Hi all - please excuse my ignorance here but i have searched over and over for this info but seem to get conflicting information from different sources.

I've recently handed back a leased Cooper S after 2 years and am now looking to take my driving to the next stage. Really taken by the S2000 and the only real thing now is to decide whether or not to buy second hand or new (motorpoint doing some storming deals at

 

Sorry just realised i've posted this in a dumbass place!!

 

The new ones have firmer suspension and nice 5 spoke alloy wheels.

Sounds small, but I think they make the difference and I would go for the 09 spec car

 

They also have VSA vehicle stability assistance, speakers in the rear roll bars and the interior seats are different.

I may be wrong but they didn't do these in the 2006 model.

 

If you look open the bonnet it will tell you the year of manufacture.

You will see something like JHJMAP11409xxxxxx


The 09 is the year of manufacture.

04? or 05? up to 07 cars have 10 spoke wheels.
I cancelled an order at Motorpoint for this reason

08 & 09 cars have 5 spoke wheels.


VSA was an option on 06/7 cars.
On 08 cars onwards it is standard fit.


Look at Bristol Honda -

 

Bob Gerard wasn't able to beat any of the dealer offers I had lately, they are desperate to deal but new stocks are getting low, colour choice limited too. I was offered a much better deal on a roadster than a GT, by quite a margin so unless you really think you will use a hardtop I wouldn't bother, mine has sat on the stand for over two years hiding under a cover.

 

Pre april 06 is much lower tax (by half). Things of value on the 06 onward are traction control (vsa), and slightly stiffened suspention on the 09. Personaly I hate the latest MX5 parts bin wheels, and the 04 wheels I like most (and are lighter than the 16's they replaced inc. tyres).

VSA is for girls, and the suspention tweaks on the 09 are nice, but the money you'd save on price/tax getting a pre 06 would get you some very nice coilovers and still leave change.

 

What are the differences between an 08 and 09 model ?

 

All thanks for the help in this regard.

of the cars on motorpoint i have seen they all appear to have the new 5 spoke wheels although will obviously check the serial number.

Are the motorpoint cars EU imports or genuine UK cars?

Agreed on the GT front - i probably wouldn't bother with it for me personally especially as i haven't got the space to store it but can see the appeal to others.

When did the keyless entry become standard?

Thanks again for the help

 

Complicated - as far as I know there are no differences between the '08 and '09 "standard" models.

However, there is a limited edition '09 model too, which is only available in Grand Prix White. It has some cosmetic differences, but is effectively the same as an '08 underneath. Looks though, wish I could get one but only just got mine!

andyparker - Motorpoint cars are EU imports. As many have said on the forum there are no differences between EU and UK cars. They are made in the same factory, but the EU cars are shipped via Cyprus or Malta.

My car doesn't have keyless entry. I assume you mean starter-button, in which case it became standard when it came out in '99!