I'm thinking about trading in my Audi and coming back to Honda this spring since I moved to FL and no longer need a Quattro.

Is there anything I should look for specifically when buying an S2K?

Any particular years better then others. I've seen mention of AP1 or AP2 but don't know what that means.

I've seen some '00-'01s for really cheap but would so have seen nicer, lower mileage '04 & '05 S2Ks.

Just some basic info and maybe some links to good S2K sites would be useful, thanks.

 

the 00 is actually the best, they wanted the 2000 year to be the model year for all of them. they kept tuning them down til now the CR which is actually the slowest (advertised as fastest)
also the AP1 means Advanced Phase 1 which is the complement to VTEC thats so popular among the other honda. AP2 is once-again the tuned down version which is Advanced Phase 2. Overall I'd buy an 00-01 and swap out the glass top, the plastic top that comes on most the 00-01's now are just cheap OEM quality tops that need to be replaced. Plastic window is lighter too.

hope that helps.

 

oh yeah and here's a thread that was posted on top but you failed to notice;
https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-s2000-5/%7E%7E-official-faq-how-thread-%7E%7E-%2A%2Aread-before-posting-2416015/

 

Thanks I did look at the stickies and missed that one.

I did find the difference of the AP1/2 on wiki.

I was looking for some first hand opinions from people who own them which would be a better purchase.

I like the AP2 head/tail lights and stock wheels but the AP1 9k redline seems pretty sweet and seems to be a better car to play with.

I had 2 OBDI GSRs back in the day and remember when they went to OBDII they were harder to mod and tune so I guess the AP1 would be a better car to mod and tune... I won't be doing lots of that at first but would like to down the road.

 

Do all the S2Ks have HID head lights standard?

 

Also I'm seeing some really good deals on the light blue S2Ks with low milage.

I'm just not a big fan of the color especially with the blue interior.

Does anyone have any pics of nice looking light blue S2Ks?

 

Yes.

 

look through the clean S2k thread, dunno this member but i like it.

 

****!!!!!!!!!!

 

Most all your questions have been covered on this forum. Just take some time to look around. Also, some selective searching would help.

IMO, stay away from 00-01's. The 02-03 have many upgrades that are a must if you as me. Upgrades like more color choices inside and out, glass window in the soft top, defrost button for glass top and hard top, leather center console cover, tweeters in the doors, better looking tails (with chrome ring), rumored to be a bit faster, slightly better gas millage. The last two are probably because they made a change to the 02-03 ECU so it does not run as rich. One thing to note, you can upgrade any AP1 with any and all of these features. You can also add AP2 wheels, bumpers, and lights to an AP1 so keep that in mind as well.

04-05 AP2's are the best bang for the buck right now if you ask me though. I have been considering selling my 02 to pick on an 04-05 for some time. But I'm trying to buy a house right now and if I end up selling my AP1 I have a feeling I will not get back into one right away.

Yes

Search

 

I think for most, it comes down to personal taste.

Those with AP1's say AP1, those with AP2's, will tell you AP2.

Drive both, buy what you can afford.

For the record, I have an AP2 and love it...updated styling and just newer all around.

Quicker in a straight line than an AP1 (raced my friends), never been around a track with it yet.

 

Stockton ! Get rid of your 1.8T ! You aren't in Jersey anymore !

I personally am partial to AP1. I have an 02. They say that an 02-03 stock ECU turns out more power than the 00-01 ECU due to the factory leaner tuen on the newer AP1 ECU's.

I personally recommend getting an 02-03. Glass top, defrost, leather under console, and thats it. I have 00-01 Taillights on my car, because I can't stand the chrome rings.

 

Gotta have the chrome baby! lol

Marty, did you car come with the 00-01 lights or did you actually go out of your way to change them? It's not that big of a difference!

 

Perfect thanks for the info.

And I have been searching around on here and google in general.

I'm asking specific questions here and made this thread cause I know in time I'll have more and more little nitpicking questions and figure I can always come back to this thread to ask more noob questions when I have them instead of making individual threads.

Right now I'm seeing some good deals on '03s with under 50k miles for under $12k, some are even as low as 35k miles for around $11.5k but they're all light blue. I really would prefer silver, gray, black or white. I don't like red and the blue is ok on the outside I just think I'll get sick of the blue interior.

There is a blue '02 with black seats but blue dash and doors with 39k miles selling for $9.5k but it was a theft recovery. They have full pics of the car before just the seats, console and headlights were stolen but it has all be replaced. Seems like a good deal for low mileage but scared to by a theft recovery as I just have no experience with it.

 

You can get theft recovery cars for cheap. I would stay away from the rebuilt ones and do it yourself if you wanna go that rout. Don't get silver... black or white FTW

 

??? any car 96 or up is OBD2.

The "tuning" potential for the AP2 is higher. Bigger engine. The AP2s usually respond better to bolt ons and they usually make a little more power to start with. The reason they dyno higher may be because of the lower 4th gear, though.

I think that the AP2 generally has an advantage on paper. However, I really find that the actual driving experience is better in an AP1. That's why I bought an AP1 after test driving BOTH.

So I suggest you drive both.

In my experience, the AP2 was definately numbed down a lot.

The AP1 was more hard edged and that's what I was looking for. The AP2 is also easier to drive fast around a road course/auto cross. I strongly believe that stock to stock, the AP1 could post faster times...but with the right driver.

Whatever. Drive both. Get the overall experience and then compare the FACTS. The advantage to the AP2 is that the AP1's bugs were worked out. The unfortunate part is that they just HAD to mess with all the chassis dynamics. Idiots.


Yes.

 

Do they make OEM fog lights?

I see some cars with nice fogs that look OEM or maybe JDM but can't find them on any sites...then again I don't know any good aftermarket sites for an S2K or Hondas in general I've had German cars for the last 6 years.

I know that Honda went to OBDII in '96. My 2 GSRs were a '94 & '95 but I purposely bought those years so they would be OBDI so I didn't have to deal with a CEL light for stupid stuff.

I've been going through that "Clean S2K" pic thread and I have only seen one crappy phone pic of a light blue S2K....grrrrrr.

 

Suzuka blue is WEAK ***! Blue interior? Eugh.

The cars with fogs are cars that retrofitted 99-00 Civic fogs on there. You don't need them. The projecor HID setup is really nice on this car.

The reason I said the OBD2 comment is because you seemed to think that the AP1 would be better to tune because the AP2 was the only one that was OBD2.

You shouldn't have a CEL light for anything stupid if the car is in good running condition.

 

I know blue is weak.

Especially with blue interior.

They're just so cheap with low mileage. Why does everyone say not to get silver? I haven't seen a single white one for sale and the only black ones I see have over 100k miles.

There's some silver one with 50k-70k miles for under $13k and then there's light blue under $12k with under 50k miles.

I would really like a nice white one but I haven't seen any I would rather silver over the light blue.

 

Yeah, the fogs you see on the AP1 bumpers are off the 99-00 civic.

There are ALLOT of silver S2000's that's why there are so many for sale. I just don't like the S in silver myself. White is the best color IMO, but I have black. LB is hot too but you have to get an 06+ for that color.

 

Yea I don't think I can afford an '06.

I've seen some '05s in my price range. I want to get something and have LOWER payments then I do now on my Audi which I bought fro $20k so I'm looking for somthing $15k tops but would like something around $12k - $13k.

I know there's a lot of silvers out there and I too would prefer white the most but I can't find one and my car now is a dark gray and I like the color.

What it's coming down to now is either silver or light blue and silver is by far better especially since it has black interior instead of that awful blue.

 

That blue interior looks great in a suzuka or grand prix white s2k.

and beggars can't be choosers. if you want a specific color in a defined price range, just keep searching until the one you absolutely want shows up.

 

I take it you have a suzuka blue. Do you have any pics?

I don't mind the outside color so much it's the interior, mainly the dash board that I don't like in the color.

And you're right, beggers can't be choosers. It's gunna come down to mileage and price for me after all, no matter the color, they drive the same.

The way I see it, it's like banging a girl with a hot body and ugly face. In the dark you have sex with the body, not the face, haha.

Then again when you turn the lights on if you don't want to see the face you don't want to be seen with her in public.

 

Yes, I have a suzuka and I have a bunch of pics.

I don't have any problems w/ all of the blue inside. but i do agree it is probably an acquired liking.

 

What are you guys doing for stereos in these cars?

There's no real trunk room. I have a single 12" and amp in my trunk but it's Audi and the trunk is huge. It might fit in the S but it will fill the entire trunk space there is and it's pretty heavy too so I don't want to screw up the weight and balance of the car either.