Official Is This Car Worth It Thread vol 3
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,296
Likes: 260
From: Vermont
Unless I overpaid for my two ap1s that price is a bit on the low side assuming unmolested excellent condition.
Get the vin before you leave and check the car fax.
Do the refresh of fluids and tires at your leisure when you get it home. Just make sure it has oil in it and the tires are aired out. If the tires are really old or worn out maybe change them before you drive home but be sure to get good tires. Good tires are important.
Keep your emotions in check. Give it a good look over. Check the vins, make sure it looks like a car looks with that many miles. Check the top. Make sure it runs strong with no lights on. Make sure there is air in the tires and oil in the engine. Then buy it. Drive home on back roads to get a feel for the car.
Check it over to see if it has been modified.
Get a set of good tires and have it aligned to oem specs when you can. Those two things can transform the car.
Don't worry about the fact that it has low miles. That is a good thing, not a bad thing.
Get the vin before you leave and check the car fax.
Do the refresh of fluids and tires at your leisure when you get it home. Just make sure it has oil in it and the tires are aired out. If the tires are really old or worn out maybe change them before you drive home but be sure to get good tires. Good tires are important.
Keep your emotions in check. Give it a good look over. Check the vins, make sure it looks like a car looks with that many miles. Check the top. Make sure it runs strong with no lights on. Make sure there is air in the tires and oil in the engine. Then buy it. Drive home on back roads to get a feel for the car.
Check it over to see if it has been modified.
Get a set of good tires and have it aligned to oem specs when you can. Those two things can transform the car.
Don't worry about the fact that it has low miles. That is a good thing, not a bad thing.
Last edited by rpg51; Jun 4, 2018 at 03:13 AM.
Registered User
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 21
Likes: 1
From: Northern VA
I appreciate the pointers all! It’s a single owner, stock, and the carfax is clean. I’ll be sure to post some pictures after I pick it up next weekend if everything goes as expected for you guys to see!
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 159
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I am not sure how the roads are there, but if the car is truly in pristine condition you should maybe consider masking the front end off. These cars have soft paint plus with it being black everything shows. Just a suggestion and congratulations on your future purchase
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 736
Likes: 90
That seems like a very nice price for the miles. I would be a little nervous about committing to driving a car that I don't know for that distance home. I was even nervous about driving mine 175 miles home from my purchase but I had a wingman. It might be worth it to pay a mechanic to check it all out before purchase just to make sure it is good to go. If you buy it, take it back to the mechanic and have it serviced for the trip home. Seems like a lot of stuff to do for the trip home but it would be good peace of mind. It could save you money in the long run.
I'm not sure my back would appreciate a 700 mile drive in an S2000 so I hope you are ready! Good luck!
I'm not sure my back would appreciate a 700 mile drive in an S2000 so I hope you are ready! Good luck!
Last edited by IA-SteveB; Jun 4, 2018 at 07:16 AM.
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Joined: May 2018
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I passed on the first 2003 in my area and I'm looking at another.
It's a 2003, 142k miles, asking $10,000. The ad says the first owner was a little old lady that had it serviced at the dealer, oil changed every 3,000 miles. Looks to be in good shape.
Is the mileage much of a concern with these cars?
It's a 2003, 142k miles, asking $10,000. The ad says the first owner was a little old lady that had it serviced at the dealer, oil changed every 3,000 miles. Looks to be in good shape.
Is the mileage much of a concern with these cars?
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 736
Likes: 90
It depends on how the miles were driven and if you believe the little old lady on Sundays story. Ask for the paperwork on the service history. 10k sounds good if you don't have to immediately address issues. There will always be something that needs done. I am still working through my short list of minor needs from my month old 80k mile purchase but I knew about them before I bought.
Last edited by IA-SteveB; Jun 9, 2018 at 12:23 AM.
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,296
Likes: 260
From: Vermont
TPS 22 - Is it a private sale or a dealer?
Honestly, In my opinion the mileage factor isn't any different with an s2k than it is with any car in the Honda/Toyota world except that they don't usually show a lot of body rot because they are not usually driven in snow and salt, the body problems that you often see with daily driven northern cars do not crop up as much. If this car is typical in that respect, (ie. zero rust/corrosion), the mileage is certainly a downward factor in the price, but if it is othewise good mechanically it still has a lot of life left. Sometimes the driver's seats and the tops are beat pretty bad. But, everything is fixable if you throw money at it. Literally everything. Again, its just a matter of getting an accurate picture of what the car will need. One thing good is that cars like this show any mechanical weak points pretty openly once you drive them. They are very sensitive to mechanical problems in the way they drive.
If I were buying a car with 150K miles that I wanted to street drive for maybe 75-100 K or so I would be thinking that a restore on the driver's seat, maybe a new top, and maybe a new exhaust and new dampers and bushings would be in the cards down the road. Also, I would want to see the compression numbers before I bought a car with that many miles. And, when I drove it I would be looking and listening for clutch issues, transmission issues, suspension issues, etc.. But, most of the time my expectation would be that all that will be fine unless its been abused.
But, my personal preference is to leave these 150K and up cars for the track guys, or for people who will be modifying the car a lot anyway. It depends on what you are planning. If, like me, you are looking for a fun street car to drive in mostly stock form, I pay a little more in purchase price for a lower mileage car. Its a no win situation. No matter what you do you will spend money. You have to pay to play.
Have you been watching craigslist in the areas around you? That can be a good source.
Honestly, In my opinion the mileage factor isn't any different with an s2k than it is with any car in the Honda/Toyota world except that they don't usually show a lot of body rot because they are not usually driven in snow and salt, the body problems that you often see with daily driven northern cars do not crop up as much. If this car is typical in that respect, (ie. zero rust/corrosion), the mileage is certainly a downward factor in the price, but if it is othewise good mechanically it still has a lot of life left. Sometimes the driver's seats and the tops are beat pretty bad. But, everything is fixable if you throw money at it. Literally everything. Again, its just a matter of getting an accurate picture of what the car will need. One thing good is that cars like this show any mechanical weak points pretty openly once you drive them. They are very sensitive to mechanical problems in the way they drive.
If I were buying a car with 150K miles that I wanted to street drive for maybe 75-100 K or so I would be thinking that a restore on the driver's seat, maybe a new top, and maybe a new exhaust and new dampers and bushings would be in the cards down the road. Also, I would want to see the compression numbers before I bought a car with that many miles. And, when I drove it I would be looking and listening for clutch issues, transmission issues, suspension issues, etc.. But, most of the time my expectation would be that all that will be fine unless its been abused.
But, my personal preference is to leave these 150K and up cars for the track guys, or for people who will be modifying the car a lot anyway. It depends on what you are planning. If, like me, you are looking for a fun street car to drive in mostly stock form, I pay a little more in purchase price for a lower mileage car. Its a no win situation. No matter what you do you will spend money. You have to pay to play.
Have you been watching craigslist in the areas around you? That can be a good source.
Last edited by rpg51; Jun 9, 2018 at 06:54 AM.
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 13,832
Likes: 1,550
From: Chesterfield VA
A little ole lady is how old in your opinion? 
This one put 10,000-ish miles a year on it every year she owned it. Hardly just driving it to church and for bingo. Granted she was the first owner. What about the next 4 or 6? 50 oil changes -- that's every 4 months. 50 oil change receipts? Don't mean nothing, of course, as long as it was done no worse than schedule. If in doubt a Jiffy Lube oil change is cheap and quick. Dump their oil at home.
Buy the car, not the story.
I'd not bring a new-to-me high mileage car home from Atlanta to NOVA on the "back roads." For starters unless there are new tires and you know how to drive this car (vs drive a car) you can end up in the cattails "enjoying" the ride and there are few Honda dealers out where you hear dem banjos playing even if you keep the car on the pavement but have another problem. Bring the car up I85 and I95 in cruise control staying with traffic. We all hate both those roads but that's all there is for this trip. You know metro DC traffic better than most of us. I81 out of Charlotte NC to I66 north of Winchester brings you to the west suburbs and is the same driving time as I85/I95: just under 10 hours and two refuels as the car should get 300 miles/tank cruising in 6th gear. Traffic runs fast on I81 but with less congestion than I95.
I have a pair of nine-hour drives four days apart in the S2000 two summers ago. 99% Interstates, cruise control, roof up, AC on, good selection of CD in the radio. Easy peasey.
-- Chuck
This one put 10,000-ish miles a year on it every year she owned it. Hardly just driving it to church and for bingo. Granted she was the first owner. What about the next 4 or 6? 50 oil changes -- that's every 4 months. 50 oil change receipts? Don't mean nothing, of course, as long as it was done no worse than schedule. If in doubt a Jiffy Lube oil change is cheap and quick. Dump their oil at home.Buy the car, not the story.
I'd not bring a new-to-me high mileage car home from Atlanta to NOVA on the "back roads." For starters unless there are new tires and you know how to drive this car (vs drive a car) you can end up in the cattails "enjoying" the ride and there are few Honda dealers out where you hear dem banjos playing even if you keep the car on the pavement but have another problem. Bring the car up I85 and I95 in cruise control staying with traffic. We all hate both those roads but that's all there is for this trip. You know metro DC traffic better than most of us. I81 out of Charlotte NC to I66 north of Winchester brings you to the west suburbs and is the same driving time as I85/I95: just under 10 hours and two refuels as the car should get 300 miles/tank cruising in 6th gear. Traffic runs fast on I81 but with less congestion than I95.
I have a pair of nine-hour drives four days apart in the S2000 two summers ago. 99% Interstates, cruise control, roof up, AC on, good selection of CD in the radio. Easy peasey.
-- Chuck
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 6
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Looking for price opinion:
2005 Model NFR
64k Miles
2nd Owner
Checked car fax, clean history, driven about 4k miles last 6-7 years
Cold air filter only mod on it
Listed for 18.5k USD
Owner claims its summer driven only, and has been maintained well and never tracked.
Photos weren't professional, visually the car seems average in photos.
Located in Vermont, planning on keeping it stock for now, and just drive it on the weekends, no track days.
Whats a fair price for this car?
2005 Model NFR
64k Miles
2nd Owner
Checked car fax, clean history, driven about 4k miles last 6-7 years
Cold air filter only mod on it
Listed for 18.5k USD
Owner claims its summer driven only, and has been maintained well and never tracked.
Photos weren't professional, visually the car seems average in photos.
Located in Vermont, planning on keeping it stock for now, and just drive it on the weekends, no track days.
Whats a fair price for this car?
Last edited by defecto; Jun 11, 2018 at 09:09 PM.