I am in the process of possibly buying and AP1 s2k. The car is unmolested with 88k miles on it. One thing I'm worried about is that it's been sitting in storage for 2 years.. Is there any main issues that could be wrong with it? The seller "claims" it was properly serviced prior to storage. But I'm still skeptical. Advice or knowledge would be greatly appreciated!

 

Ask the vendor to change all the fluids on it (if he hasn't already - ask for the bills) and then you'll talk. How was it stored - on jacks or on tires? If on tires, and if the car was not moved in that period of time, and especially if it was stored in the elements rather than in a temperature/humidity controlled environment, regardless of the number of miles on the tires you will likely have to replace them . Negotiate around who is going to pay for that. Once it is road worthy, have it inspected before the sale by a local Honda dealer who services S2000's for any other issues that might come to light. Good luck

 

I bought my 2001 S2k in April 2011, with 27,000Km [about 18000 miles] on it.

In that time it had had 3 periods of over a year where it did not turn a wheel.

It had been serviced more than the mileage would require, but not quite as regularly as the periods between services require.

The car behaved beautifully. The tyres were round but 6 years old.

I fitted new tyres, replaced all fluids, checked valve clearances & suspension settings.

I have done a little over 11,000Km since then, with the car behaving as you would expect a very low mileage car would.

I also have a 1980 Triumph TR7, bought in 2000. It had sat under cover for 3 & 1/2 years with a failed clutch.
I replaced the clutch, tyres, all hoses, overhauled the brakes, flushed the cooling system, replaced all fluids, checked timing, adjusted clearances & timing, & put it to work. I used highly detergent diesel oil changing it every 500Km for 3 changes to clean out any gum from dried oil, & have now done 60,000Km in it.

Hope you enjoy your S2000.

 

Yes it was a temperature controlled room. The son I've been talking with, ( car owned by mother used as her weekend car) says he is a mechanic and has properly flushed and added the correct fluid before & after storage. I just am trying not to walk into a unreliable car. I would be devastated if it turned out to be in bad condition so I wanna know as much as possible about the car before I go test it!

 

What was done at these extra services you got performed?

 

You can expect the tires to be beat and maybe a new battery. But, besides that there shouldnt be anything else. If there is a fuel stabil added that would be great. If not I would say dont even start it, drop the tank and dump that crap. or at the very least put some startron in it. After you run some fresh gas, run some Lucus injector cleaner. Obvi you would want to change all fluids right away.

 

Yes I know about the fluids. I believe the guy has already prepped it. I think drained and refilled fluids. But it's a used car from a stranger, I'm gonna change the fluids no matter what. But you think an additive to the fuel will be best to do?

 

Like others said, use the cost of changing fluids, battery, and tires to your advantage when negotiatig a price.

Dropping the fuel tank might not be necessary. Take the gas cap off and see if it still smells like gas or if its starting to smell like terpentine. If it still smells like gas then I would just add some Lucas fuel treatment and 1/4new gas and run the tank down. Better yet, have the current owner do that.

Check to see how it turns over when its cold too..

 

Just follow what others said regarding fluids and maybe tires.

I had my 1986 Z stored for 7 years with 186k miles. When I put it on sale, I had the fluids changed, a new battery put in and a full inspection done to it. The car started right up and the new owner loves it. Long term storage is not neccessarily a bad thing.

 

Yes I was gonna run a fuel treatment through the car. But the owner is claiming he's a full-time mechanic and doing the oil change, drain gas, throttle body service, and new air filter. He seems pretty honest about his work.