the s2000 choice
Joined: May 2010
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From: Costa del Cornwall
If you can't afford a couple of hundred quid a year on tax then possibly you are looking at the wrong car, after all it's only a few petrol fill ups. Tax shouldn't be an issue there are many more expenses that should influence your decision. After all if you need to replace all four boots it's going to be not much short of £450.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2017
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If you can't afford a couple of hundred quid a year on tax then possibly you are looking at the wrong car, after all it's only a few petrol fill ups. Tax shouldn't be an issue there are many more expenses that should influence your decision. After all if you need to replace all four boots it's going to be not much short of £450.
if you need to buy 4 tyres then that's £765 vs £990 - for exactly the same car mechanically, its certainly worth bearing in mind if you are looking to buy.
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,087
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From: In the gutter
I’ve had both an 02 car and a facelift 04.
The 02 was standard, it had 80k when I got it and 111k when we parted company. In that time I had a sticking valve stem oil seal and other than a TCT that was pretty much it mechanicaly. It ran very well, burned oil in line with expectations and was very quiet.
The 04 had 60 ish k and let go at around 70k. It was the least reliable car I have ever owned. You pays your money and all that!
The driving differences were as Lovegroova says, the earlier car was a bit pointy and could be a handful, especially in the wet but it was a real blast to drive. The feral nature of it was exciting and I had an understanding of it like few cars I’ve owned. The later car was slightly softer and as a result was a bit easier to handle and ultimately a little quicker as the power could be applied sooner. And the last big difference is the VTEC crossover point. In pre-facelift cars it was a very definite step at 6k, in post-facelift cars it starts at around 5.5k and is a progressive transition.
As has already been said, there were updates to suspension settings as the years passed, each revision getting softer until the last on (08 from memory) when Honda reverted to the 02 settings. The other thing the 04 facelift bought to the party was a redesigned rocker cover and oil jet combo that lead to a significant reduction in oil consumption. Have a look at the FAQ for the full MY year differences if you want the full gen.
Which would I go for? Whilst I really did love the 02, it’d have to be the facelift car. Don’t get me wrong it was still a way off being domesticated but it was just a better all round proposition. Add to that the (subjective opinion I know but...) better looks of the 04 and that’s what I’d go for.
The 02 was standard, it had 80k when I got it and 111k when we parted company. In that time I had a sticking valve stem oil seal and other than a TCT that was pretty much it mechanicaly. It ran very well, burned oil in line with expectations and was very quiet.
The 04 had 60 ish k and let go at around 70k. It was the least reliable car I have ever owned. You pays your money and all that!
The driving differences were as Lovegroova says, the earlier car was a bit pointy and could be a handful, especially in the wet but it was a real blast to drive. The feral nature of it was exciting and I had an understanding of it like few cars I’ve owned. The later car was slightly softer and as a result was a bit easier to handle and ultimately a little quicker as the power could be applied sooner. And the last big difference is the VTEC crossover point. In pre-facelift cars it was a very definite step at 6k, in post-facelift cars it starts at around 5.5k and is a progressive transition.
As has already been said, there were updates to suspension settings as the years passed, each revision getting softer until the last on (08 from memory) when Honda reverted to the 02 settings. The other thing the 04 facelift bought to the party was a redesigned rocker cover and oil jet combo that lead to a significant reduction in oil consumption. Have a look at the FAQ for the full MY year differences if you want the full gen.
Which would I go for? Whilst I really did love the 02, it’d have to be the facelift car. Don’t get me wrong it was still a way off being domesticated but it was just a better all round proposition. Add to that the (subjective opinion I know but...) better looks of the 04 and that’s what I’d go for.
Last edited by PaulF; Apr 25, 2018 at 10:00 AM.
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 8,076
Likes: 86
From: Costa del Cornwall
i tend to agree, but it's not £200 a year on tax, it's £200 MORE tax a year - in fact now it's £315 for pre-March 06, and £540 for post-March 06 - so £225 more.
if you need to buy 4 tyres then that's £765 vs £990 - for exactly the same car mechanically, its certainly worth bearing in mind if you are looking to buy.
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 23,299
Likes: 832
From: Nottingham
I think the point is it's 200 extra for the same thing, potentially a day newer
Ultimately I would not be concerned about age, they are all old, I'd be looking at history, condition, how it drives
But given 2 cars a year apart the one which would cost £1k less over 5 years may be a better option
Ultimately I would not be concerned about age, they are all old, I'd be looking at history, condition, how it drives
But given 2 cars a year apart the one which would cost £1k less over 5 years may be a better option
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Joined: Oct 2017
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The car in question.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201805036169553?advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=cf382sf&model=S2000&sort =distance&page=1&make=HONDA&onesearchad=Used&onese archad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201805036169553?advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=cf382sf&model=S2000&sort =distance&page=1&make=HONDA&onesearchad=Used&onese archad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New
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Sludge
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Apr 3, 2011 06:50 AM