15K Budget what year S2000?

[bigtalljim]

Right, I have a budget of 15k to get the right car.

The question is do I go for a low milage 02/03 plate or go for an average milage 04 with the bigger wheels and suspension changes?

Or is it just a case of changing the wheels on a 02/03 plate and have best of both worlds?

I invite your comments

cheers and see you all soon as a new owner once I have found the one.

[havoc]

bigtalljim said:

Or is it just a case of changing the wheels on a 02/03 plate and have best of both worlds?

Sounds like a plan.


Seriously though - the '04 is a LITTLE softer, but the tyres are apparently better (now that 16" S02's are becoming difficult to find, the 16" RE050A options aren't being as well received as the 17" RE050's), so that might be a very good compromise.

Whether it's worth paying for a very good '03 plus a separate set of 17"s (which would come to the same as an above-average '04) is another matter...both will hit the £15k mark after haggling, IMHO.

Oh...and I'll be selling my MCB '03 in a month or two! Hits 5y.o. end-July which means need to swap cars to keep getting the car allowance from work...

[MrFlibbles]

havoc said:

bigtalljim said:

Or is it just a case of changing the wheels on a 02/03 plate and have best of both worlds?

Sounds like a plan.


Seriously though - the '04 is a LITTLE softer, but the tyres are apparently better (now that 16" S02's are becoming difficult to find, the 16" RE050A options aren't being as well received as the 17" RE050's), so that might be a very good compromise.

Whether it's worth paying for a very good '03 plus a separate set of 17"s (which would come to the same as an above-average '04) is another matter...both will hit the £15k mark after haggling, IMHO.

Oh...and I'll be selling my MCB '03 in a month or two! Hits 5y.o. end-July which means need to swap cars to keep getting the car allowance from work...

What you getting Martin?

I think mines going soon....I shoudlreally get rid of it now but I cant bear to part with it before the summer

[havoc]

MrFlibbles said:

What you getting Martin?

No idea.

Well, not strictly true. We're getting Becs a new car, effectively (with my car allowance! ), but whether that's something like an E46 330Ci Cabrio to share, or something like a Leon FR (197bhp one) we don't know yet.

...and that in turn will decide whether we keep her GTi-6 (if we go for the expensive BMW option, which will be a car I'll like driving), or we sell that and get something 'interesting'* (if we go for the hot-hatch option which will leave me wanting something non-fwd).

• If her car is <5y.o., then I've carte blanche to get pretty-nearly whatever I feel like under c.£10k. RWD, 4wd, turbo, s/charger, n/asp, big, small...choices choices!!!

[mikey k]

Having had four S's I'd say go for an 04/05 they are a lot easier to live with and more user friendly.

[John57]

I just sold my MY05 S2000 with 15K on it to a dealer for £15100 .... which he sold for £17000. I would imagine you would pick up an 04 facelift easily for £15K. There is currently a 55 plate S2K on the S2Ki website for £16500.

[havoc]

mikey k said:

Having had four S's I'd say go for an 04/05 they are a lot easier to live with and more user friendly.

You've got to expand on that Mikey. In what ways?

[Dracoro]

I paid £15k last year for a low mileage 03. I'm sure you could get an 04 now although this time of year, people put prices up a little.

04 has bigger wheels, updated interior (tweaks really), different front/rear lights, different front/rear bumpers and exhaust tips, tweaked suspension/geo. So not just larger wheels!!

[Neil_H]

I would go for the 04 myself, mainly due to the fresher look - might help with residuals.

Although I had an 02 and preferred the look of the pre-facelift (personal choice).

[JM-S2K]

bigtalljim said:

Right, I have a budget of 15k to get the right car.

The question is do I go for a low milage 02/03 plate or go for an average milage 04 with the bigger wheels and suspension changes?

Or is it just a case of changing the wheels on a 02/03 plate and have best of both worlds?

I invite your comments

cheers and see you all soon as a new owner once I have found the one.

You could always buy mine, inside your budget and with everything you want -
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/481200.htm

[bigtalljim]

That would be the perfect car, got to wait for the pay out from my company when I leave. Not going to be in a hurry knowing them. Still will be worth the wait, keep on seeing S2K and getting impatient.

[MrFlibbles]

My 2004 has just gone into the classifieds....

Well within your budget!