The Wandering Eye - S2000 Edition

"Arrivederci" (arrividerci) 09/30/2019 at 10:27 • Filed to: None

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As some of you may recall, I’ve started softly looking for a fun car, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Thinking that I’d like to stick with a lower budget, I checked out !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but I haven’t pursued it because my eye is wandering.

I’ve owned a NC Miata before and it was my favorite car to date. It wasn’t the nicest or the fastest, but it was definitely the most fun. However, the one thing that the NC I recently tested felt was sloowwwwww. I’d honestly forgotten how sluggish the little NC is, so I started thinking about the car I wanted before I bought my NC - the S2000.

Searching locally, I found one about half an hour away that looked to be a creampuff and was priced pretty high. 2006 with 35k miles finished in Rio Yellow Pearl. Friday was my birthday and I was off work so I made an appointment to check it out.

It sure was yellow.

Given the low miles and high demand of the S2000, they were asking the princely sum of $24k for it. I could verify nine of the VIN tags - one of the previous owners had installed a carbon fiber cover over where the front bumper tag would be visible. It was also 100% stock with no accident or damage history, which is pretty rare in these cars. This one has no dings, dents or scratches, just a few chips on the nose and the obligatory scraping underneath. The top also appears to be original, in great shape and functions perfectly. Headlights had a slight haze and the paint could do with a correction, but cosmetically it needs very little (and it should for that price).

Inside it was perfect aside from a tear in the driver’s seat bottom. S2000 seats are expensive, so I’d have to research what a recover costs. I’ve heard complaints that the seats are too narrow, but they fit me perfectly. My only gripe would be that, with the top down, I almost felt as though I was looking over the windscreen, as opposed to through it. I’m not even that tall at 6', but I think I could be accustomed to it.

Bonus GS content in the background.

Driving it was fantastic. Clutch engagement was nice and smooth, easily modulated. The power wasn’t as bad as I expected down low. The S2000 gets ragged on for not having power or torque below 6000rpm, but I found it perfectly usable for putting around town. At that range it felt similar to the NC Miata I recently drove. However, once you start revving it out and that cam profile changes, the thing just wakes the fuck up. Amazing fun when giving it the beans. I didn’t get to push it much in handling, but I think it checks that box as well. Rotors appeared a little grooved and will need replaced. Brakes were a little uninspiring, so I’d wager it hasn’t had the fluid changed either. In my inspection I also found it had the wrong oil filter on it, so that doesn’t give a ton of confidence in its upkeep (though it could’ve been the dealer’s doing).

Despite this being wayyy more expensive and way more yellow than anything I’ve considered, I did talk numbers with them. They had it at $24k, but given recent BaT auctions for AP2 cars with less mileage topping out at $22k each, plus the ripped seat, brake issues and questionable maintenance, I offered $20k, thinking it fair. Dealer said they couldn’t take a $4k bath on it, so we parted amicably. It was a nice example, but I think it’ll probably end up selling for them in the $20-21k range. It’s also far too nice for how I really intend on using it, so I’d feel bad scuffing it up with cone strikes and rash from wide, sticky rubber.

I think my ideal S2000 would be an AP2 with 80-100k on the clock. Well maintained with no accident or damage history. It looks as though I could probably score one of those for $15k-ish. The good news is that I’m in no rush, so I can wait for the right car to come along.

BadMotorScooter > Arrivederci 09/30/2019 at 11:11

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Sounds like a nice car and priced just a little high. I’ve had 2 AP1s and think they are great cars. I like the 9k wail. F20C is near the top of NA 4-cylinders ever made, still today. Try to drive an AP1 if you can.

Arrivederci > BadMotorScooter 09/30/2019 at 11:17

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I’d like to check out the AP1 as well, but they seem even more difficult to find in a more original state. I think the market on well-maintained, no accident/damage history cars  will keep increasing over time for that reason, which is part of my interest.  

412GTI > Arrivederci 09/30/2019 at 11:37

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Beautiful car. I want to say the S2k is on my list of next obtainable dream cars. I had a Civic Si before and having a high revving motor in roadster form seems great.

I believe you’re right in looking for a decent 80-100k example. Clearly they can handle the extra mileage. 

Just Jeepin' > Arrivederci 09/30/2019 at 11:56

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I keep thinking a yellow S2000 would be a wonderful complement to my yellow Wrangler. Practically the same shade.

The problem is I want another 4wd vehicle, and owning 3 vehicles for one person who always drives by himself is more than a little silly. Especially at those prices.

But I do love driving them. 

Arrivederci > 412GTI 09/30/2019 at 12:02

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They absolutely can.  A private seller nearby has one with nearly 250k on the clock.  That’s quite a bit higher mileage than I’d prefer, but amazing it’s still running (and still has value!).

Arrivederci > Just Jeepin' 09/30/2019 at 12:03

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The yellow was really striking - in the sun you get the nice pearl hue.  It felt like a great place to visit, but I’m not sure I’d like to live there, though I feel like I need more color in my car life.  My current car is grey and previous have been: black, grey, dark blue, silver, black and red.

Old Red Wagon > Arrivederci 09/30/2019 at 13:19

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They are great cars, i owned one earlier this year but recently sold it. Living where i live having a fun car like that with roads as dull as South Florida there was really no point. I also wanted more power. It handled incredibly well but like i said i wanted something faster. Wife and i are also planning on buying a house soon so the extra money will come in handy. I currently don’t have a fun car but i am planning on a GT350 once the house purchase is done.

They truly are great cars and if you do go with one you will love it. Mine was an ‘05 with 108k on the clock when i bought it. Previous owner took very good care of it and had Ohlins DFV coilovers so mine handled even better than a stock example. It stayed glued to the road, the RE71r’s I put on definitely helped as well.

Arrivederci > Old Red Wagon 09/30/2019 at 13:46

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I can see how a S2000 wouldn’t be that much fun in Florida. Fortunately, I’m about 30- 45 minutes away from some really good roads and about 90 minutes away from some great ones.  I’d like one close to stock because I’d be hoping to run it in BS next season.

Old Red Wagon > Arrivederci 09/30/2019 at 13:49

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Yeah it definitely wasn’t. I’m in Miami too so traffic sucks constantly. I’m moving back to Texas hopefully soon and their are some pretty nice roads where i’ll be living at so my next toy will be bought out there. Good luck with your search. If you haven’t, check out the s2ki forums for sale section. That is where i found mine at. Most of the cars there are enthusiast owned and are well cared for.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Arrivederci 09/30/2019 at 15:08

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They are really great cars, and outside of being abused there really aren’t too many issues to watch out for.

I had an 03 in white with the tan interior, loved that thing and probably the one car I kick myself for selling. But it just didn’t work for what I needed at the time. If you want a more “raw” driving experience I’d say try out the earlier cars, I believed the newer ones switched to drive by wire at some point too? Suspension is a bit less civilized too I believe, and the AP1 engine is that much more of a riot too…at the expense of a little bit of low end torque, but I don’t think you’d be missing that too much.

If you haven’t tested any AP1s I’d suggest you do so just to know the age range you’re willing to consider – mileage isn’t a huge concern in these cars, so older with reasonable mileage might get you a really fun car that is quite a bit cheaper than the yellow car you looked at too. I always liked the look of the AP2 better, but I think the AP1s are coming around with a bit more of that classic old school vibe as opposed to the hip mid-00s look the AP2s were going for.

Either way, can’t say enough good things about this car – just as long as you don’t intend to use it as your daily commuter in rush hour traffic (and nothing else). That’s ultimately what made me sick of it – working too many hours, and bay area rush hour was the only time I got to drive it. And it was my “reliable, new” car compared to my E30 – so I really needed something a bit more spacious and practical while also maintaining that reliability aspect. Seeing the prices of these things now, and the condition and mileage I sold mine for in 2011 it hurts every time I see one listed online. It’ll be very low key maintenance-wise and a good place to park your money. I won’t call it an investment, but value will keep rising while giving you plenty of smiles along the way.

Arrivederci > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 09/30/2019 at 15:50

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From the cursory research I’ve done so far, it seems like Honda fixed a few of the issues in the AP1 when they released the AP2.  Of course, the mechanical reason is escaping me right now, but they did fix the bump steer, moved torque lower in the RPM range and made a few other improvements.  I also dig the look of the AP2 just a bit more than the AP1.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Arrivederci 09/30/2019 at 18:36

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Just drive an AP1 if only for the giggles, so you know what your options are. A lot of folks on the internet pontificate about the technical changes made between model years – but plenty of very serious track drivers use AP1s just fine and even prefer them, so I wouldn’t put much currency in that stuff before actually experiencing both cars yourself .

If the looks of an AP1 are just a no go for you, that’s understandable but otherwise just try one (03 is widely seen as a great goldilocks year) so you know what to keep your eyes open for when looking for the right car/deal.

Arrivederci > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 10/01/2019 at 07:14

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I mean, the cars look 95% the same, so I really like the looks of both, just the AP2 a slight bit more.  I’ll definitely try to find one to drive, they’re just even more difficult to find in decent shape versus the AP2.  The 2003 would be the one I’d be looking for as well.