Sometimes cars with salvage titles will end up getting "cleaned" if registration changes between different states. Not saying that is the case here, but a clean title is not always what it appears to be. Tread carefully.

 

Hey, First post I make on this site but hopefully not the last.
I'm turning 21, FT Student majoring in accounting and working FT. I've been dying for a new car. Lately, that car has been a S2000 .
I saw this post on craigslists. Anyone let me know if this is a good deal?
It's a 2002 S2000 51k miles for 8k. I'm a bit worried it's toooo good to be true. I already asked for pictures of the accident since it holds a rebuilt title and waiting for a response.
http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/cto/4957237665.html

Thank you.

 

Hi Trinhsetta,

Welcome to S2ki! You might want to consider getting a PrePurchase Inspection by a shop knowledgeable in S2000s. You can post in your regional forum to get recommendations.

That it was listed as a "clean title" frequently just means the car does not have a rebuilt or salvage title. Sometimes sellers confusingly post "clean" title when they mean "clear" title which is that the car has no liens on it (loans) and is owned outright by the seller. Anyway, autocheck and carfax are helpful, but not the end-all be-all for vehicle history (this I know from cars I've owned which I *knew* had body work done that was covered by insurance, but which didn't show up on the CarFax report). I personally feel that a good inspection is important, particularly if the history gives an indication of the possibility of significant damage. Let the shop know what the reports say so they can pay extra attention to any clues to body/frame damage. The current owner may honestly have NO idea anything negative ever happened to the car prior to his ownership of it.

Washing *and* waxing every two weeks almost sounds a bit anal, but some owners are more meticulous than others. Maybe that's a good sign. Changing full synthetic oil every 3500 miles also sounds a bit excessive, but wouldn't be bad for the car (just the environment and one's wallet).

Hope this helps a little.

 

It has the 2008-09 instrument cluster. Strange about the older wheels though. Also it has clear side markers and a replacement shift knob. Just a few aesthetic mods, or was there more done? I'd definitely look very closely! Modded and brought back to stock would bring that price down, for me at least.
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Nice catch! I closed the window after seeing the discrepancy in wheels/year. If it's indeed modded and returned to stock, it's not worth the asking price. $26K for a 1 owner 20K mile unmodded AP2 in the tri-state market would be a fair price, but the questionable history may raise flags and lower the price. Unfortunately the dealer may not know or care to know about the car's history.
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I purchased my '07 GPW w/19,864 miles for $26k private sale June 2014. 2-owner. Mint. Zero mods. Some driver seat bolster wear. Small slit in top. No leak. But I noticed it. Old man wouldn't budge. So I paid it. Took a year to find.

 

Dealer near me has a 2001 black S2000 with 29,800 miles. It looks mint, 1 owner, no accident history. They want.. just shy of $22,000 I saw this car sitting there last summer and tried to make an offer, but they were firm on the price. Now they're willing to negotiate (surprise surprise). Dealership is in ND so it's not the most desirable market, either.

What is a fair, honest offer? KBB is telling me 15.5k for this car. I feel like that might be kinda whack and insulting to the dealership. I also feel like 22k is insulting to even ask. My initial thought was ~16.5/17, but I fear their asking price is so high that I'll never be able to negotiate down to a fair price.

 

Forget about fair offers . Damn right start that low. U start at 15.5k and work up while they work down . If they'd had that car since last summer that puts u in the drivers seat. Clearly no one is interested in it

 

Hi all, I'm excited to be shopping for an s2k! Would like to hear your thoughts on a sale.

2008, 83k miles, $19.9k, black

Here's the listing: http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...ils.xhtml?mmt=[HONDA[][]]&listingId=397073106&Log=0
And the carfax: http://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory...&partner=AMG_1

Looking at the previous owner driving history, should I be concerned that the last owner took the car from 49k to 83k miles in under 2 years? There also appears to have been a minor accident, but no structural damage (on paper at least).

Thanks!

 

Yeah, I offered 16k and she was like "no thanks, feel free to counter with an offer closer to ask". I wrote back saying to give me a legitimate counter-offer, it was hard for me to make an offer when their starting price is so high... no response. nice car but I'm not gonna be the sucker who pays 20k for it.

 

Go there an negotiate. I remember in 2005 I wanted a brand new civic si. The price was 19,999. They wouldn't go lower than 18.5. I waited a few months and the car was still there . Ended up getting it for 16.5. Ur case it's been a year there Prolly banking summer is around the corner and they want to hold off.

 

In my opinion, you're offer is closer to realistic value than what they're asking. Sometimes you just have to be willing to walk away and keep looking.

I paid 14.5 for an '02 with 48kmi (After a year of searching). So a couple thousand dollars extra for 20k less miles seems reasonable, but 17-18k starts being AP2 territory.