Honda S2000

Author
Discussion

ady_GTi

325 posts

210 months

Tuesday 11th December 2012
quotequote all
I might be selling my 2005 Model soonish. Where abouts are you?

snorkel sucker

2,662 posts

203 months

Tuesday 11th December 2012
quotequote all
ady_GTi said:
I might be selling my 2005 Model soonish. Where abouts are you?
Up in North Wales but wouldn't rule anywhere out. It is suprising how few good examples there appear to be out there.

Drop me a PM if you want chap.

thumbup

mikey k

13,011 posts

216 months

Tuesday 11th December 2012
quotequote all
snorkel sucker said:
Indeed. I'm getting assist muddled up with control!

I knew it manifested its way onto the car from 2006 - wasn't aware it was an option only though until 2008. Its more of a nice to have as it'll get used by my OH.

I'd like the '04 onwards car as my last one was an '00. Prefer the mildly altered looks and couple of useful additions.
laugh
It came in on the drive by wire cars
IME of owning 4 of different years the sweet spot is late 05 pre DBW

snorkel sucker

2,662 posts

203 months

Tuesday 11th December 2012
quotequote all
I'm interested in seeing how the newer versions compare to what I owned. Other then the DBW throttle, I don't think there were every (m)any major changes to the engine/drivechain but lots of people mention the newer versions being slightly more "driveable".

My '00 model certainly felt very old school in its delivery, compared to my other car at the time, an EP3 Civic Type R, although that was i-VTEC which would probably explain it.

Jurgen

228 posts

155 months

Tuesday 11th December 2012
quotequote all
snorkel sucker said:
I'm interested in seeing how the newer versions compare to what I owned. Other then the DBW throttle, I don't think there were every (m)any major changes to the engine/drivechain but lots of people mention the newer versions being slightly more "driveable".

My '00 model certainly felt very old school in its delivery, compared to my other car at the time, an EP3 Civic Type R, although that was i-VTEC which would probably explain it.
Quite a few technical differences between the early ('00) and the '04 on models. To name a few: different spring rates, bigger (17") wheels with wider tyres, thinner anti-roll bars, smoother gearbox, slower steering rack and stiffer (more rigid) chassis. It's definately a different drive (have driven a few '00 models and a '05 model so far). Easier to live with and a little less hardcore, but still a great car. I'd happily swap my '00 model for a nice '04 biggrin

russy01

Original Poster:

4,693 posts

181 months

Tuesday 11th December 2012
quotequote all
My Car is ‘55, so facelift just before the higher Tax and without VSA.

Personally I wouldnt get too hung up on the VSA, having not previously owned RWD before the S2000 I was a bit apprehensive after reading so much about the S2000’s bad nature. However 18 months and 15,000miles later its been a pleasure and not for a single day have I wished I bought a car with VSA. Drive to the conditions and within your ability and you’ll be just fine.

Also my OH has had very little issues with it, she had the back out slightly when it was wet and she went a bit hot off the line at a light controlled crossroads, but if anything it did her some good. It taught her immediately to take it easy in the wet and quite frankly I can see a difference in her driving when she is driving the S2000. Instead of hooning around foot flat to the floor in her FWD she actually thinks more about the driving and pays more attention to the actual control of the car – instead of whats on her radio.

However it helps that she likes cars and enjoys driving. If she didnt she would have probably scared herself and would the car.

Id agree with Mikey (He knows what hes on about with the S) and say a late 2005 car and save yourself £200 a year on the VED to go in the fuel (hooning) fund.

balders118

5,842 posts

168 months

Monday 24th December 2012
quotequote all
I've just decided that I want an S2000 for my next car. Is there anything that you need to look out for when getting one? Is there a particular year that you should get before/after? Any buying advice etc?

These seem a little too good to be true, great performance, open top motoring with the reliability of a Honda. What are the servicing/repair costs like?

DanL

6,205 posts

265 months

Monday 24th December 2012
quotequote all
See my profile for servicing costs - I've listed literally everything that I've spent on it in the last four and a bit years.

Downsides? MPG isn't good for short journeys, at least not therapy I drive it! Having to check the oil level every month (probably more often if you do "proper" miles - I average 500 a month) can get old, but its worth it. Insurance is high.

After 2002 they got glass rear screens and revised suspension to make them a little less snappy in the wet, 2004 saw revised interior and light changes... Not much in the way of options on them - think a CD changer was about it! GT models have a hard top...

What else? Oh, yes - UK models all have headlight washers, which makes it easy to tell if the one you're looking at in an advert is an import or not.

balders118

5,842 posts

168 months

Monday 24th December 2012
quotequote all
DanL said:
See my profile for servicing costs - I've listed literally everything that I've spent on it in the last four and a bit years.

Downsides? MPG isn't good for short journeys, at least not therapy I drive it! Having to check the oil level every month (probably more often if you do "proper" miles - I average 500 a month) can get old, but its worth it. Insurance is high.

After 2002 they got glass rear screens and revised suspension to make them a little less snappy in the wet, 2004 saw revised interior and light changes... Not much in the way of options on them - think a CD changer was about it! GT models have a hard top...

What else? Oh, yes - UK models all have headlight washers, which makes it easy to tell if the one you're looking at in an advert is an import or not.
Servicing etc doesn't look too bad at all. I have a puma that drinks oil, so I'm used to checking weekly so no change there.

Okay, so I think I will look for a 02 and after model to get the revised suspension and glass screen. Insurance for me doesn't seem too bad comapred to other cars (z4 etc), but then I've never really had cheap insurance - 24 atm, and the last five years I've had to declare a DC10 which means I've been paying nearly £800 on the puma - A quote on the S2000 comes in at £1000, and I won't be getting till next year when I'm 25 with another year NCB, so would hope for slightly under £1K.

Is it best to avoid imports? I think I'd be happier with a UK model, but does it really make a difference?

havoc

30,038 posts

235 months

Monday 24th December 2012
quotequote all
balders118 said:
Is it best to avoid imports? I think I'd be happier with a UK model, but does it really make a difference?
Yes - no need to go JDM with the S2000, and in fact some of the JDM came without leather and some with the odd variable-geometry steering (VGA?), which is an acquired taste (I've got it on the NSX, and whilst you get used to it I still think I'd prefer it without...).

Parallel (EU) imports - no worries there, same spec etc...

woodytype S

691 posts

237 months

Tuesday 25th December 2012
quotequote all


Is it best to avoid imports? I think I'd be happier with a UK model, but does it really make a difference?[/quote

Big differance with insurance between UK and JDM cars.


anonymous-user

54 months

Thursday 27th December 2012
quotequote all
Are hard tops hard to find? I would definitely want a hard top if I was to buy this one for instance.

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

What are these like on a run in terms of noise? I drive a Clio 172 at the moment, if an S2000 is quieter then I'll be more than happy. I've read that the engines don't go much longer than 100,000 miles, does this hold any truth?

TaylotS2K

1,964 posts

207 months

Friday 28th December 2012
quotequote all
RenOHH said:
Are hard tops hard to find? I would definitely want a hard top if I was to buy this one for instance.

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

What are these like on a run in terms of noise? I drive a Clio 172 at the moment, if an S2000 is quieter then I'll be more than happy. I've read that the engines don't go much longer than 100,000 miles, does this hold any truth?
The ad doesn't state if it's a roadster or a GT. I suspect it's a roadster in which case you'll have to get a kit so a hard top will fit. Hardtops fit straight on to GT models. Could be a case the previous owner sold the top seperatley, in which case keep an eye on eBay or the classifieds on the UK section on WWW.s2ki.com

Red 4

10,744 posts

187 months

Friday 28th December 2012
quotequote all
balders118 said:
I've just decided that I want an S2000 for my next car. Is there anything that you need to look out for when getting one? Is there a particular year that you should get before/after? Any buying advice etc?

These seem a little too good to be true, great performance, open top motoring with the reliability of a Honda. What are the servicing/repair costs like?
Do not buy an 08/09 car (the ones with the 5 spoke alloys and a few other minor revisions).

Unless you like playing Russian roulette. Engine failures are far too common (bottom end failure).




anonymous-user

54 months

Saturday 29th December 2012
quotequote all
TaylotS2K said:
The ad doesn't state if it's a roadster or a GT. I suspect it's a roadster in which case you'll have to get a kit so a hard top will fit. Hardtops fit straight on to GT models. Could be a case the previous owner sold the top seperatley, in which case keep an eye on eBay or the classifieds on the UK section on WWW.s2ki.com
Oh yeah sorry, that's what I meant. If I didn't get a GT I would be looking at a car like the above to add a hard top to. I joined s2ki and have found that hard tops can be hard to find, so maybe getting a GT is the easiest and cheapest thing to do.

balders118

5,842 posts

168 months

Monday 31st December 2012
quotequote all
So what's the boot like on these? I need to be able to fit a rebook step in (I'm a personal trainer).

And realistically can you achieve 30mpg in them?

havoc

30,038 posts

235 months

Monday 31st December 2012
quotequote all
Not bad. Not sure how big the step is, but I'd say you could fit a golf-club bag in just about (well, as long as you've not got any woods).

And no...not unless you drive everywhere at 60mph!
(In mixed use I averaged ~25mpg...on a run at 80mph it got up to 27/28...so I guess if you stay within the speed limit on a M-way run you could see 30mpg. But that'd be an exception not an average.)

Dracoro

8,682 posts

245 months

Monday 31st December 2012
quotequote all
About 10 years of S2K ownership (2 of them) and I averaged about 27/28mpg. 30mpg quite easy if you keep out of vtec (<6000rpm) on A/B/M roads. Travelling round France I got 32-36mpg although most of that was cruising around, not thrashing much. Pretty hard to do here on our more congested roads! I'd work on getting 25/30 mpg.

I got a full set of clubs in the boot of mine but had to take woods out of bag and put in on top of bag. The boot actually (for a sports car) has a reasonable amount of space but the issue is more the shape of the boot. Suitcases can be an issue but using soft bags means you can pack a fair bit in.

Check s2ki.co.uk, there may be a local meet or someone near you that may let you try putting your step in the boot to see if it fits OK.

balders118

5,842 posts

168 months

Tuesday 1st January 2013
quotequote all
I reckon if golfbags fit in I'll be alright. I think as long as I'm closer to 30 than 20mpg I'll be happy.

I've found a stunning one not too far from me - wasn't planning on getting one till spring but I might try and get the money together a bit sooner!

Edit: Oh god is it sad that I posted at 00:10 on New years day!

Edited by balders118 on Tuesday 1st January 00:16

russy01

Original Poster:

4,693 posts

181 months

Tuesday 1st January 2013
quotequote all
I'd like to wish you all a very happy new year.