"yitznewton" (yitznewton)
11/17/2015 at 23:15 • Filed to: car buying, honda s2000
20
25|
"yitznewton" (yitznewton)
11/17/2015 at 23:15 • Filed to: car buying, honda s2000 | 20
| 25 |
I’ll spare you all the suspense — I am now officially in possession of a 2003 Honda S2000 in Suzuka Blue! I picked it up in North Carolina (fittingly from a VW dealer) with 74k miles today, for what at least two certified experts at S2ki consider a nice price.
I’ve driven it about 175 miles so far. The worst thing about the car is, both soft top latches are broken such that they don’t batten down completely, which (as I discovered on I-77) means that the top can come loose over big bumps. Order to Majestic Honda placed.
Other than that, the car is pleasingly clean — not surgically clean like the yellow one I looked at last week, which is good, seeing as it will save me from constant panic attacks in the inevitable New Jersey full-contact parking escapades.
Being that a large part of the drive back will be through... VIRGINIA... (dun dun dun), I didn’t bother bringing my V1 at all — just in case something happens in VA, it won’t be in the car. So it was a very boring, dark 70 mph drive up to the foothills. As I knew, it doesn’t excel at being a highway cruiser.
Freebies from the dealer’s classics collection:
Video and more photos tomorrow. Here’s my itinerary for the morning, before cruising back to NJ. Squee! Can’t wait.
JGrabowMSt
> yitznewton
11/17/2015 at 23:18 |
|
WAAAATTTTT
Wouldn’t that have been nice on Sunday...
175 mile Oppo Review?
Is it staying stock, or do you have plans for it? Also, hard top or no?
|
yitznewton
> JGrabowMSt
11/17/2015 at 23:23 |
|
I know, right? Stock, no plans to modify until stuff breaks. Its limits are far beyond mine for the time being. Kinda sad that they just put new Firehawk A/S tires on it though... I’ll get a separate set of winter wheels, and I’m not going to just toss the A/S’s, but it would have been 100% to do the run tomorrow with good rubber.
Hard top, no, those run multiple thousands, not worth it at this point. The soft top is maybe B- condition, so we’ll see how well it does in the long term.
Rico
> yitznewton
11/17/2015 at 23:24 |
|
That’s awesome, congrats! If you had that Sunday that would’ve made for a very interesting camera chase car!
|
yitznewton
> JGrabowMSt
11/17/2015 at 23:24 |
|
I gotta get some work done; I’ll post more over the next few days.
AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
> yitznewton
11/17/2015 at 23:25 |
|
Congrats! I always have a hot and cold relationship with the s2000. Sometimes I really want one badly but other times it slips to the back of my mind. How is the wind noise with the soft top?
|
yitznewton
> AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
11/17/2015 at 23:26 |
|
Thanks! Wind noise is reasonable. Except when the latch falls off
|
JGrabowMSt
> yitznewton
11/17/2015 at 23:28 |
|
I met a guy who does vehicle upholstery work, if you ever think about doing the top or if it tears or anything, I can forward you his info. I keep it on hand for my SL, the fabric is great, but the corner windows are a little worse for wear, but I don’t want to mess with it right now.
I think I foresee a roadster meet when spring thaws out, mainly because my SL is going into hibernation for the winter.
TheHondaBro
> yitznewton
11/17/2015 at 23:28 |
|
I want one so bad! I have a feeling I can trade my Accord for one, though probably not from a dealership.
The only thing that I don’t like about the prospect of owning one is that I have to get a hardtop one, otherwise it would be really easy for a thief to cut into the roof and take my seats, which is apparently a pretty common thing to happen to S2K’s.
|
AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
> yitznewton
11/17/2015 at 23:29 |
|
Nice! I look forward to your review. How is visibility for switching lanes with the top up? Always hear about people saying it’s a little difficult to switch lanes with the tops up on roadsters.
|
yitznewton
> TheHondaBro
11/17/2015 at 23:29 |
|
Yeah, that’s in the back of my mind. I gotta hit up Kodokan for some seat locks. I live in an out-of-the-way cul de sac, so hopefully it will be under the radar.
Roadster Man
> yitznewton
11/17/2015 at 23:38 |
|
Rad! Congrats dude. 2003 means it’s an AP1 right? Good choice. The S2k is on the short list for my next car.
Suzuka Blue was a fantastic choice as well!
|
yitznewton
> AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
11/17/2015 at 23:45 |
|
Visibility is lousy. I set up the mirrors to hit the blind spots; not much traffic tonight, we’ll see how we do back in NJ :}
|
yitznewton
> Roadster Man
11/17/2015 at 23:47 |
|
Yep, last year of the AP1; glass roof and some suspension tweaks came in 2002. The more expensive re-engineered soft top latches also, it turns out :D
|
yitznewton
> JGrabowMSt
11/17/2015 at 23:48 |
|
Actually, if I mod anything, it would be the horn. It’s not too bad actually, but I would like more of an assertive sound like I’m used to from my VWs.
Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
> yitznewton
11/18/2015 at 00:43 |
|
Hella horns brah
Just kidding. Don’t #hellaflush it
Frank Grimes
> yitznewton
11/18/2015 at 01:26 |
|
The first order of business if it was mine would be to remove that dealer badge. I HATE THOSE THINGS!!!
Congrats on a cool car!
|
yitznewton
> Frank Grimes
11/18/2015 at 05:05 |
|
Yeah, that’s my second order after managing to get this thing back home. Agree on the hate!
gear5
> yitznewton
11/18/2015 at 05:51 |
|
Very nice! And remember take it easy.
|
yitznewton
> gear5
11/18/2015 at 06:13 |
|
Yes yes yes!
davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
> yitznewton
11/18/2015 at 10:57 |
|
I was like, why are you taking that big, smooth, red road?! And then... yeah.
|
davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
> yitznewton
11/18/2015 at 11:00 |
|
I’ve driven a friend’s S2000, but not on the highway, so I didn’t notice. The old Z4 is definitely bad when trying to check your blindspot. I recently drove a new Miata and was impressed that visibility was pretty good (and I fit!). Congrats on the new ride! Enjoy that depreciation-free motoring.
|
Roadster Man
> yitznewton
11/18/2015 at 12:45 |
|
Hey, if soft top latches are the only thing wrong with the car, I think you picked a winner! I look forward to hearing more about this. I really really really really want an S2k.
|
yitznewton
> Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
11/19/2015 at 06:33 |
|
Need something that will stand up to that Miata’s La Cucaracha horn next year at High Point
|
yitznewton
> Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
11/19/2015 at 06:34 |
|
SOON
|
yitznewton
> JGrabowMSt
11/19/2015 at 10:09 |
|
This is exactly what I’m going for: