S2000, how reliable/economic?

[chris watton]

Hi :),

Right, we were going to buy a Clio 182 a few months back, but pulled out at the last second. Part of this was because my wife is soon to start a new job. This means that we can keep the workhorse Clio 1.2 (for the kids), and my wife 'could also have a 2-seater sports car to get her to work and back.
Initially, during our 2-seater search, she liked the MGF Trophy 160 and MX5. For around £11-12K, we could buy a year old MX5 1.8, but Chan has always LOVED the S2000 (I quite like it too, tbh), and in the AutoTrader website, there seem to be a few decent ones for £12K!
Are these cars as reliable as people say? I ask because if they are 'bullitproof', the insurance premium would't be so bad. Is there anything untoward to look out for?, I have noticed that in the ads, a lot say that they have had the wheels changed in the past year! Finally, what are the service costs like?

Thank you :)

(I think its between a nearly new MX5 or a 4-5 year old S2000!)

[chris watton]

Thanks for all the advice guys , I shall do more research on the S2K forum
As a matter of interest, what would you do, a nearly new MX5 or a 4-5 year old S2000?

[chris watton]

douglasr said:

If the S2000 had a warranty, then teh S2000. Have a look at my profile for a full list of running costs over the last 3 1/2 years...

Thanks for that! , Servicing is VERY reasonable!
I would also assume that it's very d=good on fuel, if tootling to work and back each day, and getting nowhere near the 9K limit!

[chris watton]

Just got some quotes for an S2000, £749!!!, My Tamora is just over £600!! Why???

[chris watton]

MrV said:

where are you trying for insurance Chris ,they again if you go into the S2ki forum you will even find an insurance thread As for buying a 5 yr old S as long as it has FSH you can still get a Honda extended warrenty,although try to get 1 thats 4 yrs and 11months old as for some reason 5yrs and older seem to make the warrenty cost jump up by £100

I tried privelige (I'm insured with the TVR with them), and Confused.com, the latter's cheapest was £560, but that was without NCP.
Have there been a few accidents in these cars for the premiums to be so high, they're even more than the more skittish (and powerful) Tuscan S!!!

I will have a look over on the S2ki forum, was anticipating insurance around the £400 mark.

[chris watton]

lurking lawyer said:

Hi Chris, After your assistance on my Tamora thread, it's only fair I return the favour on here! I had a 1.8 MX5 before my first S2000. The Mazda was more chuckable and forgiving but it gives up 100bhp to the S2000 and doesn't have anywhere near the same ooomph to it. There's no competition in performance stakes, although depending on what you want from it the Mazda could be more fun in the sense of it being more progressive, benign and easier to handle. In your position, I'd go for the older S2000. Servicing costs are very reasonable - certainly peanuts compared to what you will be used to on the Tam! I recently had my 18,000 (second) service and it cost around £150. The 9,000 (first) service is really just an oil change and visual check. From memory, that was around £120. You can save on that if you provide your own oil. The 27,000 (third annual) service is the "big" one - around £300 or so. Be sure to check tyres and ensure that they are Bridgestone ES02-JZ, the S2000-specific variant of the S02. Budget £350-400 for a new set of rubber all round. s2ki is a mine of useful information, so be sure to stop in there if you decide to go down that road. The For Sale & Wanted forum there is a good first stop for looking for second hand cars. Of course, you could always push the boat out a bit further and take mine off my hands, and so clear the way for me to make the leap into Trevdom!

Thanks for the advice Mark . Servicing costs are astonishing!!!! (My Tam's last service, with 2 new front tyres was £1500 )- just finished licking the wounds on that one! lol
Although the car will be primarily for Chantelle to get to and from work, I would also use it sometimes (instead of the Tam in bad weather! ) to collect my son (60 miles away!) every other week.

I think I know exactly what you mean about the MX5 without even had a drive in it, being use to something a tad more powerful, it may seem a little too limp.
Chan REALLY would like an S2000, but steadfastly said NO, when the insurance quotes were downloaded (MX5 being £300, fully comp + NCP) I can't understand the premium, I'm 38, Chan's 34, both clean licenses, both full no claims, and both use to driving TVRs!
Would love to have yours, but, I have to be sensible and stick with a £12K budget, this also means I have to keep my Tam without changing it for the foreseeable future (well, I guess it's not that bad!!! lol)


(Edited due to appalling spelling and grammar!)

>> Edited by chris watton on Monday 12th September 22:01

[chris watton]

MrV said:

It might be worth giving Adrian Flux a bell or liverpool and victoria and I think we went with Diamond last time as Carrie (Mrs V ) is the daily driver We are the same age's as you spooky and I think its costing us about £800 ish on a tw post code

Cheers , I'll give them a try - I would have thought that some company's would give 'concessions' to drivers who are use to driving rear wheel sports cars, they do for some TVR policies!
Thing is, I can't justify paying out 2 lots of expensive insurance, I budgeted for maybe £1K per year insurance for both cars (Clio 1.2 is £160!, but that just about moves!)

I really do think some should have driver training before buying these fantastic cars, so as not to make the rest of us suffer when we pay for insurance, even though we've never had an accident!
I think a Clio 182 may be more fun than an MX5 - but will persevere with trying to find less extotionate premiums for the S2000.

[chris watton]

Cheers for all the advice guys much appreciated
Still not decided though! LOL

OK, who's been trashing their S2000's to make the premium so darn high, own up????

[chris watton]

A 400BHP Tuscan S is even cheaper than an S2000 to insure! by £100! I would have thought that reletively, there have been more Tuscan crashes/fatalities than the S2000?

(I thought, also, that the S2000 was built here!)