jerelw wrote:
Be sure to check the s2000 forum. Early S2000's had problems such as weak valve spring retainers (they crack from the bottom up) and transmissions that needed the RIGHT oil or they'd break. If they've found cures for these problems, you'll save yourself some grief later.
That's QUITE an overstatement!
There were a few early engines that had valve spring retainers that did crack and the solution was to replace the newer version when it was time to adjust the valves. Very few ever had an engine issue after the first few dropped a valve and made everyone aware of the problem. Honda even replaced any with a hint of a problem. But not a transmission in sight that needed the right oil or they'd break.
Once again the earliest 00-01 models had a few trannies that the stacking tolerances totalled more than was wise and some had a hard shifting issue that was fixed under warranty cause it was so obvious. About the only way you'd get one of those is to find one that was wrecked with 1,000 miles or so on the odo.
As far as transmission fluids making a difference you'll find that most of the S2000 fanbois who swear by that are also the tinkerers that can't find anything else to do to the car so they change fluids and swear they feel a difference. I've had one fluid change in 56,000 miles and feel no difference in shifting. I have a friend who just bought a new CR and we were amazed at how my shifter felt just as good as his brand new one. Several of our friends are in the 100,000+ miles range with no fluid changes and no apparent degradation of shifting quality nor any problems. If you do change fluids they do recommend the factory Honda fluid or the GM synchromesh modified fluid as they seem to feel better at the shifter. I used Royal Purple.
They changed the synchros to carbon fiber in '04 which is supposed to make bang shifting easier but at the same time they put a clutch delay valve in so you couldn't bang shift. The quick fix for that is with a dental pick and about 5 minutes to remove the valve.