Im Russ, a new member and I am looking at possibly purchasing my first S2000.


After unfortunately selling my Elise, I have been craving after another soft top, and out of all the possibities, taking into consideration performance/purchase cost/reliability - the s2000 seems to come out on top.

Unfortunately my budget isn't huge, so will be towards the lower end of the market - Do the s2000's live up to Hondas great reliablitiy record? Mileage doesn't worry me, so I'm happy to have a higher mileage one if they last (Obiously if looked after)

I am very much one to buy on condition rather than miles, I am hoping the S2000 will be ok going on that


Runs off to the F/S section

 

From what I have learn't in the relative short time I have been coming on here is that the reliability record is well deserved but as you said it has to be a well maintained car to start with. What I have found is that prety much everything you need to buy for the S is always ridiculously expensive almost as if Honda are blatantly takng the Piff so it pays to shop around for any parts you may need or indeed price them up if required on a prospective purchase.
I imagine the Honda will be easy to live with on a daily basis in comparison to the Elise but still offers great back to basics driving and a little etra refinement.

Good luck with your search and welcome )

 

Thank you for the welcome

I am lucky in one aspect, that it won't be a daily driver, as I have a part time business selling cars, so I usually have a car I can use through the week, which brings me onto my next good point, as my day job is parts manager for a VW garage, so I have the usual trade contacts so I hopefully have a fighting chance to keep bills at a resectable level

 

Hi Russ,

Welcome to the forum! I'm reasonably new here myself and haven't had my S2 all that long, although I've had plenty of hondas and driven plenty of S2000s before.

Like you I used to have an Elise, great cars, but the S2 is a much more reassuring drive, I find myself able to push the car without worrying what I am going to break next, and the overall performance is much more fun on normal roads.

Generally speaking Hondas live up to their name when it comes to reliability, and the Vtec engine is pretty bomb proof, as long as the servicing is up to date and generally maintained.

Good luck with the search, you will get loads of help and advice along the way!

Mike.

 

After moving from an S1 Elise I had for 3 years to an S2000 4 years ago, I spent the first 2 days in my S sitting on the drive playing with the roof button.

Roof goes up.....roof goes down....Hey, no more 10 mins in a rainstorm faffing with Allen keys and poles! Cool! And the boot is huge in comparison.

100,000 miles later on in my S and all is still well but then I do spend an awful lot of time tinkering with it and making sure all is well.

Do some research but bushes will be the big expense.

 

I remember that feeling well - either drive fast or find a bridge to get the roof on!


The only issue I have is i'm quite tall, but mostly leg, so I find most cars are quite crampted for my legs - is there anyone local to me in Wiltshire I may be able to meet with at some point who would be kind enough to let me sit in their car?

I just need to make sure I'm able to fit lol

 

I'm 6'6" and fitted just fine.

Don't buy really cheap ones, you'll end up spending more in the short, medium, and long term. Save a little more and get one that deserves to be bought, and has been well maintained. I'd avoid ones that have been owned for a short time. These are often owned by, generally speaking, yoofs who spank the car everywhere, do no maintenance, and have no interest but to complain that modifying/insuring is more expensive than their CRX/Saxo.

 

I am a little different, as I tend to go for the cheaper ones, where cars are concerned, as fixing up in general is not too mcuh of a problem, as I am fairly mechanically minded and have a full workshop at my disposal - I usually am able to get a decent car in the end, at under value, so fingers crossed I might be able to do the same here.

Is there anything specific I need to be looking for? I understand suspension bolts can be an issue?


Re the height issue, as said I have unusually long legs, so I tend to end up driving most cars with knees on the dash - in fact my lastest clio 172 track car I have fabricated and welded in custom seat runners, to be able to get a comfortable seating position

 

Hi I'm quite recent to the forum too - had the S for about a month - mine is an early car 99 UK spec - like folk have mentioned about car history went for one with good history, proof of mileage and owner history - in this case it was 2 owners from new the last since 2002. The fact that it required a new clutch didn't put me off due to the history.

Marc

 

I live in Salisbury and use my S as a daily drive for the past 15 months commuting between Salisbury - Reading - M25, so let me know where you live