Is this a good bet...
 

Hi there everyone I work for Honda and realise the S2000 are good cars. I have been told the later 53 plate onwards S2s are the ones to have? Thing is my budget will get me a high mileage one I have seen this one with 106,000 on the clock but only 2 owners, looks alright and full of history could have been just driven up and down a motorway? Is it a huge risk are these reliable? I'm coming from an Alfa 147 GTA, which ahs stung me a lot of money...

Here's the advert: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...onda?logcode=p

Or on here: The nurby blue top advert..http://www.s2kuk.com/classifieds.php

Please help I would really appreciate all comments.

Thanks,

Sam

The first one IMO the colour is a bit marmite, that is all. I have an 04 model with 102k on the clock, it's faultless.

Would you not be worried about the mileage? How has yours been? :)

If looked after a lot of people have done stellar mileage, even charged

But there are lots of low mileage cars around and the 04s had more revisions than 02s

Take a look in the for sale section on here. There's an 05 car with 85k on the clock for similar money.

Sent from my SGS4

As above.

One that's been owned and maintained by an enthusiast and has all the right gubbins on it to ensure you trouble free motoring for years to come :)

Mine is in very good condition, I bought it on 85k. Mileage I'm not fussed with, just check it's had regular oil changes, listen to the TCT, and check for rust

Just curious what "53 plate onwards" means. Something UK specific?

The £6,400 '05 blue car looks good to me. That's roughly US$10,000 with what looks like all the service records and new wheels and tires.

-- Chuck

53 plate = late 2003/early 2004 = AP2 onwards to you guys - although we got the AP2 with everything minus the engine ;)

Surprises me how much cheaper S2000s are over here than in the states - like for like.

Its the way our registrations over in the UK work so a 53 indicates that the s2 was registered between sept 2003 to feb 2004..

I have an Alfa 147 GTA that I have to part exchange in I have it advertised for sale and I'm suprised how hard it's proving to sell given the money I have invested on it!

Thanks for the heads up anything i should check is there a thread on what to look out for someone could link me to?!

Thanks

Sam

Alfa are well known for free-fall depreciation, that's why people shy away from them. Maybe that's the problem.

I understand but it's an enthusiasts car very rare to, only 250 or so in this country and there's plenty of people who like them just ill timing maybe! I really want to buy that 2005 Nurby blue one!!!

Just a quick one I have been continued to look and I think I have found one: A Moonrock grey with hardtop full Honda history the works been carried out by the Honda garage I work at with 107,000 miles. We sold the car a few years ago and the mechanics have said it's a mint very well looked after example mechanically. Private S2 related plate inc in the sale and it's on an 04 plate any ideas what I should be paying for it? If I bought it and kept it a couple of years would it lose much money? It's just I haven't seen a facelift sell for under £6000 whatever the mileage?
Clutch is original too but isn't suffering at all can this be possible?
Biggest question i have a mint mk1 MX-5 is it worth paying the money?!

Thanks for your help! :)

Sam

Original clutch is quite possible. I recently replaced mine (upgrade ahead of a supercharger installation) and it had 1/3 life left after 87k miles.

AP2 IS the engine!

And the S is a fair step up from a little MX-5. It'll make the hairs on your neck stand up in comparison.

This year prices seem to be going up. :tipwink:

AP2 is not an engine :p. F22C is the engine used on the AP2.

How much do you think the example Ive described to you are worth? I probably should factor in a new clutch? And are there cases of the TCT lasting well over a 100,000 miles if it's been properly cared for?

Thanks

AP2 is not an engine :p. F22C is the engine used on the AP2.
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Pedant! OK the F22C is the engine used exclusivly in the AP2, and of course you know we never had the AP2 in Europe.

The TCT is not a major issue, and can be DIY fixed. The clutch is imposible to quantify as you won't know how it's been driven and could well last 150K+. As for the worth of any car is dependant on too many things to accuratly guess, one trick is to have a look on eBay and go to advanced search, you can look at compleated listings this will tell you what has and hasn't sold and what prices they have fetched.

I'm just wondering if anyone's seen a silly high mileage facelift sell for less than £6000.. sounds good think I will be an S2000 owner very shortly :D

Always had a hankering for Alfa V6's, especially that 3.2 in the GTA! Bet it was an animal!

How much can you buy the Moonrock for?

If the mechanics know the car and can vouch for its condition then it sounds like a potentially good buy.

Don't let mileage worry you too much, service history and treatment of the car is paramount. Just make sure you don't pay over the odds as the mileage does effect the asking price of these cars.

I've owned 3 100k+ S2000's and been happy with them (including my current one).

If you can, find out if the geometry bolts are free, or when it was last done, as that can be a costly repair should the geo bolts be seized (have a search around the forum for more info).

Regarding the clutch life. I bought my S2k on 85k miles with good history of works carried out, but no indication that the clutch had been replaced.

Like you I thought I would have to spend money on a new clutch soon.

That was 8 years ago and the car has just clocked up 160k miles and still not needed to change the clutch!!

As mentioned above, the moonrock sounds like a good buy if the garage you work at has serviced it the last few years. Also a good sign that the owner is taking it to Honda for the service.

As with all cars, mileage is not really an issue providing the car has been looked after.
Reason many people go for low mileage cars are that it means less miles for someone else to wreck the car.

Fully agree with comment about the alignment bolts.
Could even ask it as a condition of sale. Owner to have geo done on car and all bolts checked for seizing.

Another true comment that has already been made, the price of S2000 seem to be going up this year. Looking at prices now, I am sure I can sell mine for a profit to what I paid for it 2 years ago. But a car is only worth what someone is willing to pay.

Key things to watch for.
Check rear arches. Honda's are very bad for this. Check for rust. If the rubber arch protectors are still on, this can often (Not always) cause water to be trapped and start rusting from inside out.

Check the wheels. Same brand and type of tyre on all 4 corners? You do not want to have 2 different tyres of tyre on the car. Will not handle well.

TCT: This seems to be an odd one. Some peoples last 150K+, others go at 20K. But as mentioned, its a potential easy DIY fix, or a couple hundred £ for a heavy duty one shipped form the states.

Good luck and hope to see you with a S2000 soon.

I paid £6000 for a facelift GT in November 2012, 60k, 1 owner, prices do seem to have gone up since then though

Wow you must have striked well lucky I haven't seen a facelift for that money in the last year I have looked. Chap wants £6500 but I was more inclined to want to pay 6 for it..

I have thread about the TCT it really does all depend on how it's been driven. Does the TCT just suddenly go or are there plenty of warning signs well in advance? I ask because I have a holiday booked to Italy with the car!

Thanks

Sam

I remember when you bought it, that was atleast £1k underpriced even back then. :). Lucky you, glad you still enjoy it!

My TCT suddenly went. However its not something that would cause you to immediately stop driving your car and repair asap. As long as you don't keep driving it for thousands of miles with a ticking TCT you'll be okay. I was driving mine around for a few weeks before I got my replacement from the states. Plus price wise, as already said Rob1980 got a freakishly good deal even back then, so not really much use for comparison. I reckon 6k from what you describe is an okay deal.

Don't get hung up on the TCT.

You can sandblast the worm gear inside it for a cheap / temporary fix, or get an uprated item from the states for under £200 which should last (one of the lads here in the NW has one and does mega miles and hasn't had a peep)

http://www.balladesports.com/product...hain-tensioner

I remember when you bought it, that was atleast £1k underpriced even back then. :). Lucky you, glad you still enjoy it!
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You have a good memory, I don't remember what I did last week! Still love the car, it's only done 62700 now so need to get out in it more this year

Well just to revive this thread after ALL my concerns and worries and after doing lots of thinking I have agreed to purchase the S2000 I can't wait to get it sorted got to wait till the 25th of next month as i'm going in my MX-5 to Italy for 3 weeks soon!

It's a Moonrock S2000 and after the mechanics gave it the all clear and I got the hardtop and private plate inc too I suddenly stopped worrying about the mileage.

I am looking to go to the Beaulieu event and can't wait to pick her up excited is an understatement!

:D

If you're going to Italy in an MX5 take a spare coil pack and HT leads. Mine (1.8 Mk1) melted a coil after 4 hours motorway in hot weather on route to Nurburgh ring. I've still got it sat next to my S on the drive :-)

Used curs are generally cheaper in the 'States. Except obviously for the effect of boondoggles like Cash for Plumpers or whatever.

You have however to factor in that Honda is a popular and well-respected brand over there, not like here. Honda sort of has the equivalent UK reputation of German shite and the prices reflect this. Of course, the US prices for VAG shite reflect their derisory reputation over there.