is there anything i should be weary of? any paint to stay away from? any years to stay away from? pretty much give me everything you knew when you bought your s2k, and why did you decide to buy it over, say a 350z.

 

get a 02+ s2k, most problems are fixed by then

 

and what would some of those problems be? I'm in the same boat as phishie.

 

I don't think it's that cut and dry. Depends on how much you want to spend. The later models are obviously still more expensive.

The big changes in '02 were glass rear window and stereo tweeter in the door, I think. The center console panel went from carpet to vinyl, I think.

Some minor tweaks to the suspension and gearbox, perhaps. A lot of people have complained about gear grind in the earlier models, but some '02s have that as well.

Best thing to do is drive the car and see what you like.

As for the 350Z, phishie, I strongly recommend a test drive and then see what you think. Many folks have said the 350Z just doesn't have the "edge" of the S2000. You judge for yourself.

 

I would never consider a 350Z or an RX-8. They're both great cars, but neither appeal to me. The EVO and STi are really cool, but I'd never buy one of those either.

There are ton of cars to choose from in the $25-$30k range. The S2000 is probably the least practical and most driver's oriented of any of them.

As far as I could tell when I was shopping, the biggest difference in the model years is that the '00s are mostly out of warranty and the '02+ have minor trim upgrades and glass rear windows, which is nice but not necessarily a deal breaker for the earlier models. Allegedly the '00 and '01 have more aggressive suspension settings and the later years have upgraded transmissions but I do not know that for a fact, or if it really matters. My '01 got a free clutch and window/top module thanks to TSBs. Dunno if that applies to '02+.

Also- and this is just my observation from the cars I saw- mileage is a really big factor in S2000 prices. I noticed that there were a ton of silver cars out there, and it seemed like prices on those might be a little lower. The white '01 I bought was the only white one I ever saw, anywhere.

 

If you have the money, then go for the '02+. It seems to have a couple of very minor issues worked out, the most notable being the glass window and the tweeters in the door. Also some minor suspension and maybe ECU changes. All very minor.

That being said, I opted for a used '00 when I purchased and love it. It's really a win-win situation. You won't be disappointed with an '00-'01 if you decide to save a bit of money that way.

 

Having an '01, sometimes I wish I had an '02 with the glass rear window, but this time of year the top doesn't even go up, so I don't think about it as much!

 

Welcome!

That's a funny grammatical error you made. Yes, you should be "weary" (ie. being tired of) of people magazine racing, asking how to turn the S2000 into a drag monster, and other stuff, but then you haven't been on this board very long.

I think you meant "wary", (ie. being cautious of). In used S2000's you should be wary of whether the car was properly "broken in". While I don't think there's any sort of diagnostic test for this, your best bet will be to purchase from an enthusiast, who knows a lot about the car, as this person will more likely have known, and executed the proper break-in procedure.

I hear that pink doesn't do the car justice. Other than that, I haven't heard of any problems.

Wow, that's a tall order. Having test driven both a s2k and a 350z (coupe), I can safely say that they are both very good cars, but also two very different beasts. I'd recommend you start by reading:

Should I buy a S2000?

Then, test drive both.

-Andrew

 

My personal experience with owning both a MY'00 and a MY'02 is that unless you're enamored of the more "original" aspect of the MY'00 and '01, the '02 enhancements (and most likely lower mileage) make it more worthwhile to go with an '02.

I noticed that my '02 has much smoother shifting and I haven't had the issues with the 1st-2nd gear grind that I had in the '00. The glass window is also really nice if you're going top up-and-down quite often, which I do now that the car is a daily driver.

I would also second the recommendation to quiz the owner as to the break-in procedure used (learn it yourself and then see if the previous owner answers consistently).

I have also driven the 350Z and just didn't get the visceral excitement I get with the S. The 350Z is heavier, more torquey, has more creature comforts ... but doesn't feel nearly as much fun driving as our S does.

Hope you find a good one - you'll love it.

 

Hey Phishie,

I also live in Santa Clarita. I just bought my '02 six weeks ago. At that time there was an '02 Suzuka blue in Palmdale. Look at Auto Trader online. Where in SC are you?

Markk