It's a 2002, and he claims it has 34,xxx miles. I wonder if it has a new engine.

 

I'm not as easily scared off by salvage. Cause of loss "other" is interesting though.

However, for the price point of 11k, I think you could do better.

 

I wouldn't pay that much. I'll get him down to around $8,000 if I pursue it.

 

I got a salvage s2k, cost me $5500. I have put over 35000 miles on the car with zero issues!

 

in the first picture the front fender paint doesn't perfectly match the doors and rear quarter. it probably had some front end damage at some point and got repainted. who knows if its the cause of the total loss though.

 

I'd consider it for a toy or track car. It's hard to inspect key safety features like airbags, which you cannot easily check pre-purchase.

My great concern with this type of purchase is how you get rid of it later.

Since the car was 'totalled' expecting all body panels to have the original vin is near stupid. Furthermore, my bumper doesn't have the original VIN because I replaced this wear item. Take money of the car for this? Yeah, if you're anal about details, you'll also notice no stone chips because it's a new bumper. 6 in one half a dozen in another.

If I was buying salvage it would have to be near half price of non-salvage to interest me. The difference of $3k doesn't have me buying a car. In all reality if you cannot afford $3k, you cannot afford to buy and maintain a car.

 

Front left fender looks a shade off to me

 

I know of 2 S2000s that had ZERO body damage and All of the original panels that where Totalled. Looking at the car from outside(not looking at the top) you would ask what was wrong that caused them to be totalled. Seats, radio, airbags, steering wheel, shift knob, wiring harness for driver seat cut, console, door sill covers, door panels, one was even missing the plastic trip peices behind where the seats go, Oh, and cut tops. $14,700 estimate from the shop on 1 and $15,500 for the other. Totalled....

Never knew the bumper was a wear item

 

from what i saw in the pictures it looks like it was in a front end collision due to the front bumper being a different shade from the fenders and the hood, and silver will never match its always going to look a little different with the right light and angle. that being said look at the vin number on the bumper and all of the other body panels, to make sure they are on there and that they match and if theres nothing then they have been replaced due to something collision. you should also get a carfax if youre really interested in the S, but it can always be a good car it might of been something simple and they claimed it as a salvage car.
just make sure everything else is good on it too and ask the seller if you can view the title, to see what kind of remarks it has, etc..

 

Fair enough. A sample size of 2 is no sample size.

Yes, the bumper is a wear item. After 100K, track days, road and crap it takes abuse. The windshield is a wear item too.