Buying advice for an S2000
Discussion
Hi chaps,
I am really excited to make this thread, as this is going to be my first proper performance car. I'm not including my 206 gti 180 or other pumped up shopping trollies in this.
It is time to part with my 206 GTI 180 and I was thinking of getting a boring BMW 120D MSport, however I was passing a garage which has a 2002 Honda S2000 GT on their forecourt. So I pulled in and met this really nice chap, who showed me around the car and then offered a test drive. Now I have driven some fairly powerful cars (E92 M3s etc), but WOW, the S2000 is an amazing machine. I couldn't stop grinning on the test drive and on my way home afterwards.
After doing some research this evening, I have come across a few common faults - such as seized suspension bolts. With this fault, is it easy to notice? And, how much will it cost to put right?
The car is a 2002 Honda S2000 GT with 35k miles and a FSH, but unsure if the belts have been changed. However, I have been promised that they will find out (the garage always have nice cars and seem very professional, so I trust them that they won't fob me off). The car is up for £7,995. I have no idea if that is good value though?
Are there any pit falls for owning these cars? I understand fuel economy won't be great and the boot is rubbish, but I don't buy cars to be sensible. This car makes me very happy and it would be a pleasure to own.
Any advice would be great.
Thanks,
PB
I am really excited to make this thread, as this is going to be my first proper performance car. I'm not including my 206 gti 180 or other pumped up shopping trollies in this.
It is time to part with my 206 GTI 180 and I was thinking of getting a boring BMW 120D MSport, however I was passing a garage which has a 2002 Honda S2000 GT on their forecourt. So I pulled in and met this really nice chap, who showed me around the car and then offered a test drive. Now I have driven some fairly powerful cars (E92 M3s etc), but WOW, the S2000 is an amazing machine. I couldn't stop grinning on the test drive and on my way home afterwards.
After doing some research this evening, I have come across a few common faults - such as seized suspension bolts. With this fault, is it easy to notice? And, how much will it cost to put right?
The car is a 2002 Honda S2000 GT with 35k miles and a FSH, but unsure if the belts have been changed. However, I have been promised that they will find out (the garage always have nice cars and seem very professional, so I trust them that they won't fob me off). The car is up for £7,995. I have no idea if that is good value though?
Are there any pit falls for owning these cars? I understand fuel economy won't be great and the boot is rubbish, but I don't buy cars to be sensible. This car makes me very happy and it would be a pleasure to own.
Any advice would be great.
Thanks,
PB
Hi mate, I owned a 52 plate for three years before got my Cayman, still miss it now.
Suspension bolts are used to set the geometry at places like Wheels in Motion of Centre of Gravity. I personally would not be able to tell from a test drive if they are seized - they could be well setup and seized! You need to get someone to look. Most are in some way a bit seized though and I had to have mind loosened with some heat etc. A lot of people will have owned S2000s and never had it done and never noticed though in fairness.
The boot is a bit small but if you take out the bottom cover and the tool kit and holder it gets a lot bigger! Easily take weekend away luggage (depending on the wife's luggage). Fuel economy not that bad as only 2litre - 28mpg
Belts wise the main one I had to replace was the TCT (timing chain tensioner) which if it's going makes quite a loud ticking. It can cause some nasty damage if it goes. My other main piece of advice is oil - mine was very sensitive to which oil it used (see link for more info).
Price wise I think it's high. Yes low mileage but 10 years old and a pre facelift model. That kind of price would be for a more 05/06 in my opinion. Does it come with a hardtop? I didn't use mine for many months a year but I loved it. I'd be angling towards 7k. There's load of these cars out there now due to very high insurance and it is dead of winter where these cars are less popular.
I would thoroughly recommend joining in with the UK forum on s2ki too.
http://www.s2ki.com/s2000/forum/25-uk-s2000-commun...
I spent a lot of time there and went to meets great bunch.
Finally I've written a fair bit about it on my blog:
http://www.performancecarblog.co.uk/long-term-revi...
http://www.performancecarblog.co.uk/honda-s2000-ru...
http://www.performancecarblog.co.uk/best-engine-oi...
Final final thing if you get it, get an AEM v2 cold air intake - that sound is one I'll never forget.
Suspension bolts are used to set the geometry at places like Wheels in Motion of Centre of Gravity. I personally would not be able to tell from a test drive if they are seized - they could be well setup and seized! You need to get someone to look. Most are in some way a bit seized though and I had to have mind loosened with some heat etc. A lot of people will have owned S2000s and never had it done and never noticed though in fairness.
The boot is a bit small but if you take out the bottom cover and the tool kit and holder it gets a lot bigger! Easily take weekend away luggage (depending on the wife's luggage). Fuel economy not that bad as only 2litre - 28mpg
Belts wise the main one I had to replace was the TCT (timing chain tensioner) which if it's going makes quite a loud ticking. It can cause some nasty damage if it goes. My other main piece of advice is oil - mine was very sensitive to which oil it used (see link for more info).
Price wise I think it's high. Yes low mileage but 10 years old and a pre facelift model. That kind of price would be for a more 05/06 in my opinion. Does it come with a hardtop? I didn't use mine for many months a year but I loved it. I'd be angling towards 7k. There's load of these cars out there now due to very high insurance and it is dead of winter where these cars are less popular.
I would thoroughly recommend joining in with the UK forum on s2ki too.
http://www.s2ki.com/s2000/forum/25-uk-s2000-commun...
I spent a lot of time there and went to meets great bunch.
Finally I've written a fair bit about it on my blog:
http://www.performancecarblog.co.uk/long-term-revi...
http://www.performancecarblog.co.uk/honda-s2000-ru...
http://www.performancecarblog.co.uk/best-engine-oi...
Final final thing if you get it, get an AEM v2 cold air intake - that sound is one I'll never forget.
As you say, suspension bushes. Double check these and make sure they have been done. I was quoted £1k by Rob at Garage R in Barnsley to sort mine.
Timing is via a chain, so no worries there. Watch the tensioners though, as they tend to rattle around 70k miles. That's when mine started anyway
Insurance is harsh, double check this as well. even for 25 plus years old, it can be more than you think.
Roof - the usual checks for leaks, holes etc
Timing is via a chain, so no worries there. Watch the tensioners though, as they tend to rattle around 70k miles. That's when mine started anyway
Insurance is harsh, double check this as well. even for 25 plus years old, it can be more than you think.
Roof - the usual checks for leaks, holes etc
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tom2019 said:
Is this too good to be true ..no number = scam ?
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
6k car for me. It's winter. No one is buying thirsty (relatively) cars as everyone wants economy, economy, economy!http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
And WRT to the S2000 above, something just screams 'wrong' about the advert. I'd avoid like an African prostitute.
tom2019 said:
Is this too good to be true ..no number = scam ?
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
Scam...http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
tom2019 said:
Is this too good to be true ..no number = scam ?
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
Scam. Report.http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
shakindog said:
Garage r Barnsley ???? Any good if you dunt mind me askin jamie_n
me and plenty of others on S2ki have had very good service from him. I decided not to have the bushes done in the end but had a few other bits and bobs done, including a service and was very happy with the work and the price.Honda dealers round by me were useless. 2 of the 3 dealers quoting me for a cambelt change on a 72k mile service!!
It was well worth travelling to Barnsley
The suspension bolt seizure thing is overplayed IMO. I've got a 2000 model which I compete with which when checked only had the caster adjusters seized, which leads me to believe some of the "trusted" S2K garages make their money by replaced seized bushes.
The forums claim they're very sensitive to geo setup. I think one would have had to have its suspension clouted very hard for most drivers to notice, TBH.
From what I hear Garage R are no more.
Watch for rust on the rear arches coming through from behind. Not a nightmare to get sorted if they're not too far gone. I think I paid £300/side for new metal to be welded in & spray work.
The drivers seat bolsters wear from people dragging their arse across it to get out.
Hoods wear out, esp if they've been kept folded down for long periods (i.e. under a hard top). They wear through at the corners. A new hood is about a grand at an independent specialist. The good news is they're much better than the Honda ones.
If it comes with a hard top you don't want you'll be able to recoup around £800-£1000 by selling it with the fitting kit.
HTH... get it bought!
The forums claim they're very sensitive to geo setup. I think one would have had to have its suspension clouted very hard for most drivers to notice, TBH.
From what I hear Garage R are no more.
Watch for rust on the rear arches coming through from behind. Not a nightmare to get sorted if they're not too far gone. I think I paid £300/side for new metal to be welded in & spray work.
The drivers seat bolsters wear from people dragging their arse across it to get out.
Hoods wear out, esp if they've been kept folded down for long periods (i.e. under a hard top). They wear through at the corners. A new hood is about a grand at an independent specialist. The good news is they're much better than the Honda ones.
If it comes with a hard top you don't want you'll be able to recoup around £800-£1000 by selling it with the fitting kit.
HTH... get it bought!
When I got mine there were were a couple of niggles in some of the cars I tested.
1. Stalling when engine is warm and car comes to a complete stop. I saw this on 2 cars. No idea what caused it.
2. Over-notchy gearbox. They improve as they warm up but one car with only 50k miles was an absolute pig to get into 3rd when cold.
1. Stalling when engine is warm and car comes to a complete stop. I saw this on 2 cars. No idea what caused it.
2. Over-notchy gearbox. They improve as they warm up but one car with only 50k miles was an absolute pig to get into 3rd when cold.
Gaz. said:
TheLordJohn said:
Never mind angling for £7k that's still 1k over 'expensive'!
He is never, ever going to get that car in the OP for £6k.Or buy it and face losing quite a lot when you come to sell it of privately or trade it in.
Or buy it and keep it long enough so the depreciation becomes negligible.
I think people are being a bit over zealous about the price OP. S2000 have dropped considerably over the last 12-16 months but not to the extent a 35k miler will be under £6.5k. I sold a 2002 with out the hardtop back in march with 65 thousand on the clock for 6 grand. To put the price drop in perspective I paid 8250 for it 11 months 10 thousand miles earlier. At the time it was reasonably priced against others on here and in the trader etc.
karl_h said:
I think people are being a bit over zealous about the price OP. S2000 have dropped considerably over the last 12-16 months but not to the extent a 35k miler will be under £6.5k. I sold a 2002 with out the hardtop back in march with 65 thousand on the clock for 6 grand. To put the price drop in perspective I paid 8250 for it 11 months 10 thousand miles earlier. At the time it was reasonably priced against others on here and in the trader etc.
FINALLY!Thanks mate
B17NNS said:
tom2019 said:
Is this too good to be true ..no number = scam ?
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
Scam. Report.http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
I'll report it.
Morning.
For that money I'd be looking for a facelift model. I think the prefacelift cars whilst nice are starting to look old in standard guise.
I went for a late 2005, so different wheels, bumpers, light clusters and exhaust exits. Also the interior has been given a little tweak.
Bolts have been covered. I for one haven't done anything to mine yet it drives like a dream, when I get 5 mins I will get TGM or someone to have a look.
MPG isn't too bad as its only a small engine really, looking at an average of mid to high 20's depending how you drive.
Absolute hoot and after 1 year and 15,000 miles its not put a foot wrong (or tyre!)
Few chaps I'm my area go for the occasional blast.
For that money I'd be looking for a facelift model. I think the prefacelift cars whilst nice are starting to look old in standard guise.
I went for a late 2005, so different wheels, bumpers, light clusters and exhaust exits. Also the interior has been given a little tweak.
Bolts have been covered. I for one haven't done anything to mine yet it drives like a dream, when I get 5 mins I will get TGM or someone to have a look.
MPG isn't too bad as its only a small engine really, looking at an average of mid to high 20's depending how you drive.
Absolute hoot and after 1 year and 15,000 miles its not put a foot wrong (or tyre!)
Few chaps I'm my area go for the occasional blast.
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