Potential S2000 Owner: Questions about Dealer and TestDrive

[IT_Cowboy]

[Update] 2007 S2000 w/ 125 miles purchased on sat 5/10/08. New from Dealer. Will post pics later...she is beautiful. Thanks for all your advice! [/Update]





I'm looking at an 08 S2000 and went to the dealer yesterday. I took a black w/ red interior for a testdrive and it was great.

Now when it comes to dealing with the dealer I have some concerns:


1. Road Noise: Everything is fine and dandy when the tops open with the wind blowing my hair. When the top is up the car is quite loud. I can only imagine what that canvas sounds like when raindrops hit it. Is a hardtop any quieter? I'm guessing all convertibles are like this?

2. The S2000 I testdrive had 330 miles on it . The story they are telling me is last weekend a guy 'bought' this car on a friday and drove it off the lot. On monday he brought it back when his credit didn't 'go through'. 300 miles were put on the odometer during this weekend 'joy ride'. How should I view this situation/Opportunity? In my mind the car is almost used (its an 0. What are your views on this situation? How much (if any) does this reduce the price?

3. Ground effects, and a spoiler were installed by the dealer on this car. I am guessing the same guy who took it for the weekend 'ride' had them added by the dealership before purchase. Will these slow the car down? I don't know what brand they are, but I'm sure the dealer put them on. They are not the same spoilers that can be found on the CR...they are a lot more subtle.


I eagerly wait your responses and look forward to becoming a fellow s2000 owner!

[s2k 4 me]

Welcome!!

1. Most soft tops are a bit louder, you kinda get used to it. There is a company that makes a liner for the soft top. Dont remember the name, but the companys in Europe I think.

2. You could view this as used, I'd sure try and see if they come down on the price. I doubt they will though because we're coming into the convertible season and if you dont buy it someone else probably will.

3. I doubt the ground effect are gonna slow the stewie down any, I'm curious to know what they are. I'm thinking they might be Comptech's, which is what I have. Not sure about the rear spoiler. Do you have a dealer link to the car?

Do the sideskirts look like this (click on image)?

[jagg]

greetings cowboy,

1--- Noisy, very normal........THE CAR IS LOUD.

2--- Make 'em a lowball offer, and see what they say. 300 miles is a drop in the bucket......You could use it as a bargaining chip I guess.
Start low and work your way up.....most everything in this world is negotiable.

3--- If you like the add ons, go for it. They're not hurting anything.


Good Luck,
jagg

[J'sS2K]

Your first issue is very common. Why don't you get a CR with the hardtop.

I personally would not buy any brand new car with more than 15 miles on the odometer. Don't buy it if you have doubts. You'll regret it!

Good luck on the hunt!

[Neil]

1 & 3 no big deal, yea noisy but its the way their designed, add ons questionable ?
# 2, big deal. If the dealer lets a new car out of the lot with factory add ons and financing not confirmed to the seller..........I would thing their full of sh$t.
300 miles on a car is not a new car anymore especially if the cars already been registered, you would be the second owner. If you can get a good deal then go for it, if your not happy about the situation leave it. Its your money man, and 08's are not cheap.
You might be happier going somewhere else and buying a new car with 6 miles on it.
Just my thoughts

Neil

[TheSoundMan21]

Just to throw this in the bucket guys. What about break in. If this guy took the car out and hit vtec isnt there some kinda break in period where we dont hit vtec?

[Neil]

Yea soundman, 500 miles brake in period min.

[TheSoundMan21]

Then my concern here is how did he drive it. True its only 300miles which could be a tank of gas without vtec so maybe if you get a good deal go for it.

[sonic]

Well how much are they asking for her? Just remember to always go with your gut. If something does not feel right then chances are somethings not. Ask to drive it again make sure your comfortable with it. Good luck

[rickjkerstetter]

So, the car has 300 miles on it? Oh well. The warranty wont begin til its titled, so your warranty will go to 36300 miles. Alot of times if someone wants a specific car "S2000" in a specific color "black" and you dont have it on your lot, you call up another dealer and do a dealer trade. And most of the time they actually drive the car to your dealership. So a new car with less than 500 miles isnt that much of a rarety. I dont expect them to do anything special for that car. But they are a blast, and road noise is what you sacrifice for a convertable. Thats simple logic. Long day today ((

[IT_Cowboy]

They are asking 32.5 for it. I am thinking I'd ask for 29.5, and take it for 30.5...thoughts?

I should also add this dealer has a policy of not negotiating on pricing. What you see is what you get. The price is higher than invoice, but lower than msrp. The 'Complete Price' on this s2000 with the spoilers is the same as other S2000s on the lot without the spoilers. I think this asking price is still too high. Any advice?

[67AtlasDave]

I dont think some guy bought it then had to bring it back due to credit. I think this bad boy was driven as a Dealer Demo. I would say it is used. I think what you plan to offer and what you might take it for is fare. But continue to let them know that the 300m bugs the hell out of you. Let them know that you are serious about buying it, but not for the price they want.
As for the noise... you are buying a sports car not an Acura RL. Once you hit VTEC you are going to love the noise that this car makes

[sonic]

S2K 4 ME makes a good point though. Spring is here and if you don't buy her someone else will and the dealership knows that. So be careful you don't lose her to someone else.

[philiam]

IMO, It's a demo, a used car. A dealer isn't going to let the car off the lot unless he's got firm financing and a downstroke. 300 miles, no big deal, but it's a demo. The add on goodies are a matter of taste and probably added to goose the price, like special sealer, windshield etching etc.

Don't fall in love with a car. If you can't get a good deal, walk away. You indicate he has others on the lot. Money is tight and he needs to turn his inventory. Don't play his game, check other dealers and consider buying used. As soon as you drive off the lot you lose several thousand dollars and it's a used car.

That's my take, but it's your money.

[bbcricketta]

when i was test driving i had several dealers that let me drive 30-40 miles. there was method to their madness as it tends to give one the fever. a couple of those cars had 10-12 miles on them when we left out of the lot.

my car had 240 or 260 miles on it when i got it. i put about 20 miles on it myself during my test drive. the price was right and i never questioned the miles. i didn't like it but i don't really think it was a big deal unless the car was abused and in that case you hope it rears its head in the first 36,000 miles.

[philiam]

If someone hit 2nd gear while looking for 4th in vtec, there's a good possibility it won't be covered by warranty. Trust me the people at Honda HQ know. It happens every now and again.

[J'sS2K]

Originally Posted by philiam

If someone hit 2nd gear while looking for 4th in vtec, there's a good possibility it won't be covered by warranty. Trust me the people at Honda HQ know. It happens every now and again.

I experienced that when I drove my car for the first time, but I was only doing 45mph so no harms. The gears are pretty close to it a possibility.

[IT_Cowboy]

s2k 4 me: the Ground spoiler isn't quite so profound.

Update: I went back to the dealer and they would not budge on cost. As I mentioned before, they are not known to do so. However I did goto another dealership and testdrive a cr...If it had a soft top I'd buy it in a second, but the hard top only option is going to be quite restricting.

I'm making a final offer to my rep's cellphone at this dealership. If that doesn't take I'll just pick up without spoiler/dealer extras. Its a shame b/c I really like the red seats

PS: Anyone have an opinion on the CR ? This one has AC and radio...its going for 1k over invoice...thoughts on resale?

Thanks!

[Scooter]

For the record, it's 600 miles break in with no vtec - you've lost half that without knowing if it was respected. A fantastic deal may offset the future potential engine cost, or they may not have done any damage and it's just a good deal. I'm REAL sceptical about the dealer's story, though - but if Honda certifies it I am generally comfortable. Go with your gut I think, but milk the mileage for a fair deal.

It's hilarious to me that "(it's an 08 )" turned into "(it's an 0".

[nfrs2000]

Where do you live?I highly think you wont get it for 30.5 and thats unrealistic,im a sales manager myself that car sounds like a demo or known as "Managers Special" miles in my opinon, arent bad enough to take a offer of 30.5

[nfrs2000]

Sorry just saw the post

[bbcricketta]

Originally Posted by philiam

If someone hit 2nd gear while looking for 4th in vtec, there's a good possibility it won't be covered by warranty. Trust me the people at Honda HQ know. It happens every now and again.

point taken.

what if you were buying a car with 5,000, or 25,000 miles on it? you have no idea what has gone on, or why someone got rid of the car; and less warranty.

[IT_Cowboy]

I should be getting a call from a lot of internet dealers today...we'll see what they average out too...thoughts if ~31.5 + destination fee is reasonable for a new s2k?

[TheSoundMan21]

Cowboy man its cheaper to go used. I am 23 spend 20k on my 02 with 40k miles on her. Now she has 57k miles on her (since Nov. of 07) saves you a heck alot of cash and you still get the same amount of fun.

[philiam]

Originally Posted by bbcricketta

point taken.

what if you were buying a car with 5,000, or 25,000 miles on it? you have no idea what has gone on, or why someone got rid of the car; and less warranty.

That's exactly what I did. Under 25,000 on an 02. Bought it from a doctor who used it on weekends. The car looked like brand new and once I heard the engine purr, I knew it was a good one. I looked at one in my preferred color, but the engine didn't sound the same and it had more miles on it. My gut told me to go with the yellow one.

Stay away from the ones that have been modified. You don't know how well they have been done or how it was driven.

[IT_Cowboy]

Thanks for all your advice guys, I found a 2007 at a nearby dealership (50 miles away). Its a new 07 w/125 miles. Engine sounded great and the car is an amazing yellow.

This car is a joy to drive~!