I am getting a funny feeling about buying a S2000 ?? I see how proud the owners are but then I hear them talk about tire wear / poor traction in rain/ clutch problems, poor support from the factory and dealers/ US cutomers being the red headed step child, don't buy a used one, the back window is ng - what is up with this car - some dealers try to rip you off with prices $2k over today I told a dealer I was offered $500 off yesterday and he stated I will double that to $1k - also reading the threads and some say the model will go away after 03 - will the support also go that way.

Perhaps the Nissan is the way or the Boxster

 

bad car if you're living in Japan and know what 1000 HP Skyline GTR-34 feels like

 

Great car! No problems to report. Traction is terrific in wet or dry conditions (I don't know who said traction is poor, but they should try driving a 6 spd Z28 in the rain if they want to see something scarry). Clutch is fine as long as you know what you are doing (ie: don't try slipping it out slowly while your engine is turning 1000 more rpm's than most other cars red lines).

The Boxster would also be a great car, but more expensive to buy and maintian and not quite as fast (unless you buy the S). Too early to tell about the Nissan. It should also be a good car, but much heavier than the S2000 and no convertable until next year.

 

Your correct, some owner's have experienced some problems. They represent a small minority of the total population of S2000s. On the flip side some folks think it's not too bad a car -- here's a few:

Geneva Auto Show

 

bad car if you're a big guy and can't fit.

 

hey it doesnt matter if you buy a Nissan/Honda/Acura or a Porsche..

sometimes, you just get a lemon... Honda/Acura cars are the most reliable out of all the Japanese cars and also has the best resale value.

 

If you want long tire life or your priorities are wet traction, change to different tires. S-02s are no compromise dry traction tires with excellent performance.

The clutch problems are covered by TSB. I have been suffering from the 'problem' for 6 months...clangy decelleration from around 4K rpms. I don't care enough to get it fixed and will wait until my warranty is near expiration. Consider it a free clutch, or don't engine brake.

Who said that factory support is poor? Dealer service is fairly bad because they rarely see an S2000. In my area, we have arranged to have our service done at one central dealership to ensure that they learn how to work on our cars properly. If you want a unique, rare car, expect to have some problems when you have it serviced...of course, with a Nissan, you'll be one of a million identical people and won't have any problems.

Who said not to buy a used S2000? Many S2000s have never been into VTEC or above 4K rpms because they are owned by people who wanted a cute convertible, not a track car with a convertible top.

Dealers rip everyone off. Why is that the car's fault? Change dealers...people have gotten cars for less than $30K in some parts of the country.

My nickle,
Tanq

 

Sorry Tanq, but I disagree with you on this point. If he is concern about tire wear and wet traction, shouldn't he consider another car?

 

If I were you, I would NOT buy this car. The fact that you have these doubts to begin with and that you need to ask it here is a LOSE/LOSE proposition. Those who have issues with this car will be more vocal. As already said, they are in the minority. If you take what they say to heart, you LOSE because you'll never get to share the ownership experience the rest of us have felt. If, by some freak of nature, those who have NOT got any issues, outweigh the "others" in this thread and convince you to buy one AND you have the slightest thing go wrong with the car (and you will because no car is absolutely bug proof), we LOSE because we gave you a bum steer.
Buying a car like this is an act of 90% passion, 10% logic. If you exercise too much logic, you will never get what this car is all about.

 

Like xviper says, no car is bug proof, or resistant to damage when a mistake is made. But if you buy the car, love it and live the experience!

And most of all relax, don't get worked up about minor things.

I used 100% passion when I bought, I didn't even test drive it, just a seat fitting (I'm taller than the average bear, hey hey boo boo!)