1991 Red/Tan Huntington Beach CA JH4NA1159MT002917

[GO KRT]

Does anyone have any first hand information about this car? Or a CarFax Report? I "won" this auction and I am supposed to meet the seller at Niguel Motors on Friday and I would like to have any information available before I complete this transaction. Here's a link to the eBay auction as well: http://www.ebay.com/itm/262334222842?forcerRptr=true&item=262334222842&viewitem= Thanks

 

[kennyvb]

I just ran and attached the CARFAX. One thing to note, the CA plate "7PNK129" is registered to a '02 Honda Odyssey and not this particular car it seems. Good luck!

 

[JohnWayne]

The interior color is Ivory which is more white than tan.
I dont have any information on the car, but for the price and the miles I think you got a deal.

 

[RSO 34]

How does it have a clear title when it was totaled in 2003 and sold as salvage?

 

[blue_myriddn]

Ask for the original floor mats. Ivory is a hard one to come by. Even if they are in rough shape, you may end up wanting them around.

 

[kennyvb]

I would take some time to compare the CARFAX and AutoCheck. Was the car stolen and subsequently crashed in July 2003? Seller doesn't mention anything about theft. He mentions airbag deployment which doesn't appear on either reports. There's no entries on the CARFAX since April 2004. There's a 10+ year gap in entries on the AutoCheck from April 2004 to February 2016 which shows last mileage reported as 268,904. As you know, the car needs to be smogged every two years in CA to be registered and legally driven, so not sure what happened there.

 

[posterchild2]

What is the business about the odometer reading being fraudulent? That would worry me as well.

 

[GO KRT]

THANKS to all of you for the input. What NOW concerns me more than anything is that I called Niguel Motors this morning and spoke with Ramon. He went through all of his records and couldn't find (or remember) the car. He "thought" it might be a car that came in there to have suspension returned to stock but couldn't find it based upon the CA License Plate number I gave him (which now makes perfect sense since it's not the correct plate). Lots of red flags on this one but I have made arrangements for the seller to meet me at Niguel Motors tomorrow (Friday) at 11am. I've also asked him to email the receipts from Niguel Motors. Ramon knows the NSX inside and out and I will trust him completely to either give this car a clean bill of health or point out "problems". If it turns out to be a 26K NSX with no frame damage and a decent repair job limited to sheet metal it WILL be a good deal so I am still hopeful

- - - Updated - - -

I just ran and attached the CARFAX. One thing to note, the CA plate "7PNK129" is registered to a '02 Honda Odyssey and not this particular car it seems. Good luck!

thank you

- - - Updated - - -

How does it have a clear title when it was totaled in 2003 and sold as salvage?

that's a good question Fortunately I'm only paying "salvage value" since it was a low bid that won the auction. IF there was no frame damage and the repair was decent I'm not too concerned since I plan to use it as a daily driver and not a garage queen.

- - - Updated - - -

Ask for the original floor mats. Ivory is a hard one to come by. Even if they are in rough shape, you may end up wanting them around.

agreed........but I'm positive I would NOT want to actually use them in the car since they would be so hard to keep clean and I do plan on using this as a DD.

- - - Updated - - -

What is the business about the odometer reading being fraudulent? That would worry me as well.

LOTS OF QUESTIONS about the ODO reading. Provided AutoCheck states:

02/05/2016

LA PUENTE, CA

268,904

State Agency

PASSED EMISSION INSPECTION

<tbody>
</tbody>

but owner claims 26,401 in ad on eBay. That is in addition to the ODO discrepancies that precede this. I am certain that Ramon will be able to tell me if this is a 26K car or a 268K car .......... even I could probably see THAT difference when the car is up on a lift.

- - - Updated - - -

I would take some time to compare the CARFAX and AutoCheck. Was the car stolen and subsequently crashed in July 2003? Seller doesn't mention anything about theft. He mentions airbag deployment which doesn't appear on either reports. There's no entries on the CARFAX since April 2004. There's a 10+ year gap in entries on the AutoCheck from April 2004 to February 2016 which shows last mileage reported as 268,904. As you know, the car needs to be smogged every two years in CA to be registered and legally driven, so not sure what happened there.

All good points.........I was told the car was garaged and only 2K miles put on it by current owner. However the Google street view for the cars home address shows a November 2011 shot of the car IN THE DRIVEWAY. Random day/random photo that seems to dispute his claim of "not driven and garaged". As noted previously red flags everywhere but the actual PPI by an NSX specialist mechanic (Ramon) should prove or dispel most of this so I'm anxious to see the car tomorrow and hear what Ramon has to say about it. I've either made a great purchase............ or I'm walking away

 

[kennyvb]

The 268,904 may be the mileage of the Odyssey. Maybe the La Puente smog test station incorrectly used only a plate with no VIN verification to conduct the test.

 

[GO KRT]

The 268,904 may be the mileage of the Odyssey. Maybe the La Puente smog test station incorrectly used only a plate with no VIN verification to conduct the test.

If that turns out to be true it would be great news. I'm going to want to see the smog test report and that should help to clear it up. BUT.....something tells me the only correct way to do it would be to use the VIN

- - - Updated - - -

Well........Miracle of Miracles. The seller sent me his actual receipt and when I called Ramon he pulled it up on his end and remembered the seller and the car. Said the engine looked "new" and was super clean and ran perfectly. Also said the bottom of the car had cobwebs everywhere which would indicate not being used..........AND FRAME WAS STRAIGHT. Said car needed detailing and that's it. So............we shall see tomorrow. My fingers are crossed.

 

[Fuoss484]

Good luck tomorrow. Looks like a nice car, if everything checks out.

 

[GO KRT]

Good luck tomorrow. Looks like a nice car, if everything checks out.

thank you Todd I will let u know

 

[GO KRT]

I met the seller at Niguel Motors today. Ramon confirmed that it was in excellent condition mechanically and the mileage was accurate based upon condition of vehicle. He remarked several times that the engine was CLEAN and quiet. We put it up on the lift and he confirmed again that there was absolutely no damage. The interior looks and smells "NEW". The test drive was flawless. Car is now mine. Thanks to everyone for all the input.

 

[Valhalla]

Back in the saddle again! Nice going and welcome back. I see a detail party going on at your house for many weekends.

 

[docjohn]

Back in the saddle again! Nice going and welcome back. I see a detail party going on at your house for many weekends.

indeed welcome back!

 

[GO KRT]

Back in the saddle again! Nice going and welcome back. I see a detail party going on at your house for many weekends.

All day today and I'm seeing a little magic happening :biggrin: On a serious note my DA polisher and time spent in various detailing classes was one of the best investments I've ever made in $$ and time for restoring/maintaining/and minor repair of various cars I've owned through the ages. Looking forward to running with the pack again (I was reluctant to show up and kick everyone's butt with my Miata) :wink:

 

[kennyvb]

Congrats! Looks like a nice deal. What did you find out about the last smog test?

 

[Ric]

Nice car. You are back to an NSX?

 

[B2FiNiTY]

congrats! fourth nsx? amazing.

 

[GO KRT]

Congrats! Looks like a nice deal. What did you find out about the last smog test?

I found out from DMV that smog was completed so they were able to process the title which IS CLEAR / not salvage. Also, yesterday I took the car for an alignment. After leaving the shop I saw that the shop wrote 126,595 miles in the ODO section of the receipt instead of the actual 0026,595 so I guess another erroneous entry will be made on a CarFax of the future (?)

- - - Updated - - -

Nice car. You are back to an NSX?

Yes. (for now)

- - - Updated - - -

congrats! fourth nsx? amazing.

"fourth"...............(and counting) :biggrin:

 

[kennyvb]

I found out from DMV that smog was completed so they were able to process the title which IS CLEAR / not salvage. Also, yesterday I took the car for an alignment. After leaving the shop I saw that the shop wrote 126,595 miles in the ODO section of the receipt instead of the actual 0026,595 so I guess another erroneous entry will be made on a CarFax of the future (?)

So where did the 268,904 mileage come from?

Poor attention to detail by the alignment shop. Where was that?

 

[GO KRT]

So where did the 268,904 mileage come from?

Poor attention to detail by the alignment shop. Where was that?

268,904 mileage? I honestly don't know. I could chase the mileage ghost forever but it's not worth the hassle. FORTUNATELY I am thankful beyond words that the seller took the car to Ramon @ Niguel Motors for the major service and that Ramon saw the car 11/11/15 and once again when I met the seller there on 3/25. I don't know if you know anything about Niguel Motors but as far as most of us in SoCal are concerned he is the absolute GURU of NSX. If you go to his shop on any given day there are between 10-15 (sometimes more) NSX there for repair or waiting for repair. Some cars are shipped to him for repair. He drives an NSX himself. I have taken my last 3 NSX to him for repair even though there are two other NSX specific shops closer to my home. His shop is almost 50 miles (one direction) and another NSX shop is less than 5miles from my house. Ramon assured me that this car is UNEQUIVOCALLY a 26K car and not a 268K car and that's good enough for me..............or I would not have disregarded the Carfax reports.

The alignment shop is Lutz Tire in San Diego (once again, far from my home---30 miles---but worth the drive) and they can dial in any alignment u request. I've used them exclusively for my past NSX(s) and my Miatas. They did a fantastic job on the alignment yesterday and this is the first time I've seen an error on a receipt (or noticed). I think the car is jinxed on records.......but speaks volumes for itself in person :biggrin:

 

[kennyvb]

Yep, I plan to take my car down to Ramon when I'm due for service on the NSX I recently purchased. I agree, despite the mottled reports and careless typos, I think you got a solid car for a great price.