View Poll Results: Should I sell my car now and buy a newer S2000?
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Should I sell my S2000 just to get another one?
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,167
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From: Indiana
Should I sell my S2000 just to get another one?
I'm at a point where I think it might be wise to swap my S2000 for a different one. Normally I wouldn't consider this but there are several factors at play, so I turn to the forums for advice in my particular circumstances.
TL;DR version: I would like something with forced induction already installed, I wouldn't mind a different color, my car is almost at 100k so I'd like to avoid that depreciation hit, it will need new rear tires soon, ideally could use a new soft top within a couple of years, the clutch is an unknown quantity (grabs fine right now but due to mileage may need replaced within a couple of years), and this is peak selling season for a convertible. On the flipside my car is in great condition and it will be very difficult to find a suitable replacement due to my strict requirements. Plus I'd have to mess with both selling my car and buying a new one, not my favorite thing to do.
More detailed reasons that I am considering a swap:
1. I'd like to get into an S2000 with a well-sorted forced induction kit already installed. No sense in dropping the requisite $10k+ myself to have the complete setup done right (kit, install, clutch, incidentals, etc.) when I can just buy a complete package.
2. I could get a more preferred color. I'd really like to be in a Laguna Blue or GPW car.
3. My car is at 97,200 miles. I personally know that 100k means absolutely nothing but the buying public still seems to think otherwise. There is a very real depriciation hit when you crest that 6-digit mark and I'd love to avoid it. I know prospective buyers would still say "well it's about to hit 100k", but that's better than actually being past it.
4. The soft top on my car is in ok shape (completely water tight, with a few small inside patches) but if I were to keep the car then ideally I'd want to replace it within a couple of years. If I get a newer/lower mileage car with a nice top I now possess the necessary knowledge to prevent tearing.
5. The rear tires are nearing end of life and being the picky person I am, I would want to swap all four corners at once for the new Dunlop Z2. I'd prefer to sell before I incur this cost.
6. General concerns regarding maintenance costs on a high(er) mileage car--namely, the clutch grabs and holds great right now but it might only have another 20-30k miles left in it for all I know.
Now the reasons I would be better off keeping my car, or at least, reasons that make it a tougher choice:
1. My car is in phenomenal condition, especially for its age. I have looked at several other S2000s over the years whether it be at dealership lots or local Cars & Coffee meets and I've only seen one S2000 that was a cleaner example than mine. My front bumper has two-year-old paint (thus virtually no rock chips), seats have fitted Clazzio covers that are flawless/no rips, and the few door dings that were present when I bought it are now gone thanks to a hailstorm last year that got the car a full paintless dent removal treatment.
2. I have had no issues whatsoever with the car. The only costs have been routine maintenance items in the three years I've owned it. I know my car is solid and I'd be moving into an unknown quantity with a different S2000.
3. I'd have to immediately spend another $500-800 on the new car's stereo even if I pull some of the aftermarket equipment out of mine before selling. The stock stereo is absolutely unacceptable to me.
4. I'm very picky and it would be hard to find a car that meets my requirements. I don't want to lose more than a few weeks of the top-down driving season but even my bare minimum requirements severely limit my choices: ideally the new car would have forced induction, said forced induction must be configured well (not some hack job), and it must be a 2006 or newer car. Just those three things mean that only a handful of cars even exist that I'd be interested in. Then finding one that's for sale AND close enough for me to personally test drive will prove to be challenging.
If I weren't looking to move into a forced induction car then this decision would be a bit easier but it still seems like I could be better off financially by unloading my car now. The logic that keeps going through my mind is that if I'm looking at a potential ~$3000 over the next two years in the form of a new soft top, clutch, and a set of tires then I'd rather just spend a little more on top of that to get a newer/lower mileage car instead.
All opinions are appreciated.
TL;DR version: I would like something with forced induction already installed, I wouldn't mind a different color, my car is almost at 100k so I'd like to avoid that depreciation hit, it will need new rear tires soon, ideally could use a new soft top within a couple of years, the clutch is an unknown quantity (grabs fine right now but due to mileage may need replaced within a couple of years), and this is peak selling season for a convertible. On the flipside my car is in great condition and it will be very difficult to find a suitable replacement due to my strict requirements. Plus I'd have to mess with both selling my car and buying a new one, not my favorite thing to do.
More detailed reasons that I am considering a swap:
1. I'd like to get into an S2000 with a well-sorted forced induction kit already installed. No sense in dropping the requisite $10k+ myself to have the complete setup done right (kit, install, clutch, incidentals, etc.) when I can just buy a complete package.
2. I could get a more preferred color. I'd really like to be in a Laguna Blue or GPW car.
3. My car is at 97,200 miles. I personally know that 100k means absolutely nothing but the buying public still seems to think otherwise. There is a very real depriciation hit when you crest that 6-digit mark and I'd love to avoid it. I know prospective buyers would still say "well it's about to hit 100k", but that's better than actually being past it.
4. The soft top on my car is in ok shape (completely water tight, with a few small inside patches) but if I were to keep the car then ideally I'd want to replace it within a couple of years. If I get a newer/lower mileage car with a nice top I now possess the necessary knowledge to prevent tearing.
5. The rear tires are nearing end of life and being the picky person I am, I would want to swap all four corners at once for the new Dunlop Z2. I'd prefer to sell before I incur this cost.
6. General concerns regarding maintenance costs on a high(er) mileage car--namely, the clutch grabs and holds great right now but it might only have another 20-30k miles left in it for all I know.
Now the reasons I would be better off keeping my car, or at least, reasons that make it a tougher choice:
1. My car is in phenomenal condition, especially for its age. I have looked at several other S2000s over the years whether it be at dealership lots or local Cars & Coffee meets and I've only seen one S2000 that was a cleaner example than mine. My front bumper has two-year-old paint (thus virtually no rock chips), seats have fitted Clazzio covers that are flawless/no rips, and the few door dings that were present when I bought it are now gone thanks to a hailstorm last year that got the car a full paintless dent removal treatment.
2. I have had no issues whatsoever with the car. The only costs have been routine maintenance items in the three years I've owned it. I know my car is solid and I'd be moving into an unknown quantity with a different S2000.
3. I'd have to immediately spend another $500-800 on the new car's stereo even if I pull some of the aftermarket equipment out of mine before selling. The stock stereo is absolutely unacceptable to me.
4. I'm very picky and it would be hard to find a car that meets my requirements. I don't want to lose more than a few weeks of the top-down driving season but even my bare minimum requirements severely limit my choices: ideally the new car would have forced induction, said forced induction must be configured well (not some hack job), and it must be a 2006 or newer car. Just those three things mean that only a handful of cars even exist that I'd be interested in. Then finding one that's for sale AND close enough for me to personally test drive will prove to be challenging.
If I weren't looking to move into a forced induction car then this decision would be a bit easier but it still seems like I could be better off financially by unloading my car now. The logic that keeps going through my mind is that if I'm looking at a potential ~$3000 over the next two years in the form of a new soft top, clutch, and a set of tires then I'd rather just spend a little more on top of that to get a newer/lower mileage car instead.
All opinions are appreciated.
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 771
Likes: 0
It will be really hard to find one in better shape it sounds like. And you want to buy a turbo s. There are some out there but I'd be weary buying especially the clutch hehe keep your you know all about it. In one way youd be going backwards
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 3
From: Houston, TX
Not sure why you're polling. You need to decide based on your priorities and preferences and not those of random other people. Given:
...have you even bothered to shop around to see if there's anything out there that fits your needs/wants? Might be a good starting point to know what is (or isn't) out there.
FWIW, I wouldn't buy an FI S unless I really knew the owner and the history of the car. That said, I have no interest in FI to begin with.
Sure there is. You'll definitely know that the work was done to your standards and set up exactly the way you want it. You also definitely know the history. Sure, you can inspect "the complete package" before buying but there are still possible unknowns.
FWIW, I wouldn't buy an FI S unless I really knew the owner and the history of the car. That said, I have no interest in FI to begin with.
Sure there is. You'll definitely know that the work was done to your standards and set up exactly the way you want it. You also definitely know the history. Sure, you can inspect "the complete package" before buying but there are still possible unknowns.