When I picked my car up at Carmax the other S2k on the showroom floor was missing some Vin tags on certain body parts. At least I could tell the car I bought was modded but had no missing Vin tags when they put the car back to stock. I would definitely check the car over before buying.

Sure you sell your newer Civic for an older s2000 and have more money. But you could also sell your car and get a bus pass and do even better. Look at the S2k as more than just a simple replacement. Well I am coming from a stolen '95 Porsche to this car, so it was easily cheaper for me to afford, and way more fun.

 

Hell from a civic to a S2000 and get money back in your pocket?!? WHY NOT!

Only concern is the practicality, your going to have a lot less room.

 

Doesn't that seem excessive?

Right now you're throwing away your ~$400/month payment on interest and depreciation.

If you keep the Civic, very soon you stop throwing away that money because it is retained in the equity of the car. Not that a car is a good investment, but some of the money stops vanishing.

If you trade in and buy the S2000, you have instant negative equity in that car, and you start throwing away money again.

Just realize it's more than a monthly payment you're dealing with. The new S2000 costs you less per month, but you have to take out a ~$3000 loan for nothing for the privilege.

 

So with all this said, lets say this car checks out from mechanically down to every little spot on the body. What is the maximum I should pay for this ride?

Current Ride

What I been thinkin bout...

 

Personally, I'd rather have any year S2000 (in various conditions and mileages) than any newer Civic Si. It performs better, looks better and is a better driving experience. Not to mention, it's a convertible and rear wheel drive. If you want a true sports car, get that particular, or any other S2000. If you want a fairly quick front wheel drive car with better utility and more room, keep the Civic Si. Whatever you do, just make sure you can comfortably afford it.

 

You should not pay over $20,000.

When it gets down to narrower margins (~$13k-15k prices), it'll just depend on what they give you on trade in and various other little things (condition of the tires, etc).

Personally, my feeling is to push for 80% of the deal for 30% of the effort. But it depends on what your time is worth. If you make $10 / hour, then arguing 10 hours for $500 off may be worth it. If you make $500 / hour... not so much.

I spent 1 hour working on our deal and bought a new 08 CR in May 09 with 31 miles on it for $27,500. I could have spent more time and shaved off a few more dollars, but that was a good cost-for-time-invested trade off for me.

YMMV. You only live once.

 

I am confident if all is well I can drag them down to 14k or even less putting me at a great advantage and even more than the initial $170 back in my pocket each month. Now if it was white, but hey I wasn't a fan of red at one time either and well the picture explains it...

 

 

There is no comparison performance wise either in speed or agility. The SI is a great sporty car, but it's not on the same level.

 

I would try and pay off the SI in the next 3 years than get into a S that way u can have a nice DD and a S best of both worlds