S2000 Info Please :)

theboyrob

theboyrob

theboyrob

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Joined
16 Dec 2003
Posts
1,586
Location
Halifax , UK
I'm getting very itchy feet, and although I love the ST I really want a two seater open top car!

I'm doing less and less miles in the year (currently around 7000) and the longest trip I do in a week is only 35 miles.

So I have been pondering about a nice sports car, and after having a look at whats available I have quite a fancy for an S2000. All I'm looking for is a rough guide what to look for and any pointers on the best to buy! I'll be looking to spend around 10-11K.

Thanks in advance!
 
There have been about 40 threads like this in the last year. I suggest you search for those and have a read as there are some really good details in there.

Basically in my honest opinion get one off someone on S2KI and accept you wont get a 2007 car for 4 and a half pence. Best bet for you is to read the FAQ on the UK owners section of S2KI and go from there. 10-11k should just about squeeze you a good, enthusiast owned and maintained 2004 I would imagine. You may well fluke a newer one, but almost certainly issues like siezed alignment adjustors will come to hurt you.
 
10-11 is a decent enough budget.

Like Conanius says, get an owners club example or one you can prove has had adjustment bolt work done already. Glass rear screen in the newer models is one of the best pros alongside the facelift exterior and more importantly - interior.

The facelift stuff will not change how the car drives and the only thing dictating that is the suspension revisions over the years. Buy on condition and work done but and for the newer models but if you come across an early car with a glass rear screen in (from a replaced hood f.ex) at a good price with the adjustment work done don't discount it because of its age ;)

Don't bother looking for VSA as a wanted option, if it has it - fair enough. If it does not, makes no odds. Go learn how to drive it, you do not NEED VSA.
 
thanks for the info Sin Chase!

Out of interest, what exactly is the 'adjustment bolt work' and does it involve a lot of work?
 
Sin_Chase said:
Nooooo.

ALL European models are AP1 cars which have AP2 styling in the later models. There are NO 2.2 Litre Euro cars, they are all F20C 2.0Litre 9,000RPM jobbies.
Click to expand...

would you like me to take photos of all the uk AP2 S2000's we have at work? do you know where i work?
 
theboyrob said:
thanks for the info Sin Chase!

Out of interest, what exactly is the 'adjustment bolt work' and does it involve a lot of work?
Click to expand...

The adjustment bolts for geometry were never greased from the factory, they corrode, some cars worse than other but inevitably they will end up corroded.

If they need to be cut out or have large amounts of time removing it is going to cost you a fortune.

The short end of the stick is this - Not having a good geometry on an S2000 is a crime against motoring. The difference is that big. Unless your bolts are corroded and you have a perfect geometry, you are going to need to change them.

Additionally bushings can not be bought separately from wishbones/arms etc. If the bushings are gone then you are looking at £400 for an upper wishbone alone. Most people go for after-market parts but the work is still going to cost a fair whack unless you DIY it (And you will need a 10T press for that)
 
there are plenty of AP2 cars, not imports, at Honda

infact, the moon rock one i did today was a AP2, 09 plate, 8000 miles, very nice
 
Sin_Chase said:
The adjustment bolts for geometry were never greased from the factory, they corrode, some cars worse than other but inevitably they will end up corroded.

If they need to be cut out or have large amounts of time removing it is going to cost you a fortune.

The short end of the stick is this - Not having a good geometry on an S2000 is a crime against motoring. The difference is that big. Unless your bolts are corroded and you have a perfect geometry, you are going to need to change them.

Additionally bushings can not be bought separately from wishbones/arms etc. If the bushings are gone then you are looking at £400 for an upper wishbone alone. Most people go for after-market parts but the work is still going to cost a fair whack unless you DIY it (And you will need a 10T press for that)
Click to expand...

sounds like a nightmare job! If this has been carried out I assume it will say on the service history? :)
 
It won't say on service history. Honda actually don't acknowledge it as a "problem", but they will carry out the work if you asked them to. You would have to be a nutter though, would cost twice as much as an indy specialist.
 
stulid said:
there are plenty of AP2 cars, not imports, at Honda

infact, the moon rock one i did today was a AP2, 09 plate, 8000 miles, very nice
Click to expand...

This is the last time I will say it.

There are no UK AP2 cars. They are all AP1 which have the AP2 styling changes.

When you are next at work go and read the engine code, F20C right? 2.0 Litre.
 
thepharcyde said:
Wow learn something new every day. I did not know they did a 2.2 :)
Click to expand...

It has an 8,000 RPM limit for the sake of additional mid-range torque. I would still take the 2.0 Litre over it personally.

No Euro cars had the AP2 2.2 Litre engine. You cannot buy one in the UK ;)

If you want a 2.2 Litre S2000 you have to go to North America or Japan.
 
Sin_Chase said:
It won't say on service history. Honda actually don't acknowledge it as a "problem", but they will carry out the work if you asked them to. You would have to be a nutter though, would cost twice as much as an indy specialist.
Click to expand...

I guess unless you buy from somewhere like an owners forum you won't know if the works been carried out unless you take the bolts out!
 
Sin_Chase said:
It has an 8,000 RPM limit for the sake of additional mid-range torque. I would still take the 2.0 Litre over it personally.

No Euro cars had the AP2 2.2 Litre engine. You cannot buy one in the UK ;)

If you want a 2.2 Litre S2000 you have to go to North America or Japan.
Click to expand...

Yeah just read about it on Wikipedia. I agree you want 9k the whole point of owning a Vtec :D
 
Getting the bolts checked is actually a really straightforward job, if they are not corroded you can pay a specialist an hour or 2 labour to get them out, grease them then pay for a geoemtry.

It's only once they are corroded and stuck the £££ racks up.
 
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