones in your area (post something in your local club forum asking for service recommendations) and develop a good relationship with them.

I love the S2000, I'm on my second one... I had an 01 Spa Yellow but was unfortunately rear ended. I traded it in after a great repair job for my 02 White. I could have shopped around again or looked at something more expensive, but I never did. I wanted another S2000 period. When my E46 M3 was stolen, I thought about getting another one but decided not to. To this day, I never really replaced it.

In short, just do it.

 

Mark

I am curious, is Mark Penske your name. I ask because in the early days of Team Penske racing, Roger Penske's team had a driver by the name of Mark Donohue. Donohue was a fine driver who unfortunately died as a result of head injuries suffered in an accident.

I wondered if your name was a combination of the two:

Mark(Donohue)(Roger)Penske

 

The only problem I have, if it is even considered a problem, is oil consumption. I burn about 1.2Litres of oil between change intervals of 3750 miles. It has decreased from when I first had it so expect it to be less than a Litre between intervals.

 

I've had mine over three years and it has been very entertaining, but I would not do it again knowing what I know now. I think you missed a few issues (clutch for one) and maybe worry too much about others, but IMO your conclusion is right. I've been here from the beginning and still don't understand some of the denial about problems with this car and the treatment owners have received from Honda.

 

The only problem i have is not being able to drive it in the snow because i don't want to get her dirty....

 

In a thousand tries, I don't think anyone could explain to me what a "low speed handling problem" is. This is, give or take a few, my 22 or 23rd sportscar. Unlike my Triumph, where a gallon of water in the trunk was mandatory to prevent it from overheating, or my Fiat, which caused me to receive Christmas cards from my mechanic, or my RX7 Turbo, which might have very well been my mistress with as much time it demanded on me, or the Alfa, which blew so much blue smoke from the constant piston ring problems it looked like a Bond car, or the All-Trac Turbo, which required parts apparently on two-year backorder, etc. You get my drift. The S2000 has been Accord-like in its get up and go reliability.
Low speed handling problem? Man, that one cracks me up though!

 

Hypothetically speaking. You have two friends at work, coworker #1 and #2. Coworker #1 owns an s2000, coworker #2 has never owned a car before. This morning you drive into work and notice something on your car that you don't think is quite right. Who do you "bitch" to? #1 or #2?