Ive had mine a year now, and ive spent about 5000 maintaining it, I've had a lot of age-related wear (ball joints, clutch master cyl and slave, coil packs, wheel bearings, the list goes on), I was wondering if you all spend a similar amount to keep your S in good shape or if im just unlucky. My 01 has 139k miles and is stock. Its always something with this thing i swear lol.
Now the rear is clicking when setting off from a stop, great....

 

Mine is an '02 with 113k miles. I've had it for 4 years and maintenance wise I changed all fluids and did the valve keepers, springs and retainers. So all preventive maintenance. I do only drive it about 5k miles a year. So far so good. Hope you don't have any more issues after you get this latest one fixed! Generally, it's been a very reliable car, especially for a high performance car. That's one of the big pluses for the S2k.

 

Check to see if you axle nut has been torque. Main symptom is rear clicking noise..

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/s2000-un...sb-diy-929843/

 

How much do I pay?
Significantly less than I would for a similar era Porsche or BMW.
And cumulatively less for the next 20 years if I were to buy a current era Porsche or performance oriented BMW-M.

I'm at 117K miles with 100-ish track days (purchased in 2010 with 36k miles) - estimating around 150hrs logged on track. I've replaced the following:
- all control arms and bushings
- all 4 knuckles and hubs
- all 4 wheel bearings (the rears 3x now)
- All coil packs
- spark plugs every time I do a valve adjustment - so every 1.5 years or so
- radiator and all hoses
- clutch master cylinder - 1x
- TCT with billman unit
- vtec solenoid
- last year - differential finally blew up - replaced with OSG and had to replace ring and pinion
- motor and transmission mounts
- differential mounts
- battery 3x
- countless fluid flushes/changes - brakes, differential, transmission, motor
- F/R BBK - so nothing to comment regarding rotors/pads

- still on the original transmission and motor - for now
- car has not left me stranded needing a tow truck at the track yet... knock on wood

Given the age and mileage of your car, that all sounds like standard stuff that needs replacing.

I've owned an 86 944 turbo from 2005 to 2009 with 56k miles. And owned an e30 325is from 2012-2014 with 130k miles. Both cars were nightmares. Both cars left me stranded 2x needing a tow truck, and both cars never saw any track time.
Will never own German again. As much as I swoon over GT Porsches I wouldn't be able to stomach the cost of parts and the price of specialist labor.

 

I've had my S for about 14 years. Not counting tires, I don't think Ive spent more than $5k total that entire time. I've put over 100k miles on it in that time (total now around 170k miles).

I diy everything, so its only parts costs. Only expensive thing so far, clutch. po installed a crap ebay clutch which didn't last.

Its been oil changes, all fluids, brakes, shocks (used low mile oem), clutch, a couple gaskets, Billman TCT (though that was preemptive), plugs, clutch mc, radiator, compliance bushings,

 

I've had my 2002 for 9 years but it had been off the road for approx. 4 years as the rear end and sections of floor had rusted to the point of requiring a rebuild.I didn't have the money to do it until last year.
I used a recommended specialist who collected it and evaluated it,after discussion about budget I went ahead.Very grateful I did as it's a joy to drive.
Only 88k on the clock and due an MOT in September.Spent approx £140 on it so far on a brake line corrosion issue & would like to renew the softtop but that can wait.
in Scotland there's a limited time period for using it as a convertible I've spent money on cosmetic stuff but nothing subdtsntial.

 

I've spent maybe $20k over the last decade replacing parts from bushings to suspension to radiators and the clutch/flywheel. The car drives like new now which is awesome but it wasn't cheap. So maybe like $2k/year average. This year has been substantially cheaper as I've pretty much done everything at this point and have just been driving the car now. Last year was a pain as that included all the bushings (subframe, steering rack, all control arms and tie rods).

 

I've had my '03 since 2012. (112k on it) Got it home less than 24 hrs before Sandy hit. The place it was stored, was under 8 feet of water from the storm.

Initially, 4 tires (cheapo Hankooks), all fluids, filters. Adjusted valves, plugs, chain idler pulley bolt o-ring and t-chain tensioner. New belt. I spent about 1100 in all for the maintenance.

The car was filthy and stank of cigarettes. That winter, stripped out the interior and went on a used parts adventure. Replaced door sills, driver's side carpet, floor mats (copies and a few other trim bits that were damaged. And a top tonneau brand new in wrappers for $100 shipped. At the time, used parts were fairly inexpensive, I spent less than $400 for the interior bits. I also painted the cluster surround, shift surround and backs of the headrests body color and clear coated them as the silver was all scratched up. (my car is Silverstone)

In the years since, oil changes annually or 3k, whichever comes first. In 2017 it got driveline fluids again. 2022 coolant. And an air filter.

Last year, did a pressure bleed with new brake fluid and put on AP2 stock pads. Car still has all original brake rotors.

I have kept watch on the suspension, all bushings are still good, no cracks. I am watching ball joint and antiroll bar boots, they have cracks, but yet to leak any grease.

I add oil as necessary, depending on how much I beat on it.

It has been a very good car to me. It sits on a battery maintainer in cold weather, once salt hits, it's parked in my garage, top up, and in March (depending on when the salt washes away), top goes down, tonneau goes on and off I go.