tarheel91

I'm a 17-year old high school senior who turns 18 in May. I'm looking to purchase a used S2000. I plan to make a 10% down payment and pay the rest in the form of monthly payments. My dad's going to help me out with the loan since I lack credit of any kind.

I'm looking to find one at the lowest price possible while still being in good condition. Obviously, I'd like to keep the miles relatively limited. I don't mind it being up there, but I don't want to (and can hardly afford to) have to deal with lots of maintenance after a few years. It'll probably be bought in the fall or winter, so keeping that in mind, what's a good price point/mile range I should be looking for? The max I can conceivably afford with my current income is about $15k.

Oh, and for any of those who care, I currently drive a 96 328i. By the time I purchase an S2000, I'll have about 10-12 months of driving experience in a RWD car. I realize a 328 is not an S2000, but it's a pretty torquey car for a 193hp V6, and I think it's a lot better preparation for driving an S2000 than what a lot of people have had (I saw a thread about one guy not understanding why the back end got a little loose during a test drive when he tried to give it more gas going through a turn ).

Edit: When I said youngest, I meant on this forum... Obviously there are plenty of kids younger than me with S2Ks, but I hadn't seen any in my months of lurking on this site.

JDMQuip

Humm....the S2000 is a car that will own you if you disrespect it. Driving in the rain or snow is dangerous so be careful. I've seen quite a few 'younger' S2000 owners getting themselves in trouble cause the lack of experience in the car. I suggest test driving the different model years to determine the best MY for you. Try to get an 02'-03' if you can.

tarheel91

I plan on driving another car when it rains (we get snow only a handful of times a decade here in NC).

03silver2000

I got my 03 s2000 at 17! paid for it myself, now 19 as of today
Jordan

ASM Stook

a 328 doesnt have a V6, it's an I6.

GT_NFR

wasn't there some 16 yr old kid that got one? I'm pretty sure you're not the youngest.

kiwookster

there are quite a lot of high school kids with s2k nowadays

tarheel91

It is indeed an inline 6. Bad habit of mine, sorry.

03silver2000

and they drive them like d**cks and crash em!
why cant people keep the fast driving at the track
Jordan

GT_NFR

Thats a pretty broad generalization. I crashed my first car when I was 17 but it had much more to do with inexperience in inclement weather than being an a$$hole driver. I probably drive more like a dick now than when I was 16.