Pre 2003 s2000 or wait till I can afford facelift model
Discussion
As the title says really.
Desperately after an s2000. I have driven a 2005 uk model and fell in love.
Really want the newer facelift car with revised bumpers etc, was planning to purchase one in a few months for 9-10k. (53-05 reg, circa 30-60k miles)
However due to house problems I've not really got 10k to spend on a motor, but probs 6-8k.
Do I wait till next year and get the car I want? Or go buy one now for 6-8k which is nearly 10years old and has upto double the mileage.
It's my first rwd car and it will be my daily, so ideally I would like the newer softer sprung car with the slightly updated interior etc.
Is there really that much difference in them on the road.
I'm looking for answers from people who have experience in driving both. (I am sure I have read every techo / review article about them, so just want some PH advice)
Cheers
Desperately after an s2000. I have driven a 2005 uk model and fell in love.
Really want the newer facelift car with revised bumpers etc, was planning to purchase one in a few months for 9-10k. (53-05 reg, circa 30-60k miles)
However due to house problems I've not really got 10k to spend on a motor, but probs 6-8k.
Do I wait till next year and get the car I want? Or go buy one now for 6-8k which is nearly 10years old and has upto double the mileage.
It's my first rwd car and it will be my daily, so ideally I would like the newer softer sprung car with the slightly updated interior etc.
Is there really that much difference in them on the road.
I'm looking for answers from people who have experience in driving both. (I am sure I have read every techo / review article about them, so just want some PH advice)
Cheers
Edited by russy01 on Saturday 8th January 15:08
Be patient and hold out for the AP2. It looks so much better with 17 inch rims, revised front and rear bumpers, updated front and rear light clusters with LED, revised suspension?.
At the end of the day is the AP1 vs AP2 mainly cosmetic difference worth £2k to you?
At the end of the day is the AP1 vs AP2 mainly cosmetic difference worth £2k to you?
Edited by sutats on Saturday 8th January 16:39
AP2 applies only to US and Japan.
In the UK there were 5 separate 'variants':-
- 99
- 02 (glass rear screen, revised suspension - mainly geometry)
- 04 (revised interior trim, 17" wheels, biggest revision to suspension to match to 17"s)
- 06 (DBW throttle w/ optional VSC, mildly revised suspension)
- 08 (5-spoke wheels, revised suspension supposed to be the best of the lot)
IMHO the '02 or the '04 are the ones to go for, as a combination of VFM and ability. I had an '03 GT and didn't regret not going for an '04 - IMHO the wheels looked better and with cross-braces fitted and decent geometry it handled very nicely.
But there are a fair number on s2ki who say the '04 is a lot better...so take your pick.
In the UK there were 5 separate 'variants':-
- 99
- 02 (glass rear screen, revised suspension - mainly geometry)
- 04 (revised interior trim, 17" wheels, biggest revision to suspension to match to 17"s)
- 06 (DBW throttle w/ optional VSC, mildly revised suspension)
- 08 (5-spoke wheels, revised suspension supposed to be the best of the lot)
IMHO the '02 or the '04 are the ones to go for, as a combination of VFM and ability. I had an '03 GT and didn't regret not going for an '04 - IMHO the wheels looked better and with cross-braces fitted and decent geometry it handled very nicely.
But there are a fair number on s2ki who say the '04 is a lot better...so take your pick.
Yea I want to hold out for the '04 model really, but I want an S so bad I don't want to have to wait another year! I think the revised bumpers and wheels make the car look newer. A 7 year old car that would still look good released today, (I'm not saying the previous models look shoddy mind.) I'm also a big fan of the interior changes, just the small changes to the transmission tunnel make all the difference.
Think I'm going to hold out for a later car, however having had to wait ages anyway (needed another years ncb to bring insurance down to a sensible level (23 you see)). It will be hard hanging on, but I don't want to buy an early car and only want the other one still.
Has anyone driven both? Is there a noticeable difference on the road, does the later car feel softer? Do you notice that the later car has been robbed of 1k off the tacho?
Also all Uk cars are AP1. AP2 denotes the change to the f22c (2.2L) lump which never came to the UK, thankfully:
Think I'm going to hold out for a later car, however having had to wait ages anyway (needed another years ncb to bring insurance down to a sensible level (23 you see)). It will be hard hanging on, but I don't want to buy an early car and only want the other one still.
Has anyone driven both? Is there a noticeable difference on the road, does the later car feel softer? Do you notice that the later car has been robbed of 1k off the tacho?
Also all Uk cars are AP1. AP2 denotes the change to the f22c (2.2L) lump which never came to the UK, thankfully:
Be patient will ya, there is plenty of money to spend in this world. The 04+'s front and rear light clusters also give it a more modern look and more sensibly for your wallet the clutch delay valve will save you from wandering into a beaten up tranny. lol.
The 1k rev reduction only applies to the 2.2l from 2l unless it's another UK special order I didn't know about.
The 1k rev reduction only applies to the 2.2l from 2l unless it's another UK special order I didn't know about.
Edited by sutats on Saturday 8th January 19:21
sutats said:
The 1k rev reduction only applies to the 2.2l from 2l unless it's another UK special order I didn't know about.
All UK / EU cars have identical powertrains regardles sof age - only changes through the life were rear window, suspension, DBW and interior/exterior trim.
My 2p is thatthere's little point waiting for a later one unless you really want the slightly more modern look. They probably do drive a little better, but nothing that cross-braces and geo on an '03 wouldn't match.
havoc said:
sutats said:
The 1k rev reduction only applies to the 2.2l from 2l unless it's another UK special order I didn't know about.
All UK / EU cars have identical powertrains regardles sof age - only changes through the life were rear window, suspension, DBW and interior/exterior trim.
My 2p is thatthere's little point waiting for a later one unless you really want the slightly more modern look. They probably do drive a little better, but nothing that cross-braces and geo on an '03 wouldn't match.
Cheers for that havoc, I might pop up to s2000-4u and have a nose round at a few (don't like the idea from buying there, but it's a good way to see all colour options etc!!)
russy01 said:
havoc said:
sutats said:
The 1k rev reduction only applies to the 2.2l from 2l unless it's another UK special order I didn't know about.
All UK / EU cars have identical powertrains regardles sof age - only changes through the life were rear window, suspension, DBW and interior/exterior trim.
My 2p is thatthere's little point waiting for a later one unless you really want the slightly more modern look. They probably do drive a little better, but nothing that cross-braces and geo on an '03 wouldn't match.
Cheers for that havoc, I might pop up to s2000-4u and have a nose round at a few (don't like the idea from buying there, but it's a good way to see all colour options etc!!)
andye30m3 said:
russy01 said:
havoc said:
sutats said:
The 1k rev reduction only applies to the 2.2l from 2l unless it's another UK special order I didn't know about.
All UK / EU cars have identical powertrains regardles sof age - only changes through the life were rear window, suspension, DBW and interior/exterior trim.
My 2p is thatthere's little point waiting for a later one unless you really want the slightly more modern look. They probably do drive a little better, but nothing that cross-braces and geo on an '03 wouldn't match.
Cheers for that havoc, I might pop up to s2000-4u and have a nose round at a few (don't like the idea from buying there, but it's a good way to see all colour options etc!!)
russy01 said:
andye30m3 said:
russy01 said:
havoc said:
sutats said:
The 1k rev reduction only applies to the 2.2l from 2l unless it's another UK special order I didn't know about.
All UK / EU cars have identical powertrains regardles sof age - only changes through the life were rear window, suspension, DBW and interior/exterior trim.
My 2p is thatthere's little point waiting for a later one unless you really want the slightly more modern look. They probably do drive a little better, but nothing that cross-braces and geo on an '03 wouldn't match.
Cheers for that havoc, I might pop up to s2000-4u and have a nose round at a few (don't like the idea from buying there, but it's a good way to see all colour options etc!!)
I would look for a AP2 (think thats right). I brought an 04 plate one with 45200 miles on the clock, FHSH etc with new tyres and just serviced for 8750. Keep looking as they are poping up cheaply. I saw an 05 plates on Auto trader for about 8500 and it didn't stay there long (was not a cat D etc).
Keep looking and good luck.
Keep looking and good luck.
hold out for a facelift, much better looking imo
i would go pre 06 though, else you have the same car but 2x the road tax
keep an eye out for bargains, my mrs reckons (she works for a dealership) the book/trade price on my 06, with 30k miles is just 10k now.. [not that im looking to get rid]
i would go pre 06 though, else you have the same car but 2x the road tax
keep an eye out for bargains, my mrs reckons (she works for a dealership) the book/trade price on my 06, with 30k miles is just 10k now.. [not that im looking to get rid]
StormLoaded said:
hold out for a facelift, much better looking imo
i would go pre 06 though, else you have the same car but 2x the road tax
keep an eye out for bargains, my mrs reckons (she works for a dealership) the book/trade price on my 06, with 30k miles is just 10k now.. [not that im looking to get rid]
Im doing exactly that for exactly that reason. I am not happy paying all that insurance and then £400 Tax. Plus the changes from an 05-06 car are barely noticeable in comparison to the 03-04 changes.i would go pre 06 though, else you have the same car but 2x the road tax
keep an eye out for bargains, my mrs reckons (she works for a dealership) the book/trade price on my 06, with 30k miles is just 10k now.. [not that im looking to get rid]
Someone coming to look at my car tomorrow, might be able to get on the S2000 bandwagon sooner than i thought. (Might have to save for a couple months though as i need to put some of my car cash back into the house renovation fund.....damn houses!)
What about an 02-03 model but then upgrading to the later 17" wheels and maybe also the bumpers in due course, thereby spreading the cost over a longer period?
If its mileage you're concerned about don't worry, there are the occasional low mile cars coming up for sale even for 02-03 models (like mine maybe ).
If its mileage you're concerned about don't worry, there are the occasional low mile cars coming up for sale even for 02-03 models (like mine maybe
).Edited by RiccardoG on Tuesday 11th January 17:54
sutats said:
The old front and rear lights look so dated compared to the new ones. If you changed everything but left that out, then you have one frankenstein of a car, and that's a no no.
Sorry for the suggestions, but this is how i see it.I think i have decided on a later car. They are small changes but they all add to quite a bit. The untrained eye would be able to tell the difference of an older car with the new wheels, but i would.
I dont want to buy a car now, and then wish i had bought the other one 6months down the line. Ill save for a bit longer and get the car i want.
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