chris@vortech

Im off later on today to look at the yellow S2000 again that I want to buy. I'm pretty sure that the paint and panels are all original but are there any stamps/telltale signs that they are? It has the Jap stickers inside the doorshuts etc but is there anything on the front panel which could give it away?

Any help would be great!

Cheers
Chris

MB

Look at the bolts that hold any panels in place, they are generally always painted the same colour as the car. If a panel has been off, you can often see paint missing where a spanner has been used on the edges of the bolts.

Replaced panels aren't really a problem and I doubt you could get a non Honda one.

Check everything is aligned to the rest of the car and the doors are hung spot on.

Look down the side of the panels and see that not only the colour, but the shine matches the next panel.

Spend a while walking round it to let it sink in too.

MB

baptistsan

Best thing is to take someone else with you.

I know I always get caught up in the excitement of the whole thing and miss things I really should have spotted.

Spanners

Yup, make sure it is well hung. Good advice, my missus tells me.

euan

IIRC the rear wing has to be welded on (at least in part, if not wholly).

Beardie had corrosion appearing in the new welds, under the paint, at the rear of the passenger door jam - you can see the join to the rear of the plastic kickplate. (after rear end damage in his old car). I'd look very carefully at that area of the car if I was buying a used S.

If it's accident damage in general you are looking for, uneven tyre wear is another indication if the bodyshop haven't sorted the geo properly. Fronts normally wear on the inside. Rears should wear pretty evenly across the tread. Stand at the back of the car and look at the camber to check each side is the same.

Moggy

If it's panel damage and you have a good body repairer you will not be able to tell.

AdrianEagle

Have a look and. . . . .

IF IN DOUBT - DON'T!

salty

Good advice from Dark Blue Mark and Baptistan. Always take someone with you who knows what to look for. If it's been repaired then a 'ripple' in the light/paint is often detectable as you look along the line of the panel. Also check underneath, repairs are somtimes easier to detect, overspray, welds etc

s2uk

i was also told to feel the paint, will upset the owner having hand prints all over it but the older cars where painted with a different type of paint where as newer cars are now water based and you can feel the changes, also hondas are very flat painted no orange peel as you get on some cars this will also be visible.


take your time and look at everything under and over.

chris@vortech

thanks alot for the advice guys! When I first looked at it the other day i couldnt find anything wrong with the bodywork, the stickers on the door shuts were all on, the panels lined up, the paint was evenly matched, the lower sills underneath looked mint etc... I was mainly weary of the tell tale signs of front end damage. It did look spot on but i wanted to be sure!!!! Perhaps im being too paranoid!

Thanks
Chris