So I found this one GPW S2000 at a local dealer that is supposedly used. Here are the specs:
MY: 2003
Mileage: 59 miles
Asking price: $26,900

I've got a few questions though,
1. Does a used car with just 59 miles seem fishy to any of you?
My main concern is that it was a test drive car with 59 hard driven (pre-break-in) miles. But a friend of mine mentioned that if it was a test drive vehicle, then it wouldn't have been titled, and couldn't be sold as used. I'm a little confused here. CarFax says this car has had at least one previous owner.

2. CarFax says:
Types of Owners:

This 2003 HONDA S2000 (JHMAP11453T004666) was checked for 8 types of registrations.

No Personal Use Registration Reported
No Fleet Registration Reported
No Lease Registration Reported
No Commercial Registration Reported
No Rental Registration Reported
No Non-Profit Registration Reported
No Taxi Registration Reported
No Built to Non U.S. Standards Record Reported
(my emphasis)

If it was not registered for personal use (or any of the others) what could it have been registered for?

I'm really interested in getting this car, but I just wanted to make sure I'm getting myself into something bad.

Thanks.

 

Fishy... a bit.

I wonder if they have it listed as used so they don't have a 2 year old "new" car on their lot (insurance reason?).

 

That's what I considered too, but that friend of mine insisted they couldn't list a car as used unless it was previously titled. You think maybe the dealer sold it to one of their employees and bought it back?

 

PL&S. Please understand this (and I'm sure many of those in the car business will attest), Carfax is by NO MEANS all inclusive. Many vehicles slip right through without making it to their data base.

Secondly, even if the 59 miles were hard . . . . . .. that isn't a problem. Unless the clutch was repeatedly dropped at 7K or something ridiculous, it shouldn't be a problem.

 

Seriously, if that was the case, I wouldn't mind too much. My main concern would be if that car was in any way at all abused. I've had a look at the car over the weekend (when the dealer was closed) and it looked pretty much brand new except for a black mark in front of the right front wheel well, which I believe will buff off quite easily (and if it didn't buff off, it wouldn't bother me too much).

 

I'd be more inclined to think the owner 'bought' it, drove it a few times, and moved on to something else.

 

That's a good point regarding CarFax not being all-inclusive.

And about the 59 miles too, since I know Honda does random tests on these cars on the race track, and that alone would put 50 miles on the car.

 

that would be my thought as well

 

Also, which would you rather have 50 miles of hard usage on the engine or 5000+ miles of hard usage?

Does anyone have an opinion on a new engine that has been idle for 2 years? Would it be wise to have all the fluids changed including the break in oil?

 

leave the oil, flush the as much of gas as possible.

If the tank isn't full, I'd maybe worry about a bit of damage to the fuel system.