From the sounds of the missing pieces, it sounds more like a front end collision than theft to me. What thief steals the front bumper, headlights and airbags but, not the seats or "Start" button?

Firstly, I'd get a carfax on it. If you post the VIN here I can look it up. Then I'd check/have someone check the front end, top and bottom. Maybe even get the plastic shroud underneath removed. Properly repaired, it's probably fine but, you want to know what's wrong before laying out the cash.

You dont want an s2000 with a salvaged title for a couple reasons. If you need a loan to get the car most banks wont approve you. If you ever want to sell the car your gonna run into problems with other buyers. I guess if i wanted an S2000 bad enough i wouldnt want to settle for anyone i could get. I have seen Salvaged title 02-03's for a little more with way less miles so atleast if you did buy a salvaged title s2000 i wouldnt get this one its too much. Also you dont know what the person did to the car to get it running again? Maybe they put it back together fast and cheap which isnt the right way.

I looked it up for the guy,


It's been wrecked twice. The second one was a frontal impact that deployed the airbag.


2001
Accident Reported
in Monmouth County
Involving left rear impact
It hit another motor vehicle
It hit a curb
Left rear primarily damaged

2005
Accident Reported
in Monmouth County
Involving left front impact
It hit another motor vehicle
It hit a median barrier
It hit a curb
Left rear primarily damaged
Vehicle towed
Airbag deployed


It was totalled and a salvage title was issued on the second accident.

So, you now know that the vendor is a liar. I think that your decision has been made for you.

13 is way too much $. The half a clear title price is probably more like it which would be in the 7-8K range

I guess the decision is clear.

Thank you for all your inputs.

now, I will have to keep looking.

what can be done to repair such front end damge? a front end damage with deplyed air bag. I am thinking that's some great impact there.

But when i look at the car from the engine bay. I dont see any unusuall sign on the frames. If it's been repaired. We could easily tell correct? There must be sign of welding and such right?

Some one please clear this up for me.

It doesn't take much impact to deploy the bags. Done correctly, it should be difficult to tell that the car was repaired. Honestly for $8-10K, I wouldn't care about the salvage title. For 13K it's a bad deal.


In VA, you get a salvage title when repair costs exceed 75% of the value of the car. Think about that now. Basically there was $15K or more worth of damage to the car at the time of the accident.

I'm not suggesting you shouldn't buy it, just that it's priced too high for what you're getting. Offer him 10 and see if he'll bite show him the carfax and suggest that anyone can see how messed up the car was.

Contact NJSY2K! here in the forum. He's in NJ and has a pretty nice looking S2K for sale for I think 13K and it doesn't have a salvage title.

The first thing you should check is for VIN stickers on the body panels. The front fenders, trunk lid, doors, bumpers and hood all have Honda VIN number stickers on them which should match the car. If they are missing then it is a replacement part and that should give you some idea of the amount of damage. The engine short block also has a matching VIN but it's on the back of the engine so you can't see it.

Sadly (for you) NJSY2K! just sold his 2002 to another member.