Think he's referring to these screws

 

Valid statement. However, as more of these are involved in wrecks, floods, or have irreversible mods done (fender rolling, custom paint jobs, wide fenders), it is incrementally increasing the price on clean examples. This same trend I saw with the mark 4 Supras circa 2004. Now, look at the prices on an untouched one.

 

They're out there, take your time shopping and be willing to jump on a plane and its amazing what you can grab.

 

FWIW, I did drive my S2000 through 4 Chicago winters and did no special maintenance aside from hosing the salt off every week or so. My engine bay looks a lot closer to the clean one posted than the OP's. The OP's looks seriously abused, check out that valve cover. How does that even happen?

 

I thought the valve cover peeling issue was quite common?

 

111k on my car and my valve cover looks basically pristine, if just a tad grimey.

 

Thats a lot of corrosion. like others would say I would keep looking. I was expecting it to be an 2000 or 01 but an 07? Did a previous owner keep his salt and water collection under the hood? Are all the vin stickers present? That amount of rust and corrosion would have me looking for questionable repairs. Even if there has been no repairs I would be driven nuts by that mess and likely spend plenty trying to fix it which is money that could just be put towards a cleaner example from the start.

 

Not bad...not bad. Before I purchased my car, the previous owner had a different engine installed so I'd imagine it was sitting in a salvage yard for a few years exposed to the elements. Mine has definitely seen better days but the car is still great to drive with no severe issues.