Anyone have any good tips on buying a used S2000? I have been looking for a fun car for a while now, and really enjoyed the 2001 S2000 I drove the other day. I have little interest in modding- maybe one day I'll find my way to a track, but it's not a big deal. Connecticut and the northeast in general seem to be full of cars up to 7-8 years old with <30,000 miles on them, probably because they're not driven for 60% of the year. I'm also hoping that since this is not really fast and the furious country the owners might be a little older and maybe not so hard on the car. A guy can dream, right?

I can afford a new one, but I'd like to save some money given all the low mileage cars I'm seeing out there. How bad can you beat on a car in 26,000 miles? What year do people recommend? I've been reading around here a bit and since this car seems to be about revving the snot out of it and the handling, I was thinking of a 2002 or 2003 with the improved transmission and glass window. There are at least a couple with sub 30,000 miles on them fairly close to me. A 7 year old car is a 7 year old car, but this is a Honda.... nonetheless anyone have any good tips for how to detect mods that have been yanked off the car, hidden damage and such?

I'll probably try to drive a 2004+ after the revision- anyone have a strong preference one way or another between the original and revised versions?

Any tips are greatly appreciated.

 

One of the best threads I've found:

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=590849

 

good thread ^

 

 

I wish I would have read that thread before I bought my used car; rather than having searched numerous threads.

 

when i was searching for my s2k i looked for 3 things

1.) clean title

that means all original parts on the car as well.
look for the VIN print? (its the a little tiny white horizontal sticker) on each body panel.

2.) good price/mileage

just because its a honda doesnt mean it will last forever.
and if its a honda, it will most likely be abused by some ignorant driver who believes because its a honda it will last forever.

3.) 04-05 AP2

you get best of both worlds.

 

So you like the more tractable nature of the car and more forgiving handling?

 

yes. i dd the car.

 

Good thread for sure..

 

What makes the 2004-2005 the AP2s to get? Did the drive by wire come in in 2006?