^Definitely. If someone is selling a salvage car for clean car price (which I see a lot on Facebook) then look elsewhere.

 

Depends. I'm on my 3rd rebuilt s2k, two were crashed and the other was broken into. Buying a theft recovered is a no brainer, just replace the soft top then put new seats/radio/center console and you have a nice s2k usually for 2/3rds of what you'll pay for a clean title one. For a crashed one it depends how deep the damage was. If the frame was damaged even slightly then I wouldn't consider it. However if it was totaled due to suspension or quarter panel damage then its fine as long as it was repaired properly.

With that said, I would recommend you expand your search area to neighboring states and search for one that not only has a clean title but also matching VIN tags on the body panels. But keep in mind a car having a clean title does not mean it never suffered a major damage, plenty of cars with heavy damage sell on auctions I go to with clean title and carfax/autocheck.

 

I have always bought clean title vehicles. Never even thought i would consider a salvage, but just last Thursday i purchased a 2003 S.
I was very meticulous during the inspection. No welding, straightening, odd looking pinch weld folds etc. I even asked the guy if i could jack up the car to look underneath it.
Long story short, i am very pleased with the car. No complaints, Yet.

 

What is the deal with these sellers saying it was " just a bumper and hood replaced" excuse for the salvage/ rebuilt title?

"Oh it was nothing serious."

 

The phrase Buyer Beware was created long ago, for good reason, and that reason wasn't salvage titles. Sellers have been trying to make their wares seem better than they really are for eons.

Nothing new here...

 

I would say this. If you have owned a clean low mileage example of an S2000 in the past. Or you have had access to one and been able to use it like your own. You have a solid baseline for how the car should drive, feel, sound, etc. If you drive one with a salvage title and it feels, drives, sounds, and looks the same. There is a good chance it was well repaired or it wasn't seriously damaged in the first place. I would say the cost savings could be worth it. Value reduction for a salvaged title vehicle should be around 25-50%.

Bottom line: To the experienced S2k owner, they would likely know the difference between a bad or good salvaged vehicle. The savings could be worth it. For the first time S2k owner, stick to clean title vehicles until you have more experience.

 

I have bought rebuilt titled cars my whole life, and from people I know who do righteous work; anything can be rebuilt if done correctly, but, of course, that is the problem.
I insist on buying a rebuilt title for about 25% below retail, since I know it will show up when I sell.
I keep my vehicles long enough that it isn't an issue, when I go to sell.
I bought a Wrangler less than 20 yrs. ago for $7500 with 50k miles, nearly 5 yrs. old, that was worth $10k, and after 4 yrs. sold it for $6k, and all parties were happy.
I went to buy a Toyota MR2 with only 10k miles on it; the seller wanted $18k. It was perfect with all documentation from the shop who had done the work. I offered $14k, since it had a rebuilt title, and he declined.
3 weeks late he called me back, wanting to sell, but I'd bought something else.
Years later, I went and looked at an MR2 to buy for $8k, with 30k miles. It was the same car!
He had kept it and drove it some.
I went with all intention of buying it, but it no longer seemed suitable since I had been driving a del sol si; the lack of storage alone was a damper.