If I were to sell my car now (MY02, 90k miles) it would probably be somewhere within your budget.

It has a FHSH and more importantly, 2 years more of Honda Extended warranty. Should the engine go bang, there's a good likelihood of getting a new one for free.

I check the oil regularly and yes, it's been on tracks a fair few times, but all seems well thus far (fingers crossed).

This is the type of car you would be looking for. Unfotunately for you, it's not for sale

 

All UK cars are AP1. You're best off referring to cars by model year.

MY99 (original)
MY02 (Glass rear screen)
MY04 (new lights, 17" wheels)
MY06 (different wheels, VSA option)
MY08 (different wheels VSA standard)

 

Ah right sorry. I was sure when the new engine came into place it was then called the AP2 so my bad. Well i'd be looking at an MY01 as i hear the tax after the MY01 cars doubles?!

 

Before March 01 it's £190, before 23 March 2006 it's £215 and after that, it's £405.

Oh, and it's not "your bad", it's "your mistake" - we are quite posh here you know

Have a good read of the FAQ where the MY differences are explained in great detail, as well as lots of other good stuff.

 

Ah right...thanks for clearing that up mate.

Well i'v decided to wait till the winter time to get my dream motor!

That way i'll have another years no claims and more money under my belt to buy the s2000 i wouldnt be comprimising on.

I will probably looking for a MY02

Thank you all once again

 

Each engine is different; obviously mileage done will mitigate to a certain extent the chances of it going bang, however there are a few stories on here of newer cars with v. low mileage going pop too.

How it's been run in and treated throughout its life will also factor greatly in how many miles you can expect out of it but once again this is no guarantee for years of hassle free motoring.

As others have said, the only thing you can do is reduce the risk, I personally would be more inclined to look at a cars general upkeep rather than just concentrate on mileage.

I paid £7.5k (budget was circa 10k) for mine with 80,000 miles, FHSH (all receipts), hardtop, private plate, newer shape alloys and a mint interior with no dents or paintwork issues and an immaculate (original) roof. I did however have to do a fair amount of shopping around and viewed a fair few lower mileage, higher priced, newer dogs before settling for this one.

 

Liked the comment, "is the F20c a good motor?"

Apart from 120 BHP/litre and more awards than Slartibartfast and more technology and character than you can shake a stick at...

Compared to your bulky and heavy B20 (yes; it truly IS that compact) it uses all sorts of racing stuff which ought to ensure excellent longevity.

Unfortunately, being so highly-tuned & revving, there are a couple of potentially weak points; valves & conrods. Whether it's due to abuse or a slightly random factor, is unclear.

My one-owner lump, carefully warmed up & then thrashed mercilessly, threw a rod @ 40,000 miles under a low-load situation. Others have done likewise. A LOT more have found second, not fourth which is not Honda's fault.

It's a high-performance car and you WILL pay more for it. Any higher up the performance scale and things get a LOT more expensive.

You've acutally been spoiled by 'Tegs and the like, where the car's performance is way out of scale to its costs & reliability. Unfortunately, the S2000 does likewise, relative to other cars, too!

 

I thought that when I bought my previous car - bought from a long standing well respected member of another club and found all sorts of bodges (some of them dangerous) which had been done whilst he had the car - so now I wouldn't personally say that the owner being a club/forum member gives you any more clue as to how a car's been looked after.

 

I know lots of people get hung up on the Honda service history. Unless it's a well regarded Honda dealer (Crown Bushey, Bristol since Gaxxy arrived there?) I'm really not sure this is worth it at all past the warranty period.

I'd have thought an indy garage with a clue would look after the car just as well.

 

There are also some pretty high milers on here wth original engines and no issues yet. AquillaEagle had an engine let go at 126K, and that was, by his own admission, his own fault, the car currently has 200K+ on it. Vixen has 114K on her car, and having followed it, it's no slower, or smokey than any other S I've followed.

Have a look here milage thread for more info.