Note the oem top os vinyl, and canvas would be an upgrade. A Robbins canvas is better than, and cheaper than, oem top.

The ez top is cheaper, but flawed in that window bangs against rollbars over every little bump (thanks cheap po).

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Where are you located? I'm in the Bay Area and am about to sell mine ('02, 69k, essentially stock, a couple of small tears in the top but they have been professionally patched, needs nothing). Looking for a little more than your budget, but you won't have to fix anything.

 

Contact a few upholstry shops in your area to get quotes on top replacement - I'm in the DC area and was able to get it done for $500ish. I personally have an EZ-On and have had no problems with it, though I would recommend purchasing some modifry straps too for when the elastic goes out. Robbins vinyl is roughly $100 more than an EZ-On, but many say it's worth it.

A clutch will cost you roughly the same as a top - labor is $5-600ish, and the clutch itself (You only want to go OE) is $400.

Paint is area dependent, but in my experience you're looking at $4-600 per panel that needs repainting.

I bought an S2k that needed some work. In retrospect, I would have done better buying one that cost me a couple grand more and hadn't nickel and dimed me over the years. Now the car is 60% track use, once weekly drive to work when it's nice out April-October, so I don't care as much about cosmetics.

 

Painting a car will not increase its value as these cars are hinting at collector status and collectors want original cars. A re-painted $11,000 S2000 is still worth $11,00 after the paint job. Still too many cars available to buy a 'fixer-upper." I cannot recommend this car as your only "daily driver" car.

My rule of thumb for a "matching numbers" car: Plan on $20,000 for a 2006 with 50K miles at current prices although something less expensive may pop up. Add/subtract $1000 for every year newer/older than 2006 and every 10K miles less/over 50K miles.

-- Chuck

 

Tops are like $800+ for install. Maybe $500-700 in (aftermarket) parts.

Clutch kits are $600ish from Honda (don't buy aftermarket). About $350 to install around here. But installs can be as high as $800+.

A car that has quality replacement parts likely isn't going to be for sale. Most people that would spend that kind of money on a OEM clutch and good quality top/install may just be doing so for their OWN long term benefit. Be daft to turn around and sell the car after doing all that.

If you're buying a car that someone fixed up enough to sell...using an Exedy clutch or something....then its likely you'll have issues and need work later anyway.

Buy the RIGHT $11K car if that's your budget. Put the RIGHT parts in it as needed. Maybe you can stretch out the existing clutch. Maybe you can patch the top til you have more money.

 

Keep looking for one that doesn't need big costly repairs (eg: $1.3k new top, $1.3k new clutch, $2k+ new paint...or any other engine, suspension, body repairs).

Took me a few months to find one that only needed the usual cheap refreshing/maintenance (oil, mtf, diff fluid, brake/clutch fluid, spark plugs). Top only had 1 rip and was easily DIY patched. I also did a proper paint-correction polish myself and it looks good as new.

 

Better is a very subjective term. My opinion is to increase your budget and get a lower mileage all panel numbers matching car to begin with. When you get ready to sell later on, you will be rewarded. IMHO "better" cars start north of $15,000.

 

Chuck S' "rule of thumb" is a pretty good start (2006/50,000 miles/$20,000)

 

I'm in NY, all the good stuff is usually far away. Thanks though

 

Thanks all for the advice, I've been looking for one daily and have driven 2 of them that didn't do anything for me. We're do I see vin# on the body panels.

This is going to be my third car and I'm buying it as more of a daily. I drive a wrangler now abt 100 miles a day and the gas is killing me. My other car is an 02 m3 that sits in the garage that isn't much better on gas. I would hope that the s2k will be better on gas than both of them.

I have cash in hand ready to go for the right car but the longer I look the pickier I get, especially with color. I know I know I shouldn't be to picky.