Everyone,

After lingering on this forum for a while, I think my time to own an S2000 has finally come. I found an impeccable original-owner AP1 (2003) with 15.5k on the odometer. The owner is 65 years old, and the car was bought as a replacement for his 911 as a weekend joy-ride. The car is still rolling on its original tires (which are probably worth replacing now anyway, if only because of their age). The deal sounds like a dream.

My question to you guys is: assuming you have a safe spot to keep your S2000 as well as money to own a beater (I'm thinking about a Tercel or Sentra with 50k and roll-up windows... It should be reliable, I mean, if there isn't much to break, then what can break?!), what would you do? I live in Maryland, an area that gets its fair share of all four seasons.

I can imagine having a great time in the summer with the top down. I can also imagine enjoying the car in the snow with snow tires. Obviously, there are many more reasons to drive an S2000 around town, which you guys know very well. I probably won't mod.

But I am having a tough time deciding whether I should do that. Vandalism aside, should I avoid driving the S2000 around everywhere to save it, just because I can? What would I be saving it for? We know this car is a classic, but wasn't it built to be driven? In 20 years (yes, I plan on having this car forever), will I look back and think--it's been great having this car, but I just wish I actually got to enjoy it more?

Obviously, this is a subjective question. Everyone probably has their own opinion. I'm curious about what you guys think...what would YOU do?

steve

 

I say drive it only when you can enjoy it. Commuting to work in the rain the S2000 is not really any more fun than driving a Sentra. Okay, it might be a bit more fun - but that's not why you bought the car.

Drive it like it's meant to be driven. Hard and fast or to enjoy a nice top down cruise. Get a commuter car for your commute. My rule of thumb with my AP1 was to only drive it on the weekends when I could go top down or race it.

 

Agreed. Every day.

 

i love driving when i want to. i hate driving when i have to.

 

It may be collectable in thirty+ years. Enjoy the car on the nice days, store it on the bad. And in the meantime keep it pristine.

 

I'm in the same situation as you. I already had a daily driver (Lexus IS250) and I had my mind set on getting a cheap ($12k budget) S2000 to drive around whenever I wanted, just something different to my daily grind. I ended spending a bit more on a 05' S2000 with 13k miles. Because the car was in such great condition and low mileage I decided to drive it only on the weekends.

 

I'm the other extreme from Patinum. I bought the car to enjoy it. My mileage speaks for itself

 

Yeah, but it doesn't snow where you are

If you live in a place that snows, and you have the means, buy a beater. The S2000 on winter tires is more than capable in the snow, but a Sentra is still better. Not to mention all the other benefits of a beater (carry more people, carry more stuff, better mpg, more comfort, vandalism, theft, accidents due to other people not knowing how to drive in inclement weather, etc.)

Your commute matters too. My commute is about 4 miles. I can either take the highway which usually moves at around 40 mph when not stopped, or I can take a city road that's full of giant pot holes and street lights every quarter mile. Neither is a fun commute in an S2000 (I've done a handful of times). Quite frankly, I'd rather have the soft comfortable suspension of my POS civic. Plus, the gas station by my work is charging like $4.70 for premium right now.

Oh, and buying a car because it's collectible is silly to me. It's a crappy investment and cars, especially the s2000, are meant to be driven. I don't daily mine because it sucks for my commute. I don't drive it in the winter for my own preservation (I plan on keeping the car forever so every mile should count. Plus rust makes it harder to work on).

Now, if your commute is a nice curvy road where you actually enjoy it, then by all means, daily drive your S. Just remember, the number of miles on your car is not a measure of how much fun you had.

 

i have owned a 2nd car for the last several years to avoid driving the S on rainy days or to avoid just going to work and home. If I was you I would have a 2nd car to share the miles and to drive in bad weather. For me I will be getting another S2000 so I can have a low mileage "collector" and then 1 to drive on good days, will not retire the beater though !

 

Touche sir.

My commute is mostly highway, which stays a steady 75-80mph. I'm getting rather addicted to cruising in 4th/5th on the highway with this exhaust....