Hi S2KI! Brand new here and pulling my hair out trying to search for an S2K. I'm just about to put my 2009 Civic Si up for sale. Recently moved and take the train into NYC for work so I no longer need a daily driver. Sooooo, I wanted to get something fun that I can take out on weekends and such. The S2k is what I want. Here's the problem, though. I'm up in NJ and there are not many for sale in my area, if any at all. The closest one I've found on Autotrader is about 60 miles away. But most of the closer ones don't meet my criteria.

I want a 2006-up with lower than 30k miles if possible. I've found a bunch of them but they're all 200+ miles away. Lots of them in the VA area. That's a long trip trip especially driving. Train tickets are also pretty expensive. So taking a trip just to check out the car is an enormous undertaking. How do you guys feel about buying a car sight unseen? I know it's risky but I'm counting on honest sellers (ha!), pictures, carfax reports, and low miles.

I read through the thread of what one should look for when buying a used S2k but obviously buying it sight unseen will make most of that stuff impossible. I welcome any advice you may have and hope my next thread I start is one with pictures of my own S2k. Thanks!

 

Drive the 200 miles and take cash with you.

Or if that's not an option, ask for MANY detailed pictures, prepare a check and then go and check the car out. If it looks to your liking, hand over the check, if not just drive home. In any event that's a better strategy than buying sight unseen. I don't recommend it and I've owned nearly 7 cars just this past year.

 

Dude if you want it bad enough you will do what you have to for it. I did. I drove an 1.5 hours to buy my s2000, total of 4 hours. And I came back empty handed the first time cause the bank sent me the wrong check. I had the check in hand but had no idea if this would be it. And I dont regret it. It is risky and I would not recommend that you buy it without seeing her first or having LOTS of pics and video and of course a carfax.

 

PT Barnum was right. First you put a 2009 Civic up for sale -- bound to lose money on that deal no matter what the original deal. You are going to make an S2K your only car so you will have no car at all when the weather is nasty in the winter (somehow I don't think you've budgeted for winter wheels and tires and their off season storage). You are looking at buying a car that often goes through $500.00 to $900.00 sets of tires like candy and you are worried about the cost of going to look at one..... Dude, keep the Civic.

 

What he said.

 

Probably cheaper to drive that Civic 200 miles, esp since you state that the train is expensive. On that note, if train is expensive, do you think S2000 is cheaper then Civic?


I drove nearly 100 miles to buy mine. If i knew how much I'd enjoy the car as i do now, a 200 mile drive home would have been more then welcoming!
Honestly, is a 200 mile venture REALLY holding you back that much?

 

While I'll obviously not get as much as when I bought it new, I'll be "making" money so to speak as I owe much less than what I can get for it. And like I said in my original post, I don't need to drive in nasty weather. I do not a require a daily driver. If I need to get out badly, I'll have winter tires or I can take my soon-to-be wife's car. I'm not worried about that at all. I don't need to budget for winter wheels and tires. I'll just buy them. I'm not some 18 year old kid working a minimum wage part time job. Also, budget for winter storage? Come on, dude really? If I'm daily driving, yeah tire cost would come into play. But I'll be lucky to put 5k a year on this car. That may be stretching it. And yes, you're right about going to look at it. I should just do it. I did find an option of hiring inspectors from whatever company that will go inspect and drive the car for about the same price as a train/plane ticket would cost and provide you with a full report.

I guess it's not. Just driving 6.5 hours or thereabouts doesn't sit well with me. The longest I've ever driven was about 4.5 hrs and I couldn't stand it. Being in a train/plane for 6+ hours doesn't bother me but driving that does. I'm the only person out of my friends and family that can drive a manual so switching off with someone is not an option. If it comes down to it, I'll suck it up and make the drive. I've already got one lined up in Richmond, just gotta sell this Civic first. So if anyone knows someone in the market for one, let me know. Thanks for the input guys.

 

Nobody said that you were some kid. It's just that if you are not inclined to spend what, $50. or with hotel for a night $150 to check out and drive your own car then you probably shouldn't be willing to have someone check it out for you and risk maybe $1K+ in unexpected costs. I am sure if you had someone check out the car and then when you got it you figured it needed $1K to meet your expectations they would say "so? what's your point?". If you live near a major city where public transportation is a viable means of getting to work then great -- its just that when you do, the liklihood of you having storage space for an extra set of wheels and tires for winter use is unlikely for most people. I'm just trying to help you set realistic expectations, man. This is not like owning another Civic SI, dude. It's no exotic but cost of ownership is different than your run of the mill car. There are things to consider. For your average suburban Joe, not a big deal sometimes, for someone more urban, it can cost some money.

 

Good luck in your search for a car, maybe you'll get lucky and 1 will come up for sale in your area this spring.
Levi

 

Thanks guys. I do appreciate all the advice. While I have some of you here, take a look at which one I've been looking at:

Autotrader.com - 2006 S2k

I found a Red 2007 w/23k but it's a dealerships and their asking almost $22,000