RE: Honda S2000: Catch it While You Can
Discussion
iloveboost said:
Prices seem to have risen slightly over the last two years, and now they appear worse value than a 986 Boxster. Perhaps it's the reliability that draws people to them?
Or, in that comparison, the perception - justified or not - that a cheap Boxster is an engine failure away from a write-off.Much as I like the S2000, we just bought a Z4M roadster for about 15k, and I'm not sure that I would want to pay low teens for essentially a very similar concept with 2/3 of the engine.
otolith said:
iloveboost said:
Prices seem to have risen slightly over the last two years, and now they appear worse value than a 986 Boxster. Perhaps it's the reliability that draws people to them?
Or, in that comparison, the perception - justified or not - that a cheap Boxster is an engine failure away from a write-off.Much as I like the S2000, we just bought a Z4M roadster for about 15k, and I'm not sure that I would want to pay low teens for essentially a very similar concept with 2/3 of the engine.
Dragon1972 said:
I bought mine new in 2003 in preference to a Porsche Boxster S after much playing (testing). To my mind the Honda looked better and felt more alive. 12 years later I've still got it in showroom condition, with less than 8k miles on the clock and full Honda history. It's a brilliant car when the sun's out. Only real problem is I'm 6'3 and really too tall for it so can't drive with the roof up, part of the reason for the low miles. I'm also very fortunate to have a company car for everyday use.
I was going to sell it this year to help fund a new purchase, but trying to work out a price is really difficult. In the end I took it for a drive on some favourite roads and decided to hang on to it, especially as values were starting to rise. I'm using it even less now since the arrival of the Scooby RB320 a few months ago, but when the sun comes out it's hard to resist.
One of my colleagues has a 2002 version with over 100k miles that runs like clockwork, so high mileage doesn't appear to be a problem with them.
I'd really recommend an S2000 to anyone wanting a quick fun car, but do be aware they can bite!
I don't know if you are aware, but there's a company in the US of A called "Backyard Specials" who make a replacement seat mounting for the standard seat which lowers it by 20mm.I was going to sell it this year to help fund a new purchase, but trying to work out a price is really difficult. In the end I took it for a drive on some favourite roads and decided to hang on to it, especially as values were starting to rise. I'm using it even less now since the arrival of the Scooby RB320 a few months ago, but when the sun comes out it's hard to resist.
One of my colleagues has a 2002 version with over 100k miles that runs like clockwork, so high mileage doesn't appear to be a problem with them.
I'd really recommend an S2000 to anyone wanting a quick fun car, but do be aware they can bite!
otolith said:
Or, in that comparison, the perception - justified or not - that a cheap Boxster is an engine failure away from a write-off.
Much as I like the S2000, we just bought a Z4M roadster for about 15k, and I'm not sure that I would want to pay low teens for essentially a very similar concept with 2/3 of the engine.
Mind I've read of a surprising number of S2000 engine failures, especially ones on 6-figure mileages and haven't been looked after properly. I'm sure they'll go on and on if the owners have been very strict on the maintenance but there's no guarantees. Also the F20C engine is designed and built only for that car (unlike, say, a 350Z, Z4 or MX5), so an engine failure on one of these will write the car off just as easily as a Boxster.Much as I like the S2000, we just bought a Z4M roadster for about 15k, and I'm not sure that I would want to pay low teens for essentially a very similar concept with 2/3 of the engine.
I'm sure it's more likely to happen to the Boxster but it clearly DOES happen to the S2000 as well, and I have to say at the prices they command now, that was always going to be a nail in the coffin for my interest in them.
oversteerer said:
Its quite easy to select 2nd gear at above 80 mph when attempting to down change into 4th because of the lack of torque in 5th and 6th. This could be a reason for the engine failures
That was one reason although that's self inflicted 
the other was keeping on top of the oil level and servicing. This one could be a ticking time bomb. I'm guessing due to the tight tolerances these engines are built, it tends to be more serious than with a less stressed engine (like in the 350z).j_s14a said:
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the crippling insurance costs yet...
My import Supra turbo is much cheaper to insure than an S2000, and when I was really looking a few years ago, E46 M3, R34 GTR, NSX and 996 turbo were all cheaper to insure!
I insured mine as a GT even though it wasn't. I had the removable hardtop, and that was the only difference between the GT and non-GT. The V5 wasn't even different between either version. My import Supra turbo is much cheaper to insure than an S2000, and when I was really looking a few years ago, E46 M3, R34 GTR, NSX and 996 turbo were all cheaper to insure!
The insurance difference, however, was significant. I guess the logic is that for some of the year you'd have the hardtop on, but as it was removable this wasn't a certainty.
Great cars. Like the type r's they are so well balanced between power to handling. The S needs the geometry setting properly by a specialist and then its sublime on the limit. The f20c just zings at high revs with an AEM long ram air intake on. They are so dual personality. You can drive normal roof down getting 30+ mpg or nail it round a racetrack drifting every corner and listening to the engine sing at 9,000 rpm.
I opted for an early MY00 as I much prefer the ride on 16s. If you can drive there really is no drama. That said you do need to take care in the wet and on adverse camber like roundabouts.
Real winner is the running costs. Cheap as chips to maintain and super reliable (08/09 excluded).
I opted for an early MY00 as I much prefer the ride on 16s. If you can drive there really is no drama. That said you do need to take care in the wet and on adverse camber like roundabouts.
Real winner is the running costs. Cheap as chips to maintain and super reliable (08/09 excluded).
I miss mine, had it for 12 years from new in 2000. They are not perfect by any means, the steering was numb, it really didn't manage the combination of wet, poor road surfaces and lateral movement well and was shockingly quick to slide when it felt like it. Managed not to stack mine and went to a Cayman S instead which felt a lot more grown-up. What do I miss? The best gearbox I have ever used, short throw, solid linkage, like a rifle bolt in actuation. 9300 RPM. And the banshee wail it made when reaching that red line in a tunnel.
I miss mine more and more.
Had one for nearly 10 years. A 2002 model which had a hard life on regular hoons around Scotland with like minded fellows. Never found it as bad handling wise as its reputation provided you were sensible. Not entirely reliable but when I tested the usual suspect peers after 3 years of ownership only another S2000 provided the best entertainment.
Sadly black ice one winter put paid to my second 2005 S (which while more footsure on wet bumpy Scottish roads was less sharp than its predecessor) and I took the opportunity to go for something a bit special on the basis that I might never get another chance.
While the handling of my Evora is in a different league to the Honda it is, oddly, almost too good insofar as it doesn't present the challenge that the Honda did on the public road. The engine has nothing like the character of the Honda and the build quality and gearbox is obviously very un-Honda. The inability to drop the roof in even half decent weather I frequently miss too.
Like others I should have bought another Honda before prices went silly, and would happily have kept it for many years. The car's flaws (in my view only the steering really let it down at that price point) are well outweighed by its simple enduring styling, reliability, practicality and cheap running costs.
Had one for nearly 10 years. A 2002 model which had a hard life on regular hoons around Scotland with like minded fellows. Never found it as bad handling wise as its reputation provided you were sensible. Not entirely reliable but when I tested the usual suspect peers after 3 years of ownership only another S2000 provided the best entertainment.
Sadly black ice one winter put paid to my second 2005 S (which while more footsure on wet bumpy Scottish roads was less sharp than its predecessor) and I took the opportunity to go for something a bit special on the basis that I might never get another chance.
While the handling of my Evora is in a different league to the Honda it is, oddly, almost too good insofar as it doesn't present the challenge that the Honda did on the public road. The engine has nothing like the character of the Honda and the build quality and gearbox is obviously very un-Honda. The inability to drop the roof in even half decent weather I frequently miss too.
Like others I should have bought another Honda before prices went silly, and would happily have kept it for many years. The car's flaws (in my view only the steering really let it down at that price point) are well outweighed by its simple enduring styling, reliability, practicality and cheap running costs.
They never became cheap here in Oz. I paid A$30,000 for my 27,000 kilometre 2001 about 4 years ago, & it is still worth about $27,000 with 40,000 Km on the clock, for an immaculate car.
The overpowered very quick steering makes them a tiring car for a long run, my non power steering TR7 or TR8 are better for a 1000Km interstate trip. But for a couple of hundred kilometre run through the ranges, or around town or city the S is hard to beat.
I tried most of the Asian, & all the usual European convertibles, but moved them on very quickly. Not many Hondas in the Oz bush, I'd never even seen an S until a friend suggested I try them, & went looking. About a kilometre in mine was enough to know it was the car for me.
I don't think our prices are rising yet, but they stopped falling a couple of years ago.
The overpowered very quick steering makes them a tiring car for a long run, my non power steering TR7 or TR8 are better for a 1000Km interstate trip. But for a couple of hundred kilometre run through the ranges, or around town or city the S is hard to beat.
I tried most of the Asian, & all the usual European convertibles, but moved them on very quickly. Not many Hondas in the Oz bush, I'd never even seen an S until a friend suggested I try them, & went looking. About a kilometre in mine was enough to know it was the car for me.
I don't think our prices are rising yet, but they stopped falling a couple of years ago.
I bought mine as a 22nd birthday present to myself in May and absoutly love it. Had an EP3 Type R for a few years before it so like my VTEC engines. Got it for a very good price with some already good modifications too.
I understand the whole 100% OEM thing when it comes to buying a car,but I like to fiddle with my cars while I have them and I keep the OEM bits to revert back to standard when I sell it on.
Currently mine has an Exedy stage 2 clutch & lightend flywheel, full stainless manifold back exhaust system, yellowspeed racing coilovers, engine torque dampner, brand new goodyear eagle f1s all around on the OEM wheels, and brand new Hankook V12 Evo2s on my Enkei NT03+M wheels, couple of other bits not really worth mentioning, here are some pictures:
All in I paid £6400 for a facelift moonrock in the lower tax band with FSH on 80k miles, I think I did pretty well!
I understand the whole 100% OEM thing when it comes to buying a car,but I like to fiddle with my cars while I have them and I keep the OEM bits to revert back to standard when I sell it on.
Currently mine has an Exedy stage 2 clutch & lightend flywheel, full stainless manifold back exhaust system, yellowspeed racing coilovers, engine torque dampner, brand new goodyear eagle f1s all around on the OEM wheels, and brand new Hankook V12 Evo2s on my Enkei NT03+M wheels, couple of other bits not really worth mentioning, here are some pictures:
All in I paid £6400 for a facelift moonrock in the lower tax band with FSH on 80k miles, I think I did pretty well!
mikey k said:
Not sure where they get Moonrock as "unloved"? Its one of the most popular colours after Silverstone.
+1. Moonrock is the colour for the s2k. whenever I see one in that shade it looks so right.Mind you, my Royal Navy blue pearl one didn't look too shoddy -rarer too. Miss it, specially with the air box lid off going through the Bell Common tunnel......
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