ok so im after selling my EK9 civic type R and am on the lookout for a new car

im from ireland and am 21

went to look at both an s15 and an s2000 yesterday

but there was a few problems with the s2k that i want to get clear and make sure that they sound like familiar faults

it a JDM white AP1 1999 with 100,000km on the clock

- first up the soft top had two little tears either side which where fixed with what looked like black sealent to stop the hood ripping further, i have read that these cars have this fault but wondering how much it might cost for a new one with a glass rear window or maybe even a hardtop? i heard something about brackets too that are equally as dear as the hardtop itself ?

also the car has a spoon ecu and due to over revving the engine had to be rebuilt as the it scored the block, so im assuming the big ends went? it has been rebuilt with wiseco pistons and ACL race bearing along with a full seal kit and loads of other small bits and bobs but the engine check light is now on the car since it has been rebuilt? the owner told me its because of the spoon ECU and that if i get a OE honda ECU that the light will go out, if i where in my ek9 i would have just bridged the CEL plug and pulled the code but is it posible to do this in the s2k?and he says that the light only came on and stayed on sice the engine was rebuilt, the the person who rebuilt it says it is because of the spoon ECU?

it also has a large flake of laquer chipped off from the drivers rear quarter, is it common for the laquer to be weak on s2k? he said it has never been repainted and from a good inspection he seems to be telling the truth

it also has a super tight cusco 2way diff? any opinions on these?it shakes back of the car when accelerating

also the thrwo between gears is awefull short and feel like a short shifter? or is this the OE linkage ? it feels like what a normal EK9 would feel like if it had a sort shifter in it. very tight and knotchy

also the front lip seems to have a thick white sealent running the entire length of the top line where it sit flush with the bumper? are these usually held on with sealent, it looks like it was done by someone who tiles bathrooms

anyway does this all sound true?

here is the for sale ad for the car

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1415234


any help appreciated

 

In my opinion, I would go with your gut and it seems like you have some doubts about it, so I wouldn't. I like to get a stock car and mod it myself so I know exactly what I do to it.
Best of Luck

 

so much crap going on I'd be afraid of the wheels falling off.

the OE shift throw is very, very short, but is usually butter smooth and hardly notchy (except 1-->2 shifts occasionally) - it's part of what makes driving this car fun.

 

what do you guys think of the car?

 

Stay away from it in my opinion, too many defects. Do your research regarding this:

"first up the soft top had two little tears either side which where fixed with what looked like black sealent to stop the hood ripping further, i have read that these cars have this fault but wondering how much it might cost for a new one with a glass rear window or maybe even a hardtop? i heard something about brackets too that are equally as dear as the hardtop itself ?"

There are numerous threads on the topic, hint: use the search function.

I'm not sure about Ireland, but there is always another S2000 on the market. Try and look for a stock one.

 

Its high milage plus its been tortured by is owner. I doubt its got a Spoon ecu. If he had the money to get a Spoon ecu, he would have the money to replace the top. Who knows if the engine internals are what he say they are, but if they are, who put them together? Him or a reputable shop? Overreving wont score a block but it will float or drop a valve. Unless it was DIRT cheap, I would look for another s2000. You can find high mileage cars for a reasonable price that have been well maintained.

 

the engine was built by ian cuddy motorsport and i have read the receipt that shows all the items that where installed and the price of each item

he is a reputable tuner for mitsubishi evo rally cars

it is a spoon ECU but it hits vetc at 6 and was told it revs to 10k but on the test drive it was wet and i only took it to 7-8k

he swapped the ecu for his standard one with a mate of his who was selling his car so think he gave 600 plus his standard ecu

the hood rip isnt massive and its not that noticable since the repair work was done

it is alot cheaper than most around the area and its proper JDM

 

'its proper JDM'

 

excuse me?

is there something wrong with having the JDM model?

 

They are awesome cars bar none some of the best bang for your buck you can get. This one seems really iffy though I would figure out what CEL(s) it has. Also when I read your text I hear your accent for some reason .