Well i got to thinking today about how motor cycle engines dont last to long. They are high compression and turn high rpms. Well neither of wich is good for reliability, so i was wondering how reliable our cars really are (f20's and F22'S)? Im sure its alot more reliable then my 93 rx7 which i down at the moment like most rotarys are. And until i get the new motor installed along with the new single turbo setup it will be down for quite a while.
Also I was wondering what are the weak links in our cars, engine, driveline, ect? And what kind of power can each handle?

 

I see you're new to the s2ki board, CH, but are you a new owner?
Boy, all I can say is that there are a small (but justifiably vocal) percentage of owners who've had bad luck with their Ss. The vast majority of owners have some small complaints, but more self-induced problems (spins, clutch wear, diff wear, etc.) than anything else. Well, at least that's my observation over several years of being here.

In my own case, the car has been reliable as any other Honda I've owned over the years. I've had to keep a way closer eye on oil usage than any other in recent memory, and that's the nature of the beast. Check your oil at least once a month, CH, better yet each fillup.

I had some wear items after three years that I got replaced under warrantee (just under warrantee, that is)... My driver seat bolster had crushed down (they replaced the bottom of the seat), and the convt. top had a rip from the mechanism (they replaced the top).

I've got a driver window switch that doesn't work reliably in the auto-down function.

Other than that, nothing's worth mentioning. The car is fabulous.

Don't abuse it (burnouts, clutch dumps), and it'll take ya' home.

 

The S2000 will be infinitely more reliable than your FD

 

I have owned many high revving motorcycles with few or no problems.
Put over 80,000 miles on a '79 GS Suzuki. Hard miles too!
Personally I feel that with proper maintenaince and frequent oil changes, the Honda should be good for at least a 200k.

 

Great post! I believe you are right on all accounts.

Honda would not have made the car if it could not last.

Think about how many Integra GSR's are floating around with 200k miles!

 

Put 10k miles on mine in about 3 months. Hasn't given me a single problem yet. I know guys with 70k miles on them and haven't had any problems. Don't launch is hard and you will be fine!

 

Yes i am a new member and owner.
is there any recalls that i should look into that honda will still cover with 50k miles and being an 02?

 

YES! Most important (and I can't believe I forgot to mention)... Make sure you have the spark plug recall (it was called a "campaign" at the time). I'm sure any dealer will do it for you gratis if it hasn't been done. It's a different plug and a new torque rating. Plugs were backing off before the recall, leading to (yikes) engine failure.

There's another related issue -- the 4-hole oil spray (banjo) bolt. At a certain point in the MY02 year, the factory switched from the original 2-hole bolt to the 4-hole bolt. There was a ton of speculation as to why... And, there was a European TSB issued for this work (but never one by AHM). If you have the VIN number, check it against the information in Barry_from_Wyoming's short block replacement thread. In my opinion, you might do well to get the fixed bolt (either because you're buying a later-model MY02, or because it's been retrofitted).

 

I had a '93 RX-7 for 121,000 miles and 9 years before trading for the S2000. I was celebrating retirement, and a move from New England to South Carolina and predominantly top-down weather. I was still on the original engine and transmission, but the RX-7's drivability was a constant struggle. You could never get the turbos to work in harmony, and the engine power was always terribly lumpy at light throttle and low speeds.

By contrast, the S2000 has been nearly 100 percent reliable, and always has operated perfectly. I did have the spark plug recall, and a couple of intermittent episodes of check engine light (apparently gas filler cap tightening), but the only failure in 3 1/2 years and 26,000 miles is the one touch rolldown of the driver window - still works the old fashioned way. When you compare the incredible simplicity of the VTEC control, with a simple solenoid and oil pressure controlling the high lift cam follower vs. the insane plumbing and valves and electronics of the twin turbo of the RX-7, it is obvious why the Honda's reliability is so great. Granted the RX-7 has a bit more brute thrust, but that's all.

 

Joe,

Seems you did rather well with your '93!!

I wonder how the modern RX-8 (Renesis?) engine reliabiliby stacks up against the complex engine of the last-gen RX-7... Has anyone stuffed an RX-8 engine into an RX-7???

(sorry, I seem to have strayed off topic -- I guess that's my nature)