I may get killed for asking this question but I'm getting nervous about buying an s2000 after reading about everyone's problems. I have been reading this forum for 3 weeks as I ponder my purchase. I realize individual owners in this group are passionate about their cars and may be a bit too finicky but it seems like this car has more problems then my friends Lotus. I realize the car handles great, looks great but am I always going to have to worry about my transmission and rattles from under the dash? Am I reading too much into everyone's complaints about the transmission in particular? Also, Joyce Honda on Rt. 10 in Dover NJ has a yellow that has been in their showroom for over a month and they only want list(Maybe less and they also have a black one). I'm on the hunt for a silver and red if anyone knows of one in the N.E. But please let me know if the car has as many problems as I think. For $32,000 I can't just ignore a transmission that won't downshift.

 

Jim,

I wouldn't worry about the problems if I were you. Bear in mind that many of us from this forum got the car when it was brand new, and therefore more likely to have issues. I believe Honda has addressed most of the issues with the newer S2000's. In either case, Honda has shown themselves to be a good company that does the right thing. If there are problems I'm sure Honda would take care of you.

 

Hi Darkalley

Actually, I don't think folks had an issue with downshifting. Some of the early models (including mine) had synchros packed too tightly which would cause an occasional but really scary clash on 1-2 upshifts. Honda fixed mine for me and for all the others who had this problem. The real issue with the S2000 transmission is this - it is the shortest throw, slickest shifting 6 spd available on planet earth. It sits directly behind the highest revving engine with the highest specific output of any production engine on this same orb.

Think about it for a little while, and then run out and buy one.

Just my 2 kopeks.

2x6spds

 

Darkalley,

I think, as you said, you may be reading too much into the problem posts. If you want to get a good feel for the car and its good and bad points, you will need to look at some past posts on the capabilities and limitations of the S2000. Yes, there are some problems but no more than any other first year vehicle is likely to have. The newer models seem to have most if not all of the transmission problems fixed and the problem that exists in the older cars is very minor for most of the owners (cdelena and a few others had very bad grind problems).

I have had my S2K for 10 months and 17,000 plus miles and it has been a very good car. I have the grind going into second that some of the early models do, but only when the transmission is very hot, and it will be fixed as soon as my dealer gets the parts.

I would not let the (relatively) few posts about problems turn you away from this car if you want a pure performance vehicle. If, on the other hand, you want something that will pamper your butt and still go fairly fast this may not be the vehicle for you. Only you can make the decision.

P.S. Yes, some of our group are probably too finicky, but they really care for their cars so you will have to forgive some of that type of behavior.

 

I think this car has more problems than many, but being a first year of a fresh design with an extreme performance target for its size and price range, it is not unusual. No more a problem than many Porsches.

Although I am disappointed that it was not perfect, and even more disappointed in the Honda dealerships that are not in the same universe as perfect, I don

 

Yeah, when the Boxster engine seizes, even after the car was only driven mildly, the next thing you do is call for the flat-bed tow truck.

In contrast, most of the problems reported here have been either relatively minor or the result of very hard use.

 

This car isn't a lemon. Maybe a habanero pepper?

I have a '01 S2000 and I haven't had any of the problems reported on the board (except for the crappy stereo).

I would recommend this car if you are looking for a roadster and you value performance over prestige and don't have or want to spend the money required to get both.

 

I don't think this car has more problem than "many" as Mr. Delena suggests.
I got the grinding and the window motor fixed.
It does not have any other problems.
Most people don't even have either one of the above problems.
As far as I can tell, this car is as reliable as any Honda.
If the reliability of Honda is a concern for you, I'm not sure if there is any roadster of this level for you out there.
The only other one I can think of is Boxster S. I wonder how reliable those are.
If you don't mind less power, Miata could be very reliable. They must have worked all the bugs out after 10 years.
I don't know what kinda business they conduct in Dover, NJ.
In Union, NJ, planet Honda can't even get enough S2000 to show me a yellow one.

 

buy it.

what you're seeing here is the typical type of conversation of the sort of fanatic who not only buys a classic open sports roadster but also spends much of their time thinking about it, reading about it, tinkering with it and obsessing on it.

and, of course, there is little or no reason for any of us to constantly post about how much we love the car. instead we post when we have problems (the nature of the system).

in fact, of all cars i've ever owned in my life the only car that i've had FEWER real problems with was a 1993 Accord LX. my GTI had more problems as did my pickup (and let's not talk about the TR6).

if you're seriously considering buying this car you should focus on the very real issues:
1) do you really want a open, two-seater, rear wheel drive, no storage space, high-performance sports car?
2) if so, what compromises are you willing to make - and what are you not willing to make (i.e. can you REALLY live without more storage than for a weekend away for two; are you going to want to drive with the top up, ever; are you used to driving a rear wheel car; what's your weather like; etc)?
3) what's your immediate budget?
4) what's your long-term budget (the costs of owning ANY sports car long term are higher than other cars due to lovely things like insurance, speeding tickets, tires and the knick-knacks that result from the inevitable obsession that develops)?

If you ask anyone on this board they will (of course) say BUY IT (I mean, we all did - grin). But it's a decision you have to make on your own. All we can do is encourage.

-c

PS. If you can get a yellow/black below MSRP I'd suggest you get it even if you don't want the car as (given what I've seen on this board) you should be able to unload it for an immediate profit (grin).

 

Maybe you have had terrible luck in the past that makes this one seem good. I have probably bought twenty or more cars in the past thirty years (for me and family) and this one has had more dealership visits and more time in the shop than any except maybe the Fiat 124. I know it has already had more shop time than the last six or seven new cars I owned COMBINED.

What tells you more about the car is that I am still happy I have one. But trouble free it is not.