Guidedog wrote:Hi SE.
I took my time but having read as much as I could find online and after many hours of checking and re-checking auto tader and pistion heads I have made a descision.
OK here goes. S2 Sports Tourer 2001-02 £10,000-£12500.
Any owners out there who can help me with what to look for. Will be off round the UK in April trying to get the best deal I can. Would totally appreciate any advice there is on the subject from S2 ST owners or any other interested party.
guidedog
We've got a 2001 Race Tech which is a similar car. Your will have full leather seats (ours is half and half) and a 4 speaker stereo.
These early cars are now being recognised as the best S2's as they are pre yankification and don't have central locking, electric windows, sunvisors, ABS, traction control, airbag and other heavy stuff.
At that age you would be asking about the service history - if it's not a main dealer that's not a huge issue but I would be looking for invoices as the ball joints, track rod ends and perhaps wheel bearing will start to get tired very soon if they haven't been replaced already.
Check that the heater work and can be moved from hot to cold (PS hot is a serious misnomer but I think "luke warm if your lucky" was to much to write), that it blows and that both side windows work both up and down (a small screw dislocates which causes them to stick - an easy fix but be aware of it). Other than that make sure that the engine cooling fan kicks in at around 102c and doesn't sound like someone's emptied a bag of marbels in the washing machine.
I'm sure with a bit of notice there will be some folk from here that will pop along with you to see any potential cars.
Mac
) but go and get drives in as many as you can. You could have a very tidy S1 for that money, or like you say, an early S2. They do feel a bit different - it's very much personal choice whether you prefer the more raw feel of an S1, or the (slightly) more civilised S2. Nobody can tell you which one is for you, as much as they'll try 
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