Hi, new member here. Decided I want to get an S2000. While I prefer the AP2, I'm still open to an AP1. Two S2000s that are very opposite from one another. If price was the same, which would you choose? A 2008 with 110k miles or a 2001 with 11k miles?

I'd really appreciate your thoughts and opinions. Thanks

 

misread post, for $17k I would try to find a lower mileage ap2

 

Probably the one with 99,000 less miles.
Levi

 

If the price was the same? Is it? WHAT is it? Both cars in stock OEM condition (not buggered with Fast-n-Furious mods)?

The 2001 car has 7 more years of aging than the 2007. The 2008 car has more wear from its mileage. The 2008 is a more civilized car with a better roof, more torque, and the ability go add gobs more mid-range torque via FlashPro. 2008 has bigger/better wheels and tires. The 2008 car got 3 or 4 fairly major tweaks as Honda sorted out the chassis and styling. The list goes on.

Tires are suspect on both. 2001 tires are probably ready to fail based on oxidation.

I personally prefer the 2006+ AP2 cars and 100K miles does not seem excessive for one.

-- Chuck

 

For all the reasons Chuck just listed is why I prefer the 2008. Plus its the exact color I want. But I feel like the other one with low miles is so rare.

The 2001 needs a new top and has very minor imperfections on the exterior. But mechanically good. It's also 2 states away distance wise.

Both are asking right around 17k. What are your thoughts on the price?

Value-wise, which car do you think will be worth more down the road?

 

I'd buy the 2008 car.

The 2001 car is rare based on mileage but that evaporates quickly if you drive the car -- which for me is the whole point of the exercise. Add $1000 for a new roof and if you want to pretend it's a collector car you need to replace it with the awful plastic rear window version. And keep the OEM tires and wheels and..... I don't believe these cars are yet in collector car status and won't be unless it's at a minimum a matching numbers car.

My current rule of thumb (for what I might pay for a car) is based on a 2006 car with 50,000 miles at $20K "value." This was my purely subjective model based on small sample price points when I was buying two years ago. Add/subtract $1,000 for every model year and every 10K miles plus/minus.

To retain "value" -- which has nothing to do with driving fun -- subtract (or even reject) for things like:
.. Non-matching numbers. (Reject. This can't be fixed.)
.. Aftermarket wheels.
.. Lowered/stanced.
.. Bad roof (a little tear is like a little bit pregnant).
.. Aftermarket exhaust.
.. Silly S-badges or de-badged.
.. Forced induction seldom adds value.

Click. Whirrrrr. They come pretty close by "this rule of thumb." The "rule" penalizes high mileage cars and older cars.

2008 car: $20K + $2K (never) - $5K (extra miles) = $17K. Anything in the 100K+ range maxes out the rule at -$5,000. Just does.
2001 car: $20K - $5K (older) + $4K (less miles) - $1K (roof) = $18K

But that's just to see what's seems reasonable for a pure OEM car.. Then throw in your intuition as to color (some guys will pay more for a specific color) and don't forget general condition.

Recall generational changes occurred in 2000 (after the 1999-produced cars); 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008. Engines, transmission, suspensions, wheels, drive-by-wire, etc.

Finally worth or is what you can sell the car for. Value is more personal. I decided if I found the right car I wasn't going to lose it haggling over $1000. My priority list started with 2006 or later and under 50K miles so neither of these cars would have made my short list.

-- Chuck

 

Unless you have to choose between these two, perhaps you should continue to look? FWIW, on the Colorado Denver craigslist near me it seems just about very week there is another low-mid mileage AP1/2 available (40k-65k miles) - sometimes by the original owner. The cars are in pretty good condition as they have been mostly weekend cars. Price varies from mid teens to upper teens unless it's a later AP2 in which case it's into the 20's. Some of them are presented by a dealer in which case the price is higher but maybe more negotiable. I'll guess that there are other markets like this too (not sure where you are located) so if you're willing to travel, might be worth looking at this type of car.

Link (note I have a filtered to only include cars with <100k miles)

 

2001 with 11k miles, if the 11k were true miles.

 

We understand you are new and we love both versions but Chuck S is 100% biased on his opinion, I on the other hand am not.

Both versions of the car are really great but you would have to feel what suits your abilities and expectations to determine which version will fit you better. I could give you my opinion on which car is better but the owner should choose what suits their needs the most.

Good luck either way because you will love the car.

Cheers!

 

I doubt Wayne Carini would be interested in the "rare" 2001 car.

It should be obvious I'm very biased toward the later cars. Honda made performance improvements on a biennial schedule throughout the car's production. Mine is an '06 only because I couldn't find an '07 or '08 two summer ago. But that's my criteria. A buddy bought an '02 that someone had apparently turbocharged and partially gutted perhaps thinking of racing is somewhere. AC and cruise control were gone. Car was lowered and scraped on some speed bumps. Large holes had been cut in the hood. He's in the process of rescuing the car at present. His criteria is different. We're both having fun with our cars.

-- Chuck