Buying an S2000 privately

[KENZ]

Have never bought a car privately only sold one. So apart from doing the HPI check and taking cash and asking for receipt. What else do I need to watch out for with a private sale and the s2000. It's an 06 plate and as I'm travelling a distance I need to be sure it's ok.. Is it worth checking the garage it's been serviced from?

Your help is much appreciated :-)

[paneraiboy]

Im on the same boat and looking for a S2000,but I do have a brother in law to help me,who is quite good with the spanners. maybe pay for an AA inspection? (£150+) and bring lots of common sense.

Ps did you know 06 S2000 reg before march 23 road tax is £280 and cars reg after is £475 (gulp)

[havoc]

If you're not that mechanically minded, either:-
- Take a more experienced mate (usually a good idea anyway - 2 pairs of eyes spot more than 1, and theirs won't have rose-tints...but remember you're buying the car, they're just there to help, not to take responsibility for fault-finding).
- Get an AA/RAC/similar inspection done. If you like the car, put a deposit down subject to a satisfactory inspection, or some similar wording.


I'd google for an S2000 buyers guide, but in general:-
- Check the oil - level, colour, condition.
- Check the service history carefully
- Suss the owner out - does the car look like it's been owned by someone who'd check the oil every few weeks/every 500 miles?


Specific stuff:-
- Roof condition. Water ingress around the front-corners isn't a big deal - silicone grease on the rubbers usually works, and worst-case new strikers helps get a better fit. But elsewhere could be an issue. Check operation as well.
- Gearbox / synchro / clutch - obvious big bill on a 2nd hand car that's been abused.
- Check car is stone-cold before starting, and check for smoke from exhaust on start-up - unless it's a high-miler or an old (99, 01, 02) car, shouldn't be any smoke on start-up.

[KENZ]

paneraiboy said:

Im on the same boat and looking for a S2000,but I do have a brother in law to help me,who is quite good with the spanners. maybe pay for an AA inspection? (£150+) and bring lots of common sense.

Ps did you know 06 S2000 reg before march 23 road tax is £280 and cars reg after is £475 (gulp)

Damn I thought all 06's were ok and 07's were the start of the road tax price hike.. Ahh we'll never mind..it's gonna be a second car anyhow's..

[KENZ]

havoc said:

If you're not that mechanically minded, either:-
- Take a more experienced mate (usually a good idea anyway - 2 pairs of eyes spot more than 1, and theirs won't have rose-tints...but remember you're buying the car, they're just there to help, not to take responsibility for fault-finding).
- Get an AA/RAC/similar inspection done. If you like the car, put a deposit down subject to a satisfactory inspection, or some similar wording.


I'd google for an S2000 buyers guide, but in general:-
- Check the oil - level, colour, condition.
- Check the service history carefully
- Suss the owner out - does the car look like it's been owned by someone who'd check the oil every few weeks/every 500 miles?


Specific stuff:-
- Roof condition. Water ingress around the front-corners isn't a big deal - silicone grease on the rubbers usually works, and worst-case new strikers helps get a better fit. But elsewhere could be an issue. Check operation as well.
- Gearbox / synchro / clutch - obvious big bill on a 2nd hand car that's been abused.
- Check car is stone-cold before starting, and check for smoke from exhaust on start-up - unless it's a high-miler or an old (99, 01, 02) car, shouldn't be any smoke on start-up.

Thanks for that.. anymore tips?

[havoc]

I'm a little out-of-touch - I had an '03 and sold 4 years ago.

s2ki.co.uk is a mine of (mainly) useful information - do some searching on there, I'd expect this questions been asked 20 times over there...

[normalbloke]

Don't buy a VGS equipped one either!

[Riknos]

2004-early 2006 is the sweet spot for S2000s

[KENZ]

Thanks guys for your help. Bought the s2000 and enjoying the ride. Definitely feels rawer and back to basics. No tricks just a well balanced car with a superb engine.

I've just a few niggles. The speedo cluster where the rev counter is. It's very hard to see the bottom range but bright 2 thirds of the way up. I think it may just be a bulb that's required are these easy to replace? Drivers carpet is worn too. Is it easy to get one and
fit a replacement..

Edited by KENZ on Saturday 22 June 12:11

[mattcov]

KENZ said:

Thanks guys for your help. Bought the s2000 and enjoying the ride. Definitely feels rawer and back to basics. No tricks just a well balanced car with a superb engine.

I've just a few niggles. The speedo cluster where the rev counter is. It's very hard to see the bottom range but bright 2 thirds of the way up. I think it may just be a bulb that's required are these easy to replace? Drivers carpet is worn too. Is it easy to get one and
fit a replacement..

Edited by KENZ on Saturday 22 June 12:11

Don't know about the dash - you might have to post a pic. Get a set of full length S2000 OEM car mats - they go over the bar and make it look much smarter - theyre about £100.

[KENZ]

mattcov said:

KENZ said:

Thanks guys for your help. Bought the s2000 and enjoying the ride. Definitely feels rawer and back to basics. No tricks just a well balanced car with a superb engine.

I've just a few niggles. The speedo cluster where the rev counter is. It's very hard to see the bottom range but bright 2 thirds of the way up. I think it may just be a bulb that's required are these easy to replace? Drivers carpet is worn too. Is it easy to get one and
fit a replacement..

Edited by KENZ on Saturday 22 June 12:11

Don't know about the dash - you might have to post a pic. Get a set of full length S2000 OEM car mats - they go over the bar and make it look much smarter - theyre about £100.

Here's a pic if the dash. It looks better on the photo, it does get difficult to read the rev counter under normal driving. Defo need the carpet replaced more than new mats..

Edited by KENZ on Monday 24th June 00:17

[davidsc]

Looks like you have bulb out!

[KENZ]

Thanks guys. I checked with Honda dealer as car is due its service and MOT end of July. According to records it's due a small service. Oil/filter change and Platinum plugs replaced. I was also advised to get the diff oil flush and changed. Will get tem to order a couple of bulbs too.

[bracken78]

KENZ said:

Thanks guys. I checked with Honda dealer as car is due its service and MOT end of July. According to records it's due a small service. Oil/filter change and Platinum plugs replaced. I was also advised to get the diff oil flush and changed. Will get tem to order a couple of bulbs too.

That is not a small service if the plugs are also going to be changed. Seems a big service to be.

Has the gear box oil ever been changed? Might be worth looking into.

[RichwiththeS2000]

Definitely worth doing the gearbox oil while you're at it.

WRT the floor mats, I got a one piece set of these which are great:
http://www.s2ktuning.co.uk/S2K-Tuning-Floor-Mats.h...

[TaylotS2K]

I had Muz Mats in mine, they were great.

[Jezz172]

RichwiththeS2000 said:

Definitely worth doing the gearbox oil while you're at it.

WRT the floor mats, I got a one piece set of these which are great:
http://www.s2ktuning.co.uk/S2K-Tuning-Floor-Mats.h...

I bought mine from there too
Brilliant quality and cheap too - was well impressed.

I bought a 2nd set for when I sold the car - made it look brand new!

[Sutton]

Check for a buzzing sound when lift off (not on a bend ) after accelerating.

In the S2000 I test drove, I didn't notice it on the test drive, or assumed it was something else rattling.

Turns out it's a spring on the clutch plate, sounds bloody awful and is quite common. Only fix is a new clutch, £700+ job.

I believe it doesn't do any harm, but spoils the experience of an otherwise good car.

Once I've saved up, I'm seriously considering another as a weekend car.

[KENZ]

bracken78 said:

That is not a small service if the plugs are also going to be changed. Seems a big service to be.

Has the gear box oil ever been changed? Might be worth looking into.

According to there records. The diff oil has never been changed. He advised me to do this in this service. It's not making any strange noises at the mo..

Edited by KENZ on Saturday 29th June 21:47

[joe_90]

Check the suspension bolts are not seized.. If the owner doesn't know what you are talking about, walk away, unless you want to spend a load of cash sorting it out.