You will pay sale tax doesn't matter if you buy from private or dealer. State sale tax is 7% plus local sale tax, the total is 7.75% in Orange County, 8.25% in LA. Plus DMV registration and fees, you are looking at about 10% above sale price.

If there are not many S2000's available in Davis, you can look at either San Francisco or San Jose, I think you can find a good condition '02 and low miles for around $20k.

For insurance, if possible have your father as owner of the car, but you are primary driver, he will get multi-cars discount and possible multi-policies discount if he has both car(s) and home insurance with the same company. If not possible, then try Mercury Insurance. It is one of the lowest cost in California.

 

If I was in marke for a new S, I would pay an extra $2k for 2006 model, for few extras: VSA, head-rest speakers and 1 year new.

Think about this case: 3-4 years later you want to sell this new S2000, 2006 would demand several thousands dollars more than 2005, assume everything else is the same, same mileages, same conditions ... You may pay more up front but you will get back about the same amount or more after 3-4 years if you sell it.

 

i just went to a dealer in boston and they have a few new 05's that they'll sell for $28k. Tax is 5% here and T+L is about $300.

 

This is a great thread. The market varies a huge amount on these cars. I have done a TON of searching and found very few great deals here in California.
1. The smoking deals are all salvage title
2. 30k for a new 05 still on the lot is about the best i can do. (out of my range)
3. Found an 02 black in solid condition with 28k miles
he wants at least 19.5k for it. (I originally thought this was a great deal but there are so many out there I think 18k is a good deal maybe 18.5)

What do you guys think??

 

...ooops almost forgot. Found an 04 with 6k on it for 27,200 has some scuffs and scratches on the front otherwise is clean. This was a dealer trade. The interesting thing is after talking to the dealer that they usually pay less for trade in's than the auction cars due to travel, inspections, and other costs. A low percentage of cars crossing the auction are smokin deals many they have to pay at or above low book whereas we all know that dealers rarely pay low book for trade in's. Just an interesting thought.

 

I would find an affordable shipping company that can ship the car from Boch Honda in Norwood, MA (3 yellows available @$27.8k) and ship the car from Boston to CA. It all hinges on how much the shipping company charges. I've gotten quotes for an open container at ~1k, so you are still saving 1k by going that route.


Also, investigate midwest states. They are closer and may yield cheaper shipping.

 

Yeah, Boch has a good reputation among the New England folks. Less than $28K for a new 2005 is surely a great deal.

Oh, and TR-S2K is correct about taxes... However, if you buy from a dealer, I'm pretty sure you will arrange to pay taxes for your home state (where you register it), not where you buy it. In my case, I bought a car from a New York dealership, but paid Massachusetts sales tax (significantly less).

 

I'm looking at a yellow on Friday.

 

good luck! Let us know if you get it. We'll be envious of your deal, but it's all good. Please post your cost breakdown so that we have more information for people interested in purchasing.

Also, pleae post pics.

 

still looking around...can someone list some of the used car search engine. I have been looking on the following but no luck. The 3 that I have been using are cars.com, autotrader, and craigslist.

I need it to be at a dealership and not private...its due to the loan. I also am hoping to get one for 22-23 OTD. Hoping is the key