I have an oppurtunity to buy a used s2k....
i know... buy new if possible...

I wish i could, but i can't and i don't want to cough up 32k+

the model i'm looking at is a black/black, took one of my friends with me, he's not a mechanic but he knows alot about cars in general, we both test drove it. It felt clean and he said it is fine.

2001 black/black

outside:

1 small small minor scratch on rear bumper that prob be hidden when buffed.
no dents, clean records.
paint is still fine
tail lights aren't fading (read about that earlier)

Inside:
carpet is pretty clean can wash out the little stains it has
driver leather seat has a small scratch, which i'm not worried about, can replace

Comes with Honda certified warranty

http://www.hondacars.com/certified/warranty.asp <-- that one

The question i have is is there nething else i need to look for? recalls, etc.

When test driving, the guy let me take it up to redline, meaning everyone who drove this car did...It bothers me, but since i don't have finance for a new car, it will do.

Handling seemed great, did some quick turns (i go canyon carving) scared shit out dealer...

initial price was 25600, i dropped it to 25000, then i declined, he called me today and dropped it an even 24,000.

I'm 22 years old, go to college, but i've been working full time for 4 years.. my parents had a financial crisis during my highshcool years, and will not co-sign. So i'm on my own since then..

The apr i got was 7.5% which he dropped to 6.9% (not great, but not too bad imo)

This is my first time buying a car where i had to finance, my previous cars: i bought in cash from private (consist of 2 240sx, 1 FC)

I'm wondering what you guys think? should i wait until the 2004's come out?

This will be my daily driver...i do plan on getting a rx-7 sometimes next year..
I might take it to the canyons once in awhile, but i won't be pusing it to the limits everyday, maybe like once a month till i get my 7 going...

there is a little background and a little bit of myself

thnx for reading it and for the responses.

oh one sidenote: my current car is sorta messed up....dealer gave me more than what i was gonna sell to people, extra 2k in fact... (total downpayment i'll be doing is 7k).

Yivan

 

If you're planning on replacing (through Honda) the scratched seat, figure $2500 per cushion!

 

sounds like a fair deal when you consider the trade-in value... if you like it, buy it... I personally love the car, but would hate it as a daily driver... to each his own... just make sure the warranty issues have been taken care of (plugs, others if applicable)... no one knows what the 2004 will look like or price at... more $ though, without doubt...

bottom line: research, haggle, decide, buy... and enjoy...

 

tell him the interest rate now he should do 5% and you will take the car
there is no reason why you shouldn't get the 5% rate since
a 30 yr mortage is around that
and you are only doing a 5yr or less

 

pjkwong,

interest rate of 4.9 or 5% is for people who have 800 pts on their credit....
i only had credit cards to show my credit it history, mines at 690... i don't think i'm old enough to have that kind of credit....
although i will haggle for lower...

CA STOOK,

wasn't aware that it cost 2500.....hehe
its not something major that i'm gonna worry about

used car is used car...don't have patience/time to find the perfect one

 

My brother's rating was only 620 and got 3.44% for 5 yrs.
Although he needed me to co-sign.
My younger brother got 4.49% last yr. for 3yrs.
Worst thing comes to worst apply via peoplefirst.com or eloans.com
See what they give you.
Then tell the dealer to beat that rate say by a quarter percent.
And you will take the car.
They are in the business to sell you a car and believe me they will
make it work.

They told my younger brother 5.9% or even as high as 8% in the beginning.
I told them i will take the car if they can do this rate.
A few days later they can do it.

peoplefirst.com and eloan.com doesn't take more then a day to get the rate

good luck i just hate to see people pay high rates for something that
depreciates

 

hehe good info, will apply and see my rate..
i know what you mean.. but i won't be having a cosign..

well there is a certain monthly payment i'm gonna ask for.. if they decline, i walk.. simple as that, they can call me if they decide to lower it...

i walked the first time and now 3 days later they dropped it 1k hehe

 

well got back...

he wouldn't drop the car anymore than what i got it to...

24,848...

with 6k downpayment, my monthly = 400, in the end i'm paying about 33k with tax/interest...

when i calculated it he gave me 4.45% apr.. not to shabby...

friend test drove the car, said it was fine, but we noticed that the front bumper was repainted, its the original bumper but repainted... you can see the overspray on the ac...
my friends theory is had some chips/scratches they wanted to get rid of..nothing big.

i'm checking autotrader, so far i'm only seeing 25k cars...

this is my first big purchase.. so i'm kinda uneasy

well thnx for the info.. gonna call him tomorrow if i take or pass

 

Hate to be the bad guy, but why do you want to buy the S2000 now if you're already planning to get a different car next year?

You're in college, don't worry about it, and buy the car you want -NEW-- when you get out.

 

Aoshyi -- I think I looked at the same car you did. You may have already done this, but look at the carfax report on the Honda certified website... it shows 3 owners. Not necessarily a bar to buying the car, but I would ask them about it. At the very least it's something to use as a bargaining chip.

Also, assuming we're talking about the same dealership, did you see they lowered the asking price on the 2002 model? Like you I prefer black but that's a very good price.

Best of luck to you...