Cheap Honda S2k..... disaster waiting to happen?
Discussion
Just looking for some advice and experiences.
Basically am very tempted by one of the circa £5k Honda S2000's that are hovering around at the minute. (will they be even cheaper come winter?) Currently have a '98 Mk1 Supercharged MX5, which is absolutely awesome and I adore it! But im doing more and more miles. And while the '5 makes B-roads an absolute joy, the motorway cruises are becoming more and more uneconomically viable.
Could probubly stretch to around the £5k mark, and began by looking at sensible (relatively!) saloons, such as a Jag XJR or similar cheap barge around the £2-3k mark, and save some cash for the inevitible repairs. But as always its tempting to try push the budget. So basically woundering if anyone has any experience of a cheap s2k. Have had a search around, but as usual you only find the proper horror stories. How common are these? Have driven one when they were new, and really liked it....
Basically am very tempted by one of the circa £5k Honda S2000's that are hovering around at the minute. (will they be even cheaper come winter?) Currently have a '98 Mk1 Supercharged MX5, which is absolutely awesome and I adore it! But im doing more and more miles. And while the '5 makes B-roads an absolute joy, the motorway cruises are becoming more and more uneconomically viable.
Could probubly stretch to around the £5k mark, and began by looking at sensible (relatively!) saloons, such as a Jag XJR or similar cheap barge around the £2-3k mark, and save some cash for the inevitible repairs. But as always its tempting to try push the budget. So basically woundering if anyone has any experience of a cheap s2k. Have had a search around, but as usual you only find the proper horror stories. How common are these? Have driven one when they were new, and really liked it....
Seized suspension bolts can make geometry adjustment a hassle and can potentially cost £100s per corner.
Gearboxes popping out of gear not unknown. Some even did it from new. Worn synchros and gearbox components manufactured close to tolerance limits the culprit it seems.
Hoods can wear cosmetically at the side, near the pivot point.
There was a recall early in the car's production life for an extra oil spray mod near the crank IIRC. Some cars suffered premature bottom-end failure prior to this, but all existing cars should be modded. Easy to check with Honda if all recalls were carried out on a particular car.
I loved mine, although it was quite low miles (32k) when I bought it. If the engine did let go ISTR even 2nd hand F20C engines being quite pricey. When I owned mine in 2009 the going rate was £2k+ for a breaker engine. Don't know if this has dropped any?
They're a great car. Probably not any quicker down a b-road as your FI MX5, and probably not even as adjustable to drive. But they have loads of grip, very positive turn-in, an aggressive LSD and that crazy 9200rpm rev limit. You know it makes sense.
Gearboxes popping out of gear not unknown. Some even did it from new. Worn synchros and gearbox components manufactured close to tolerance limits the culprit it seems.
Hoods can wear cosmetically at the side, near the pivot point.
There was a recall early in the car's production life for an extra oil spray mod near the crank IIRC. Some cars suffered premature bottom-end failure prior to this, but all existing cars should be modded. Easy to check with Honda if all recalls were carried out on a particular car.
I loved mine, although it was quite low miles (32k) when I bought it. If the engine did let go ISTR even 2nd hand F20C engines being quite pricey. When I owned mine in 2009 the going rate was £2k+ for a breaker engine. Don't know if this has dropped any?
They're a great car. Probably not any quicker down a b-road as your FI MX5, and probably not even as adjustable to drive. But they have loads of grip, very positive turn-in, an aggressive LSD and that crazy 9200rpm rev limit. You know it makes sense.
em177 said:
Just looking for some advice and experiences.
Basically am very tempted by one of the circa £5k Honda S2000's that are hovering around at the minute. (will they be even cheaper come winter?) Currently have a '98 Mk1 Supercharged MX5, which is absolutely awesome and I adore it! But im doing more and more miles. And while the '5 makes B-roads an absolute joy, the motorway cruises are becoming more and more uneconomically viable.
Could probubly stretch to around the £5k mark, and began by looking at sensible (relatively!) saloons, such as a Jag XJR or similar cheap barge around the £2-3k mark, and save some cash for the inevitible repairs. But as always its tempting to try push the budget. So basically woundering if anyone has any experience of a cheap s2k. Have had a search around, but as usual you only find the proper horror stories. How common are these? Have driven one when they were new, and really liked it....
I doubt that the S2000 would make "motorway cruises" notably more economical and refined than the 5 TBH.Basically am very tempted by one of the circa £5k Honda S2000's that are hovering around at the minute. (will they be even cheaper come winter?) Currently have a '98 Mk1 Supercharged MX5, which is absolutely awesome and I adore it! But im doing more and more miles. And while the '5 makes B-roads an absolute joy, the motorway cruises are becoming more and more uneconomically viable.
Could probubly stretch to around the £5k mark, and began by looking at sensible (relatively!) saloons, such as a Jag XJR or similar cheap barge around the £2-3k mark, and save some cash for the inevitible repairs. But as always its tempting to try push the budget. So basically woundering if anyone has any experience of a cheap s2k. Have had a search around, but as usual you only find the proper horror stories. How common are these? Have driven one when they were new, and really liked it....
Nothing to add re the mechanicals, but do make sure you can get on with one - I bought one and sold it on again very quickly - much to admire, but strangely unengaging for me.
Bonefish Blues said:
I doubt that the S2000 would make "motorway cruises" notably more economical and refined than the 5 TBH.
I must admit this surprised me a little too, but maybe the MX5 with a supercharger is horrendously thirsty? Especially as the OP went on to suggest an XJR as a 'sensible' option! 
M.
My mate had one for a few years and loved it. Mid 20s mpg and it only ran on super unleaded. Why not have a look at a cheap boxster instead, or if you're after better mileage and can cope with the spartan interior, what about an elise s2? The seats in the s1 are too harsh for the motorway, but the s2 are ok. Bit noisy, but mid 30s mpg.
falkster said:
alfa pint said:
if you're after better mileage and can cope with the spartan interior, what about an elise s2? The seats in the s1 are too harsh for the motorway, but the s2 are ok. Bit noisy, but mid 30s mpg.
can you really get an S2 for that money? I want one!!MX7 said:
falkster said:
alfa pint said:
if you're after better mileage and can cope with the spartan interior, what about an elise s2? The seats in the s1 are too harsh for the motorway, but the s2 are ok. Bit noisy, but mid 30s mpg.
can you really get an S2 for that money? I want one!!£10k for an S2 with high mileage. About 5-6 k for an S1.
marcosgt said:
Bonefish Blues said:
I doubt that the S2000 would make "motorway cruises" notably more economical and refined than the 5 TBH.
I must admit this surprised me a little too, but maybe the MX5 with a supercharger is horrendously thirsty? Especially as the OP went on to suggest an XJR as a 'sensible' option! M.
OP - if you are doing loads of motorway miles, then the S2000 might not be for you. The stereo is rubbish, and there is a lot of noise. Refined it ain't.
Out of interest, what's the problem with the MX5?
The S2000 - a good one at any rate - feels a bit more precise and a bit more structurally rigid than the MX5, but I don't think it's as big a step up as some people make out. The only significant advantage is straight line speed - they are deceptively quick little cars - but even then the supercharger on the MX5 would go a long way to negating that. I can't comment on economy as I haven't run one long term, but an FI'd MX5 running off-boost on the motorway shouldn't be too much worse, surely?
The S2000 - a good one at any rate - feels a bit more precise and a bit more structurally rigid than the MX5, but I don't think it's as big a step up as some people make out. The only significant advantage is straight line speed - they are deceptively quick little cars - but even then the supercharger on the MX5 would go a long way to negating that. I can't comment on economy as I haven't run one long term, but an FI'd MX5 running off-boost on the motorway shouldn't be too much worse, surely?
em177 said:
Currently have a '98 Mk1 Supercharged MX5 the motorway cruises are becoming more and more uneconomically viable.
and began by looking at a Jag XJR or similar cheap barge around the £2-3k mark
Hang on so you are looking to change to a car that is MORE economical than an MX5 and you are considering an XJR !and began by looking at a Jag XJR or similar cheap barge around the £2-3k mark
Please tell me the man logic that got you there.
marcosgt said:
I must admit this surprised me a little too, but maybe the MX5 with a supercharger is horrendously thirsty? Especially as the OP went on to suggest an XJR as a 'sensible' option!
M.
I can quite imagine this being the case, as my 1.6L MX5 with it's NA 4 cylinder engine gave me the same MPG as my 5 cylinder turbo powered petrol Volvo engine with nearly twice as much power!M.
FYI, the tank is 50 litres. Best I ever managed was 300 miles, but that was solely motorway (the middle part of a journey from Reading to Edinburgh).
The rule of thumb (thanks to the Magical Disappearing Digital FuelGauge) was to reset the trip on fill up and start looking for a garage around about 210-220 or so.
The rule of thumb (thanks to the Magical Disappearing Digital FuelGauge) was to reset the trip on fill up and start looking for a garage around about 210-220 or so.
The s2000 although a much more refined car generally than a mk1 mx5 is still not a great choice for motorway driving. The gearing is still fairly low and high revs mean more noise and a less relaxing drive and the roof is still single skinned. The lack of torque compared to a charged 5 will also take some getting used to. Driven hard a s2000 will do less than 25mpg so adjust your driving rather than the car if you require more mpg. However £5k should buy a nice early example running costs are a lot higher than an mk1 mx5 though. (Roofs cost £700 plus compared to £250 on a mx5 for example, even though they are basically the same thing).
If you don fancy an upgrade for £5k a 2.5 Boxster would offer similar speed to your charged mx5 and a lot more refinement.
(have owned mx5s, s2000 Elise, and currently a boxster).
If you don fancy an upgrade for £5k a 2.5 Boxster would offer similar speed to your charged mx5 and a lot more refinement.
(have owned mx5s, s2000 Elise, and currently a boxster).
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