S2000 AP1 Replacement Suggestions

Drollic · 5 Jan 2017 at 20:38

Looking to replace my S2000 in the summer this year and already considering replacements. I seem to go through phases of liking different types of cars, which is probably due to having fairly open requirements. I'm currently looking at hatches, in particular Megane F1 230s, with mk1 Leon Cupra Rs and mk5 Golf Gtis a close second and third inline. I'm open to suggestions though.

The car ideally needs to:

Be above 150bhp/ton (more a must)
Cost under £6k (possibly flexible)
Be no older than 04-05 (flexible)
Be under 80k mileage (flexible)
Able to average 25mpg as a minimum, ideally 30mpg+
Be 'reasonably' reliable and not suffer from known drastic failure of engine or gearbox problems costing thousands to fix.
Right hand drive (must)

Open to 2/3/5 doors, variety of engines (although turbo/sc preferred), auto if it's 'reasonably' decent, modified cars/cars that are mostly found for sale modified, imports.

Ideas?

Rilot · 5 Jan 2017 at 20:44

Keep the S2000

acemastr · 5 Jan 2017 at 20:45

You're not going to be happy with anything after that S2000...

Find yourself a Silvia of any number

Drollic · 5 Jan 2017 at 20:48

Rilot said:
Keep the S2000

I should add, keeping the s2000 isn't an option. The car now has comfortably over 100k on it, and in terms of all servicing items, MOT and the fact both front wings will need work before next winter, it's a reasonably good time to sell. Discs, pads, tyres, plugs, air filter, cabin filter and fluids (diff, gearbox, coolant, brake) all done within the last two years/10-12k. Oil and filter this month. I don't want to shell out on any of them on the same car again. Clutch is stock and never done to my knowledge - don't want this going.

If the car had sub 100k with the clutch done needing the wings doing (minor rust) I'd keep it.

randal · 5 Jan 2017 at 20:50

Details of the S2K when you come to sell please. She'll kill me but what the hell.

Nasher · 5 Jan 2017 at 20:55

Shame you can't keep it. They are only going up in value now.

Drollic · 5 Jan 2017 at 21:06

Nasher said:
Shame you can't keep it. They are only going up in value now.

I will get a lot more back than what I paid, although have had work on the rear arches done. The mileage of the car now will adversely affect the value.

Will Gill · 5 Jan 2017 at 21:19

I went from an s2k to a z4 3.0si, never looked back, I know it's not a hatch but if I was you I'd give one a go, better in every single way unless you absolutely have to drive everywhere at 9000rpm

[TW]Fox · 5 Jan 2017 at 21:22

Drollic said:
I should add, keeping the s2000 isn't an option. The car now has comfortably over 100k on it, and in terms of all servicing items, MOT

Welcome to every other £6k performance car.

Spending £6k on a performance car buys you more of the same. Which is fine, but if your intention is to avoid these worries it's not going to work.

Drollic · 5 Jan 2017 at 21:35

[TW]Fox;30374488 said:
Welcome to every other £6k performance car.

Spending £6k on a performance car buys you more of the same. Which is fine, but if your intention is to avoid these worries it's not going to work.

Well aware of this. Happy to do it again. Just on a car that's newer with a lot less miles and not as likely to need bodywork addressing. I'll look for one not needing tyres, discs and the cambelt (if it has one) needing doing most likely.

tom_nieto · 5 Jan 2017 at 22:48

I reckon you need to spend loads more cash to get any sort of upgrade for the S2000. I spent ages mulling over options for the same money and came up short every time!

Spend the cash on your S2000 or get something completely different and give up on sports cars. Much as I like the Z4, I personally don't see it as an upgrade over the S2000.

tom_nieto · 5 Jan 2017 at 22:51

Drollic said:
S2000... I'm open to suggestions.

The car ideally needs to:

Be above 150bhp/ton (more a must)
Cost under £6k (possibly flexible)
Able to average 25mpg as a minimum, ideally 30mpg+
Be 'reasonably' reliable and not suffer from known drastic failure of engine or gearbox problems costing thousands to fix.
Right hand drive (must)

turbo/sc preferred

Ideas?

Actually I think you inadvertently came up with the best one

Drollic · 6 Jan 2017 at 00:18

tom_nieto said:
I reckon you need to spend loads more cash to get any sort of upgrade for the S2000. I spent ages mulling over options for the same money and came up short every time!

Spend the cash on your S2000 or get something completely different and give up on sports cars. Much as I like the Z4, I personally don't see it as an upgrade over the S2000.

They seem well received here, but there's no amount of cash I can spend to undo mileage. The wings would be £250-500 depending on the garage and work, and although the clutch doesn't even slip, it would be at the back of my mind another year on. The car went through it's last MOT with no advisories, however I wouldn't be surprised if corrosion gets at the exhaust after next winter either. The suspension is probably in overhaul territory to be at its best apart from a few bushes by next year also, at least compared to a 60-75k clean hatch say. I think the potential rot from winter roads on a daily 16-17 year old car I need to keep in good condition has me more bothered than anything. Hood fabric less than 4 years old and the engine uses very little oil compared to some as further plus points I suppose.

Whilst I like the looks, the engine, interior and gearbox (possibly impossible to beat at the money), the car isn't all that lightweight and as fun as some people think - certainly surprised me compared to my dc2. It's also a fraction soft for what is supposed to be a sporty car.

grudas · 6 Jan 2017 at 00:27

Why are you stressing about the miles? The engine can take it, it is not going to go bang just because it's over 100k miles. Many higher mileage s2ks are for sale. Your 2006 6k hatch will have rust issues, clutch issues etc and can easily cost as much if not more to fix. Better have the car you know in your hards which needs minor work than buy a 10yo hot hatch.

Drollic · 6 Jan 2017 at 00:44

grudas said:
Why are you stressing about the miles? The engine can take it, it is not going to go bang just because it's over 100k miles. Many higher mileage s2ks are for sale. Your 2006 6k hatch will have rust issues, clutch issues etc and can easily cost as much if not more to fix. Better have the car you know in your hards which needs minor work than buy a 10yo hot hatch.

It's not the engine going bang I'm worried about, I purchased it at over 100k. See the ref to low oil use as a plus and suspension refresh above as more concerning. It just seems like a good time to sell without spending too much to keep it in its current state. I probably shouldn't mention that the wheels have been refurbed about 18 months ago and they haven't got a mark on them

GhostWKD · 6 Jan 2017 at 09:14

Will Gill said:
I went from an s2k to a z4 3.0si, never looked back, I know it's not a hatch but if I was you I'd give one a go, better in every single way unless you absolutely have to drive everywhere at 9000rpm

I'm the opposite sadly (although a 3.0i e85 not the si).

I've had 2 S2000's and my first 3.0 Z4, Z4 just feels like it doesn't have any character. I used to have my S2000 roof down whatever the weather wheras I actively avoid putting the Z4 roof down as the heaters aren't as good as they were in the S2000.

I'm in a similar boat re wildly open shopping requirements, currently on my shortlist is FN2 Civic Type R, Impreza (hawkeye) and S2000. Seems to change weekly mind.

That said, if you're the guy in Moreton Pinkney with my old MCB car I'd be possibly interested in having it back despite the job list

brightside229 · 6 Jan 2017 at 09:22

Clutch is not a huge amount of money, circa £500 total fitted for a oem one.

Exhaust is cheap as chips, and i am not aware of one ever rotting away on a s2000, but if it did, you can buy a oem second hand one for less than <£100.

Bushes, the only ones that should concern you is the compliance bush as this is the only one that gets damaged and can cause a mot failure, Cost is <£100 for mugen compliance bush, and a mornings work on axel stands changing them, The other bushes only become a concern when they seize, which they likely will have already, but unless your alignment is way out and you have problems, it isnt too much of a issue.

Suspension, the shocks can leak, but again you can either buy a full set of second hand ones for <£100 or upgrade them to adjustable coilovers for less than £500.

Front wings? again i have not really seen the front wings rust on a s2000, but you could even pick up a set of replacements in your colour for around £250 second hand. If your rear arch's are good then i wouldn't worry too much about it as the wings bolt on and off so easily.

All in all, i would say your trying to come up with excuses to get rid of it. So it sounds like the s2000 is not the car for you. But the issues you posted about are not worth the hassle of potentially buying someone elses problems with another old performance car.

So if you like it, fix it, its going to be the better car of anything you can buy for £6k. And if your bored of it just sell, dont make excuses to why you are wanting to get rid of it!

I have owned my S2000 for around 3 years, and in this time i have spent more than it cost to purchase the car in the first place with upgrades, simply because for the money it costs i cannot think of anything i would rather own (that i could realistically afford to buy and run)

Mine is now supercharged, has ohlin suspension full exhaust system, full mugen bush's, J's racing front bumper, Upgraded cooling, upgraded clutch and a whole host of stuff i have forgot, next up is a full respray in the original colour as at 10 years old its showing its age in certain areas!

Gambisk · 6 Jan 2017 at 09:33

brightside229 said:
Clutch is not a huge amount of money, circa £500 total fitted for a oem one.

Exhaust is cheap as chips, and i am not aware of one ever rotting away on a s2000, but if it did, you can buy a oem second hand one for less than <£100.

Bushes, the only ones that should concern you is the compliance bush as this is the only one that gets damaged and can cause a mot failure, Cost is <£100 for mugen compliance bush, and a mornings work on axel stands changing them, The other bushes only become a concern when they seize, which they likely will have already, but unless your alignment is way out and you have problems, it isnt too much of a issue.

Suspension, the shocks can leak, but again you can either buy a full set of second hand ones for <£100 or upgrade them to adjustable coilovers for less than £500.

Front wings? again i have not really seen the front wings rust on a s2000, but you could even pick up a set of replacements in your colour for around £250 second hand. If your rear arch's are good then i wouldn't worry too much about it as the wings bolt on and off so easily.

All in all, i would say your trying to come up with excuses to get rid of it. So it sounds like the s2000 is not the car for you. But the issues you posted about are not worth the hassle of potentially buying someone elses problems with another old performance car.

So if you like it, fix it, its going to be the better car of anything you can buy for £6k. And if your bored of it just sell, dont make excuses to why you are wanting to get rid of it!

All of this.

Also to add I'd buy something other than a hot hatch or budget performance car after an s2000, I think you will inevitably be let down by the overall experience once you get over the slightly faster 0-60 and newer toys etc. I'd look at something totally different big comfy saloon or maybe a defender for the craic, that way you will have a very different experience and not be comparing it to the s2000 directly.

grudas · 6 Jan 2017 at 09:47

Drollic said:
It's not the engine going bang I'm worried about, I purchased it at over 100k. See the ref to low oil use as a plus and suspension refresh above as more concerning. It just seems like a good time to sell without spending too much to keep it in its current state. I probably shouldn't mention that the wheels have been refurbed about 18 months ago and they haven't got a mark on them

to be fair from my POV you have a good older car that simply needs usual maintenance on a car of that age.

if you buy a 2006 hatch it will have it's own problems.

if you want trouble free motoring then get a lease on a 140i or something and you'll have a brand new car but a 2006 hatch will cost money, the same way s2k will.

Nasher · 6 Jan 2017 at 09:49

Plus a hot hatch is probably going to have a turbo. Which is also a very expensive maintenance part if it goes wrong! That is one thing you dont have to worry about with an s2000.