Hey everyone.
I have been in the market for a S2000 for quite a while now, and i am now currently having a completely different thought..

Would it be worth, buying a "cheaper" s2000, then spending money on it to fix it up?

Getting one resprayed/basic body work done wouldn't be too much of a issue as i have wanted to learn how to do it for a while now, and one of our family friends was a panel beater.

Realistically, a good condition S2000 in Aus, is around the $30,000 mark..give or take a few thousand.

A S2000 in average to poor condition would be around $20,000 give or take. (at least the ones i have seen so far), by poor condition i mean dints, high km's, paint fading in certain spots, roof need replacing, scratch's, crappy mods, bumpers not aligned correctly and what ever else makes a car present itself poorly.

I think if the car has not been in a accident and the motor is healthy, I might be finanically better off getting the body fixed up after purchase.

Thoughts on this idea?

I mean worst case scenario, the engine packs it in...Are these things expensive to replace?
Are there any other costly repairs i should know before even looking at the cheaper S2000's?

 

If i go ahead and do this, it will be a bit of a project...the things i would want to do are:

Make sure the interior is clean (carpets cleaned/new carpets, Fix up any seat wear)
Full respray - remove all dints/scratch's ect
I would NOT want a car that has been written off...i think that is just asking for trouble
Make sure the engine is mechanically sound
make sure the gearbox is mechanically sound
make sure the diff is mechanically sound (Have i forgotten any other mechanical components of the car? How well do they stand up to abuse/lack of maintenance)
Make sure the suspension is all good (Shocks and springs, anything else that i need to remember?)
Tyres/Wheels


I think that would be about all....unless you guys can think of anything else?

Has anybody gotten there seats reapolostered? Costs involved? (never owned a car with leather seats!)

 

Completely subjective. We can't tell you if you'd find it worth it or not. I wouldn't. YMMV as with anything subjective. Search as there are existing threads on just about everything you're asking about. You'll probably want to call around for quotes on pricing on the stuff you're asking about. It does no good for me to tell you what things cost if you're in AUS and I'm in the US.

 

As with any car, buying a "cheaper" one to save money up-front almost invariably leads to higher costs over the course of ownership. Sometimes people get lucky and find one that just needs cosmetic fixes. The majority of the time a car's aesthetic condition is representative of its owner's maintenance/care habits which means the mechanicals of a rough-looking car won't be in great shape either.

 

Well spoken and is true most of the time.

 

20K for a poor condition S2000? Thats astronomical. Although I'm not familiar with Australia's import laws, I think it would be cheaper to import a clean, low mileage S from here in the states.
Automotive shipping from AUS to USA runs about $2500.00, I assume it would be the same the other way around. You can get fantastic low mileage 02-03 car here for under 15k. Add shipping and taxes, and you're still under 20k.
Just food for thought.

Good luck no matter what you decide!!!

 

Pay now or pay later

-jazzman

 

There are different angles to look at it...i agree with the guys above that invariably you will spend as much if not more in the end for a better conditioned car than what you will start with, but not everyone is financially able to buy the " best" example the first time...so this option allows you to still be a part of the s2000 community but gives you time to build what you want which works for your time scale...and wallet.

The other angle which i personally have a soft spot for is the "restoration" and preservation of another example which otherwise would have been parted out or driven to the ground sooner than later. I developed this LOVE in my years of restoring old CRXs and EF civics, so naturally saving an S2000 from a premature demise would be a love affair in the making...theres just something special about bringing old honda metal back from the brink, esp on the level of an S2000....i say DO IT and post some pics!

 

Agreed.

There are also those that point to dirty carpets, worn side bolsters, soft top rips and surface scratches as denoting a poor condition S2K. My car had all of those when I bought it, and now it looks like brand new inside and out. Only cost a few hundred bucks to clean up, just a ton of labor on my part.

 

You may be exceptionally talented, but for most people their first attempt at body work and spraying paint is likely to give less than stellar results. Especially if working without a booth. Of course, with paint one can always sand it down and start over if not satisfied, but that too can get expensive. My advice is a line from a Clint Eastwood movie: "A man's got to know his limitations." If you can handle it, more power to you. Personally, I'd be better off with a car that looks good but needs mechanical work.