I bought a Heavily Modified AP1 Thinking it was Mostly Stock
 

I am new to S2KI, so hi! I just bought an AP1. Before buying the car, I asked if it had any previous modifications and the owner told me it had an intake, catback, and Hondata KPro. He was selling the car with the KPro installed and everything else stock.

Here are the details of the car as it stands today:

• 2000 Honda S2000, 56k miles
• The car itself looks and drives good, and has no rust
• Has aftermarket chain tensioner and AP2 valve retainers
• Base tune with Hondata KPro
• Everything else is stock as far as I know
• Paid $13k

When I was looking for an S2000, I wanted something reliable, under 100k miles, mostly stock, mechanically and aesthetically in good shape, and for a reasonable price. Everything seem to be in good shape with this car, so it fit the bill. However, it gets more interesting from here. Browsing through this forum, I found a post of a turbo build and then a part out. I am 100% sure it is my car, the one that “only had an intake and a catback". Here is what I found out after the fact:

• Had a somewhat custom turbo kit making 480WHP at 13PSI and 550WHP at 18PSI
• Engine internals, transmission, and differential were stock
• Had lots of supporting mods (full exhaust with test pipe, oil cooler, etc.)
• Was driven with the power mods for about 20k miles

One of my reasons for buying this car at the price that I did was that it was in good shape and was not abused with power mods (or so I thought). Did I just get screwed? How reliable can an AP1 be after having a turbo kit like this one? Should I be in the lookout for anything specific to ensure the car is healthy?

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...e78ee82a43.jpg

If you have proof the owner misrepresented the car, I think you're within your rights to walk back the deal. I'd be pissed if my "stock" car was actually once pushing 500whp.

In many states, it's "buyer beware". He may have absolutely zero recourse, and he should talk to a local attorney to decide any legal matters if it comes to that. Blanket internet legal advice isn't helpful and could cause false hope.

Get the valve adjustment done and then do a compression test and leak down test afterwards. If everything is in the green, I wouldn't worry about it. Is there anything going on with the car that gives you concern?

Was there only the one previous owner? If not, he may have been in the same boat.

What was it that made you "100% sure" that it's the same car, were you able to match the VIN?

It sucks that this happened to you. Honestly, $13k for 56k mile S2k even with past turbo kit, is not all that bad IMO.

If it is great shape otherwise, and runs well, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just enjoy the car.

If it really bothers you, you could probably sell it for what you paid and search for another.

Good luck in whatever you choose to do.

Assuming there's no permanent modifications, cut plastics/metal, etc and the compression check comes back good does it matter?

The price was a dead giveaway. A stock S2K with only 50k miles is gonna be selling for 16 grand and up regardless of year. I'd say 13 grand was a deal. I always see S2K's with 100k+ miles selling for more.

My 02 the guy wanted $10,000 and it has 160k miles.

As long as it drives fine I wouldn't worry about it.

I'd rather have a car that was modified with quality parts & tuned correctly than have a stock car that was owned by some idiot kid who roll races it.

As some said, if you are worried, adjust the valves, have a compression/leakdown test performed.

Also, you can run it till the next oil change and send a sample to Blackstone. That at least will tell you if something is wearing faster than normal from previous damage. It will not tell you if it is WORN but will tell you if something is eating itself :)

And, are you sure it was your car and are you sure the person you bought it from owned it when it was modded? Could be they bought it thinking it was mostly stock.