Hello Members,

I'm an AP1 owner about 1.3 years into ownership. I picked this ap1 up in Florida and like many southern cars with 130k miles or so, she isn't perfect. I'd love a respray, mechanically she's fine but she could use a tct, adjustments, refinished wheels, and so on. I figure about $7k to get her absolutely minty with that respray. I have searched far and wide for new red flooring and I'm out of luck so she won't be minty but close. I have a massive amount of fun every time I drive but I always think what if she looked new? This leads me to buying an Ap2 but I can fall deep into that rabbit hole.

Should I:

1. Stay with my driver of an AP1 and just keep her running well?
2. Bring her back to her 2001 glory?
3. Pass her on to a new owner and find a mint 2008 AP2 to wash weekly?

 

Even the cars in car-show condition are no more fun to drive than yours. 17" wheels and good at least-Max performance summer tires will make it even more fun. You can get good reproduction AP2V1 17" wheels for the price of refinishing your 16".

A respray will not increase the value (i.e.-selling price) of these cars. But even putting half of $7000 in an old, high mileage cart seems like money wasted to me. Knowledgeable US buyers will look for all 10 VIN tags on the body panels. Pay someone to professionally detail and polish the car. It'll look as good as a girl at her sweet 16 party.

Fix the TCT. 10 minute job with a 10mm ratchet (recommend the Billman GenX unit). I did it in a dress shirt and pants, didn't get dirty.

But if a perfect 2008 comes your way you may want to jump on it.

-- Chuck

 

I totally agree. By the time you put 7k into the car you could have sold it for...lets say 8.5k (just a wild guess) and then add the 7k to it and buy a 50-60k miles AP1 that needs nothing. Or you could add 3-5k to that and the AP2 you're talking about. Or just do some maintenance to yours like Chuck said and enjoy it. Putting money into restoration in these cars is not going to make them more desirable or more valuable than one that is well preserved. They just aren't THAT old yet.

 

I agree too. Mine is def not perfect, but cars are not going to stay perfect if they are being used. I also wouldn't buy an S2k as a collector investment. If the paint is in horrible shape (clear faded, peeling, rock chips everywhere) then I would fix the messed up parts, but not a collector restoration.

 

Putting $7,000 into it won't make it $7,000 better. I'm in the same boat - make sure it's in top shape mechanically, and enjoy the hell out of it. You can't see the exterior from the driver's seat anyway. I'd argue you can't enjoy a show car in the same way as a driver, either.

 

I agree that you can enjoy a car more when its a bit more worn in. Sometimes I wish that my S was older so I didn't have to be so OCD about it. I spend too much time thinking about whether its going to get rained on or door dings rather than just having carefree fun. All of my former cars were older Z cars and I enjoyed them without any concerns. Heck, my 1994 Suzuki Sidekick is off road modified and scratched up with 200k miles on it and I LOVE that truck. It is soo liberating to drive it around without a care in the world, setting tools on the hood in the garage, parking it next to a long doored coupe without caring if the fat owner swings his door into it to get in. I am almost considering selling my pristine S for an older one and keeping the change. Definitely don't put 7k into yours.

 

If you had a pristine S2000, wouldn't you probably drive it less? Always worried about where you're parking, making sure not to be too close to anyone or even not parked next to anyone, worried about getting rear ended or someone scratching or sitting on your car, anything stupid can happen. I sold my pristine 2001 for a beat up AP2, so somewhat opposite scenario, and I am so much more comfortable driving it anywhere and not worrying about rain, or rock chips, or any of that because hey it's already a little beat on the oustide so no need to worry.

 

nah, sell the car. You could probably get close to what you paid for
it then pick up a cleaner one.

 

I had a pristine yellow 03' and I loved it. It looked so good and was in such fantastic shape. I'm more of a driver than a collector and it was my only car. If a week went by and I couldn't wash it, I felt bad. When the lady at the post office opened her door into, I was angry. When I was rear ended on my lunch break, my heart hurt. When I hydroplaned and spun into a tree totaling her out, I was crushed.

My next one was not in as good a shape. When it was having idling problems, it was a fun challenge to tackle. When I watched a hail storm giving it a once over, it was admittedly a bummer, but overall not that big of a deal. I didn't even bother with a repair. I still don't take it to Wal-Mart, but it's quite liberating to not have to worry so much about it. Now months can go by without giving it a wash and it doesn't bother me. Even with it less than fresh, people love it and compliment it all the time. And it's every bit as much fun to drive than the first. I even let a friend eat in it the other night. I love it.

I went through a similar ordeal with the same conclusion with motorcycles. Ultimately, you have to do what makes you happy and you may not come to the same conclusion. You may have to experience both until you know for sure, because the grass is always greener on the other side.

 

If your goal is a perfect car then sell yours and buy the you want, it will most certainly end up costing less than $7K to do the upgrade and you'll end up a with a newer "more valuable" car in the long term. If max enjoyment is your goal take the $7K and get the car ready for a track day with new wheels / tires, alignment, brake pads/rotors, etc... and take her to the track.