Just been for a quick run in my 2001 s2k with 60k miles and full Honda service history. I have had the car just over a month and loved it.
Then today I noticed a ticking noise at about 4rpm on acceleration. I nursed the car home 12 miles and by the time I reached the garage in Aberdeen it sounded like a tractor it was horrendous The garage said they have never seen this with an s2000 and it could be the big end bearing or maybe a new engine if the crankshaft is damaged etc!!! So much for the proclaimed reliability. There is plenty of oil in the engine. I don't abuse the car but it is made to driven. The car only cost me 5k and I am dreading the bill. May be better to break for bits. How bad can it be? What is the cost of a second hand engine.....? I want to cry

 

a used engine will cost you £2.5k ish plus fitting. i think it's better to break her mate if it's terminal.

the do drink oil and maybe the previous owner didnt keep her topped up?

 

Don't right it off just yet. It might be something simple like the timing chain tensioner. Has the engine got oil in it? It's very strange to lunch a bearing or crankshaft with the correct oil and at a decent level. It could be a valve that needs adjusting also if it started out ticking.

Fingers crossed it won't be as bad as it seems.

 

I've been through all this over the last month, and echo your thoughts on reliability! Mine had just gone through a major service at honda too

Luckily I bought through a dealer, so they have part covered the cost of a replacement (JDM ) engine.