Let's talk S2000s
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Originally Posted by rioyellows2k,Mar 17 2008, 10:43 PM
Without turning this into an AP1 vs. aP2 thread....
If your budget is $20K you can swing either. Grab a below avg. mileage '04 for 16.5K-18K or a slightly higher than avg. '05 for 19-21K.
As much track duty as you do you're probably better off with the AP1. Shouldn't have a hard time finding a decent one for more than 16K for an '03. Frankly $16K is a little high for an AP1, unless the mileage is ridiculously low.
I'm thinking get a really good deal on an AP1, and you have left over cash to tinker with the car or get a cheap daily driver.
If you insist on the S as a Daily driver, swing for an AP2.
If your budget is $20K you can swing either. Grab a below avg. mileage '04 for 16.5K-18K or a slightly higher than avg. '05 for 19-21K.
As much track duty as you do you're probably better off with the AP1. Shouldn't have a hard time finding a decent one for more than 16K for an '03. Frankly $16K is a little high for an AP1, unless the mileage is ridiculously low.
I'm thinking get a really good deal on an AP1, and you have left over cash to tinker with the car or get a cheap daily driver.
If you insist on the S as a Daily driver, swing for an AP2.
Raw power AP1 and Daily driver AP2 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,389
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From: Dallas, TX
Back hurts?? Are you that old?
I went to houston in the morning around 9 and came back the same day later at night...and drove the S while I was there too, I did not feel a thing, I have a very loud exhaust(Invidia), still no whining and complaining...loved it!
I went to houston in the morning around 9 and came back the same day later at night...and drove the S while I was there too, I did not feel a thing, I have a very loud exhaust(Invidia), still no whining and complaining...loved it!
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,775
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From: North Austin, TX
Thanks for all of the advice so far, guys.
Scott, I have to admit that the cheap bastard in me would probably rather buy a really nice '03 and stick some money in the bank. What could I expect to get in an '03 for $16-17k?
Scott, I have to admit that the cheap bastard in me would probably rather buy a really nice '03 and stick some money in the bank. What could I expect to get in an '03 for $16-17k?
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,323
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From: Longmont, CO
So tell me about your S - is it your only car?
It was until I got my Tacoma in '04. Not that I had any issues with the S2000 as a daily driver, but I can do things with the truck that I can't with the S2000 (haul furniture, motorcycle, mulch, etc. )
If so, do you like it?
Loved it. Easy to drive and park, trunk holds plenty for day to day use, could drop the top on good weather days, didn't have to ever worry about it not running.
How many miles do you drive a year?
I was doing about 15k miles per year.
What kind of gas mileage do you realistically get?
22 to 26 in the city, depending on how I drove it. Most often, it was right around 24. If I did a full tank on the Interstate, I'd get 28 to 31.
How has the reliability been?
Excellent, but not without fault. I have fperra's old transmission because mine wouldn't stop grinding 2nd gear. A rear wheel bearing needed replacing. Had to swap inboard CV join cups side to side because of pitting - the pitting happens no matter what, but only shows up as an issue if you change the ride height of the car. It's never failed to start, except one time the battery died. (That's more an issue with Texas weather than a reliability issue, though.) At 82k miles currently, the AC still works like it was new. EgoThreat's car goes through oil faster than mine, but we're not sure what that's about.
Are there any particular issues I should look out for?
2nd gear grind on 00-01 cars.
Noisy friction disk on 00-01 cars.
Spark plug, seat belt and tail light recalls on MY00 cars.
Loose MAP sensor connection on AP1 cars.
Popping out of gear on 04 cars.
Vibration under acceleration from the car being lowered at some point in its life.
Leaking valve guide in the #4 cylinder leading to some oil burn. (https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.ph...&f=22&t=535199. That seems to be a somewhat isolate case - EgoThreat's oil loss is not nearly as much as this guy's, and I've never heard of anybody else loosing that much oil that quickly. I hesitate to even mention this, actually.)
An old, weak battery.
Is the AP2 worth the extra money, or will a well-maintained AP1 make me happier?
With your limited experience with S2000s, it might not matter which one you pick. They DO drive differently though, and I unreservedly prefer the AP1. But that's just my personal preference. YMMV. Here's some of my impressions:
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.ph...T&f=1&t=575458
My advice is that if an AP1 and AP2 are in the same condition, go for whichever is cheaper. The changes to the AP2 aren't necessarily worth a premium over the AP1. (Although I'd say that the stock MY04 suspension is too soft for proper autocrossing, but if you don't mind going aftermarket that's not an issue.)
It was until I got my Tacoma in '04. Not that I had any issues with the S2000 as a daily driver, but I can do things with the truck that I can't with the S2000 (haul furniture, motorcycle, mulch, etc.
)If so, do you like it?
Loved it. Easy to drive and park, trunk holds plenty for day to day use, could drop the top on good weather days, didn't have to ever worry about it not running.
How many miles do you drive a year?
I was doing about 15k miles per year.
What kind of gas mileage do you realistically get?
22 to 26 in the city, depending on how I drove it. Most often, it was right around 24. If I did a full tank on the Interstate, I'd get 28 to 31.
How has the reliability been?
Excellent, but not without fault. I have fperra's old transmission because mine wouldn't stop grinding 2nd gear. A rear wheel bearing needed replacing. Had to swap inboard CV join cups side to side because of pitting - the pitting happens no matter what, but only shows up as an issue if you change the ride height of the car. It's never failed to start, except one time the battery died. (That's more an issue with Texas weather than a reliability issue, though.) At 82k miles currently, the AC still works like it was new. EgoThreat's car goes through oil faster than mine, but we're not sure what that's about.
Are there any particular issues I should look out for?
2nd gear grind on 00-01 cars.
Noisy friction disk on 00-01 cars.
Spark plug, seat belt and tail light recalls on MY00 cars.
Loose MAP sensor connection on AP1 cars.
Popping out of gear on 04 cars.
Vibration under acceleration from the car being lowered at some point in its life.
Leaking valve guide in the #4 cylinder leading to some oil burn. (https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.ph...&f=22&t=535199. That seems to be a somewhat isolate case - EgoThreat's oil loss is not nearly as much as this guy's, and I've never heard of anybody else loosing that much oil that quickly. I hesitate to even mention this, actually.)
An old, weak battery.
Is the AP2 worth the extra money, or will a well-maintained AP1 make me happier?
With your limited experience with S2000s, it might not matter which one you pick. They DO drive differently though, and I unreservedly prefer the AP1. But that's just my personal preference. YMMV. Here's some of my impressions:
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.ph...T&f=1&t=575458
My advice is that if an AP1 and AP2 are in the same condition, go for whichever is cheaper. The changes to the AP2 aren't necessarily worth a premium over the AP1. (Although I'd say that the stock MY04 suspension is too soft for proper autocrossing, but if you don't mind going aftermarket that's not an issue.)
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Longmont, CO
Originally Posted by RyanDL,Mar 18 2008, 10:45 AM
Except that AP2s consistently make more HP than AP1s....
Ryan
Ryan