New Summer Ride - Honda S2000
05-04-13, 07:44 PM
#1
Recovering Lexus Addict
Thread Starter
New Summer Ride - Honda S2000
I sold my last summer car, a '91 Allante, about 3 years ago when my late wife was first diagnosed with breast cancer. I needed something that her caregivers could drive to get her to daily radiation treatments scheduled for the following winter (a Subaru Outback). So, now I decided it was time for a new summer ride with the following parameters: vert, manual tranny, something I hadn't had before - no Vette (C3 & C5), Allante, Miata (NA), or Del Sol (bought for one of my sons), and nothing German (want reliability and low cost of ownership). Budget was $20-30K.
I drove a new Mustang with a 6-speed - the tranny and clutch were both notchy. Plus the thing was just too big. The NC Miata was too small and they moved the brake and clutch to the left (probably to avoid unintended acceleration when braking) and my left foot kept wedging between the clutch & side wall when going for the dead pedal. The sales manager said he can't wear certain shoes when driving the Miata.
I'd always liked the S2000 and looked at one when they first came out, but there was no way that my late wife's little travel wheelchair could fit in the tiny trunk. (The sales manager and I tried, emptying out the useless mini-spare and everything else.) So now it was back on my list. Most had some type of fast-n-furious mods or other PO-caused problems. Then I found a completely unmolested '05 (AP2) with only 6,100 miles on it. The owner said he never had it above 4500 RPM and only had the top down 3-4 times. I had to pay a premium price for it, but it looks, drives, and smells like it just came out of the showroom. The owner had to travel for business, so payment and pickup won't happen for another 10 days. I've already warned my fiancee that any trips in the s2k will mean packing light - bikinis & lingerie only for her. Obligatory pics...
I drove a new Mustang with a 6-speed - the tranny and clutch were both notchy. Plus the thing was just too big. The NC Miata was too small and they moved the brake and clutch to the left (probably to avoid unintended acceleration when braking) and my left foot kept wedging between the clutch & side wall when going for the dead pedal. The sales manager said he can't wear certain shoes when driving the Miata.
I'd always liked the S2000 and looked at one when they first came out, but there was no way that my late wife's little travel wheelchair could fit in the tiny trunk. (The sales manager and I tried, emptying out the useless mini-spare and everything else.) So now it was back on my list. Most had some type of fast-n-furious mods or other PO-caused problems. Then I found a completely unmolested '05 (AP2) with only 6,100 miles on it. The owner said he never had it above 4500 RPM and only had the top down 3-4 times. I had to pay a premium price for it, but it looks, drives, and smells like it just came out of the showroom. The owner had to travel for business, so payment and pickup won't happen for another 10 days. I've already warned my fiancee that any trips in the s2k will mean packing light - bikinis & lingerie only for her. Obligatory pics...
05-05-13, 04:13 AM
#7
Recovering Lexus Addict
Thread Starter
I ended up paying his bottom line price of $25.9K, way higher than the KBB private party excellent price of $23K. He had turned down past offers of $25K. It was obvious he babied his vehicles in "his" immaculate 6 car garage. (He and his wife's shared Acuras were in another garage). Parked beside the s2k were the vehicles he used on his property - an '06 standard cab Tundra and a Kubota diesel tractor - both fully detailed.
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05-05-13, 09:46 AM
#8
Very nice! I've been a Miata nut since the 90s, and have owned about 15 of them (my 91 BRG SE is a keeper), and keep thinking of getting an S2k. Problem being 3 small kids and too many 2 seaters as it is - something would have to go, logically, to add yet another impractical car and there's nothing I'd care to get rid of right now.
Price seems fine for what you're getting - sometimes you have to pay a little extra to get the best. Hell I paid GS350 money for my GS300, just to get perfection
Price seems fine for what you're getting - sometimes you have to pay a little extra to get the best. Hell I paid GS350 money for my GS300, just to get perfection
05-05-13, 01:50 PM
#12
congrats,i owned a 2001 s2000 and sold it a couple of years ago.i put 143k miles on her with out any major issues.if you believe that the po has not went past 4500 rpms i have the hope diamond i will sell you
.i will say they hold there value rather well.i remember the local honda dealer in my area was selling the last model for $29k out the door
.i will say they hold there value rather well.i remember the local honda dealer in my area was selling the last model for $29k out the door
