Good news if I end up in an S2000

Kinja'd!!! "Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman." (ryanwacker02)
08/18/2013 at 15:51 • Filed to: None

Kinja'd!!!1 Kinja'd!!! 24

Turns out that, yes, you can permanently install a hardtop on an S2000! This is good news, as I don't really dig top-down motoring, and as It will probably spend about half the year every year in a place that has weather you'd be stupid to have the top down in.

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DISCUSSION (24)


Kinja'd!!! IrvingWashington > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/18/2013 at 15:55

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Sacrilege!


Kinja'd!!! myTotaledTahoe > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/18/2013 at 15:55

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I don't get it. There are plenty of S2000 hardtop options


Kinja'd!!! Leadbull > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/18/2013 at 15:57

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Or...

... Clownshoe


Kinja'd!!! BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/18/2013 at 15:58

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What does that do for headroom? I love the S2k, but I'm very cramped in one.


Kinja'd!!! Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > IrvingWashington
08/18/2013 at 15:58

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Nah! The S600, and S800 this car is supposed to pay tribute to had coupe variants! I'm honestly surprised that a coupe variant of the S2000 never made it to showrooms.


Kinja'd!!! Burrito de EJ25 > IrvingWashington
08/18/2013 at 15:59

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It looks better with a hard top, but I don't know if I'd do a permanent hardtop. Removable, definitely.

I wouldn't want to lose the open sky permanently, especially here in Los Angeles.


Kinja'd!!! Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > Leadbull
08/18/2013 at 16:00

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I was about to say "Well, those are just too expensive."
Turns out, they're in a similar price bracket.


Kinja'd!!! Sparf > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/18/2013 at 16:00

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If you don't get a Spoon hardtop, something is seriously wrong with you.

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Kinja'd!!! IrvingWashington > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/18/2013 at 16:01

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The S2000 was designed from the ground up as a convertible! It wants to be topless!

But if you insist on ruining one, get a Spoon top.


Kinja'd!!! Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
08/18/2013 at 16:02

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I can't exactly say. I haven't sat in an S2000 with a hardtop. And the headroom will vary between the different varieties of tops too. You could always get lower seat rails, of course.


Kinja'd!!! Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > IrvingWashington
08/18/2013 at 16:05

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I knoooowwww. But, hardtops do a lot to combat the top-slashing, and seat stealing that still crops up. And permanently (I should say semi-permanently as its just bolted one. Not welded or something.) installing one does a lot to prevent the hardtop theft that you sometimes see.


Kinja'd!!! SteyrTMP > Sparf
08/18/2013 at 16:06

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I was about to search for a pic of one of those... but you did my work for me.


Kinja'd!!! Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > Sparf
08/18/2013 at 16:08

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That top is about US$5000. I'd like one very much. But that's almost double what I can get a used OEM hardtop, which has a headliner, superior rear visibility and rear window defroster, for. The Mugen hardtop falls somewhere in between the two. And Amuse also has a top that is a bot of a cross between the OEM and the Mugen, but it's a bit hard to obtain.


Kinja'd!!! SteyrTMP > Leadbull
08/18/2013 at 16:11

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Definitely a better car. Must have. Go for the M Coupe. Preferably after 2000. While the S54 is better, they were having engine problems due to outside sourced rod bearings. See if any you look at have been recalled already, if so, take it. If not, look closely at maintenance records. If not meticulously recorded, be careful.


Kinja'd!!! feather-throttle-not-hair > Sparf
08/18/2013 at 16:29

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i've always wondered if that style hard top prevents trunk usage.


Kinja'd!!! XJDano > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/18/2013 at 16:34

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a local cage builder makes these brackets.

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Kinja'd!!! Sparf > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/18/2013 at 16:42

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Even so, wouldn't it be entirely possible to install a rear window defroster (possibly with the help of a specialist) on the Spoon hardtop? It's just an empty shell after all so it really is what you make it yourself.


Kinja'd!!! Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > XJDano
08/18/2013 at 16:54

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Yup! Those are the exact ones!


Kinja'd!!! Leadbull > SteyrTMP
08/18/2013 at 17:48

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M coupes might be out of his price range, though.


Kinja'd!!! twinturbobmw > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/18/2013 at 19:11

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So you decided on the S2000?


Kinja'd!!! Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > twinturbobmw
08/18/2013 at 20:11

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Nope. Not fully. I like them because of how much can be done with just aero. But I don't like verts. And I don't like leather interiors. Especially leather to the extent that the S2000 has. So those are two pretty big marks against it.

But on the flip side I can get a newer one than I can an Evo.

But on the flip flip side there are other cars in that price bracket that are cool too. Not to mention older junk.

A world of possibilities.


Kinja'd!!! SteyrTMP > Leadbull
08/18/2013 at 21:46

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Nah, I had an eye on one, one owner, low mileage, 15k.. and that was back in 09


Kinja'd!!! MountainCommand > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/18/2013 at 22:24

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Some more thoughts i pondered for you....

Id say stick with a 2 door for your car. you may not have the chance later on to get back into a 2 door. And even if the s2000 is impractical, if you often find yourself using nothing but your passenger seat for 90% of things, then honestly, the s2000 will be just as practical as anything else.

Plus, its an excuse that you can only give 1 person a ride. And reserve that seat for your future/current girl.

And think about it. Later on in life, you will be able to go back and get an STI or EVO since you can actually use those cars as very competent DD without any compromise.

Plus rolling up in an s2000 will be much more satisfying that any subaru, mitsubishi, volvo, bmw (some exceptions), etc...

I guess what im saying is. Get the s2000. At least while you still can find them with very low mileage, and in very good condition. Dont worry about the leather seats so much. That can be fixed with a drop in replacement if you really hate them.


Kinja'd!!! James > Sparf
01/17/2014 at 16:58

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Eh, it flows too close to the back end of the car for my liking. I prefer some break up of the rear window and the trunk lid. The Spoon top almost makes it look like a hatch IMO. I'll take a Mugen top.