You might want to stick up for the S2000 over at Car & Drivers web site. Some person got a hold of the Center of Auto Safety list posted here:

http://www.lemonlaw.com/lemonlist.html


The S2000 is a heavy hitter on this list near the top with 4K complaints. People are making broad comments that this shows how the 2.0 liter engine is not reliable and such. I tried to explain to them why there are some many complaints but people wont listen. This needs help of a few of you people who are more active then I am... which I have not been very much in the last year or so..

http://forums.caranddriver.com/ubb/ultimat...ic&f=1&t=007744

 

That list is so old and tired that it is not worth wasting time over. The list is put up by a bunch of lawyers who hope to cash in on some legal action. That list has been discussed here on this forum to death. Here are just some of the past threads:

S2000 on the lemon list? No way
VERY VERY VERY DISTURBING.... Automotive Lemon Law list for PA & NJ.. Guess what?!?!?
S2000 is #7 on this Lemon List.
How'd we get so high on the lemon list?

I certainly wouldn't lose any sleep over this list.

 

I remember looking at Consumer Reports before I purchased my 01. It was "recommended" for reliablility and such. But here is a list of probs I've had, so I don't doubt the postings.

clutch
gear grind
top latches
catalytic converter heat shield
window regulator
spark plugs

I still love the car, but I never expected this many problems, problems that many people are having.

 

The problems posted on this board are not representative of the universe of owners, since 1) we are a small fraction of the owner population; 2) we are more knowledgeable about cars than the average owner and thus more likely to notice problems others would overlook. The only data I trust is that gleaned from sound owner data, and the only thing that comes even close is the Consumer Reports data, and even it is suspect, given the small sample sizes and the sampling methods. All the other stuff belongs in the trash can.

This is a car that is going to make the average buyer, who's used to the padded, soft-riding, quiet American plush mobile, a bit anxious. It's noisier, harder-riding and makes next to no effort to pamper the rider. If it produces more complaints from buyers, I wouldn't be the least surprised. But many of them will have nothing to do with the car's basic reliability, which is quite extraordinary for a high performance sports car.

 

And I cant spell reliability

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Eddie
[B]I remember looking at Consumer Reports before I purchased my 01.

 

anyone ever look at the list of problems with a porsche 911, boxster, bmw m series? Not to mention the costs associated with the repairs for such high performance cars? Ever visit the dealer for minor issues with an m3? I'll take my s2000 thank you...

 

Merri is so used to riding in her little Neon with mushy suspension, FULL coffee cup in hand as she launches over speedbumps and potholes. She rides in the S and bitches non-stop about how my maniac driving style causes her to spill it. She just doesn't grasp the concept that some cars are designed with a stiffer suspension. My (often irate after cleaning up spilled coffee and muffin crumbs) response is "If you want to have a smorgasborg while driving, sit in your cushy Neon, but if you want to drive fast around a corner, dump the Dunkin' Donuts, put on your seatbelt and hang on."

We have to accept the fact that some, if not most, people will never quite get it...this isn't your grandfather's Cadillac.

 

from a manufacturing point of view, which is what I'm studying, anything likely to be defective more than commonly allowed by specifications, is a "problem".

For a car to have a "honda" reputation, and a "recommendation" from a credible source such as Consumer Reports for "reliability", but not, may be a problem....I mean from a statistical Quality Control point of view.

Honda is now on its 3rd official version of the s2000 clutch, so I see it as there was a "problem", enough for it to make them change their clutch production, otherwise they would not have spent the money to investigate, develop, and produce new versions. They must have also thought it was a "problem".

I admit the catalytic heat shield was a fluke, with a low probablility of occurance. Service advisor said it was "improper welding", but I never actually saw the old part.

but with all the "short block replacement threads" and such, I do not doubt the low production of our cars, with a lot of hand assembly has resulted in a less than average reliablility. The odd thing to me was that I expected it to be nearly perfect.

But yes, Rick is right. I just figure that if the center of Auto Safety is involved, then more than enough people are having problems to make a stink.

What about the average consumer who's rear window gets overly scratched, and they can't see behind them. I'm sure they get frustrated to a point to where they think it is supposed to be replaced, as in defective, under warranty, but unfortunatley didn't know how to clean it.

My point is that I do NOT think this is the result of hungry lawyers, there is no way. I see justifyable cause. All car companies are currently much more competitive than usual. I think they are at war in a way. They are all pushing themselves to the limits as far as efficient production and pricing.

 

Take a carful look at what the report is measuring......Compaints. Not defects, recalls, poor craftsmanship etc.

People who purchase this car are usually of two types. Car enthusiests in search of the ultimate roadster (under 40k)- who demand a lot out of an automobile.

or

People who purchased the car for the wrong reasons- wonder why the cabin noise is so bad (9k rpms?) or the suspension prohibits the consumption of double mocha frapachinos. "Why are my tires shot after 12000 miles?" They probably cry.

This accounts for a great deal of their "lemon" complaints.