Hello, yesterday I went to look at a 2000 S2000 that was listed for sale near me. It has 85k miles, zero rust, and is in overall quite good condition (all visible VIN tags present). However, there are some mods done, and a couple DTCs that I am wary of. I just want to try to get another set of eyes on this car and hopefully the community can help me understand the issues for negotiating/whether to walk away! Also important I guess, currently negotiated down to $27,400 due to needing new tires soon. If these DTCs didn't exist and I knew if these mods were done well, the rest of the car makes sense for the price.

Mod List:

• Injen CAI
• Unknown? header
• Tsudo exhaust
• Mishimoto radiator / coolant reservoir tank
• Oil catch can
• Radium Engineering? Fuel rail

DTCs:

• P0410 - Permanent DTC - AIR pump system failure
  • He told me this is due to the air pump being removed?
• P1415 - Permanent DTC - Current sensor voltage low
• P0410 - Temporary DTC - AIR pump SYS. out of SPEC
• P0133 - Temporary DTC - HO2S (A/F sensor) S1 slow response
  • He said this is due to wideband O2 sensor?

Any help at all is greatly appreciated!!

 

I's no buy this one! Rest of the car doesn't make sense to me -- too many (questionable) mods at this collector car price. I'll admit it's shiny but it's unacceptable as-is especially with the DTCs you want to excuse for some reason even if there's no smog testing where you are. (Which is where?).

I'm guessing aftermarket wheels, perhaps with wrong offsets? Wrong headlights are obvious, strut brace adds nothing nor does a catch can on an NA car -- I know as I wasted money on both but the bar looks kool. There might be VIN tags on the front fenders I see white tags. The only "hidden" tag would be the front bumper hidden by the aftermarket red (for some reason) cover all the others would be visible just opening the doors and trunk. Low quality eBay (?) aftermarket exhaust further detracts from the car.

This is a 26 or 27 year old car. Looked underneath?

Just noticed the Brand X engine oil filter. Not even a Honda filter and there's a specific, unique filter just for the S2000. Current owner seems to be "flipping" the car as just the bad oil filter tells me he doesn't care.

-- Chuck

 

Central Indiana! It does have the stock wheels, and the underside is clean, the pinch welds & lift points are in good condition. I was on the fence on price, just nearby I haven't really found anything worth even looking at in my price range (~$30k out the door). I think you've convinced me to pass on this and wait for a cleaner one for the price. Appreciate it Chuck

 

I think the price is a bit high given the codes and the quality of some of the modifications.

That said, just because a car has some modifications that some may not find tasteful doesn’t mean the car has been abused.

 

I'd step away, not walk away. Wait for better price.

Everything wrong is fixable, and some of the crappy misguided mods can be sold to offset costs. All the missing stock stuff is available used.

Almost none of the mods appear to actually improve performance. Questionable about appearance value (in eye of beer holder).

By waiting, you let seller find out true value, when no one else bites.

If you make a lower offer, and he feels insulted, he may not look you up later when he realigns himself to his reality. Tail between legs, etc.

So instead just say you're interested, but not at this price. Too many things to address. Avpid insulting his mods as well for same reason. Instead give him an emotional out by saying you're looking for all stock, collectors. You'd have to track down all the correct stock parts, for that year, etc. Including air pump, etc. All that is gonna take money, and more importantly to sophisticated guy like you, time.

So you tell him interested, but only at better price. Resist getting specific when he asks how much. Just tell him you hope he finds someone that wants a modded car and gets his price. But if not, he can get back to you if he needs to sell.

But put a clock on it. If meantime you find a good stock one, you'll pull trigger and no longer interested. That you're looking wide area, but would prefer buy nearby.

 

I agree Car Analogy.