Previous Owners Query

Associate
Joined
22 Oct 2004
Posts
1,725
Location
United till I die
I'm a little confused, and can't seem to get a clear answer, so OcUK it's over to you.

Having done a quick check on a S2000 I'm going to view tomorrow at a Honda dealer it's come up with 3 previous owners, last change sometime in 2007. The sales person stated the car's first owner is Honda and it wasn't a demonstrator, so I take it that means it was just pre-registered.

So does three previous owners, means
(1)Honda > (2)Customer 1 > (3)Private sale

or is it

(0)Honda > (1)Customer 1 > (2)Private sale > (3)Private sale


I then assume Honda don't become a new owner when the car was part-ex coulpe months ago, they just have in on ice so to speak? ( I've no V5 to see what details the garage fill in ).
 
When a car is sold to the motor trade - ie its part exchanged or similar - it does not add a new registered keeper. There is a seperate section of the V5 that is filled in to indicate the car is within the trade.

3 previous owners means 3 previous owners before the current owner, which isn't Honda. So you'll be the 5th owner of the car, and it will have had 4 previous owners once the car is yours.
 
Cheers Fox for such a quick answer, I assumed as such. I know it's not much of a issue when the car's been in the previous owners hands for four year and it has FHSH but it came as a little bit of a surprise that it had as many previous owners as it did. Edit : On a 55 plate. Surely a bargaining tool though?
 
I've done about a billion decent sized posts on S2K purchasing. Read them and look there for bargaining tools.

Get written confirmation all suspension adjustors are free and easy and get the alignment done to not just be within spec, but the right numbers and you will have a great fun car !
 
I've done about a billion decent sized posts on S2K purchasing. Read them and look there for bargaining tools.

Get written confirmation all suspension adjustors are free and easy and get the alignment done to not just be within spec, but the right numbers and you will have a great fun car !


I've read them all cheers, been reading Sk2i last couple of days. It would be coming with at least 12 months Honda used warranty, and possibly another 12 on top, I assume this covers the suspension/geo problems I've read about? Will ask them for a up to date alignment done before I drive it away.

It's up for £10,995 for a 55 black/full red interior on 43k miles. Seems top heavy price wise as I told the sales person on the phone. I've printed off a few other S2000 for sale in honda dealerships and I hope they play ball.

Aiming for £9500 as that was the original budget for a S2000, possibly if the car is truly spotless and has good rubber I'll stretch it to a max of £10k. Ninja edit: It's a GT, so a bit of a bonus.
 
I doubt you'll get it for 9.5k, but good luck.

You have to be absolutely joking if you think Honda will play ball on siezed adjustors. The owners club at one point tried to get it formally recognised as a problem by Honda UK and they refused to budge.

Definitely, definitely get it in writing they are all free and easy. If they won't do it, budget serious cash (£1k plus) to get it sorted. Accepting it is pointless and you should have bought another car.
 
Sadly not. Its a huge problem in the UK... non existant in Japan.

I think the price is ok. However, Ive not followed S2K's since I sold mine in October last year. Personally I'd be getting an enthusiast owned car off S2Ki. 10500 would probably get you an MB special complete with parts !

From those two pictures I'd say your best chance is to get stuff fixed on the car like:

Ensure suspension is perfect
Ensure roof is mint (bottom behind windows, top shoulders, and round screen) and check rubbers
Ensure no rear arch rust (take off the rubber protectors, if they wont let you, be aware there is no weld in kit, you either need to get someone to build one up for you, or get a whole new rear panel. not cheap)
See what can be done about that drivers seat. The bottom foam on the outer side is well on the way out. Honda can get replacement bases but they are about £400 each.
Check the wheels out for kerbing and maybe a refurb? they are diamond cut on that model iirc (5x2 10 Spoke if its an 04-06 iirc)
Check it has the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A's on it, if not, see what can be done there
Check the battery, they dont last long (2 years tops, look for the red light)
Check the oil level. IMO, walk away if its not at a decent level. Running low on oil as well as over rev is what kills these engines.
Check the air con radiator, it might have rotted away a bit by now.

Its got a red dash, but it is the 04 facelift so its not totally undesirable. Black with Red is a nice colour combo imo.

I havent looked, but at that price I'd imagine its the cheapest S2000 on a Honda forecourt.
 
Interesting.

I had a very, very, very quick look at whats out there. If you must buy from a dealer, I think this is more desireable

http://usedcars.honda.co.uk/S2000/2...032468-602258341-217172.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_

Comes with the optional front splitter and rear spoiler, really finishes off the look of the car. Try getting it for £9500?

If you went private, this is the sort of thing you could get if your patient

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3393988.htm

It may still have siezed adjustors, but less likely.
 
Interesting.

I had a very, very, very quick look at whats out there. If you must buy from a dealer, I think this is more desireable

http://usedcars.honda.co.uk/S2000/2...032468-602258341-217172.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_

Comes with the optional front splitter and rear spoiler, really finishes off the look of the car. Try getting it for £9500?

If you went private, this is the sort of thing you could get if your patient

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3393988.htm

It may still have siezed adjustors, but less likely.

I saw the dealer one and never saw a s2000 with the added parts so assumed it had been 'chavved' up in some way, since it's not I'll put that on the list to try and view.

The other guy I contacted and he said the car had been sold, which it seems the PH ad has now been updated to confirm.
 
[TW]Fox;20574987 said:
When a car is sold to the motor trade - ie its part exchanged or similar - it does not add a new registered keeper. There is a seperate section of the V5 that is filled in to indicate the car is within the trade.

3 previous owners means 3 previous owners before the current owner, which isn't Honda. So you'll be the 5th owner of the car, and it will have had 4 previous owners once the car is yours.

I was pretty sure that the dealer can register the car to themselves from new and count as the first owner.
 
I was pretty sure that the dealer can register the car to themselves from new and count as the first owner.

Of course they can - they must if they wish to run a car from new as a demonstrator or loan car for example. Where did I say otherwise :confused:

On the car in question Honda will be the first owner, but they won't be the current owner despite it being sold by them.
 
I saw the dealer one and never saw a s2000 with the added parts so assumed it had been 'chavved' up in some way, since it's not I'll put that on the list to try and view.

The other guy I contacted and he said the car had been sold, which it seems the PH ad has now been updated to confirm.

Yep, thats the added aero kit for the S2000. interestingly on second glance that car is missing the lower rear part (seen just infront of the rear wheel at the bottom of this yellow car) http://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/28007/01.jpg I wouldnt be too worried about that. Totally transforms the look, doesn't it?

Make sure, please, make sure the suspension adjustors are free and easy and that the car has had a high quality alignment done. It will transform the car from 'ok' and skittish to 'incredible' and 'where the hell does the grip end'.

No idea on your location, but Wheels In Motion in Chesham, or Centre Gravity up in Atherstone will do an incredible job of getting the alignment spot on and telling you honestly what state the suspension and chassis is in. Explain to them how you want the car to handle and they will sort it for you.
 
Went to look at the S2000 in the local Honda, and after being told the car was in near perfect condition and on enquiring about the brand of tyres, told it had 4 050's in near new condition, imagine my surprise when I had to point out to the salesman before test driving the car that the rears where just about legal, extremely stupid when you imagine people are test driving the car in this weather.

Add the fact the bolster had seen far better days, the leather had a big scratch down one side of the drivers seat, the hardtop had no stand or cover and he had no idea about if any geo had been done or any clue at what seized. Oh and they hadn't so much as hoovered or given the interior a quick damp cloth wash.

He's adamant the car will be gone in a couple weeks, so I thanked him for his time and hoped the next viewer got a pair of tyres on the back for when they drive off.
 
Which one did you go for....?

It can't be a new one fox, production stopped a long time ago, I'd be go smacked if there are any pre reg/demo/new dealer cars/ whatever out there still, it must be 18 months since the last one rolled off the production line
 
Which one did you go for....?

It can't be a new one fox, production stopped a long time ago, I'd be go smacked if there are any pre reg/demo/new dealer cars/ whatever out there still, it must be 18 months since the last one rolled off the production line

Funny story, of sorts:

Went shopping in Chester with the Mrs, got bored and browsed Honda site to see if the dodgy car in previous post had been sold/reduced, and low and behold Honda in Chester had just put up S2000 on the used cars.

I'd never seen the Royal Navy blue in the flesh so the Mrs was happy that we popped by to see the car.

Popped in and couldn't see it, so enquired, and it turned out if the cars pretty clean when they come in and the initial paper work is fine they pop the car on-line as it takes a few days for people to check and enquire.

The salesman who we've dealt with a few times before, came back from the workshop and it was just having a major service and 050's all round, and was told if I wanted a drive pop back in a couple of hours and it will be ready.

The car drove like a dream, bodywork was spotless bar one scratch that would have been fixed before going on show, so the bargain began as the Mrs loved this one compared to the black/full red interior.

Car was up for £9450, and ended up walking away with 24 months Honda warranty with Europe recovery, written confirmation any seize problems are covered for these 24 months, full cover on the roof bar for vandalism etc, next service free, free mot's, full independent geo and copper greased, and a full tank of petrol.

Taking into consideration I'm happy with that deal, the four new boots where a good bonus.
 
Back
Top Bottom