Integroo

I appreciate that. I think the S2000's are great cars and I appreciate that they are holding their value well because of this, but I am just a little wary about spending the entirety of my budget on it is all. If I could buy a decent example for 9k and have another three or four in the bank to fix anything that may turn out to required fixed, that would be great. It would just be pretty annoying if I needed to find two grand to get bolts cut out in a few months.

Just want to buy sensibly.

Though you never know, may throw caution to the wind ...

Nick Graves

No, you're being perfectly sensible - an old car can shit the bed at any time (as can a new one, these days) so having a reserve is important.

Gaffa

buy one that has had the GEO done and or bushes and bolts replaced
just for your info mine was assessed by an independent vehicle assessor yesterday and he was very impressed with it. Couple of minor bits and bobs but nothing expensive

Integroo

There's an '05 nearby, 78k miles, has had geo done recently with print outs, 9k. It is tempting! I don't like the colour particularly though - Suzuka Blue.

Facian

I'd try and view 2/3 at least and drive them if you can. I had a budget of up to £10k and no real criteria other than condition, I viewed and drove a 75k mile 2003 car which was around £8,500 and on paper seemed great, but I ended up buying a 100k mile 2000 import for over £2,000 less because the condition, the information/gut feeling i got from the current owner and the way it drove was streets ahead of the newer 'better' car.

As for whether they're 3x better than an EP3, I'd say so having had an EP3, DC2 and now S2000 (with lots in between admittedly to muddy the memories). The EP3 i only found fun when driving like a loon, the rest of the time it's just a fairly dull but reliable Japanese hatchback.

Integroo

One to ponder. There is nothing stopping me hooning around in an EP3 for the winter and if it doesn't quite fit the bill, shifting it on (and at that end of the market I should be able to sell for what I buy) and buying an S2K in spring!

Facian

That's not a bad option to be honest. S2000's don't really tend to get much cheaper over winter unfortunately, just less good ones around as people hold onto them until the Spring to get a decent price/quicker sale.

Little Bob

Integroo - this might be worth a look?