Yeah if you can fix it up yourself I would do it. After selling hardtop it is one super cheap clean title S2000. Definitely needs some TLC to get looking nice but if the hardtop is in excellent condition it is worth at least $2000.

 

didn't even read that it had a hardtop, in that case....
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWiqnPIxIdM [/media]

 

Haha, decisions... Seems like half of the people in this thread are saying that they would go for it and the other half are saying to avoid it. Although I'm down for doing a little bit of work, there might be a few more hidden surprises as I start taking panels off.

The top has a plastic window and btw, the $7800 price is OTD if I pay in cash. As for previous experience, I had an RB'd 240SX, Turbo GSR, and a Miata that I tinkered with back in my high school days. I'm sure replacing the cat won't be much of a problem, especially since I'll probably just replace it with a test pipe anyways.

Should I just go for it? The sucky thing is that I need to start my company AND study for my CPA exam which leaves me with little to no time to work on the car. I do like the idea of having a project car on the side though...

 

On paper it sounds like a good deal but without knowing your financial situation and seeing even pics of the car it's impossible to give solid advice over the internets.

That CEL could be anything, I'd want to pull the code before buying.

FWIW a cat is extremely easy to replace. It's more likely the O2 sensor than the cat.

 

Or the O2 sensor is decapitated because the cat's broken....

 

Definitely pull the code first to make sure it is not something more serious. I would check the compression and do a leakdown as well.
I would be a little more concerned with all the wiring mess. Can become a super pain in the ass if wiring is messed up.
Get them to do it for $7000 OTD and then with selling the hardtop get it for $5,000
That would be a sweet deal. Even if it takes you like 3 grand to fix it still pretty damn cheap and has a clean title.

 

sounds like a good "project car" but if it were me, I'd hold out for one in nicer shape.

 

I would wait and spend a little more if i was u. Inless u can talk him down a little more say $7k and u are good with working on a car than due all the work on youre self. Like i just bought a DD for $450 and am doing all the fluid changes took me most of the day today to change the AT fluid and filter. But i would buy that S as a side car but if it was going to be my only ride than no. So if u have another car than can be a DD get that S and talk them down a little more.

 

As long as a leakdown test checked out and the frame is straight i'd go for it. Sounds like the perfect fixer-upper.

 

Sigh, I decided to make the purchase but when I called the dealership to submit my offer, they told me that they had sold it last night. I'm so upset with myself considering this is the only S2000 that I've seen going for a decent price in my area. Oh well, time to start M3/S2000 shopping again!

Btw, thanks a lot for the great responses. You guys have been lots of help!