[QUOTE]Originally posted by ruexp67
Who you callin' old!?

 

All good points so far. Here's a couple;

- Don't "milk" your tires when they are wearing out. This car goes tail-happy VERY easily with older/bald rubber.

- Leave plenty of braking distance when following others. This car is pretty low, and you can't see a thing past the tailgate of all the stupid SUVs and full-sized trucks. I found myself having to "stuff" the brakes pretty hard as the rear bumper of the Eddie Bauer POS was growing in my view.

- As Zam said, back into parking spaces. The nose is looonnngg and low on this car and you WILL hit things if you pull straight in, or you'll end up so far away from fear of scraping, that you'll be halfway into the parking lot.

- Carcover it, if no garage. I have to disagree with Zam on this point. I do not have a garage, but MUST protect the car from punks, and weather, but mostly punks. I can tell you from experience that a covered car is almost cloaked. People ignore it as a stored vehicle or a beater. I used to work in a mall that was notorious for break-ins and theft. For 2 years, I kept it covered while there and NEVER did I have an issue (while the Civic two spaces down had its window smashed and CDs and stereo taken). Zam seems to be speculating about the dust under the cover. I have owned and used this cover for a while, and can tell ya for sure that my paint is as nice or nicer than a car half its age - beautiful. I even fooled the last S2K outting. They couldn't believe I have a MY00 w/ 60k miles. Take some basic precautions and you'll be fine.

1. Never put a cover on a dirty car
2. Clean the cover (or have it done) every 3 months or so, if it is outside all the time
3. Get a "California" duster that you can use on the car just before you put the cover on.
4. Lock it

Clearly from the length of the post, I think the cover is very important for the outside S2K. I'm sure it has saved me from numerous lost antennas and fender badges. How do I know? Because someone "borrowed" my fender badge when I first got the car. Ever since the cover, I have kept all the stealable accessories to myself. (please don't jinx me, please, please, please, please)

 

What I would do right away if I got a new S2000, after having owned mine for almost 70k miles.

1) Some sort of clear bra. The rock chips that show up after four years of daily driving (plus lots of long distance trips) are horrendous.

2) Coastal metals front lip protector/splitter. I've scraped the bottom of my front bumper too many times to remember. Some from my boneheadedness, others from road sections that were just too steeply angled.

3) Wet Okole neoprene seat covers. Look perfect, fit perfect, protects the leather, prevents you from sliding around.

4) One piece Muz mats. The OEM ones don't protect well enough.

 

Try to keep a straight face when a couple of hot chicks go by when you are in "pole position" at a crosswalk and one of them says to the other "Nice car!".

Happened to me last weekend. The wife didn't appreciate it all that much.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by rworne
Try to keep a straight face when a couple of hot chicks go by when you are in "pole position" at a crosswalk and one of them says to the other "Nice car!".

Happened to me last weekend.

 

That'd make a great license-plate frame message.

My advice:
1. If you don't want a hard top, contact Kodokan and ask/search about "Seat Locks". For a one-time $60 investment, you don't have to worry so much about an $8000+ repair for a slashed top and stolen seats.
2. Consider a hard top if that floats your boat.
3. The advice about having a good relationship with your service manager is very important.
4. Prepare to replace your stock antenna once or twice a year as ricers tend to liberate them for their VW's and Celicas.
5. As a wax Zaino is expensive, but not really all that hard to apply no matter how much people bitch about it. It lasts a long time and looks great!
6. Get a radar detector. Cops will watch you more closely, and you need it to help even the odds.
7. Watch out for your insurance rates. I got a 60%+ hike for next year without my getting tickets or accidents.
8. The MAP sensor on the car is into masochism. Beat on it now and then with a screwdriver to keep it happy.
9. Go on group drives/meets/events and meet other S2000 owners. Everyone I've ever met has been really cool to each other. You also get to see what other people have done to their cars and you get to ask dumb questions like "what's causing this rattle?"
10. Budget in a pair of rear tires every year, and a pair of fronts every two years (approx).

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Intrepid175

 

Do your FIRST diff fluid change sooner than the book says, especially if you drive it hard. Make sure you know that the dealer knows what fluid really goes in there. Not all of them do. Also your tranny fluid (maybe), but it will tell you when it's not happy.

 

Get some Shin-Etsu and a can of silicone lubricant.

Get your own oil filters from one of the board sponsors.

Do your own maintenance if you have the room (don't worry about knowledge, it's not that hard and if you ever have questions about what you're doing, chances are that 98% of the time you can find the answer here).

Take some driving lessons at the track.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Hockey
- Carcover it, if no garage.