I've been droping by off and on for about six months now, trying to get a feel for the build quality of the S2000. I now own a 99 Honda VFR which has been perfect, so Honda build quality is just someting I have come to expect. As I look over this site I see many things, and issues I didn't expect. What I hope for is answers to questions that many may find stressful. Here goes! Were you satisfied with your car and it's condition as delivered by the dealer on day one? If not, was the problem with dealership or a flaw with car from Honda. (ie. paint, other defect) Do you think that any of the few problems that get the most talk here are in any way a flaw in design, or just hard use of owner? If you knew of the problems that some of you have had with the S2000 would you still buy it? Understand that I am not in any way trying to flame this car, in fact I want one. I just get a feeling that the car has a few design issues that don't seem to be fully worked out yet. Thanks for your objective input.

 

I can see how one would think this if you're browsing this forum. Like they say, you see the bad stuff more than you see the good stuff. For the record I'll say that I've had my car for 4 months and 8000 wild miles and 0 problems. I mean ZERO. Let's see what other say?

 

Whats a VFR??? Anyway, I have had NO problems with the 2001 MY Stook!!! If I would have purchased a MY00 and known about the minor problems, YES, I would have still bought it.......And, I have been amazed with the car since day one!!!!!

 

I think the main thing about it is that most of us don't post on a daily basis things such as "my car started up and ran fine withouth any problems". You will generally only see posts of issues because forums are meant as a place to solve issues. thats whyi t would appear the car is "problematic" but for most forums, it would also appear to be the same way.

-Shing

 

Hey guys...I got into my car today and it started right up...sorry bad joke.

Seriously, I have had no problems with mine except having the clutch TSB done and adding an amp and new speakers for some tunes. I can describe my S2000 ownership experience in one word...WAAHOO!!

Enjoy.

 

After some twenty months and over 18,000 miles, I can report that I've had none of the problems reported in this forum. Hell, I don't even mind the radio. I am knocking on a very large wooden desktop as I write this. I do wish my rear tires had lasted a little longer, though.

 

[QUOTE]Canned response by joe_s2k
[B]My stooks reliability has some blemishes.

 

30,200 mi and 1st there was a quick disconnect loose on a fuel vacume line - easy fix but 2 visits - that was within 100mi
ran great up to 30,000 when it had the TSB's done so a makeover included Flywheel,Clutch disc,Pressure plate, 1+2 gears and syncros,Reverse gear w/syncro.

3 sets rear tires
2 sets of fronts
small leak front of timing chain cover at head gasket level -Hardly something I would have them tear it down for.
I screwed up my own zipper

nothing other than that has been wrong - I may hav a problem with my diff though.

I have put alot of hard miles on this car and they have all been fun as He**

 

bought my MY2001 at the end of March 2001.

Problems to date:
1) Big fat nasty crease in the back window. This problem was caused by the sloppy work of the dealership that sold me the car. They admitted the problem and have since replaced the window at no cost and offered to give me a rental for the day.
2) my clutch went out at appx. 2,600 miles. I was accelerating from a complete stop at a moderate pace (about 4K rpm) and the clutch slipped like a mofo and got fried. The dealer replaced the clutch, flywheel, master cylinder and slave cylinder while offering me a rental car. Apparently, there was a defect with my clutch and the whole assembly was sent back to Japan for them to peek at and try and figure out what happened. I saw the old pressure plate, flywheel, et al before it was sent off and it was pretty well blued and messed up. i hope this is a one off problem but i think a few others have experienced problems with their clutches as well.
3) i don't seem to be very good at keeping the car under or around the legal speed limits. this is purely a driver problem

all and all, for a car that is largely hand made (see Greg Steven's great thread about his recent trip to Japan) I am happily surprised with the fit and finish of the car. the quality is definitely there. it is not up to the levels of prior GS-R Integra's or Legend LS 6 speeds that I have owned but then those were mass produced cars. It is a hell of a lot better than anything made by the big three or most of the Z3's that I have seen.

i would absolutely buy this car again. without a hint of hesitation.

by the way, what year vfr do you have? is it the older 750 or a newer 800? nice bike, the interceptor. more than enough performance for the street without being uncomfy. i used to have a cbr600f3. lovely piece of machinery.

 

I think it would be fair to say that I am more than an "casual" browser! I check in every day to see the days new issues, concerns, or raves. I've been into motorcycles for 34 years and sportbike's for 8 years now, with the Honda VFR 800 being the most recent ride. (and a great bike) When the S2K first came out I thought it might be a good substitute for my sportbikes... Close but not really! Now it's just an issue of checking it out and being aware of all it good points and bad. Some of you have been quick to dismiss the tranny issue, diff., paint, plastic back window, but it appears to be a deal (hopefully) where Honda will evolve the car to better quality standards with every passing model year. I, like you would perfer not to have a car to be ravaged by some uncaring tech. @ a local dealership while it is in for some TSB or other issue. It seems to me that you folks have paved the way for future owners, by demanding that defect issues be dealt with by Honda. Also it seems that in cases where owners who feel like they were not dealt with in a fair manner have a great forum to post their grievances. Press on!