I love my S2000. I have always wanted one, and when I was finally able to purchase one last March I was beside myself with excitement. It had a clean title, relatively low miles (56,xxx for an MY03), AP2V1's already installed, etc. Purchased it, and from that day still until this very day I get a smile on my face driving it.

With that being said - this car is starting to drive me nuts! Through owning the vehicle I have come to the realization that the previous owner wrecked the car, and just didn't claim the damage. The car has been repainted, there is obvious body work, and a slew of other little things. For example - I recently found out that one of my rear differential mounts was torn. My car is making a clunking noise in the back so I figured that it was caused by that torn mount. I bought new OEM rear differential mounts, and had them installed. Clunking is still there. I got the car home, jacked it up, and tinkered around. I eventually found that if I am looking at my drivers side rear wheel, and grab it on the left and right side that I can very slightly shimmy the wheel back and forth. So that means I have a bad hub and bearing. So now I need to replace that (another $350+ because I figure I might as well do both sides). Before that my clutch master and slave cylinder went bad. I have had to replace the clutch already. Before that there was some mystery creaking noise that was occurring. I figured it was some component of my suspension, and went ahead and got KW V3 coilovers. Creaking remained until one day it went away (roughly 3 months after having the coilovers on).

On top of that I had to patch a tear in my soft top (I know that typical), 2nd gear grinds from time to time, sometimes it's hard to get into reverse, my trunk button (inside the car and on my fob) stopped working, speakers are starting to go out, elbow pad is coming off (figured I would replace with AP2 center console anyway), fender liners are chewed to sh*t, missing front plastic air dam pieces under the bumper, my car doesn't unlock with the fob in cold weather, etc. The list just keeps growing.

This car is just turning into more of a project then an enjoyment. I guess it's my fault for not taking a better look at the car before purchasing. Lesson learned. Now I just have to pay to play I guess. I'm looking forward to when I will just be able to sit back and really enjoy the car without having to think about all the little things that need to be replaced/fixed.

Next order of business - Replace the hubs, and bearings ASAP. Doing my brakes (pads, and fluid) on the weekend. Try and diagnose the trunk button issue this weekend. After tax return come in take car to body shop (have all dings, and dents removed. Refit rear bumper. Prep aftermarket front bumper. Prep exterior. Respray entire exterior factory color to make look new). Install new fender lines, and missing air dam pieces (maybe get all new factory clips, and screws to make front end like new again). Replace center console with AP2 center console. And so on from there.

It's going to be a long journey with this car, and I know it will be worth it when all is said and done. It should make for a good build thread too when I am most of the way complete with all of these little fixes.

Sorry for the long rant. Anyone else had similar experiences with their S2000?

 

damn man, that sucks.. You were a member for 6 years before you purchased the car?? damn, thats commitment.

Anyway, you can either:
1) ditch it, sell it to someone else to fix and pick up a new one
2) fix it properly, and it'll serve you well for years to come.

When I bought my car there were a number of things wrong with the car:
1) cut springs
2) torn top/bad window
3) radio dash controls didnt work
4) valve cover paint was peeling
5) HVAC controls sucked
6) Hvac leaked moisture into passenger footwell
7) crappy radio install
8) water in trunk
9) ...more stuff I probably forgot.

I bought Coilovers, changed out my top, got a modifry DCI, repainted valve covers, did a valve adjustment when I was there, fixed my HVAc controls, figured out why the HVAC leaked in moisture, redid my radio installation, sealed up the trunk properly.. etc.

I also did a proper tune up. Its still a bit ratty on the outside, but mechanically its tip top shape for a 11 year old car. I think I "saved" my car, and although I'm not sure I'll keep it til it dies I'm generally happy with the results!

 

Like I say, I've been a fan of the car for a long time! So yea, I've been a member for a long time. Although I didn't really start posting until after I got the car. I mainly used this account to read, and learn for the 6 years before purchasing.

I'm still making payments on the car (I can easily afford the car - in fact I make well above the minimum required payment every month. I just wanted to build more credit) so I don't think selling it would be the best option right now.

I want to do basically what you did, and "save the car." Like I say it's just a bunch of relatively little things. Like even the bulbs for my hazard, and roof switch are out. I think once I'm done with all of these fixes then I will have a better appreciation for the car, and I will have the peace of mind knowing that most of the components on the car are new. Eventually I'm going to fix so many things on the car that there just won't be anything old on it, haha.

I cant complain too, too much. I work in the aftermarket industry so parts come cheaper to me then to most. It's still a pain to have to go through all of this though.

 

It seems like you got a bad buy. It's been just like any other honda for me. runs like a cham.

Hopefully you can get it fixed and enjoy the car.

 

Yea I realized about 2 months after I purchased the vehicle that it wasn't a good purchase. I've never had a problem with all of the other Honda's and Acura's that I've owned. This is my 7th vehicle from Honda now, so I had high hopes. I think the excitement of finally owning a car that I have dreamed about since it landed in the US got the better of me, and I overlooked some things.

Like I say - live and learn. It's not like the car has left me stranded (yet). It just needs a lot of TLC to get it to be the car that it deserves to be. I think I will feel A LOT better about the car when I am able to complete the list of things that are next (detailed in my first post) on my to-do list.

 

yea i hear ya....i have had some issues too but i think thats just the price we pay for driving this well crafted beautiful machine. it has its ups and downs but i wouldnt have it any other way. Good luck with the fix!

 

Yeah I feel for you man. I read a lot on here before I bought my s2k, but there were some things I missed. I kept hearing about the famous TCT noise, and how we have a sort of loud valvetrain. Well there was only 1 s2000 in my area when I bought mine and its some old lady, and never got to listen to how it sounded. Well when I bought mine I thought the engine noise was just how it was. I drove it home and didn't know that you need to check the oil A LOT, and I drove it and went into vtec maybe 3-4 times a week. Then the noise started getting louder, and I checked the oil and it was just a quart low so I topped it off, but once it got colder the noise got even louder. Turned out I had a scorred cylinder wall. I just bought the car for $13,800, and it has a bad bottom end, so I had to spend over $2000 on a new (used) shortblock, and do all the work myself on jackstands in my driveway. I don't want to do that again thats for sure. I've had small problems, but nothing major since then. I will be due for a clutch soon though, but thats no biggie. I will just put in an ap2 tranny since I will have mine out.

 

Agreed. I knew coming into this car (even if I found a better example) that there would be things here and there. It's a sports car that was probably driven very hard by the previous owner. That's the price that I have to live with knowing that I am buying a used sports car. I also know that this isn't exactly a civic, and that replacement parts wouldn't exactly be as cheap, and more things are prone to go wrong with the car. I guess I just wasn't expecting this much.

Fortunately again, by working in this industry I know a lot of awesome S2000 gear heads that really know what they are talking about. That on top of such an awesome forum that S2ki is makes fixing things that much easier/better. After homecoming 2 I got REALLY motivated to bring my car back to life.

 

Yea I hear you. I knew the car burns oil before purchasing, but I didn't expect it to be like this. I have to top it up about 1000 miles before my scheduled 3000 mile change. I gathered after the purchase that this is relatively normal. No big deal for me.

I am probably going to do the same thing about the tranny. As soon as this 2nd gear thing really start to take a turn for the worse I will probably invest in a new AP2 tranny. Hopefully that won't be for a long time though, haha.

 

It's an 8 year old car, not a refrigerator. The only way things aren't going to wear out is if you don't drive it. Or if you don't drive it hard.

We track and autocross our AP1. We've replaced differential mounts, differentials, brakes, brake lines, ABS sensors, clutches, wheel bearings, injectors, etc.

You know what? We love it so much that we added another one (CR) as back up when the other one is down for repairs.

The things you mentioned? Consider them wear items. Nothing is for free. Depreciation doesn't just happen, you know. You want less wear? Pony up for a newer model. Or just replace the parts that wear and enjoy yourself.