Warning to potential buyers of Red DC2R on TradingPost

[freakygeek]

Just a heads up everyone :-

http://www.autotrader.com.au/iteminf...ubs_Used+Cars_

Went to look at this red DC2R yesterday in our little hunt. Found an extremely dodgy example when we got there to look at it.

The car is a repaired write-off (as listed on REVS), and a badly repaired one at that.

- The drivers' side rear quarter panel is bulged out about 20mm further than it should be above the wheel
- The Lower tie-bar (between the LCA's) is BENT upwards
- The hatch doesn't shut properly and isn't aligned correctly. One side sits up about 10mm too high, and the hatch fouls on the body when closed
- The headlights are non-genuine
- The front bumper is painted rather badly
- There are various scrapes on the underbody indicating some prior accident
- The car was pinging badly when I drove it. I questioned the seller and eventually worked out he had always run it on standard unleaded.
- The interior condition is below average at best. Nowhere near as described.
- The headunit is taped in with duct tape (!?!?!) and the speaker wires are exposed and run totally incorrectly.


Steer clear, people. This car is bad news.

REVS Check info :-

CURRENT OR PREVIOUS REPAIRABLE Date 20/01/2006 7:03 Expiry
WRITE-OFF. MANUFACTURER'S NSW Registration Class: O
WARRANTY MAY BE VOID. CHECK 2000 HONDA SED VIN/Chass. JHMDC2310YS201146
WITH THE MANUFACTURER. 0000 Engine No.


There is no financial interest


VEHICLE DETAILS MATCHED WITH RTA

[Jingers]

There are some other clues which might help consumers to avoid these kinda auction jobs.

1. If the car has 12 month rego be weary *it just got fixed and registered and now it's on sale*
2. No log books/history + not first owner
3. Numberplates of the new kind ie AA-33-AA. Yes people change numberplates all the time but noone goes to change their number plates to a yellow random newer style. This indicates that the car was unregistered and the rta assigned it with its new batch of normal numberplates.

[kavehman]

I was looking at checking out this car as a 2nd car.

But it does seem highly suspect that it has 12 months rego, and has new plates on it. That and the fact that these cars are notorious for cooling problems and blown headgaskets (3K fix)

http://www.carsales.com.au/pls/carsa...&category_id=3

[kavehman]

Thought Id also add a check list for DC2R's

1. There should be green paint by the distributor on DC2R there is none on vti'rs. If there isn't any it has either been pressure washed off or the head has been swapped.

2. Engine number is B18C7 if its B18C then motor has been swapped

3. Red Paint on engine number means a genuine factory replacement long block.

4. All DC2R's should have 3 visible strut bars, 1 front, one in the boot, and 1 in the rear.

5. Check for OEM Glass as DC2R's have thinner front windshields.

6. Check cars for any drill holes under carpet suggesting a role cage may hav ebeen used previously.

7. Check engine bolts to see if if they have been removed recently, you don't want an R that has been reviously turboed.

8. Any R with black oil should not be purchased.

9. Most DC2R's should be relatively rattle free, a few are ok but if the thing is rattling like crazy then walk away.

10. Check suspension components for signes of damage, a lot of cars have been taken to the track and a lot end up with bent suspensions.

thats all I can think of besides the usual stuff.

[jansenrw]

hey... rattles are ok. i'm sure 70-80% of people with dc2r's have rattles....

this is with mods of course...