S2000 Final Changes 2008

S2000 Final Changes 2008

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Discussion

Rum Runner

Original Poster:

2,338 posts

216 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
I am going to look at 2008 car and wondered is there a easy way to tell if it's one of the last model changes. I know they changed in 2008 but it could be late registered. Is there a VIN Number code to look for/ from For the final run out suspension steering design.
Thanks

johnS2000

458 posts

171 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
It'll have the 5 spoke wheels and VSA (switch to right of instrument panel).

Also the bean counters at Honda will have got to it in the form of cheap leather and very thin soft clearcoat .

Rum Runner

Original Poster:

2,338 posts

216 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
Many Thanks

normalbloke

7,401 posts

218 months

Wednesday 4th March 2015
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Plus an engine that potentially goes pop. I believe the later (ie last 2 years of production)
vehicles had a sudden spike of engine failures. Have a peek on S2ki.

NigelStn

264 posts

166 months

Friday 6th March 2015
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My '08 is fantastic, 50K miles, use it all year and no engines problems, though I do feel that £485 road is ludicrously high for such a small car

normalbloke

7,401 posts

218 months

Friday 6th March 2015
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NigelStn said:
My '08 is fantastic, 50K miles, use it all year and no engines problems, though I do feel that £485 road is ludicrously high for such a small car
Not for a minute suggesting that every single one will, but there was a massive spike in failures on the last cars! Something we considered when buying a replacement S2000 for our older yr2000 model.

johnS2000

458 posts

171 months

Friday 6th March 2015
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My 09 ,in 6 yrs (from new) has never so much as blown a bulb let alone the engine .

The road tax is a con ! Legalised theft !

davey68

1,199 posts

236 months

Friday 6th March 2015
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My 2008 has been fantastic too, 3.5 years and not missed a beat. I think there were a few 2009 cars with engine issues but pretty rare. The 2008 model had the lighter 5 spoke alloys, VSA/traction control standard and importantly had the JDM type 's' uprated suspension. It was probably the best handling S2000 produced.

davida

6 posts

246 months

Sunday 8th March 2015
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As others have said, 5 spoke alloys and standard VSA.

Although VSA was an option from 06MY and its not difficult to swap alloys.

To be sure, the 10th digit of the VIN denotes model year

Red 4

10,744 posts

186 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
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There were more than "a few" engine failures on 08/09 cars.

Some owners suffered failure of the original engine, then the replacement engine also went pop.

The problem appears to be a duff batch of thrust washers fitted to later cars which resulted in crankshaft end float = engine failure.

By no means all cars were/ are affected but personally I wouldn't take the chance - long running thread on s2ki.

Buy a good 07 or earlier.

normalbloke

7,401 posts

218 months

Thursday 26th March 2015
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davey68 said:
My 2008 has been fantastic too, 3.5 years and not missed a beat. I think there were a few 2009 cars with engine issues but pretty rare. The 2008 model had the lighter 5 spoke alloys, VSA/traction control standard and importantly had the JDM type 's' uprated suspension. It was probably the best handling S2000 produced.
Isn't that the model with the FBW throttle? If so, your best handling of them all comment isn't the general consensus!

davey68

1,199 posts

236 months

Thursday 26th March 2015
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I can only speak from experience and my 2008 has been superb. Regards FBW throttle, yes it does but it's brilliant. Frankly you wouldnt know if you drove it that its FBW. I had two EP3's and loved the throttle response, followed by a 2010 FN2 GT and FBW on that was appalling. Throttle lag and no 'weight' to it, hated it and ditched the car after 6 months. Test drove a few S2k's expecting the throttle to be the same and its night and day better. Drive one before you slate it.

normalbloke

7,401 posts

218 months

Thursday 26th March 2015
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davey68 said:
I can only speak from experience and my 2008 has been superb. Regards FBW throttle, yes it does but it's brilliant. Frankly you wouldnt know if you drove it that its FBW. I had two EP3's and loved the throttle response, followed by a 2010 FN2 GT and FBW on that was appalling. Throttle lag and no 'weight' to it, hated it and ditched the car after 6 months. Test drove a few S2k's expecting the throttle to be the same and its night and day better. Drive one before you slate it.
I have. Don't take it to heart. My favourite of them all have been an Yr2000 VGS equipped import.