So I've been looking for an S2000 lately in the South East. I've owned many, many cars so I know the game when it comes to the search. That being said...I have had a heck of a time finding an S2000 in the $15k or less price range that isn't in pathetic condition. Most I've seen have either had 5-8 owners, prior paintwork/accident history, every wheel curbed to hell, etc.... And most of them have numerous body issues that would require paintwork on multiple panels.

Is this unusual or par for the course these days? Do you have to spend $20k-24k on a barely used example to get one with a decent paint job and non-crispy leather? Almost makes me want to pony up for a sub 20k mile S2000 and put it in storage as an investment. Kind of like how you can hardly find a CRX that isn't trashed these days.

Appreciate your thoughts...

 

Depends on your area and what year you're looking for. I was looking for an AP2 in Los Angeles and it was impossible to find anything sub-15k that wasn't on its 5th owner or had a sketchy carfax. Got fed up with all the sketchy dealerships and just paying $19k for a single owner clean MY04.

 

I did the same thing. Got a one owner 06 for 19, 000 cash.... 27000 miles all oem. Seen a hand full with wavy rear quarter panels from bad poke and pull crap.

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No they're out there you just have to be patient. Traveling outside your area to find one might just be the key to finding the right one.

 

I've been all over for cars before. Ain't scared

I did drive 800 miles round trip yesterday to buy one in North Carolina that ended up being significantly not as described. Clean 2 owner VIN report. Looked outstanding in all the photos. Got there and wavy quarter panel, keyed other quarter panel and tail light, dented/gouged fender lip, opposite fender golf ball sized dent, both rocker panels had dents-one with paint gone, rear bumper large scuff through the paint. Ex-smoker with heavy air freshener "cover up". Crispy sun-baked unconditioned leather, thoroughly scuffed interior door jam plastics, punctured armrest leather etc... Every single wheel was curbed. I don't know if they photoshopped the pics but I had no clue and they insisted it was extra clean etc...

 

Wow that fkn sucks... Probably did photoshop it!

 

The people that take care of their S usually won't sell it however, if you look hard and be patient, you will find a good buy.

 

In fact its kind of funny that this topic came up. I spent about 2-3 months looking for an S2k. Many wanted just straight cash and many were liars about the condition of the cars. I even had one guy try and sell me a car with a check engine light due to a misfire!!

However one of the cars I was going to look at I was told got hit in a parking lot just after the ad was posted. After saying forget it and being dissapointed so many times I finally just called back (2 months later)..... Needless to say I went to go look at the car and it was immaculate. Nowhere near as damaged as she described, in fact its the one in my signature above. She took $1k off her asking price because of it and you can hardly see where it got scratched.

Sometimes the honest sellers are the best ones, chances are they are more likely to not give you the run around/waste your time.

 

Yeah, kinda sucked. Ended up seeing some remote areas in the Carolinas...not sure if that was a consolation prize...

Looked at 3 more in person today. One was just as bad even though it was a one owner. Another had crappy paint work indicating a side impact accident despite clean VIN and was far too overpriced for an AP1 anyways. The last one was an AP2 and the paint was reasonably clean considering what I had seen but it had all 4 fenders pulled from a previous hellaflush owner and since it is going to be a daily for me I don't plan on using that pull so it looked funny. Also paint lines in jams...possibly accident respray. Pass fender had some chips showing red underneath the Silverstone so fender was replaced for some reason. It did have a clean interior though. All in all...no go today. I don't care about mileage, just looking for reasonably maintained exterior and interior.

 

I looked at 5-6 "clean" S2000's that were no where near clean.

I drove 4 hours for one that had a clean carfax and the guy swore up and down it was in great shape. I pull up and I immediately notice the entire right side of the car was resprayed. Clean carfax, but in an accident . Guy denied knowing, asshole. I offered him 5k under his asking and said no.

I did finally find my mint Ap1 with 34k and only 2 owners with not one mod, but I paid a premium.