1. It depends how it was mounted, however, the OEM specification calls for two holes to be drilled through the deck. That's how I mounted mine (I don't mount aero parts with just tape). Why remove it? The OEM deck wing looks great!

2. Color is subjective and generally you have a positive reaction or not. Of course there are people that like this combo, there are 1000's of S2Ks with it. Silver/Red is a classic, but I wouldn't get anything I didn't absolutely love[?]

3. The price for an excellent condition car, with 67K miles, according to KBB is right at the asking price, so it's fair.

I'd go about this the other way. Determine your budget and shop cars.

You sound like you're not a big fan of the color, so I'd find cars with the color I like.

I mean, here's a mint looking '06, 43K miles:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/06-TWO-SEAT...a#ht_4098wt_840

$18,900 OBO, maybe offer them $17,500?

There are tons of cars out there in different colors, mileage, MY, you just need to narrow your search I think.

 

I agree with [DT]...the OEM deck lid spoiler looks great in my opinion. I wouldn't remove it either. DT is also correct in the mounting, two holes.

Assuming the car is in good shape mechanically and visually (can't tell from here) I'd say the price is ok. Go $11.9 or less for a great deal. But that is a tough call without seeing the car in person.

Good luck!

 

Thanks for the responses!

I am not in love with the color combo but I am certain. I know that if I see it in person with the colors I probably will fall in love. If I wasn't close to committing I wouldn't drive two hours just to look at it.

Is 67k miles high for a 2001? I can't help but to think the average should be much lower with it primarily being a summer car (here in the northeast). With proper maintenance, what is a high end estimate to the amount of miles I can get out of an s2000? Everyone always says, "It's a Honda so you can drive it forever" but I am looking for realistic examples.

 

I don't think the miles are too high...7k a year? I have an '03 with 50k...7k a year and it is primarily the weekend warrior with the occassional work commute.

to answer your question though regarding high mileage and maintenance, here is the thread to the 100k mile club....its a great read that should help you out:

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=274125

 

67K miles on roughly a 9 year old car works out to about 7.4K a year, which is on the low side (which is good). Though it's probably "less low" vs. something that's more of a daily driver model.

FWIW, when I selected 2001 in KBB, the site automatically filled in 85,000 miles, so I'm assuming KBB estimates 9.5K/ year as average (and it might even be weighting based on typical usage?)

My take on mileage: while I might continue to drive a car with that many miles that I bought new (or at low miles), I don't know if I'd buy one with that many miles. It's not so much the mileage itself, but how the car was maintained and driven through those miles (I used the word miles like 50 times..., Doh! I said it again ).

Any Carfax on it to show the number of owners? Owners are like mileage, the more you have, the more chances to introduce a potential problem.

It also depends on your financial situation. I opted not to buy a 996/TT a few years ago, because I knew I mod it, and the cost of a new motor would be painful [if something went wrong]. Vs. my Z06 or this S2000 where a new shortblock would be no sweat OOP.

I.e., a newer car with that's CPO'ed might be much safer, but if you're OK with potential OOP expenses like rear ends, motors, etc., then the savings on an older/higher mileage car might be well worth the risk.

 

15K can probably fetch you an 03 or 04 ........ was the shifter loose causing it to vibrate? I had a broken pivot cap in my shifter and that caused to vibrate like crazy.

 

Financially, I am looking to spend around 12k. If price wasn't an option I would prefer an AP1. This would be my second car, my first being an Evo X. I love the S platform, the looks and the performance. I hope to modify the car enough for safe and controlled road racing / autocross and daily driving from time to time.

The current owner is the third owner. I have a full car fax and its clean. Each owner had the car for almost exactly 3 years. DT, I completely understand your miles statement and I agree with it. I have been struggling to find early model S's that weren't owned by multiple owners (and have been unmolested).

 

I wanted to give everyone an update on the second car. I probably would have bought it right there and then but the seller didn't have a notarized title.

Here was what I noticed and perhaps you all can give you opinions of what I noticed.

The car had a pretty extensive maintenance record (at least this owner). He drove it everyday to and from work which was less than a mile both ways. It is still very stock minus a K&N air filter and a cheap aftermarket head unit.

Of the things that I noticed wrong:
1. the rear tires needed replaced badly, the front times not so much
2. he replaced the convertible top 18 months ago (with documentation) and whoever did the job separated the roll hoops. They were then glued together which as most of you will know is starting to come apart and look really bad.
3. the red leather seats show quite a bit of wear, more then what I really expected
4. the red interior carpet showed quite a bit of wear. The carpet looked very thin to the point the that black rubber was beginning to wear through. On the driver side there looks like there is a jerry-rigged floor mat holder which results in a cut in the carpet.
5. mechanically, the car was sound. The previous owner enjoyed driving but he never raced it (if you met the guy you see why).
6. The exterior was pretty normal for a 9 year old car. There were some nicks and blemishes. The angled pieces of body work right in front of the rear tires near the door panels are sloppy and about to fall off (on both sides). On the front bumper, there were several scratches and scraps depicting pretty aggressive curb rash.
7. A big concern was when the car started moving in 1st gear or in reverse at low RPM the gear shift and transmission would shudder rather violently. It wasn't a start at 2k rpm it was much lower almost like you were slowly creeping the car forward. It really showed itself more when I made the same creeping start in reverse. I could have been really just looking for anything wrong. Anyone have any experience with this? Is this common?
8. Finally the price. I got him to a good price ($11700) but considering I didn't come home with it and I started thinking about it. I double checked Edmunds.com, Nada.com and Kbb.com and within a few hundred dollars all of them basically told me I was paying $1000 too much for the car in its condition. Like I previously posted, the car has around 67000 miles. Am I correct in my assumptions that I should be paying less?

Thanks for all the responses. I look forward to your feedback!

 

. Mine vibrates, not horrifically but you can still notice it wobbling back and forth.

 

Sadly, I really need some advice. So here is a bump.