First off, I want to thank anyone who responds to this thread because your information and time will be greatly appreciated! Through the Honda dealership I work for I have the option of purchasing a MY01 Sebring/black with 63,000 miles on it. The car has very few flaws, if any, on the body and also has a hardtop with it. I told them I was seriously interested in it and if they can give me the price I want of $16,000-16,500 including hardtop (they will sell it on the lot for $20,000) I would most likely buy it. My main concern is the mileage on the car, even though it SEEMS to be in pristine condition. What are some of the major things I need to look for when I take it home for a couple hours? Other than clutch buzz and the more common characteristics, what are some things I really should pay attention to? Any help would be excellent as I am really trying to get this car granted everything works out. I already have the carfax as they printed it out for me and found out it has had 2 previous owners, and the old lady who traded it in got rid of it for a four door G35. So in conclusion, I'm reaching out to you guys for some information because the "HOLD" sticker in the windshield can only last so long Thanks!

-Dennis

 

Sounds like a decent deal to me with the hardtop included. Not for $20,000, but for $16,000 OTD it sounds ok.

 

I would listen for any sort of clicking or whining coming from the rear end. Was the car serviced at your dealership or was it merely traded there? I would want to find as much information on the car as possible. Check the obvious stuff first, make sure all the stickers on the body panels match. Does the car have its original windshield installed? Have a compression test done.

As a side to all this, for a 5 year old sports car with those miles I'd be looking at a lower price. 14.5k to 15.5k is the range I would be shooting for, even if it does have a hard top. Chances are the soft top is starting to show its age and unless that plastic rear window was cared for you'll most likely be replacing it soon. Use common sense and good luck. Will you get any sort of extended warranty or re-certification if you buy the car from your dealer?

 

Honda certified? with HT for $16.5? WOW.

I wouldn't really be that concerned about the mileage..the kind of mileage is more important. Would you rather have a car that was driven 10k on the freeway or 10k on the track at redline?

Old lady is a good previous owner.

See if you can take the car to another honda dealer for $100 to have it checked out. Do a compression test.

 

Thanks guys! The car was traded in on Sunday (I was off Sunday) and when I came in yesterday (Monday) I saw it sitting there. The car has NOT been inspected yet, and hopefully when I go to work in a few hours it will be completed, or within the next couple days. I agree that the price should be somewhat lower, but it all depends on what the dealership gave the previous owner for it on trade. Obviously, they will not want to go lower than that number because they would lose money, but if they sell it for the money they have it in they will come out ok. Being that it is through a Honda dealer, at this point I imagine the car will be Honda certified pre-owned, and I should have the option to purchase an extended warranty. I also wanted to mention that with the $6k I'd be using as a down payment I'd like to be financing around $10,000 or so giving me a measly $200/mo payment. I will check all the panels and make sure the VIN stickers are on them, as well as the bolts holding on the fenders to make sure the paint on them is untouched (hinting no accident has occurred nor have the fenders been removed at some point.) When I get to take it home for a couple hours I will remove the hardtop and inspect the soft top as this has been a big thing on my mind because I have no clue how long the hardtop has been on and how long the soft top has been folded up inside. Once again, thanks everyone!

-Dennis

 

Does it have a full service history? Carfax OK? I would take it for a ride and indeed listen to everything you could hear. The rear, the diff, the gearbox, the engine. How does the clutch feel? Do the gears change nicely? Any strange sounds? Any fluids leaking in the engine compartment? Tires OK? Does it have a plastic rear window and is it's condition OK? Roof working nice? Check oil level and take it into VTEC. You will be sold

 

Would you guys pruchase a black 2000year with only 33k miles for around $17,000...Does this sound like too much? The car is in great condition other than having a small door ding. Please let me know what you guys think because I found one for about this price....

 

First off, the color is Silverstone. Sebring was offered in 02 and not 01.

Since you work for a dealer, Honda dealer I hope, can't you look up the service record? It would be nice to know what TSB were done on the car.

 

doh, it is Silverstone. Sorry, I'm a little giddy over this whole thing right now. I do work for a Honda dealer and will speak to one of the service managers when I go into work and see if I can get service records for the car. Thanks guys, and keep the information coming!

 

Dennis. Yes, get a carfax (one of the guys here in intro was doing them recently, might still be valid??).

Ideally, you should get a compression and leak-down test done on the engine to convince yourself that the car wasn't overrevved or starved for oil. If nothing else, just go pull the dipstick immediatly and make sure the oil is on the Xs. These cars have an appetite for oil, and occasionally an owner messes that up and cause latent damage.

Listen for any (loud) ticking during normal running. Car should purr like a kitten, with maybe a little minor ticking and some timing chain whine.