Honda S2000

[Paul S4]

I am considering an S2000, a 51 plate GT.

I have read this thread from page one, as well as some other reviews as well.

Am I correct in assuming that only the 'UK' cars have the headlamp washers, or in other words if they are absent than it is an 'import' ?

And also that a lack of underseal may be a potential issue ?

Thanks

[Quickmoose]

A few UK owners remove the washers for a cleaner look.
Mine wasn't...isn't undersealed.... I think I'm lucky it hasn't suffered though. If it has it, you're good, if it hasn't be thorough and put it on your list of to-dos..I have.




The most fun car I've ever owned....and for double the asking price I'm not sure I could find a better one....

[mikey k]

Paul S4 said:

I am considering an S2000, a 51 plate GT.

I have read this thread from page one, as well as some other reviews as well.

Am I correct in assuming that only the 'UK' cars have the headlamp washers, or in other words if they are absent than it is an 'import' ?

And also that a lack of underseal may be a potential issue ?

Thanks

Imports often have square no plate holder and added on fog light.
Many have cloth centers to the sets
The ECU is also slightly different, set up for high RON fuel

[WJNB]

NorthernSky said:

See my above posts next to my green one. Is that it? It's now my friend's pride and joy I am afraid! Berlina black with the red leather interior.

It could be because I fitted red Honda badges from & back.
In the footwells I had installed tiny LED lights but removed the switch which was just under the dash on the drivers side. There was a second switch to operate some air horns(removed)
It should have a very very tiny mark on the front lip where I spilt some Superglue.

I still have a perfect set of Honda wheel centre caps as mine had tarnished & replaced them with aftermarket ones.

[Little Bob]

Looking to replace my Elise with an S2000.

I'd be after a 2004/2005 facelift car, sub 30k miles ideally, and immaculate.

If anyone is thinking of selling please drop me a pm.

Thanks,

[Lee-S2K]

Just bought my 3rd S2000 - 07 with 19k miles
1st year 2000 sold with 50k miles, 2nd 03 GT sold with 99k miles

[williamw1987]

Hey guys,

I'm tempted by an AP1 S2000 (budget stretches to £7k) and wondered if you had any advice on what to look out for with them please?

I know they suffer from a seized lower control arm bolt, but asides from that they seem to be generally bullet proof?

Any advice is much appreciated!

Thanks very much!

Matt

[hondafanatic]

williamw1987 said:

Hey guys,

I'm tempted by an AP1 S2000 (budget stretches to £7k) and wondered if you had any advice on what to look out for with them please?

I know they suffer from a seized lower control arm bolt, but asides from that they seem to be generally bullet proof?

Any advice is much appreciated!

Thanks very much!

Matt

Get yourself onto the S2000 owners club (think it's s2k.com?) and there are, or were when I looked years ago, some buying guides and they'll have more replied to threads asking the same thing.

[JS2808]

Glad to see this thread is still active..

I currently drive an MK2 Focus RS, nice car and sounds awesome. However, I will be selling it next Summer, buying something cheaper as it makes no sense stretching as far as I am at the moment to only do a few K miles a year, in a car that is worth so much money.

So, that brings me here. My 2 contenders at the moment are the S2000 or a bigger power Subaru. An N/A S2000 is never going to be enough power for me as I am an absolute idiot. Anybody on here got a supercharged S2000 and care to tell me what they are like? and if they are as reliable as I have heard they are?

If im honest, I just want something mental fast and hilarious that im not gunna lose much money on.

Cheers

[havoc]

A few years back a chap called Mikey K had a s'charged S2000. Replaced it with a V8 Vantage which he said wasn't any quicker or any more fun.

Worth a google, see if he's still around...

[Composite Guru]

JS2808 said:

Glad to see this thread is still active..

I currently drive an MK2 Focus RS, nice car and sounds awesome. However, I will be selling it next Summer, buying something cheaper as it makes no sense stretching as far as I am at the moment to only do a few K miles a year, in a car that is worth so much money.

So, that brings me here. My 2 contenders at the moment are the S2000 or a bigger power Subaru. An N/A S2000 is never going to be enough power for me as I am an absolute idiot. Anybody on here got a supercharged S2000 and care to tell me what they are like? and if they are as reliable as I have heard they are?

If im honest, I just want something mental fast and hilarious that im not gunna lose much money on.

Cheers

I've had 2 S2000 but now own an Elise. SC version is quick and you won't lose a lot of money on it as they have now been regarded as one of the slowest depreciating cars.

You need one of these and you won't be disappointed.
Obviously an older one of you are planning a cheaper budget.

[mikey k]

havoc said:

A few years back a chap called Mikey K had a s'charged S2000. Replaced it with a V8 Vantage which he said wasn't any quicker or any more fun.

Worth a google, see if he's still around...

Spidy senses brought me here!
I really missed my SCed S2k wish I'd kept it
The 4.7 V8VR was a LOT slower and heavier, real event driving it though.
I replaced that with a new built to order 4.7 V8VSR that was better, when it ran
Still too slow though
I eventually put a GT4 5.0 race engine in (510 BHP) and that was still no go kart
I fell out with Aston and Bamford Rose and vowed never to deal with either again

I have now got a real go kart that is mentally quick and reminds me of the SCed S2k
Again built to my spec, 2 years old and 16k miles on it!
Problem is the cost
Contemplating a S2 Exige to go next to it

DSC02402 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

Edited by mikey k on Tuesday 5th September 09:27

[mikey k]

JS2808 said:

Glad to see this thread is still active..

I currently drive an MK2 Focus RS, nice car and sounds awesome. However, I will be selling it next Summer, buying something cheaper as it makes no sense stretching as far as I am at the moment to only do a few K miles a year, in a car that is worth so much money.

So, that brings me here. My 2 contenders at the moment are the S2000 or a bigger power Subaru. An N/A S2000 is never going to be enough power for me as I am an absolute idiot. Anybody on here got a supercharged S2000 and care to tell me what they are like? and if they are as reliable as I have heard they are?

If im honest, I just want something mental fast and hilarious that im not gunna lose much money on.

Cheers

If you go FI in an s2k DON'T do an internal mods OR go over 12psi boost.
The F20C is a great engine but is very unusual in it build and specific to the s2k, a lot have been blown up through abuse or getting over ~120k miles, they are VERY difficult to rebuild and good used engines are getting scarce.
ANY modified s2k loses value, especially with the current collectible car market.
The best way to low depreciation is buy a standard, pre March 06 facelift with low miles in the winter.
Run it as standard 6-9 months and then sell as the summer market peaks (or keep for a long time!)
I bought an orange one to do this with but got shot when I found rust in a few nasty places.
S2k's are not great for rust protection, especially if they have been left outside or run over winter.
I'd only get another if I can get a good deal on a GT100 or a low mileage nice colour on a 04/05 car

[Composite Guru]

mikey k said:

havoc said:

A few years back a chap called Mikey K had a s'charged S2000. Replaced it with a V8 Vantage which he said wasn't any quicker or any more fun.

Worth a google, see if he's still around...

Spidy senses brought me here!
I really missed my SCed S2k wish I'd kept it
The 4.7 V8VR was a LOT slower and heavier, real event driving it though.
I replaced that with a new built to order 4.7 V8VSR that was better, when it ran
Still too slow though
I eventually put a GT4 5.0 race engine in (510 BHP) and that was still no go kart
I fell out with Aston and Bamford Rose and vowed never to deal with either again

I have now got a real go kart that is mentally quick and reminds me of the SCed S2k
Again built to my spec, 2 years old and 16k miles on it!
Problem is the cost
Contemplating a S2 Exige to go next to it

DSC02402 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

Edited by mikey k on Tuesday 5th September 09:27

You're in an McLaren now then Mikey. Wow that's a bit more extreme than an S2000. Did you get an Aston first after the S?

I wanted an S2 Exige but couldn't fine the right car. The ones I did like cost the same as the year old 220 Cup that I eventually bought. will still be a collectable car in the future.

Edited by Composite Guru on Tuesday 5th September 12:55

[mikey k]

Yep went 4.7 sport pack Vantage roadster after the sced S2k, it was OK, a bit slow and wallowing
Speced from new a 4.7S Vantage Roadster with light weight seats to replace it, that was a lot better, BUT bloody unreliable
Vowed not to get another Aston so the logical route was a McLaren
The thing is just mental, grips like hell, flat round corners and punches you in to the seat.
It's great for chasing sports bikes
Putting a few too many miles on so I've been looking for something similar with low depreciation to sit next to it

[havoc]

Nice steed there Mr K! Had a brief passenger ride in a 650 Spider around Brands earlier this year, and (because of the lack of body roll or engine theatrics) it's deceptively quick, even on-track... Driving position and ergonomics were absolutely spot-on, too...

[mikey k]

havoc said:

Nice steed there Mr K! Had a brief passenger ride in a 650 Spider around Brands earlier this year, and (because of the lack of body roll or engine theatrics) it's deceptively quick, even on-track... Driving position and ergonomics were absolutely spot-on, too...

Some complain about the lack of "engine theatrics" but I find the factory inconel sports is great, burbles and pops on the overun without being too loud when you are on it. 80% are spiders (as is mine) as there is no loss of stiffness. BEST feature is the rear window, lower it and the engine sound is piped directly to your ears

[Lee-S2K]

JS2808 said:

Glad to see this thread is still active..

I currently drive an MK2 Focus RS, nice car and sounds awesome. However, I will be selling it next Summer, buying something cheaper as it makes no sense stretching as far as I am at the moment to only do a few K miles a year, in a car that is worth so much money.

So, that brings me here. My 2 contenders at the moment are the S2000 or a bigger power Subaru. An N/A S2000 is never going to be enough power for me as I am an absolute idiot. Anybody on here got a supercharged S2000 and care to tell me what they are like? and if they are as reliable as I have heard they are?

If im honest, I just want something mental fast and hilarious that im not gunna lose much money on.

Cheers

I had Subarus back in the day when they were the hottest thing to have (mid 90s) and sold my 2nd classic in 2009, bought a s2000 and was quite disappointed by it at first but grew on me and loved it after a few weeks.
I sold that and bought a blobeye Impreza PPP and after a week it did nothing for me at all apart from hurt my back (seats)
I sold that and bought my 2nd S2000 which I had over 4 years until I bought my 3rd. Unless its 500hp im staying with this. Would have an Alfa 4C tho

Edited by Lee-S2K on Tuesday 5th September 20:39

[Little Bob]

mikey k said:

I bought an orange one to do this with but got shot when I found rust in a few nasty places.
S2k's are not great for rust protection, especially if they have been left outside or run over winter.
I'd only get another if I can get a good deal on a GT100 or a low mileage nice colour on a 04/05 car

Where did you find the rust out of interest?

[mikey k]

Little Bob said:

mikey k said:

I bought an orange one to do this with but got shot when I found rust in a few nasty places.
S2k's are not great for rust protection, especially if they have been left outside or run over winter.
I'd only get another if I can get a good deal on a GT100 or a low mileage nice colour on a 04/05 car

Where did you find the rust out of interest?

Usual suspects;
Rear wheel arches
Front cross member under air box as it meets the inner wings
rear floor pan
Also found some accident damage that had been poorly repaired

So off down the road it went!