-Official- Is this car worth it thread
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Originally Posted by castamir,Mar 15 2010, 08:06 PM
The mileage is actually quite low for a 2000 model.
I have owned a 2000 model myself and other than the transmission hiccups, I think the car was very reliable. I would test the transmission to ensure that it isn't grinding 2nd gear at higher RPM, the transmission isn't making excessive buzzing and vibrations, and 4th gear not popping out. Those were the main issues of my 2000 car.
Of course, another thing to look out for is to accelerate the car from 50-80mph and detect for vibration and knocking noise from the rear. The rear drive shaft have been known to cause some vibration. Not all of them have this problem, as mine didn't. But I read a lot of that happening to even stock S2000 riding at stock height. While you're at it, make sure that the steering wheel isn't shaking. A shaking wheel could be something like imbalanced tires/wheels, but it could also indicate a bent wheel or two! Just watch out.
Make sure that the brakes are responsive and the brake pedal is stiff. I am not sure if seized calipers are common among S2000, but I believe the Nissin calipers that Honda purchases are very good quality. A little squealing is fine and can be fixed easily. Just make sure that the brakes are responsive and tight.
Finally, if all things appear fine, make sure to check the engine oil! One thing I hate the most when buying a new car is to see completely brand new oil in the engine. Brand new oil could mask many problems. For example, a slowly leaking head gasket may leak water into the engine crank case, but it usually takes a long time for the water to be detected in the oil. If you see in the engine aged oil that appears normal, then that is definitely a very good sign.
The fact that this car has newer seats is an indication that the car was probably driven by someone of larger size, wearing down the leather and padding, requiring new seats.
I have to wonder why so many owners in the car's history. The mileage doesn't even work out to an average of 20k miles per owner!!! And just because the car doesn't have any accident in its carfax history doesn't mean that the car wasn't involved in an accident. People could have repaired the car without going through insurance.
The rear plastic window is most likely somewhat hazy and dull from age and oxiation. As long as it isn't ripped, that's really good enough for a car that age. Another thing to point out is that although the car you're looking at is a 2000 model. The car may have been built in mid 1999, and purchased some time in late 1999. The car may be more than ten years old at this point. A car this age may have a couple of small problems here and there. In my opinion, it's normal for you to have to do some maintenance on the after purchasing it. This is part of the cost of buying an older vehicle.
Regarding price, I would expect the car to be priced at around $10-16k. It depends on the condition, the supply and demand of the s2000 in your region, and so forth. Typically, a 4 owner car is going to cost a lot cheaper than a 1 owner car. The sellers usually take that into consideration when selling their vehicle.
I wouldn't worry about the tires or brakes. You're most likely going to have to replace those anyway for buying a car of this age. If they are in great shape, consider it a bonus.
It is not uncommon for owners to have to do some small repairs and maintenance work when buying a 10 year old car. Who knows, maybe some of the suspension boots are ripped. But as long as the ball joints and bushings are not clunking, you could just simply replace the boots.
One of the most easily worn item on many vehicles are the shock dampers. When purchasing used cars, many owners want a refreshed feel to their ride by upgrading the suspension system with new aftermarket springs and shocks. Upgrading the car with new performance shocks often breathes new life to the car, because when buying a used vehicle, it is often hard to determine the condition of the shocks. Most of us here probably don't have a baseline vehicle to compare the condition of shocks.
I have owned a 2000 model myself and other than the transmission hiccups, I think the car was very reliable. I would test the transmission to ensure that it isn't grinding 2nd gear at higher RPM, the transmission isn't making excessive buzzing and vibrations, and 4th gear not popping out. Those were the main issues of my 2000 car.
Of course, another thing to look out for is to accelerate the car from 50-80mph and detect for vibration and knocking noise from the rear. The rear drive shaft have been known to cause some vibration. Not all of them have this problem, as mine didn't. But I read a lot of that happening to even stock S2000 riding at stock height. While you're at it, make sure that the steering wheel isn't shaking. A shaking wheel could be something like imbalanced tires/wheels, but it could also indicate a bent wheel or two! Just watch out.
Make sure that the brakes are responsive and the brake pedal is stiff. I am not sure if seized calipers are common among S2000, but I believe the Nissin calipers that Honda purchases are very good quality. A little squealing is fine and can be fixed easily. Just make sure that the brakes are responsive and tight.
Finally, if all things appear fine, make sure to check the engine oil! One thing I hate the most when buying a new car is to see completely brand new oil in the engine. Brand new oil could mask many problems. For example, a slowly leaking head gasket may leak water into the engine crank case, but it usually takes a long time for the water to be detected in the oil. If you see in the engine aged oil that appears normal, then that is definitely a very good sign.
The fact that this car has newer seats is an indication that the car was probably driven by someone of larger size, wearing down the leather and padding, requiring new seats.
I have to wonder why so many owners in the car's history. The mileage doesn't even work out to an average of 20k miles per owner!!! And just because the car doesn't have any accident in its carfax history doesn't mean that the car wasn't involved in an accident. People could have repaired the car without going through insurance.
The rear plastic window is most likely somewhat hazy and dull from age and oxiation. As long as it isn't ripped, that's really good enough for a car that age. Another thing to point out is that although the car you're looking at is a 2000 model. The car may have been built in mid 1999, and purchased some time in late 1999. The car may be more than ten years old at this point. A car this age may have a couple of small problems here and there. In my opinion, it's normal for you to have to do some maintenance on the after purchasing it. This is part of the cost of buying an older vehicle.
Regarding price, I would expect the car to be priced at around $10-16k. It depends on the condition, the supply and demand of the s2000 in your region, and so forth. Typically, a 4 owner car is going to cost a lot cheaper than a 1 owner car. The sellers usually take that into consideration when selling their vehicle.
I wouldn't worry about the tires or brakes. You're most likely going to have to replace those anyway for buying a car of this age. If they are in great shape, consider it a bonus.
It is not uncommon for owners to have to do some small repairs and maintenance work when buying a 10 year old car. Who knows, maybe some of the suspension boots are ripped. But as long as the ball joints and bushings are not clunking, you could just simply replace the boots.
One of the most easily worn item on many vehicles are the shock dampers. When purchasing used cars, many owners want a refreshed feel to their ride by upgrading the suspension system with new aftermarket springs and shocks. Upgrading the car with new performance shocks often breathes new life to the car, because when buying a used vehicle, it is often hard to determine the condition of the shocks. Most of us here probably don't have a baseline vehicle to compare the condition of shocks.
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From: Long Island City, NY
Originally Posted by s2k2011,Mar 15 2010, 11:44 PM
so is $10,000 a good price for this car if everything checks out?
can you find cheaper, probably(with patience), can you find what you want in good condition cheaper, that's the question. If not, buy it.
and follow castamir's advice.
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I am seriously considering a trade in for my 2005 Honda Accord LX-SE Coupe (auto; less than 60K miles; good but not immaculate condition; graphite pearl). Retail from NADA suggests $11K while average trade-in comes in at $7,600 and clean trade-in comes in at $8,500.
The deal can be found here:
http://cosprings.craigslist.org/ctd/1635953920.html
I understand they are asking a hefty price for the car so I was wondering what top dollar with the trade in would be recommended? I'm more interested in this vehicle because it is a color I like, low miles, and seemingly immaculate OEM condition.
Advice would be well appreciated. Thanks.
The deal can be found here:
http://cosprings.craigslist.org/ctd/1635953920.html
I understand they are asking a hefty price for the car so I was wondering what top dollar with the trade in would be recommended? I'm more interested in this vehicle because it is a color I like, low miles, and seemingly immaculate OEM condition.
Advice would be well appreciated. Thanks.
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,744
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From: Nevada
no deal at all!
for one it has the plastic rear window,...that alone is a deal breaker for me. you can fine 2005 ap2's for cheaper,....unless you can get 8000 for your trade and that one at 12,000 it is not worth it in my opinion
for one it has the plastic rear window,...that alone is a deal breaker for me. you can fine 2005 ap2's for cheaper,....unless you can get 8000 for your trade and that one at 12,000 it is not worth it in my opinion
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I wouldn't pay more than $13k with TTL included. I also don't think they'll give you NADA trade-in for the Accord....so you might want to consider negotiating the difference rather than the price of trade-in and then the price of the car.
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Originally Posted by 2slow2Bfurious,Mar 15 2010, 08:56 PM
is that his asking price, meaning that he might be willing to take less, or was he firm on the asking price. If it's clean and everything checks out, but still, four owners, hmmmm....If you're dead set on white and there aren't any other whites in your price range, than yes, the price is ok. White is a rare color, but by no means the most popular, imo.
can you find cheaper, probably(with patience), can you find what you want in good condition cheaper, that's the question. If not, buy it.
and follow castamir's advice.
can you find cheaper, probably(with patience), can you find what you want in good condition cheaper, that's the question. If not, buy it.
and follow castamir's advice.
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From: Long Island City, NY
No, don't do it, especially not on a trade. You're going to get killed on the trade in and pay a premium on the trade. Financially it makes no sense whatsoever, definitely sell the honda private party first, then search for a better deal. How long have you been shopping for an s2000. Do some comparison shopping and if you can't find anything cheaper, anything better than comeback and consider this one. It's not like there is a shortage of low mileage s2000s, a lot of them abound.
At that price range, this car is not going anywhere anytime soon, I can't even move my 2002 for 10K.
At that price range, this car is not going anywhere anytime soon, I can't even move my 2002 for 10K.
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In my search for an s2k, is it "normal" for prices to be higher during the spring season (since this is the prime "in demand" time to get a convertible)? I'm only asking because people seem simply deluded with their pricing for the most part. Yes, there's a reasonably priced yellow one, but I decided I don't want anything too flashy, and thus will pass on it.
One person wants $18k for his '05 silver w/ 46k miles, and there's another person local who wants $21.8k for his '05 silver w/ 6600 miles. There seems to be some reasonably priced ones that come up from time to time (and there are a bunch of light blue ones available that are well priced I'm guessing because less people want them), but is it a recent phenomenon or just a seasonal thing why people are asking substantially over blue book for their cars?
Perhaps a temporary upturn in the economy and tax returns have people snapping them up as well? Who knows.. I'm quite patient, so I'll sit tight, but I refuse to pay more than $2k over blue book for a car, especially if it's not even in great shape.
One person wants $18k for his '05 silver w/ 46k miles, and there's another person local who wants $21.8k for his '05 silver w/ 6600 miles. There seems to be some reasonably priced ones that come up from time to time (and there are a bunch of light blue ones available that are well priced I'm guessing because less people want them), but is it a recent phenomenon or just a seasonal thing why people are asking substantially over blue book for their cars?
Perhaps a temporary upturn in the economy and tax returns have people snapping them up as well? Who knows.. I'm quite patient, so I'll sit tight, but I refuse to pay more than $2k over blue book for a car, especially if it's not even in great shape.
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Compared to where I live, this S2k is actually a GREAT deal. With less than 20k on the odometer, I could live with the rear plastic window if I could get it down to $13,000!!!
Your 2005 Accord may be more refined in a way than the S2000. This varies with different people, but the S2000, especially the AP1, may be unbearable to some in terms of comfort and ride quality. The stock AP1 is not a comfortable car.
Your 2005 Accord may be more refined in a way than the S2000. This varies with different people, but the S2000, especially the AP1, may be unbearable to some in terms of comfort and ride quality. The stock AP1 is not a comfortable car.