I know prices have been strong, particularly on the CR models. However, $30k does seem high for one that's been through the collision center. I suppose before I dropped down that much money on a used car, I'd take it to a body shop and have them do an inspection. Ask them to look the car over and tell you what's been repaired. Look at the car in bright light and low light to look for paint color/finish mismatch. Typically the body shops aren't able to match the factory orange peel finish, the paint will look much more smooth in the area that's been repaired. Take a magnet with you, the hood is aluminum, but all the other body parts are steel, check for body filler. Ideally, they will have replaced any of the damaged body panels and not applied any filler. At least you might get an idea of how extensive the damage was.

Do all the VIN tags really match on all the panels? If it's been through a body shop, chance are they won't all match.

I'm not a low ball kind of guy, I think the S2000's are worth more than people are willing to believe. However, possibly $25k is more inline with the value of a CR that's had repairs.

 

 

The front fenders on this car are paper thin, and the plastic bumpers crack pretty easily. So if the damage wasn't bad enough to replace either of them (they're both VIN tagged, you should ask for pics), then the accident was probably pretty trivial, in which case 30K would be a fair price.

 

 

I suggest passing on it if the intent of the car is to be driven around few years and sold off. Unless it is a shop building a car for track I like to think most buyers of s2000 would not accept a car with accident on car fax. Which means when you go and try to sell the car, you'll have issues.

 

I checked out a similar condition and similarly priced S2000 CR in the Nothern VA (Manassas Area) last month. It looked good in pictures and had all VIN tags. In person the car was complete piece of junk. Every single panel had been poorly painted and the car was mechanically very weak. Make sure you check it out in person. There is a reason it is priced lower than market value.

 

 

There lies the problem.