i am in the market for an S2K but i am not sure what year to get. I have already tried the search function and got some general information but i would like some feedback from actual S2000 owners. My main question is what are the differences between years (i am aware of the most recent redesign and engine change) '00 and '03 and which is better, price not a factor. What year should i get and why? Any info would be useful and if this is a repost i apologize ahead of time, just point me in the direction of the earlier post. thanks

 

this isn't to be harsh at all, but you need to work on your search criteria. perhaps searching: S2000 Years that would be a good start. it has been asked and gone into highly detailed. Just remember, the search button is your friend. But don't be afraid to ask specific questions about what you find.

 

there are some little changes as the years go up, i know for sure my 00 radio has no clock, but the 03 does. there are also, on the door panel for the 03 they have little tiny tweeters or speakers(not really sure what there called. the tail lights of the 03 has a chrome ring around one of the circles. i think the 03 headlights, have more chrome in the headlights, but it still has black housing, im not sure if the problem in the noise for the tranny i think thats what im hearing in my 00, but for the 03, some if not most problems have been fixed. my suggestion is get a new model. i got my 00 cuz i got a deal with the hardtop, but from IMHO you should stick with newer years, the 99-00 is kinda like to just get the car out there, for the 02-03 more of the problems that were mention got fixed if there were any, hope this helps, this is from what ive been reading, im sure somone could correct me if any are wrong.

 

Most noticeable fifference is the plastic rear window on the 00 and 01. Glass window for the 02 and beyond. Other than that, whites have full red interior for 02, tan on 03. No silverstone in 02 but in 00, 01 and 03. MY 04 is an entirely different story.

THere are more so too much to list but these are the more obvious.

Duc

 

The big change, if you can call it that, took place for '02:

2002 MODEL DIFFERENCES REPORTED BY OWNERS

• The speaker’s in the door have been changed. They are blue-plastic, have no 'paper' cone, magnet is still small, but owner’s report the 2002 sounds vastly better.

• The shift **** has the center area milled out and wrapped with leather.

• The black interior color shade has changed to a dark grey or charcoal bluish black shade.

• The stereo has digital bass/treble/fade/bal controls. You push the right **** and set them as opposed to small black ***** that you would push to pop-out.

• The tonnue cover changed. There is only 1 clip on the each side to push in from underneeth. The elastic bands straps on each side remain the same. Reportedly its easier to attach and doesn't appear to 'flap' up like previous design.

• The shade of wheels are a slightly darker silver with a little more metallic-flake.

• Heat and A/C fan are more powerful. The 2nd and 3rd fan speeds are noticeably more effective.

• A chrome ring has been added to the tail-lights.

• A metal ring has been added to the interior door panel pulls.

• The horn reportedly has a different tone.

• The plastic trim piece that outlines the dash, as well as the trapezoidal plastic plate in which the roof and hazard buttons sit, are made of a different color/finish plastic – a gray, grooved plastic rather than the bland black untextured plastic.

• The cupholder cover and trash hole behind it are textured plastic as opposed to the same untextured earlier ones.

• The dead-pedal is now metal/rubber and matches the other pedals.

• A leather console cover replaces the carpet console cover.

• The soft-top now has a glass window and rear-defroster in place of the original plastic window. It is smaller in size and the top frame was redesigned to accommodate the glass.

• The buttons for the defroster and cruse-control on switches are a different shape.

• The new window defrost button is the cruise control on the right side of the steering wheel.

• There is a small subtle change in the trunk lid shape at the rear, near the trunk brake light. Reportedly this was to meet the Federal safety standard measurements.

• The tach indicator line is now white and the scale connected by a solid white arc line.

• The outside Honda badges are larger.

• A second post has been added to the carpeted floor mats to secure them.

• Very small storage pockets were added to the doors [too small for anything but perhaps a garage door opener].

• Paint color changes were made. In the US, Sebring Silver replaced Silverstone Metallic (the newer is a brighter silver). Suzuka Blue Metallic was added.

• The front sway bar was reportedly reduced slightly in size.

• Interior leather and plastic colors have changed. For example, earlier Silver cars came with a combination of red and black interior. The 2002 model comes with a solid red interior (dash, doors, center storage, etc.).

• UK differences include:

- Single slot CD player in place of a tape deck.

- New colors are Nurburgring Blue (reportedly the same color as Suzuka Blue); they also get Monte Carlo Blue. Indy Yellow (same as Spa Yellow) was added. They did not get Sebring Silver.

- They may have different spring and damper settings, and possibly different chassis alignment.

info above taken from s2ki user dlq04


Some of the VISUAL differences between 2000 - 2002's that I've put together.

00-01 black dash and center console carpet

2002 leather console added

00-01 Standard accents

2002 silver and aluminum accents added


00-01 Doors, no tweeters

2002 tweeters added and metal door handle rings added

00-01 tails

2002 tails with chrome rings added


00-01 Radio


2002 radio is a newer design/more powerful and is silver

Also a minor change between the 00-01' and 02'
The metal placard on the doorsill is different.

00-01


2002

 

Great post, thanks for all the help. What about any differences in weight, gearing, power, or handling to be more specific from my original post.

 

You know what sucks? My 2004 S2000 has black finishes around the audio controls and the a/c controls.. WTF?

 

In addition to the great post by Jason B....

00-01 cars and 02-03 cars have slightly different suspensions.

The early cars are a little twitchier for lack of a better word. They revised sway bar sizes and spring rates in the 02/03's.

In addition, it seems that the ECU in was revised in 02, giving a few more HP than the early cars. The power seems to come from slightly revised fuel and timing curves. Early cars benefit the most from a VAFC and some tuning. The later cars don't get nearly as much from it.

 

on a dynojet 02-03 on average dyno from 195-205 rwhp

""""""""""""""" 00-01 """""""""""""""""""""""""190-200 rwhp

 

does the car weight more with the window instead of the plastic one in the 00' 01'? if so how much of a diff. and my 2 friends have the 03 and they ran their friends 02, and they say that their 03 is MUCH faster than the 02's car. would you guys konw why? also, in person, is the full red interior nice? or is it wack?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bs2kB6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> also, in person, is the full red interior nice? or is it wack? </TD></TR></TABLE>

The only way to see it is in PERSON! The ALL RED dash and roll hoops make it.

 

red int...PIMP

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by poopie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">red int...PIMP</TD></TR></TABLE>
yea it is
Jason B really good info you da man

 

all good info, I hope the search feature is used in the future.

Something to add to the list of upgrades is the oil squirter banjo bolt upgrade after a specific VIN # through the '02 production. This was performed in europe as a TSB. I'll post a link about this shortly. Need to dig up the thread I created in s2ki.com about it.

cheers:
http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/...79190