Hi All - newbie here so apologies in advance for the ignorance.

Purchased an AP1 with no carfax damage reported, went thru some potholes in Chicago and got in a minor accident and based on the noise i heard i suspected damage to the frame/subframe. I took it to a well reputed body shop and the results are attached.

Requesting input for the following questions:

1. Is the overall numbers a concern for an s2000 enthusiast? Everyone will have an opinion to this question but overall, is this -6mm worth keeping the car to do JUST the following mods: JUST suspension, wheels and tires. I want the car to be a bone stock car which can just handle well when i drive it in the Chicago summers.
2. What should be the average cost of bringing this back into factory specifications if I wanted to?
3. Is the damage area the sub frame?

Extra info on the car: 2000 AP1, 139k miles with Oil Analysis done and results "great engine", black dots on image shows from where they measured it, to measure the whole thing would mean more $ and work taking out exhaust, engine etc.

 

They measured at the subframe...which is replaceable and alignable.

What prompted you to do this analysis? The need to be unhappy? Or some actual issue?

6mm? What's 6mm between friends? That's only 1/4" in freedom units.

I'm only trying to make fun of you a LITTLE bit here....

The car has 139K miles. In your assessment, do you think that these are the first potholes its hit?

Cars are meant to drive in the real world. Nobody does a laser check every time they hit a bump. Like...do you think this is the last time you'll ever hit a bump? In Chicago?

What happened in your accident that's got you concerned? What are the symptoms?

Nobody does this type of analyzing before putting suspension and wheels on a car to enjoy it for funsies. Tons of people have revived S2000's that have been in massive crashes, multiple times.

I don't even think a sophisticated track/race build would concern itself with 6mm of shift.

There's a million reasons that something shifted 6mm. Lol...6mm....cot damn boy.

Just get this thing looked over for obvious damage. Get the subframes lined up if they need to be. And enjoy it.

 

To add some context and respond back in humor - I'm 40, dad to 3, and have been in one accident where my 350z spun out due to bad weather. This particular accident the pot hole was pretty deep where the car dipped in and out and I swerved into a sidewalk. What prompted me to get this checked out was the noises (initial hit and into the sidewalk), it was gut wrenching . Also, being in project management, the type A personality where everything has to be as perfect as possible before I move to the next phase is just a personal preference.

Hope this adds some context

 

How much does the frame analysis cost? Just need to know in case I might want to purchase an auto with a salvage tittle. Thanks

 

I paid $156. Quotes I got were $150 - 350 when I called around and went with the body shop that had the highest reviews (4.9/5).

 

We are in similar fields.

Idk if the perfect as possible before moving on says much of anything since "perfect as possible" is of itself massively subjective.

Lets put it into perspective

The next stage...is the risk high? Or low? The risk is that you notice a 6mm shift (LOL) and you've wasted time/money required to lower the car. You can then resell the parts for some loss. This all depends on you noticing 6mm of shift (again, LOL).

Imagine stating that you couldn't move on with a project because of 6mm of misalignment. A 6mm critical path block, if you will.

You've already spent part of your budget on this laser analysis...which seems overkill. Most people who want to lower the car for fun just lick their finger and put it up against the wind to determine their next move. Again, you're just lowering it for enjoyment. Unless something was tangibly wrong...I don't think an analysis was warranted. Its YOUR perception you're trying to satisfy anyway, right? A laser measurement isn't going to create a perception. You'd have to perceive the change first...then verify via measurement.


All that aside...

I don't think there's anything wrong with your car. And you're not building the next F1 breakthrough.

You're good to go, mensch.

 

Also a program manager/sys engineer here and would not worry about it if the car aligns properly A friend of mine (also a fellow project manager as coincidence would have it) ran his into a wall at the track. Figured it was toast and stripped it down for usable parts since he bought another S2k. Measured the frame and it was closer to 1/2" out of square. Body guy said "is that all???" and they proceeded to build it back into a track car lol.

Like I said, if it aligns properly I would not worry much about it.

 

THANK YOU . I'm in Agile Program Management, after the accident and software delivery, I wanted to fail fast and fail cheap. Pay $156 after hearing those horrible sounds before spending $2000 in mods ? Or if some input here learning that it's better to sell.
The first line of my post was stating me being a newbie to being technical, a 6mm shift to me was something I came here to learn and all the humor and responses made me feel better.

Looking forward to the build now.

 

No worries man. Your question had merit. But...in the same way as I would have answered a coworker that asked me to bounce ideas off them...I gotta put some shots at you.

Its not unlikely that the subframe shifted slightly.

Its as easy as loosening the bolts and re-aligning the holes. OR buy a set of spoon subframe collars to align everything permanently.

 

Update when I e-mailed the body shop to confirm if it was the subframe :
"the measurement point in the front of the vehicle are at the bottom of the radiator support, which is commonly referred to as the lower tie bar. That is a different component from the sub frame or suspension crossmember you are referring to."