I bought a MY2000 S4 a little over a year ago. I bought this car as certified pre-owned with about 48k miles. In the time I've owned it, I have payed out more money in maintenance than I have in prinicpal + interest on the loan, or about 5000+ in work not covered by the warranty. Needless to say, I'm selling it before it puts me out on the street. I have driven the S2000 several times and really like it. My family has owned many hondas and acuras (including several NSXs) and they have always been very reliable, so it seems like a pretty safe bet. I've read a bit of the archives and FAQs on this board so hopefully my questions won't be redundant.

From what I understand, the two pieces of the S2000 that can tear a hole in your pocket book are the clutch and the differential. When I bought the Audi, i had never driven a new one so I had no idea what the clutch was supposed to feel like, and it turned out later on that the flywheel had all sorts of hotspots and warping. How can you tell if the clutch on a used S2000 is in good shape? Can you tell if the differential is screwed up? Finally (if you're still with me) are there any other major things that commonly go wrong with the car, and if any of this stuff (including the diff and clutch) breaks, how much am i looking at out of pocket? (i'm assuming that no warranty is going to cover either one).

 

Best way to tell the condition of the S2000 is to carefully examine the owner/driver(s).

 

If you are serious about the car then it wouldnt be a bad idea to take it to a independent dealer or mechanic and do a full vehicle inspection. This may cost a couple hundred but can save you a headache in the future. If everything checks out you shouldnt see any real problems with you S unless you dont maintain it very well.