I want an s2000, I love the car but I can only afford an AP1. I am curious to see how big of a deal the AP1 oil consumption issue is, how bad it gets and what it means for performance and overall reliability of the car...

 

if your talking about the average ap1, then its not bad at all and not really an issue if you have a good oil check schedule. however, given the age, there will also be a few ap1 cars that will burn it due to abuse,etc.

 

You'll also "consume" oil with an AP1 due to the PCV if you autocross / track it. Catch can or Krank Vents.

 

Its honestly not that bad. I learned my lesson from a scored cylinder before. I check my oil level before I ever get on it hard or about once or twice a week now. Also when im going on a longer drive.

 

I got 171k on mine and check the oil once a week. its a DD. maybe a quart a month pending how you drive it. get you one!

 

does performance suffer because of it? do all of them do it?

What info do I need to make sure the one I buy is a good one?

If the compression numbers are good? And what are they?

 

235 being max and 130 being least. there are plenty a good buys out there.

 

Just typical Ap1 behavior Just make note to check your oil at least once a week. I just check it when I get to the garage in the morning. Typically I see it eat a quart of oil every thousand miles. I drive hard and take it to the track as well. You should be fine.

 

I'm being told that burning oil is going to eventually (sooner than later) make the engine go boom...

I want to be able to buy one of these, keep it a while and enjoy it. Not take a performance hit because each time I drive it hard it kills it more...

That is my concern, my mind was made up about this car and now it just feels to me like I'd be buying a lost cause.

 

FWIW, my S has 86k on it, has been tracked since I bought it in '07 at 40k miles (16 track days), and it doesn't burn oil during normal usage. At the track it can lose a little through the PCV system during hard cornering, but not more than half a quart to a quart over two track days.

I wouldn't worry about it.