I am thinking about buying an "older" S2K this winter to use as a daily driver. It seems the 2000 and 2001 cars can be had with 30-40k miles for well under 20K.

Probably a dumb question, but how reliable are they?

Any issues with daily driving it (assuming the 2 seater is not a problem)?

Anything else I should know about or look for?

On a side note, why do I find it amusing that the spell checker on s2ki.com doesn't lile the string S2K

 

I'm actually looking for one for the gf as well, here's what I came up with.

-00/01 cars have a rear plastic window which can get scratched/foggy and needs to be polished with some kind of lexan/plastic polish
-Check all panels for original VIN tags
-Check soft top as some older models have wear holes where the frame meets the fabric
-Check for vibrations on the highway 70+mph
-00 cars don't have a clock
-00/01 only have 2 speakers which makes for a horrible stereo

The car is pretty reliabile assuming you drive reasonable and don't try 7000 rpm launches all the time. The rear end and clutch are somewhat weak and can't take repeated clutch drops. Also, from my research prices in the North Texas area seem to be high, if you do a nationwide search you can find medium mileage 02's and even a rare 03 for 20K or less.

Hope that helped and good luck

 

Don't just look for vin tags. You have to check the frame. Luckily parts of the S2000 frame don't have lots of paint on them, so you can usually see if the car's had paint work or not. But man capmared to the new S2000's the prevous ones were cramped!

 

I don't really see how you could have frame damage without destroying a piece of sheet metal (door/fender/bumper etc) As far as I know you can't get a replacement door etc with the original vin on it, it just says honda dot R. I checked out a car yesterday that had a door like that.

 

Have you seen the Dukes of Hazzard

Thanks for the advice

 

Some unreputable shops, reuse those tags. some mask over labels when they repaint also.

We just got in a black 2003 S2000 with 4500 miles on it. Don't kow what they're asking, but I think it's between $25k-26k with a Cartified warranty of course. Yah, yah I know "That's too much!"...From my experience $29,649 for a new one was still "too much." I don't price 'em folks.

 

I am not going to be ready to buy until the end or first of the year. I have pretty much decided if I buy one it should be a '02-'03.

 

Our '03 was sold today.