ok here goes...i was going to buy my buddies 99 "supersonic blue" gsr but he wrapped it around a tree last week. so i am going to get a 02-04 rsx. i would perfer to get one completly stock and take it from there, but usually that means going through the dealership (and overpaying) or getting an automatic from some old lady (wont do automatic). there is a guy locally selling his for $14k with around 30k on the motor (not type-s)
pros:
-deep blue color
-comes with AEM pulleys and dc headers (not installed on car yet)
-leather seats
-has all receipts for service at the local dealership
-one owner
-non type s is a bit easier on the pocket in terms of the insurance
-has many stock parts yet

cons:
-catback exhaust on car is a no-name brand and looks/sounds cheesy
-short ram intake looks like it was purchased at walmart
-valve cover looks like **** (carbon hood with vents, i think water may had pounded on it or something. underneath the hood does not look like 30k miles)
-has silly looking tv screen that folds down behind the sunroof
-has kids and the interior in the back is a little beat
-a couple significant scratches on the outside body looks older than 30k

LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS:
02 type s with 60k miles sticker price reading at almost 18k
pros:
-dealership quality
-no scratches/dings
-interior is super clean
-stock

cons:
-its the desert grey (sandy silver) and it has TAN INTERIOR
-its $18k not $14k

I know you cant get everything you want when you buy used but heres where the questions come in...

-would there be an extendable/transferable warranty that i could get on the car through acura after the 36k mile mark was hit even with the cheesy exhaust/intake on the car?

-is it a bad idea to buy a ride when it looks like the valve cover has been through hell?

-can the tan interior be overlooked on the type s? (like the exterior color but not the interior)

-how difficult/costly would it be to have the tv screen uninstalled and the factory dash (radio) re-installed?

PLEASE GIVE ME SOME ADVICE WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN THE SITUATION HERE?
THANKS

 

how old is the guy sellin the car? if he is youngish lookin ( mid 20's and lower ) he might have worked the car like every gear, and since he bought the cheap walmart lookin intake, im guessin he doesnt know how to take care of his car.

the dealership one is way too expensive, shop around

 

i think the dealership type-s is a smarter bet. the car as you explain it is in much better condition than the private sellers.

also judging by the way you talk about the private owner's car, you don't seem to like it. of course, it's $4,000 cheaper, but uninstalling many of the parts that you want out would be a lot of money. plus, the owner doesn't seem care much for his car judging by the way you described the engine bay.

and unless you are planning on a motor swap or forced induction, i don't recommend you getting a base model rsx if you really want to tune it for performance. the type-s is the smarter choice.

hope that helps.

 

hey,
the guy selling the car is around 30ish seems more like a big kid then anything (like over excited about having rsx i dunno)

the shitty thing is we have one actual acura dealership in the state and the volume of rsx's going through the dealerships is nothing big....out of curiousity what would you say would be pretty reasonable in terms of the type s from the dealership and any thoughts about the tan interior?
thanks really appreciate it

 

kbb prices an '02 rsx type-s with 60,000 miles at $17,950US

so if you haggle with the dude, i think you can try to get it for $17,500US out the door.

i like the tan interior. i have black, but tan is nice as well.

 

i would perfer the interior in black with an external color of either blue or silver...i am just kinda worried about the insurance rates on the type s?