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Are low miles S2000 a problem?

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Old Jul 23, 2014 | 10:12 AM
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Default Are low miles S2000 a problem?

I have been interested in buying a low miles garage queen, with less than 20K on them. Do these cars have problems when they are driven so little? Don't want to buy something, and then have it become a maintenance headache.

Michael
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Old Jul 23, 2014 | 10:34 AM
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I don't think the low mileage itself would cause problems, as long as proper maint. was done. Some things would need changing just due to age, like tires.
Levi
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Old Jul 23, 2014 | 11:32 AM
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Rubber stuff will be more prone to breakage due to being brittle.
Hoses, gaskets, etc. They're designed to have fluids running through them which helps keep them pliable.
Some items may corrode, sensors/wires and whatnot but that isn't inherantly because it's sat.
If the car was started regularly and even driven occasionally I wouldn't see an issue.

The low mileage one I just bought I've already had to replace two sensors and will be changing a (what I think is) leaking thermostat gasket.
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Old Jul 23, 2014 | 04:44 PM
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Originally Posted by AnthemAVM
I have been interested in buying a low miles garage queen, with less than 20K on them. Do these cars have problems when they are driven so little? Don't want to buy something, and then have it become a maintenance headache.

Michael
My 2005 only had 15K on it when I picked it up. All it needed was a battery and tires. The cables weren't corroded at all because I just replaced the battery instead of pushing it. Best purchase ever, that is unless u can find a 1989 civic. I highly suggest either.
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Old Jul 23, 2014 | 05:19 PM
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my '07 had 19.6k miles on it. a nice wash, new fluids, tires/alignment, plugs and im good to go!
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Old Jul 23, 2014 | 05:52 PM
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Short answer from my experience: low mileage is no problem for an S2k if it's stored inside. If it's kept outside that could be another story (I have no experience with this).

Details: When I bought my current S2k, it was 7 years old with 4,700 miles on it. A true garage queen -- never driven in rain or snow. The original owner changed the oil once a year. Still had the original S-02 tires with nearly-full tread. I've had zero issues with the car since I bought it 5 years ago. It's now 12 years old with 12,500 miles. It sits in storage for 4 months over the winter, and will sometimes go up to 1 month between drives in the summer. No issues. It's still a garage queen (rain or snow = no drive), which I think is a big reason it has no dry-rot or dry-out of rubber parts, no wiring issues, nothing.

So I'd say if you find a low-mileage one and the vehicle history is clean, you should be in good shape. Hope this helps
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Old Jul 24, 2014 | 07:32 PM
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It really depends on the owner of the car themselves.

I traveled all around the east coast looking for the perfect condition S. I ended up in atlanta looking at a 01 SSM with 17k on it. Owner stated his wife drove it on sundays occasionally and that all maintenance had been done by honda at proper intervals.

well right off I knew he had no idea about the maintenance so I checked out the car really good inside and out. The paint was in poor condition, front lip was cracked beyond repair, the automatic window switch did not work, the car had horrible clutch buzz that I could not stand. rims were in poor shape, and the top looked like it had never been cared for. He wanted 19k, I offered him 15k and he wouldnt budge, I went on about my way.



later that day I ran across a 02 sebring silver with 58k on it and the car was flawless. Owner of the car owned a private dealership, and knew what he was talking about. The car inside and out was flawless, and still to this day is in the same condition.. aside from normal paint wear. I am absolutely happy with my purchase and even though I was looking for one in the 10-40k milage range, this car was in better condition than all the ones I looked at with lower miles.
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Old Jul 25, 2014 | 05:40 AM
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My 2001 had just 17500 miles on it when I bought it in 2011.

It had been in good garages all it's life, but had not had the oil changes for age as per the book. It had still had 3 timers as many changes as required by mileage.

I changed all fluids, & the tyres, & gave it the full 40,000 service.

I have since done 11000 miles in it, with absolutely no problems
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Old Jul 25, 2014 | 06:02 AM
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If you intend on driving the car, don't waste your money on a low miles S2000. A well kept car with a moderate amount of miles won't give you any trouble and will be a great car for a LONG time.
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Old Jul 25, 2014 | 07:46 AM
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I am looking for a garage queen that would be driven very little.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
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