would you buy this car?

[homerjay]

(price aside)

2006/56
58k miles
one owner
serviced 9k/18k/27k/36k at a main dealer
serviced 45k/54k at local garage, no stamp on the 45k service, only signed
no reciepts
no tax
last service, jan 10
proper tyres, no cheap crap
hpi clear, obviously

the car is immaculate, and i mean spotless, not a mark or a scratch or a scuff anywhere, not even single stone chip on the front end.

only sign of wear is on the drivers seat and the discs are a mess, due being stood for about 2 months through the winter.

the price has been reduced by a grand recently and still hasnt sold.

the car is an s2000 at and indy dealer near me.

i have some thoughts but wanted everyone to make their own assumptions.

thoughts appreciated

Edited by homerjay on Friday 25th February 12:03

Edited by homerjay on Friday 25th February 12:25

[dundarach]

Shirley the price is the issue....

If it's 10k then no - I would buy main dealer with no wear to drivers seat...http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2422166.htm

However if it's 5k then it's too cheap so no....

However if it's 8k it could be okay...

Photos or linky

[mattcov]

Has it had the "proper" 54k service done?

[mnkiboy]

If the price is good then I don't see anything that would put me off. Previous owner probably stopped using the main dealer for servicing once the car was out of warranty. Nothing wrong with getting a 4 or 5 year old car serviced independantly.

[homerjay]

mattcov said:

Has it had the "proper" 54k service done?

thats one of my thoughts, which i need to investigate.

[sleep envy]

Ignoring the price issue, if you can verify the 45k service it certainly appears worth considering

[homerjay]

dundarach said:

Shirley the price is the issue....

If it's 10k then no - I would buy main dealer with no wear to drivers seat...http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2422166.htm

However if it's 5k then it's too cheap so no....

However if it's 8k it could be okay...

Photos or linky

unfortunatly, thats a long, long way from me.

[rob.e]

If the history is causing you to question, then the price has to factor this in - ie make sure you're paying the market rate but allowing for some possible rectification ie a proper service at a main dealer and maybe a cambelt change.

Phone call to the indy to check if they have any records of what they did? Sometime a "service" at a local garage may only be oil and filter, visual check and a quick wash..



ETA: no stone chips on a car at that mileage would be something i'd question personally - if it really is completely free of chips then theres a chance that its been bumped and repainted? At 56k miles you should see some commensurate wear and tear on the paintwork.

Edited by rob.e on Friday 25th February 12:11

[busta]

Sounds ok to me. If the issue is a signature on the service book rather than a stamp, as long as it is the signature of mechanic who can verify the work was done I don't see the problem. Even if it did miss the service, it's a honda. It'll be fine! The oil normally looks better when you take it out than when you put it in on hondas.

[homerjay]

thanks all.

my 'issues' are:
1. lack of paint marks for the mileage, rings alarm bells to me.
2. the missing stamp at 45k. again, why not?
3. the big 54k service at a little garage, with a stamp i cant really make out. need to investigate.
4. no tax on the car (forgot tho mention that), i need to drive the damn thing away!
5. the car is 12k (no real movement in the price, but to be fair im never paying sticker for any car, i need something off it)

im going see another car today for comparison.

[rallycross]

Are there invoices to go with the 2 non dealer services to show what was done? If not it needs a proper service to be taken into the price.

There are plenty of S2000 out there with the history all from main dealers, S2000 owners can be quite anal about their cars history, including the optional oil services being done.

My s2000 was covered in chips on the front wings and bonnet and it was about the same mileage as this and had been well looked after - I suspected the paint on them was quite thin so you would expect there to be some chips on this one.

Have you done a vosa MOT history check?

[homerjay]

rallycross said:

Are there invoices to go with the 2 non dealer services to show what was done? If not it needs a proper service to be taken into the price.

There are plenty of S2000 out there with the history all from main dealers, S2000 owners can be quite anal about their cars history, including the optional oil services being done.

My s2000 was covered in chips on the front wings and bonnet and it was about the same mileage as this and had been well looked after - I suspected the paint on them was quite thin so you would expect there to be some chips on this one.

Have you done a vosa MOT history check?

hmm, invoices are a good shout. there are none that i noticed.

the resale, is whats bothering me, rather actually problems owning it.

vosa MOT history? never thought of that, thanks

[rallycross]

its always worth looking into this on any car more than 4 years old if they dont have all the recent mot's to have a read through;

You just need the V5 ref number to do it

http://motinfo.direct.gov.uk/internet/jsp/ECHID-In...

[NiceCupOfTea]

I don't like a lack of receipts. Anybody can buy a service book and a fake stamp from ebay.

[nouze]

homerjay said:

1. lack of paint marks for the mileage, rings alarm bells to me.

agree, even if it went through smart repairs you should be able to find something, if you can't it could have been resprayed.

[AndrewO]

I'd go to the dealer and indie and get a copy of all the service records. I've had no problems doing this in the past with an Indie but main dealers not always helpful. They will use the excuse of data protection so you'll need a way to get around that.

[Diablos-666]

Too many unknowns for me so i voted "no"

[mattcov]

I'd double check the 54k service included as a minimum:

Spark Plugs (The decent platinum ones!)
Oil/Filter
Diff Fluid
Valve Clearances
Pollen Filter
Air Filter

I wouldn't be concerned about the 45k service if the above is all done OK.

Discs a mess? Test drive it well and get up to speed and ensure all calipers are good too.

Bear in mind the age you may be looking at full whack tax ~ £435 pa.

[kmc1]

Trust your instincts - walk away

If you buy you will always have that nagging feeling in the back of your mind.

Be patient, the right one will come along eventually

[Galliano]

On the stone chips in the bumper front, I work for a main dealer, we have a guy come in once a week from a mobile bodywork company and he does scrapes, small dents and stonechips. Or we have a bodyshop we work with to get panels resprayed to ensure the cars are in great form for our customers. This is something you shoud bear in mind on the bodywork atleast.