S2000 - high miles = avoid?

S2000 - high miles = avoid?

Author
Discussion

TheJimi

Original Poster:

24,859 posts

242 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
After spending the past few months looking for another weekend car, I haven't been very inspired but after a bit of a nose around an S2000 (AP1) last night and a passenger run, I'm sold - the hunt is on biggrin

Been doing some research on the most common issues, so I'm know what I'm looking for, however, in my research, there seems to be a school of thought that says to avoid high mileage cars.

Is there any truth to that? What would you consider the upper limits to be?

gdaybruce

753 posts

224 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
I can only speak from my own experience but I went for condition and service history and bought a 2006 car with 88k on the clock for what seemed a good price. That was last March and while I've only added around 3k since then, I've taken it to Le Mans and done one track day and the car has been faultless. It used a bit of oil on the track day but in normal driving, none at all.

TheJimi

Original Poster:

24,859 posts

242 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
What should I be paying for an AP1, in good condition with circa 80k on the clock? (with one eye on residuals for resale in about a year)

Chippo1

344 posts

122 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
There any number of S2000 on way in excess of 100k with many being driver very hard including many track days and quite a few turbo charged running 400hp or more on standard internals with no problems, sure the odd one fails Lovegrovva on S2KI has done about 50 tracks day as far afield as Spa and has about 140k miles on the clock engine faultless

All Uk cars are AP1 , pre or post face lift , AP2 refers to the later US spec with the 2.2l engine that was never imported to the Uk at all ever , never , so unless you find the illusive car that was imported from the US of A you will land up with an AP1

Pre face lift drink oil , it's not a problem any where up to 1 litre per 1000 miles , just check oil levels every fill up.

All cars can suffer from seized suspension bush adjusters , these need to be dealt with if you want good geo and decent handling

The car can be tyre sensitive

Rear wheel arch corrosion can be an issue , mainly around the lip under the rubber protector

Check the cill seam under the car as well

Timing chain tensioner can wear out and cause rattles

Timing chains are usually ok and good for life

Oil filters should be OEM the bigger physically of the two options , Honda stealers have been known to fit the wrong one , make sure it's properly tightened , loose the oil or half of it and call the fire brigade if you lucky it's. New engine !

Sensitive to diff oil , Torsten diff and box oil Honda OEM is just fine

Spark plugs need to be properly tightened they have come loose

Brake callipers are prone to corrosion on the piston and slider pins causing stickiness , and hot brakes to say the least , mainly at high mirages , refurb ones from Brakes international or such like are fine and 25% of the price of OEM


Rear hub nuts can come loose or not ever been tightened properly Honda later revised torque values

OEM roofs last quite well but do fail around the hinge point of the frame and on a few areas where the frame rubs , most land up putting a non OEM mohair roof on , the OEM is a man made fibre fabric

Drivers seat suffers from wear on the shoulder esp where Jean rub when you jump in and out

Clutch can suffer from buzz there was an upgrade early on to part No 055 although these can still buzz , mine does , there is also a mod to improve feel cleaning and polishing the fork ball . Also change fluid in clutch system

Brake pipes around rear subframe can rust at high mill ages

Check for water leaks in boot , usually as a result of blocked roof drains , you need to take tool try out and feel carpet underneath or pop out the carpet it's only on press stud , not unknown for a lake to be in there , water can also get in the boot around the pressure relief valve/ flap in the back panel of the boot

Terrible isn't it , not at all my car is 2001 and not really had much trouble at all , it's down 75k , every drive it hits the red line and often the rev limiter , the only real worry is a mechanical over rev , as a result of a mis shift the valve spring retainers on pre face lift before o4 can distorted and then eventually fail , drop valve , furbarred engine , you can't rebore effectively.

Go over to SKI you will gets load of help and there is a facts section with load s more info re a purchase



sharifr1

97 posts

176 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
quotequote all
My 2004 face lift has 90,000 miles and runs sweet.

It's currently for sale, if your interested pm me.

TheJimi

Original Poster:

24,859 posts

242 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
quotequote all
sharifr1 said:
My 2004 face lift has 90,000 miles and runs sweet.

It's currently for sale, if your interested pm me.
PM sent smile

PTE993

126 posts

214 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
quotequote all
I have a 2005 just coming up to ~96K miles. I bought it about 16mths ago with ~72K miles. Use as a daily in all weathers. Serviced every 9000 at TGM in my ownership and had been regularly serviced by previous owners. Always keep a close eye on oil levels.

Other than usual consumables (tyres, brake pads) the only thing I've had replaced was a rear drop link. Probably one of the cheapest cars I've ever owned for TCO..acquisition costs, depreciation, maintenance, consumables, insurance etc. As I'm now straying into old git territory (ahem..40's) even the insurance is cheap ~£220pa.

If you check some of the US forums there are plenty of cars with 150K+ miles.

I think these are terribly under-rated cars and a really sensible ownership proposition.


FastNLoud

63 posts

126 months

Saturday 18th October 2014
quotequote all
When I was considering a s2000 I was worried about mileage too but it seems the concensus is buy on condition and history. As with any car really

otolith

55,899 posts

203 months

Saturday 18th October 2014
quotequote all
I would be very disappointed to hear of any Honda not being bulletproof with respect to high mileage - are you sure it isn't just owners of low milers talking up their own book?

Boylston

144 posts

190 months

Saturday 18th October 2014
quotequote all
I've owned my 2005 from new. Currently at 105k miles. Since the start (once its warmed up) it gets canned a lot.

In all that times, it's never failed an MOT. The only stuff I've had done other than servicing/tyres/brake pads is 1) second hand diff at 95k miles 2) New front brake disks at 65k and rear at 90k 3) sticking front brake at 100k 4) it leaks into the channels above the side windows. It uses zero oil between 9k services.

Simon

beak

162 posts

200 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
no, dont avoid.. our fleet car has just under 120k miles on it and is the best performing car of the lot!

did run 222 hp on the dyno, but thats not bad for a '99

http://www.lemons365.co.uk/challenge-4-rolling-roa...

http://www.lemons365.co.uk/cars/honda-s2000/


Riknos

4,700 posts

203 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
quotequote all
But go for the facelift if you want the best of the car - Many improvements over the pre-facelift, well worth the extra cost.