Try to get a southern car, then you know it's never seen snow and SALT! I looked at an '08 from NJ and it was all rusted out. Only other advice is get a carfax account and run any potentials by it. You can get 6 reports for $99. That will tell you where it's been, how long, and whether it could have been in a flood.
I'd avoid anything from the gulf coast!

 

I searched many sites looking for just the right under 20,000 mile low mile S2000, I narrowed it down to a 2006 or newer and silver. Searches included Face Book, Here, Auto Trader, Auto List, True Car, Edmunds, Isee Cars..etc just about every site I could dig up...I ended up with about 4-5 that met my criteria.....as luck would have it, the one I found was my 1st serious call...and IT WAS ON FACEBOOK....The car was 700 miles away, and I bought it site unseen...I wouldn't recommend that, but it was a judgement call based on our LONG conversation..the guy was quite anal about the car, but that also caused some difficulties, when it came to getting his money to him, but that's a long story....but as fate would have it the car was all he said it was...he just had some personality quirks that pissed me off...

so what I'm saying is put your feelers out and the criteria you want for a car and be patient you'll find what fills the bill. Talk to the owner extensively, as many represent the cars better than they actually are...the hard part is asking the right questions and feeling the seller out, before wasting your time. Dealers IMHO, always upsale the cars on the lot...and know nothing about the car's history....individuals are best to deal with. BTW- dealers were 2-4K higher than what I ended up buying for a comparable car. and then there's the dealer "fluff" fee....

 

There's dealers and then there's dealers. Don't ignore their cars.

I purchased my '06 in '14 off the used car show room floor at a large Honda dealer in Columbus OH. Car met all the criteria of my priority list other than having aftermarket wheels. Car had been "detailed" inside and out, and all services and recalls performed the week before. New brakes and master cylinder booster (the recall). Coolant and hydraulics replaced, not just an oil change. Price seemed in line with street prices. Five years ago I was able to find correct new or reconditioned AP2V2 wheels for the car -- this may be more difficult today. I bought this the first week of July, High Season for convertibles.

-- Chuck

 

While I did find and buy my S2000 from a Toyota dealership they had at least gone through the car - the previous owner was the second owner and he had it for a short time and had it serviced just a few months prior. He traded both that and an early 2000's Land Cruiser on a brand new Land Cruiser as he felt too old for an S2000. While the dealer's price was higher than what I knew market price to be for mileage and condition, they were willing to negotiate as they knew I was aware what it should sell for and I got the price in line with what KBB listed and also what I had been seeing for 2 years of searching. I had looked at a Honda dealer last year at one with more miles and they were NOT willing to even listen to any thoughts of negotiating. They were a "no haggle" dealer and as soon as the sales guy came back from speaking with the manager about the price I was offering and said "that's the price, we are a no haggle dealer", we said thank you, got up and left driving 2 hours home. I was a little irritated that the manager wouldn't even give the courtesy to come over and state that himself. Anyway would have preferred getting one from an individual but sometimes dealers have a good option and you just have to stick to your guns on the price. Just be ready to walk away.

 

Mainly for lurkers:

Desirable cars attract emotional buyers who can be pushed to pay higher prices. The auctions are proof of that. Dealers are completely non-emotional, it's one of their advantages. If you don't buy the car at their price someone else will. One car is an insignificant part of their business.

The salesman taking the offer to the "manager" is a ruse and delay to make the buyer stew a bit and more willing to pay the higher price. The salesman already has the answer. This week the salesman and manager probably discuss why Alabama missed the championship playoffs or if Ohio State can beat Clemson and then drank a cup of coffee rather than discussing your offer. They both know the answer ain't gonna change.

The supply of excellent condition S2000s dwindles every month. The prices are highly volatile. Private owners have irrationally high price expectations; buyers have irrationally low expectations.

Still I'd not let the car I wanted slip thru my fingers for a couple thousand bucks. But it would have to meet all my requirements.

-- Chuck

 

While that may be the case for many shopping at a dealer and just take whatever the sales guy says as the end, it's not the case for me. I talked the dealer down $2000 on the S2000. The Pilot my wife drives I went in on my lunch hour and gave them my number - told them that was tax, tags, fees etc and that was the number. 30 mins later after going back and forth AND also telling them to install a roof rack and then the next time he came back told him to also install keyless entry - all for the same number, they finally relented and gave me that number plus the add ons that I requested. Every time the guy came back I kept telling him "If you can't do it that's fine just let me know and we're done". Finally the manager came over after coming down a few times within $500 of what I wanted. I told him the same thing - I'd write the check for my number and he was ready to lose the deal on $500. He finally said fine and I bought the car. I talked them down about $4000 in that instance and also had them include the 2 addons which were not factored into that price. The key was I was willing to leave without buying PLUS they knew I had been looking there already PLUS it was the last one of the previous year after all the new models had just been delivered. PLUS I had another new Pilot lined up with my credit union's buying service. They made the mistake of telling me "Oh we don't like them, we can beat whatever they're giving you". It can be done you just have to know the market and not be emotionally attached when you go in.

The "no haggle dealer" S2000I missed out on last year - they came down 2 weeks later to the price I was trying to offer them almost to the penny. It was a Saturday morning and drinking my coffee the alert popped up. I called the dealer and tried to get him to hold it for me - they wouldn't unless I was on the way. Wouldn't even take a deposit. The problem was I was moving one kid into one college 3 hours east and the second one the next day to another college 90 mins south and couldn't get there. Really stinks but you have to know there will be more opportunities and be ready to jump when you see it.

p.s. Did the same with my son's used Accord. They were no haggling at the Honda dealership here and when they wouldn't budge we got up and left. They reached out 2 days later that they were "running a special" and wouldn't you know it - the car is now at the price we had offered.

 

Were either of the cars in the last post S2000s? Or we talking about generic, buy anywhere Pilots and Accords. Different beasts. Both currently in production. Neither is a sports car.

-- Chuck

 

Um yeah 2 S2000's in the conversation actually. "I talked the dealer down $2000 on the S2000." Also the No Haggle Honda dealer with the 2006 S2000 that I missed out on last year who then were offering at the price I was asking for. Often they end up coming back knowing they have an interested customer and will "have a special deal" or "market price adjusted" to get you back in the door.

My point is ANY car you go in you should be willing to walk away from the table. I was not as inclined obviously on the S2000 to push too hard but the Pilot and Accord were examples of how dealers will often go back and forth with you if you do your homework ahead of time and also don't let them have control of the deal. Unless you want to overpay, you have to be willing to get up and leave the deal.

 

Point is well taken. I got confused with the mention of roof racks and used Accords.

-- Chuck

 

All good - I was just using them as examples of working with dealers. You can't be afraid of offending them - they want to sell the car. You're exactly right that the S2000 is a different matter - thing is you can't be so excited about a car that you overspend. Bring a Trailer comments lately on different S2000 auctions have been talking about how the prices are flat and there have been a lot of great examples for sale. If you don't get to work with a private seller but a dealer, just know what your limit is and what the market says the car is worth before setting foot on the lot or you're going to be taken for much more than you should. Don't be afraid to say no.