Hello Everyone,

I am new to the S2000 platform, and will soon have my own! I located one that I intend on purchasing, but I wanted some advice on some things.

1. The carfax is clean except for there is this from the 3 owner "An Exceeds Mechanical Limits title was issued to this vehicle in error". Is that something I should be concerned about? How could an error like this even come up?

2. The entire carfax only shows 1 service record way back in 2004, everything else is a registration renewal or inspection. I've bought some messed up cars from some sketchy folks in the past, and even those cars had more service records than this. Any thoughts?

3. The car was listed on 6/17, It has 26K Miles and is listed for $31K, is this a fair price? Compared to other S2ks in my area its on the low side, I would assume since this car is low miles that it would have been long gone with in a few days, but maybe people are getting spooked by the carfax?

I will attach the carfax below, I just want to make sure im asking all of the right questions and looking out for specific things before purchasing, your help is greatly appreciated!

 

Go take a look at it.

1. Haven't personally seen a mechanical 5-digit odometer in decades and certainly not on a S2000.

2. I'm surprised the Honda dealer selling this car hasn't serviced it because it needs lots of maintenance not listed including a change of engine oil, brake fluid, gearbox, and differential oil (and the correct S2000 oil filter). If dealing on the car insist that a full dealer service be included in the price and it has a current smog certification.

3. CARFAX indicates the car has been for sale for over a month so the price isn't a great deal -- or none of the teenage boys looking at it on line have the cash. Dealers aren't inclined to lower prices on these cars since they know they'll eventually sell it.

4. I'm betting it will need tires and maybe a new roof depending on how it was housed.

5. An inspection of the underside will show all the rust from salty roads.

-- Chuck

 

+1 on this. especially #5. Based on where it is lived, structure is probably the most important. These days, it's virtually impossible NOT to go see a car in person as well as get a PPI on anything worth looking at.

 

If you pulled a Carfax on my 2009 you would see only 2 services at a dealer since I purchased in 2012. One was for an alignment and the other a great deal on a battery. Not sure if required smog checks are listed.

Has my car been serviced? You bet, by me every year or 3000 miles. I have it all written down but it is not in Carfax.

 

+1 to the above. Only one of my cars purchased in the last 25 years would have more than one or two service records, and those were warranty services. I do all maintenance myself and document it myself. Every car I have sold in my life has included a folder of logs and receipts since I'd expect the same in a private sale. That's why it usually takes me years to find the right one.