I would by a s2k from a private seller, thats what I did and I saved a couple grand

 

i paid $9,500 for my excellent mechanical condition 8/10 cosmetic condition 2003 S2000.

i LOL at a MY00 or MY01 for over 10 grand /w that kind of mileage.... NO TANKS!!

 

The frame burrs that led to tears in the convertible top effected pretty much all years. My 2006 had them and split the top in 20,000 miles. Luckily it was under warranty. It is a VERY expensive job to replace the top.

As for year, I'd buy the newest/lowest-mile example you can afford. People have preferences regarding the changes that were made over the years but I think the additional lifespan trumps all those concerns regardless of your own preferences. Don't be afraid to wait a while for the right one to come on the market. I didn't get the best deal ever, but I see examples similar to mine coming on the market for ~$8000 more than I paid, so there can be a lot of variety when it comes to pricing and a lot of sellers are living in dreamland.

 

Your best bet is to wait. Don't buy the first S you come across. You WILL find a better deal later on and you'll be very uspet that you didn't wait.

 

you have pm.

 

My budget right now is...quite low if i'm honest. XD
I'm not in the sort of "I need to buy one right now" mode, I want to wait until I can afford it and until I can pay for it.
And of course, I want to wait until I find the right one, so i'm in no rush.
I'm just saying "I have decided i'm going to get one" not that I have to get one right now.
I might have seemed in a bit of a hurry to get one when I said I decided i'm going to get one, but I'm not.
I mean I'm setting a goal for myself that i'm going to get one, and save up for it.


I totally agree in saying I shouldn't buy a car from this guy.
He seemed like he didn't even know anything about the car he was trying to sell me. When I told him "The roof has some holes in it, I could hear the wind noise" he said "Oh it does?" Like he didn't know.
Plus with the way he didn't even wash it or bother to clean up the interior, means he's just trying to make some money and doesn't know anything about the car.
If I do buy one, it will probably be from a Honda dealer that is selling used cars, or a private seller, I don't really trust these other guys.


So let me try and get this straight. x]
Pretty much all the models can potentially have problems with the roof if the metal burrs aren't filed down?
The 02 has the glass window, and is a bigger improvement from the plastic one.
And try to go for a private seller.

I think I got that right.
If not, feel free to correct me.
Also, I have no interest in modding my S, if it had a mod on it like a air intake or even a different exhaust, then could that be easily fixed with some stock parts?
I don't really care if the wheels are stock or not, just as long as they don't affect the performance of the car.
One more question; do custom wheels on a used car also decrease the resale value since they aren't stock?

 

$12k and some patience should get you an 02 with very low miles.

It's very easy to swap an intake and/or exhaust.

Very good aftermarket wheels will probably increase the value of the car. $100/wheel internet specials will probably decrease the value of the car.

 

that gives me hope. my budget is only about 10k, but might have a bit more, i really want 02-03...

i guess i have to look really hard into it.

 

I got MY04 Berlina with 49K for $13,500 in February this year.

 

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/1470140620.html